the witch and other stories-第3章

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in　a　long　delicate　chain　floated　away　from　the　hut。

When　little　by　little　they　had　died　away；　Raissa　got　up　and
nervously　paced　to　and　fro。　At　first　she　was　pale；　then　she
flushed　all　over。　Her　face　was　contorted　with　hate；　her　breathing
was　tremulous；　her　eyes　gleamed　with　wild；　savage　anger；　and；
pacing　up　and　down　as　in　a　cage；　she　looked　like　a　tigress
menaced　with　red…hot　iron。　For　a　moment　she　stood　still　and
looked　at　her　abode。　Almost　half　of　the　room　was　filled　up　by　the
bed；　which　stretched　the　length　of　the　whole　wall　and　consisted
of　a　dirty　feather…bed；　coarse　grey　pillows；　a　quilt；　and
nameless　rags　of　various　sorts。　The　bed　was　a　shapeless　ugly　mass
which　suggested　the　shock　of　hair　that　always　stood　up　on
Savely's　head　whenever　it　occurred　to　him　to　oil　it。　From　the　bed
to　the　door　that　led　into　the　cold　outer　room　stretched　the　dark
stove　surrounded　by　pots　and　hanging　clouts。　Everything；
including　the　absent　Savely　himself；　was　dirty；　greasy；　and
smutty　to　the　last　degree；　so　that　it　was　strange　to　see　a
woman's　white　neck　and　delicate　skin　in　such　surroundings。

Raissa　ran　up　to　the　bed；　stretched　out　her　hands　as　though　she
wanted　to　fling　it　all　about；　stamp　it　underfoot；　and　tear　it　to
shreds。　But　then；　as　though　frightened　by　contact　with　the　dirt；
she　leapt　back　and　began　pacing　up　and　down　again。

When　Savely　returned　two　hours　later；　worn　out　and　covered　with
snow；　she　was　undressed　and　in　bed。　Her　eyes　were　closed；　but
from　the　slight　tremor　that　ran　over　her　face　he　guessed　that　she
was　not　asleep。　On　his　way　home　he　had　vowed　inwardly　to　wait
till　next　day　and　not　to　touch　her；　but　he　could　not　resist　a
biting　taunt　at　her。

〃Your　witchery　was　all　in　vain：　he's　gone　off；〃　he　said；　grinning
with　malignant　joy。

His　wife　remained　mute；　but　her　chin　quivered。　Savely　undressed
slowly；　clambered　over　his　wife；　and　lay　down　next　to　the　wall。

〃To…morrow　I'll　let　Father　Nikodim　know　what　sort　of　wife　you
are！〃　he　muttered；　curling　himself　up。

Raissa　turned　her　face　to　him　and　her　eyes　gleamed。

〃The　job's　enough　for　you；　and　you　can　look　for　a　wife　in　the
forest；　blast　you！〃　she　said。　〃I　am　no　wife　for　you；　a　clumsy
lout；　a　slug…a…bed；　God　forgive　me！〃

〃Come；　come　。　。　。　go　to　sleep！〃

〃How　miserable　I　am！〃　sobbed　his　wife。　〃If　it　weren't　for　you；　I
might　have　married　a　merchant　or　some　gentleman！　If　it　weren't
for　you；　I　should　love　my　husband　now！　And　you　haven't　been
buried　in　the　snow；　you　haven't　been　frozen　on　the　highroad；　you
Herod！〃

Raissa　cried　for　a　long　time。　At　last　she　drew　a　deep　sigh　and
was　still。　The　storm　still　raged　without。　Something　wailed　in　the
stove；　in　the　chimney；　outside　the　walls；　and　it　seemed　to　Savely
that　the　wailing　was　within　him；　in　his　ears。　This　evening　had
completely　confirmed　him　in　his　suspicions　about　his　wife。　He　no
longer　doubted　that　his　wife；　with　the　aid　of　the　Evil　One；
controlled　the　winds　and　the　post　sledges。　But　to　add　to　his
grief；　this　mysteriousness；　this　supernatural；　weird　power　gave
the　woman　beside　him　a　peculiar；　incomprehensible　charm　of　which
he　had　not　been　conscious　before。　The　fact　that　in　his　stupidity
he　unconsciously　threw　a　poetic　glamour　over　her　made　her　seem；
as　it　were；　whiter；　sleeker；　more　unapproachable。

〃Witch！〃　he　muttered　indignantly。　〃Tfoo；　horrid　creature！〃

Yet；　waiting　till　she　was　quiet　and　began　breathing　evenly；　he
touched　her　head　with　his　finger　。　。　。　held　her　thick　plait　in
his　hand　for　a　minute。　She　did　not　feel　it。　Then　he　grew　bolder
and　stroked　her　neck。

〃Leave　off！〃　she　shouted；　and　prodded　him　on　the　nose　with　her
elbow　with　such　violence　that　he　saw　stars　before　his　eyes。

The　pain　in　his　nose　was　soon　over；　but　the　torture　in　his　heart
remained。


PEASANT　WIVES

IN　the　village　of　Reybuzh；　just　facing　the　church；　stands　a
two…storeyed　house　with　a　stone　foundation　and　an　iron　roof。　In
the　lower　storey　the　owner　himself；　Filip　Ivanov　Kashin；
nicknamed　Dyudya；　lives　with　his　family；　and　on　the　upper　floor；
where　it　is　apt　to　be　very　hot　in　summer　and　very　cold　in　winter；
they　put　up　government　officials；　merchants；　or　landowners；　who
chance　to　be　travelling　that　way。　Dyudya　rents　some　bits　of　land；
keeps　a　tavern　on　the　highroad；　does　a　trade　in　tar；　honey；
cattle；　and　jackdaws；　and　has　already　something　like　eight
thousand　roubles　put　by　in　the　bank　in　the　town。

His　elder　son；　Fyodor；　is　head　engineer　in　the　factory；　and；　as
the　peasants　say　of　him；　he　has　risen　so　high　in　the　world　that
he　is　quite　out　of　reach　now。　Fyodor's　wife；　Sofya；　a　plain；
ailing　woman；　lives　at　home　at　her　father…in…law's。　She　is　for
ever　crying；　and　every　Sunday　she　goes　over　to　the　hospital　for
medicine。　Dyudya's　second　son；　the　hunchback　Alyoshka；　is　living
at　home　at　his　father's。　He　has　only　lately　been　married　to
Varvara；　whom　they　singled　out　for　him　from　a　poor　family。　She　is
a　handsome　young　woman；　smart　and　buxom。　When　officials　or
merchants　put　up　at　the　house；　they　always　insist　on　having
Varvara　to　bring　in　the　samovar　and　make　their　beds。

One　June　evening　when　the　sun　was　setting　and　the　air　was　full　of
the　smell　of　hay；　of　steaming　dung…heaps　and　new　milk；　a
plain…looking　cart　drove　into　Dyudya's　yard　with　three　people　in
it：　a　man　of　about　thirty　in　a　canvas　suit；　beside　him　a　little
boy　of　seven　or　eight　in　a　long　black　coat　with　big　bone　buttons；
and　on　the　driver's　seat　a　young　fellow　in　a　red　shirt。

The　young　fellow　took　out　the　horses　and　led　them　out　into　the
street　to　walk　them　up　and　down　a　bit；　while　the　traveller
washed；　said　a　prayer；　turning　towards　the　church；　then　spread　a
rug　near　the　cart　and　sat　down　with　the　boy　to　supper。　He　ate
without　haste；　sedately；　and　Dyudya；　who　had　seen　a　good　many
travellers　in　his　time；　knew　him　from　his　manners　for　a
businesslike　man；　serious　and　aware　of　his　own　value。

Dyudya　was　sitting　on　the　step　in　his　waistcoat　without　a　cap　on；
waiting　for　the　visitor　to　speak　first。　He　was　used　to　hearing
all　kinds　of　stories　from　the　travellers　in　the　evening；　and　he
liked　listening　to　them　before　going　to　bed。　His　old　wife；
Afanasyevna；　and　his　daughter…in…law　Sofya；　were　milking　in　the
cowshed。　The　other　daughter…in…law；　Varvara；　was　sitting　at　the
open　window　of　the　upper　storey；　eating　sunflower　seeds。

〃The　little　chap　will　be　your　son；　I'm　thinking？〃　Dyudya　asked
the　traveller。

〃No；　adopted。　An　orphan。　I　took　him　for　my　soul's　salvation。〃

They　got　into　conversation。　The　stranger　seemed　to　be　a　man　fond
of　talking　and　ready　of　speech；　and　Dyudya　learned　from　him　that
he　was　from　the　town；　was　of　the　tradesman　class；　and　had　a　house
of　his　own；　that　his　name　was　Matvey　Savitch；　that　he　was　on　his
way　now　to　look　at　some　gardens　that　he　was　renting　from　some
German　colonists；　and　that　the　boy's　name　was　Kuzka。　The　evening
was　hot　and　close；　no　one　felt　inclined　for　sleep。　When　it　was
getting　dark　and　pale　stars　began　to　twinkle　here　and　there　in
the　sky；　Matvey　Savitch　began　to　tell　how　he　had　come　by　Kuzka。
Afanasyevna　and　Sofya　stood　a　little　way　off；　listening。　Kuzka
had　gone　to　the　gate。

〃It's　a　complicated　story；　old　man；〃　began　Matvey　Savitch；　〃and
if　I　were　to　tell　you　all　just　as　it　happened；　it　would　take　all
night　and　more。　Ten　years　ago　in　a　little　house　in　our　street；
next　door　to　me；　where　now　there's　a　tallow　and　oil　factory；
there　was　living　an　old　widow；　Marfa　Semyonovna　Kapluntsev；　and
she　had　two　sons：　one　was　a　guard　on　the　railway；　but　the　other；
Vasya；　who　was　just　my　own　age；　lived　at　home　with　his　mother。
Old　Kapluntsev　had　kept　five　pair　of　horses　and　sent　carriers　all
over　the　town；　his　widow　had　not　given　up　the　business；　but
managed　the　carriers　as　well　as　her　husband　had　done；　so　that
some　days　they　would　bring　in　as　much　as　five　roubles　from　their
rounds。

〃The　young　fellow；　too；　made　a　trifle　on　his　own　account。　He　used
to　breed　fancy　pigeons　and　sell　them　to　fanciers；　at　times　he
would　stand　for　hours　on　the　roof；　waving　a　broom　in　the　air　and
whistling；　his　pigeons　were　right　up　in　the　clouds；　but　it　wasn't
enough　for　him；　and　he'd　want　them　to　go　higher　yet。　Siskins　and
starlings；　too；　he　used　to　catch；　and　he　made　cages　for　sale。　All
trifles；　but；　mind　you；　he'd　pick　up　some　ten　roubles　a　month
over　such　trifles。　Well；　as　time　went　on；　the　old　lady　lost　the
use　of　her　legs　and　took　to　her　bed。　In　consequence　of　which
event　the　house　was　left　without　a　woman　to　look　after　it；　and
that's　for　all　the　world　like　a　man　without　an　eye。　The　old　lady
bestirred　herself　and　made　up　her　mind　to　marry　Vasya。　They
called　in　a　matchmaker　at　once；　the　women　got　to　talking　of　one
thing　and　another；　and　Vasya　went　off　to　have　a　look　at　the
girls。　He　picked　out　Mashenka；　a　widow's　daughter。　They　made　up
their　minds　without　loss　of　time　and　in　a　week　it　was　all
settled。　The　girl　was　a　little　slip　of　a　thing；　seventeen；　but
fair…skinned　and　pretty…looking；　and　like　a　lady　in　all　her　ways；
and　a　decent　dowry　with　her；　five　hundred　roubles；　a　cow；　a　bed。
。　。　。　Well；　the　old　lady　　it　seemed　as　though　she　had　known　it
was　coming　　three　days　after　the　wedding；　departed　to　the
Heavenly　Jerusalem　where　is　neither　sickness　nor　sighing。　The
young　people　gave　her　a　good　funeral　and　began　their　life
together。　For　just　six　months　they　got　on　splendidly；　and　then
all　of　a　sudden　another　misfortune。　It　never　rains　but　it　pours：
Vasya　was　summoned　to　the　recruiting　office　to　draw　lots　for　the
service。　He　was　taken；　poor　chap；　for　a　soldier；　and　not　even
granted　exemption。　They　shaved　his　head　and　packed　him　off　to
Poland。　It　was　God's　will；　there　was　nothing　to　be　done。　When　he
said　good…bye　to　his　wife　in　the　yard；　he　bore　it　all　right；　but
as　he　glanced　up　at　the　hay…loft　and　his　pigeons　for　the　last
time；　he　burst　out　crying。　It　was　pitiful　to　see　him。

〃At　first　Mashenka　got　her　mother　to　stay　with　her；　that　she
mightn't　be　dull　all　alone；　she　stayed　till　the　baby　　this　very
Kuzka　here　　was　born；　and　then　she　went　off　to　Oboyan　to
another　married　daughter's　and　left　Mashenka　alone　with　the　baby。
There　were　five　peasants　　the　carriers　　a　drunken　saucy　lot；
horses；　too；　and　dray…carts　to　see　to；　and　then　the　fence　would
be　broken　or　the　soot　afire　in　the　chimney　　jobs　beyond　a
woman；　and　through　our　being　neighbours；　she　got　into　the　way　of
turning　to　me　for　every　little　thing。　。　。　。　Well；　I'd　go　over；
set　things　to　rights；　and　give　advice。　。　。　。　Naturally；　not
without　going　indoors；　drinking　a　cup　of　tea　and　having　a　little
chat　with　her。　I　was　a　young　fellow；　intellectual；　and　fond　of
talking　on　all　sorts　of　subjects；　she；　too；　was　well…bred　and
　educated。　She　was　always　neatly　dressed；　and　in　summer　she
walked　out　with　a　sunshade。　Sometimes　I　would　begin　upon　religion
or　politics　with　her；　and　she　was　flattered　and　would　entertain
me　with　tea　and　jam。　。　。　。　In　a　word；　not　to　make　a　long　story　of
it；　I　must　tell　you；　old　man；　a　year　had　not　passed　before　the
Evil　One；　the　enemy　of　all　mankind；　confounded　me。　I　began　to
notice　that　any　day　I　didn't　go　to　see　her；　I　seemed　out　of　sorts
and　dull。　And　I'd　be　continually　making　up　something　that　I　must
see　her　about：　'It's　high　t