the witch and other stories-第28章

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〃What　for？〃　sighed　Yegor；　taking　off　his　cap　and　wiping　his　red
forehead　with　his　hand。　〃There　is　no　object　in　my　coming。　To　go
for　an　hour　or　two　is　only　waste　of　time；　it's　simply　upsetting
you；　and　to　live　continually　in　the　village　my　soul　could　not
endure。　。　。　。　You　know　yourself　I　am　a　pampered　man。　。　。　。　I　want
a　bed　to　sleep　in；　good　tea　to　drink；　and　refined　conversation。　。
。　。　I　want　all　the　niceties；　while　you　live　in　poverty　and　dirt
in　the　village。　。　。　。　I　couldn't　stand　it　for　a　day。　Suppose
there　were　an　edict　that　I　must　live　with　you；　I　should　either
set　fire　to　the　hut　or　lay　hands　on　myself。　From　a　boy　I've　had
this　love　for　ease；　there　is　no　help　for　it。〃

〃Where　are　you　living　now？〃

〃With　the　gentleman　here；　Dmitry　Ivanitch；　as　a　huntsman。　I
furnish　his　table　with　game；　but　he　keeps　me　。　。　。　more　for　his
pleasure　than　anything。〃

〃That's　not　proper　work　you're　doing；　Yegor　Vlassitch。　。　。　。　For
other　people　it's　a　pastime；　but　with　you　it's　like　a　trade　。　。　。
like　real　work。〃

〃You　don't　understand；　you　silly；〃　said　Yegor；　gazing　gloomily　at
the　sky。　〃You　have　never　understood；　and　as　long　as　you　live　you
will　never　understand　what　sort　of　man　I　am。　。　。　。　You　think　of
me　as　a　foolish　man；　gone　to　the　bad；　but　to　anyone　who
understands　I　am　the　best　shot　there　is　in　the　whole　district。
The　gentry　feel　that；　and　they　have　even　printed　things　about　me
in　a　magazine。　There　isn't　a　man　to　be　compared　with　me　as　a
sportsman。　。　。　。　And　it　is　not　because　I　am　pampered　and　proud
that　I　look　down　upon　your　village　work。　From　my　childhood；　you
know；　I　have　never　had　any　calling　apart　from　guns　and　dogs。　If
they　took　away　my　gun；　I　used　to　go　out　with　the　fishing…hook；　if
they　took　the　hook　I　caught　things　with　my　hands。　And　I　went　in
for　horse…dealing　too；　I　used　to　go　to　the　fairs　when　I　had　the
money；　and　you　know　that　if　a　peasant　goes　in　for　being　a
sportsman；　or　a　horse…dealer；　it's　good…bye　to　the　plough。　Once
the　spirit　of　freedom　has　taken　a　man　you　will　never　root　it　out
of　him。　In　the　same　way；　if　a　gentleman　goes　in　for　being　an
actor　or　for　any　other　art；　he　will　never　make　an　official　or　a
landowner。　You　are　a　woman；　and　you　do　not　understand；　but　one
must　understand　that。〃

〃I　understand；　Yegor　Vlassitch。〃

〃You　don't　understand　if　you　are　going　to　cry。　。　。　。〃

〃I　。　。　。　I'm　not　crying；〃　said　Pelagea；　turning　away。　〃It's　a
sin；　Yegor　Vlassitch！　You　might　stay　a　day　with　luckless　me；
anyway。　It's　twelve　years　since　I　was　married　to　you；　and　。　。　。
and　。　。　。　there　has　never　once　been　love　between　us！　。　。　。　I　。　。
。　I　am　not　crying。〃

〃Love　。　。　。〃　muttered　Yegor；　scratching　his　hand。　〃There　can't　be
any　love。　It's　only　in　name　we　are　husband　and　wife；　we　aren't
really。　In　your　eyes　I　am　a　wild　man；　and　in　mine　you　are　a
simple　peasant　woman　with　no　understanding。　Are　we　well　matched？
I　am　a　free；　pampered；　profligate　man；　while　you　are　a　working
woman；　going　in　bark　shoes　and　never　straightening　your　back。　The
way　I　think　of　myself　is　that　I　am　the　foremost　man　in　every　kind
of　sport；　and　you　look　at　me　with　pity。　。　。　。　Is　that　being　well
matched？〃

〃But　we　are　married；　you　know；　Yegor　Vlassitch；〃　sobbed　Pelagea。

〃Not　married　of　our　free　will。　。　。　。　Have　you　forgotten？　You　have
to　thank　Count　Sergey　Paylovitch　and　yourself。　Out　of　envy；
because　I　shot　better　than　he　did；　the　Count　kept　giving　me　wine
for　a　whole　month；　and　when　a　man's　drunk　you　could　make　him
change　his　religion；　let　alone　getting　married。　To　pay　me　out　he
married　me　to　you　when　I　was　drunk。　。　。　。　A　huntsman　to　a
herd…girl！　You　saw　I　was　drunk；　why　did　you　marry　me？　You　were
not　a　serf；　you　know；　you　could　have　resisted。　Of　course　it　was　a
bit　of　luck　for　a　herd…girl　to　marry　a　huntsman；　but　you　ought　to
have　thought　about　it。　Well；　now　be　miserable；　cry。　It's　a　joke
for　the　Count；　but　a　crying　matter　for　you。　。　。　。　Beat　yourself
against　the　wall。〃

A　silence　followed。　Three　wild　ducks　flew　over　the　clearing。
Yegor　followed　them　with　his　eyes　till；　transformed　into　three
scarcely　visible　dots；　they　sank　down　far　beyond　the　forest。

〃How　do　you　live？〃　he　asked；　moving　his　eyes　from　the　ducks　to
Pelagea。

〃Now　I　am　going　out　to　work；　and　in　the　winter　I　take　a　child
from　the　Foundling　Hospital　and　bring　it　up　on　the　bottle。　They
give　me　a　rouble　and　a　half　a　month。〃

〃Oh。　。　。　。〃

Again　a　silence。　From　the　strip　that　had　been　reaped　floated　a
soft　song　which　broke　off　at　the　very　beginning。　It　was　too　hot
to　sing。

〃They　say　you　have　put　up　a　new　hut　for　Akulina；〃　said　Pelagea。

Yegor　did　not　speak。

〃So　she　is　dear　to　you。　。　。　。〃

〃It's　your　luck；　it's　fate！〃　said　the　huntsman；　stretching。　〃You
must　put　up　with　it；　poor　thing。　But　good…bye；　I've　been
chattering　long　enough。　。　。　。　I　must　be　at　Boltovo　by　the
evening。〃

Yegor　rose；　stretched　himself；　and　slung　his　gun　over　his
shoulder；　Pelagea　got　up。

〃And　when　are　you　coming　to　the　village？〃　she　asked　softly。

〃I　have　no　reason　to；　I　shall　never　come　sober；　and　you　have
little　to　gain　from　me　drunk；　I　am　spiteful　when　I　am　drunk。
Good…bye！〃

〃Good…bye；　Yegor　Vlassitch。〃

Yegor　put　his　cap　on　t　he　back　of　his　head　and；　clicking　to　his
dog；　went　on　his　way。　Pelagea　stood　still　looking　after　him。　。　。
。　She　saw　his　moving　shoulder…blades；　his　jaunty　cap；　his　lazy；
careless　step；　and　her　eyes　were　full　of　sadness　and　tender
affection。　。　。　。　Her　gaze　flitted　over　her　husband's　tall；　lean
figure　and　caressed　and　fondled　it。　。　。　。　He；　as　though　he　felt
that　gaze；　stopped　and　looked　round。　。　。　。　He　did　not　speak；　but
from　his　face；　from　his　shrugged　shoulders；　Pelagea　could　see
that　he　wanted　to　say　something　to　her。　She　went　up　to　him
timidly　and　looked　at　him　with　imploring　eyes。

〃Take　it；〃　he　said；　turning　round。

He　gave　her　a　crumpled　rouble　note　and　walked　quickly　away。

〃Good…bye；　Yegor　Vlassitch；〃　she　said；　mechanically　taking　the
rouble。

He　walked　by　a　long　road；　straight　as　a　taut　strap。　She；　pale　and
motionless　as　a　statue；　stood；　her　eyes　seizing　every　step　he
took。　But　the　red　of　his　shirt　melted　into　the　dark　colour　of　his
trousers；　his　step　could　not　be　seen；　and　the　dog　could　not　be
distinguished　from　the　boots。　Nothing　could　be　seen　but　the　cap；
and　。　。　。　suddenly　Yegor　turned　off　sharply　into　the　clearing　and
the　cap　vanished　in　the　greenness。

〃Good…bye；　Yegor　Vlassitch；〃　whispered　Pelagea；　and　she　stood　on
tiptoe　to　see　the　white　cap　once　more。


HAPPINESS

A　FLOCK　of　sheep　was　spending　the　night　on　the　broad　steppe　road
that　is　called　the　great　highway。　Two　shepherds　were　guarding　it。
One；　a　toothless　old　man　of　eighty；　with　a　tremulous　face；　was
lying　on　his　stomach　at　the　very　edge　of　the　road；　leaning　his
elbows　on　the　dusty　leaves　of　a　plantain；　the　other；　a　young
fellow　with　thick　black　eyebrows　and　no　moustache；　dressed　in　the
coarse　canvas　of　which　cheap　sacks　are　made；　was　lying　on　his
back；　with　his　arms　under　his　head；　looking　upwards　at　the　sky；
where　the　stars　were　slumbering　and　the　Milky　Way　lay　stretched
exactly　above　his　face。

The　shepherds　were　not　alone。　A　couple　of　yards　from　them　in　the
dusk　that　shrouded　the　road　a　horse　made　a　patch　of　darkness；
and；　beside　it；　leaning　against　the　saddle；　stood　a　man　in　high
boots　and　a　short　full…skirted　jacket　who　looked　like　an　overseer
on　some　big　estate。　Judging　from　his　upright　and　motionless
figure；　from　his　manners；　and　his　behaviour　to　the　shepherds　and
to　his　horse；　he　was　a　serious；　reasonable　man　who　knew　his　own
value；　even　in　the　darkness　signs　could　be　detected　in　him　of
military　carriage　and　of　the　majestically　condescending
expression　gained　by　frequent　intercourse　with　the　gentry　and
their　stewards。

The　sheep　were　asleep。　Against　the　grey　background　of　the　dawn；
already　beginning　to　cover　the　eastern　part　of　the　sky；　the
silhouettes　of　sheep　that　were　not　asleep　could　be　seen　here　and
there；　they　stood　with　drooping　heads；　thinking。　Their　thoughts；
tedious　and　oppressive；　called　forth　by　images　of　nothing　but　the
broad　steppe　and　the　sky；　the　days　and　the　nights；　probably
weighed　upon　them　themselves；　crushing　them　into　apathy；　and；
standing　there　as　though　rooted　to　the　earth；　they　noticed
neither　the　presence　of　a　stranger　nor　the　uneasiness　of　the
dogs。

The　drowsy；　stagnant　air　was　full　of　the　monotonous　noise
inseparable　from　a　summer　night　on　the　steppes；　the　grasshoppers
chirruped　incessantly；　the　quails　called；　and　the　young
nightingales　trilled　languidly　half　a　mile　away　in　a　ravine　where
a　stream　flowed　and　willows　grew。

The　overseer　had　halted　to　ask　the　shepherds　for　a　light　for　his
pipe。　He　lighted　it　in　silence　and　smoked　the　whole　pipe；　then；
still　without　uttering　a　word；　stood　with　his　elbow　on　the
saddle；　plunged　in　thought。　The　young　shepherd　took　no　notice　of
him；　he　still　lay　gazing　at　the　sky　while　the　old　man　slowly
looked　the　overseer　up　and　down　and　then　asked：

〃Why；　aren't　you　Panteley　from　Makarov's　estate？〃

〃That's　myself；〃　answered　the　overseer。

〃To　be　sure；　I　see　it　is。　I　didn't　know　you　　that　is　a　sign　you
will　be　rich。　Where　has　God　brought　you　from？〃

〃From　the　Kovylyevsky　fields。〃

〃That's　a　good　way。　Are　you　letting　the　land　on　the　part…crop
system？〃

〃Part　of　it。　Some　like　that；　and　some　we　are　letting　on　lease；
and　some　for　raising　melons　and　cucumbers。　I　have　just　come　from
the　mill。〃

A　big　shaggy　old　sheep…dog　of　a　dirty　white　colour　with　woolly
tufts　about　its　nose　and　eyes　walked　three　times　quietly　round
the　horse；　trying　to　seem　unconcerned　in　the　presence　of
strangers；　then　all　at　once　dashed　suddenly　from　behind　at　the
overseer　with　an　angry　aged　growl；　the　other　dogs　could　not
refrain　from　leaping　up　too。

〃Lie　down；　you　damned　brute；〃　cried　the　old　man；　raising　himself
on　his　elbow；　〃blast　you；　you　devil's　creature。〃

When　the　dogs　were　quiet　again；　the　old　man　resumed　his　former
attitude　and　said　quietly：

〃It　was　at　Kovyli　on　Ascension　Day　that　Yefim　Zhmenya　died。　Don't
speak　of　it　in　the　dark；　it　is　a　sin　to　mention　such　people。　He
was　a　wicked　old　man。　I　dare　say　you　have　heard。〃

〃No；　I　haven't〃

〃Yefim　Zhmenya；　the　uncle　of　Styopka；　the　blacksmith。　The　whole
district　round　knew　him。　Aye；　he　was　a　cursed　old　man；　he　was！　I
knew　him　for　sixty　years；　ever　since　Tsar　Alexander　who　beat　the
French　was　brought　from　Taganrog　to　Moscow。　We　went　together　to
meet　the　dead　Tsar；　and　in　those　days　the　great　highway　did　not
run　to　Bahmut；　but　from　Esaulovka　to　Gorodishtche；　and　where
Kovyli　is　now；　there　were　bustards'　nests　　there　was　a
bustard's　nest　at　every　step。　Even　then　I　had　noticed　that　Yefim
had　given　his　soul　to　damnation；　and　that　the　Evil　One　was　in
him。　I　have　observed　that　if　any　man　of　the　peasant　class　is　apt
to　be　silent；　takes　up　with　old　women's　jobs；　and　tries　to　live
in　solitude；　there　is　no　good　in　it；　and　Yefim　from　his　youth　up
was　always　one　to　hold　his　tongue　and　look　at　you　sideways；　he
always　seemed　to　be　sulky　and　bristling　like　a　cock　before　a　hen。
To　go　to　church　or　to　the　tavern　or　to　lark　in　the　street　with
the　lads　was　not　his　fashion；　he　would　rather　sit　alone　or　be
whispering　with　old　women。　When　h