the witch and other stories-第8章

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embarrassed　and　looked　up　from　under　his　brows；　but　suddenly
lowered　his　muzzle　to　the　ground　and　took　to　his　heels；　kicking
up　his　hind　legs；　Kozov　was　frightened　and　waved　his　stick　at
him；　and　they　all　burst　out　laughing。　Then　they　locked　up　the
beasts　and　waited。

In　the　evening　the　engineer　sent　five　roubles　for　the　damage；　and
the　two　horses；　the　pony　and　the　bull…calf；　without　being　fed　or
given　water；　returned　home；　their　heads　hanging　with　a　guilty　air
as　though　they　were　convicted　criminals。

On　getting　the　five　roubles　the　Lytchkovs；　father　and　son；　the
village　elder　and　Volodka；　punted　over　the　river　in　a　boat　and
went　to　a　hamlet　on　the　other　side　where　there　was　a　tavern；　and
there　had　a　long　carousal。　Their　singing　and　the　shouting　of　the
younger　Lytchkov　could　be　heard　from　the　village。　Their　women
were　uneasy　and　did　not　sleep　all　night。　Rodion　did　not　sleep
either。

〃It's　a　bad　business；〃　he　said；　sighing　and　turning　from　side　to
side。　〃The　gentleman　will　be　angry；　and　then　there　will　be
trouble。　。　。　。　They　have　insulted　the　gentleman。　。　。　。　Oh；
they've　insulted　him。　It's　a　bad　business。　。　。〃

It　happened　that　the　peasants；　Rodion　amongst　them；　went　into
their　forest　to　divide　the　clearings　for　mowing；　and　as　they　were
returning　home　they　were　met　by　the　engineer。　He　was　wearing　a
red　cotton　shirt　and　high　boots；　a　setter　dog　with　its　long
tongue　hanging　out；　followed　behind　him。

〃Good…day；　brothers；〃　he　said。

The　peasants　stopped　and　took　off　their　hats。

〃I　have　long　wanted　to　have　a　talk　with　you；　friends；〃　he　went
on。　〃This　is　what　it　is。　Ever　since　the　early　spring　your　cattle
have　been　in　my　copse　and　garden　every　day。　Everything　is
trampled　down；　the　pigs　have　rooted　up　the　meadow；　are　ruining
everything　in　the　kitchen　garden；　and　all　the　undergrowth　in　the
copse　is　destroyed。　There　is　no　getting　on　with　your　herdsmen；
one　asks　them　civilly；　and　they　are　rude。　Damage　is　done　on　my
estate　every　day　and　I　do　nothing　　I　don't　fine　you　or　make　a
complaint；　meanwhile　you　impounded　my　horses　and　my　bull　calf　and
exacted　five　roubles。　Was　that　right？　Is　that　neighbourly？〃　he
went　on；　and　his　face　was　so　soft　and　persuasive；　and　his
expression　was　not　forbidding。　〃Is　that　the　way　decent　people
behave？　A　week　ago　one　of　your　people　cut　down　two　oak　saplings
in　my　copse。　You　have　dug　up　the　road　to　Eresnevo；　and　now　I　have
to　go　two　miles　round。　Why　do　you　injure　me　at　every　step？　What
harm　have　I　done　you？　For　God's　sake；　tell　me！　My　wife　and　I　do
our　utmost　to　live　with　you　in　peace　and　harmony；　we　help　the
peasants　as　we　can。　My　wife　is　a　kind；　warm…hearted　woman；　she
never　refuses　you　help。　That　is　her　dream　　to　be　of　use　to　you
and　your　children。　You　reward　us　with　evil　for　our　good。　You　are
unjust；　my　friends。　Think　of　that。　I　ask　you　earnestly　to　think
it　over。　We　treat　you　humanely；　repay　us　in　the　same　coin。〃

He　turned　and　went　away。　The　peasants　stood　a　little　longer；　put
on　their　caps　and　walked　away。　Rodion；　who　always　understood
everything　that　was　said　to　him　in　some　peculiar　way　of　his　own；
heaved　a　sigh　and　said：

〃We　must　pay。　'Repay　in　coin；　my　friends'　。　。　。　he　said。〃

They　walked　to　the　village　in　silence。　On　reaching　home　Rodion
said　his　prayer；　took　off　his　boots；　and　sat　down　on　the　bench
beside　his　wife。　Stepanida　and　he　always　sat　side　by　side　when
they　were　at　home；　and　always　walked　side　by　side　in　the　street；
they　ate　and　they　drank　and　they　slept　always　together；　and　the
older　they　grew　the　more　they　loved　one　another。　It　was　hot　and
crowded　in　their　hut；　and　there　were　children　everywhere　　on
the　floors；　in　the　windows；　on　the　stove。　。　。　。　In　spite　of　her
advanced　years　Stepanida　was　still　bearing　children；　and　now；
looking　at　the　crowd　of　children；　it　was　hard　to　distinguish
which　were　Rodion's　and　which　were　Volodka's。　Volodka's　wife；
Lukerya；　a　plain　young　woman　with　prominent　eyes　and　a　nose　like
the　beak　of　a　bird；　was　kneading　dough　in　a　tub；　Volodka　was
sitting　on　the　stove　with　his　legs　hanging。

〃On　the　road　near　Nikita's　buckwheat　。　。　。　the　engineer　with　his
dog　。　。　。〃　Rodion　began；　after　a　rest；　scratching　his　ribs　and
his　elbow。　〃　'You　must　pay；'　says　he　。　。　。　'coin；'　says　he。　。　。　。
Coin　or　no　coin；　we　shall　have　to　collect　ten　kopecks　from　every
hut。　We've　offended　the　gentleman　very　much。　I　am　sorry　for　him。
。　。　。〃

〃We've　lived　without　a　bridge；〃　said　Volodka；　not　looking　at
anyone；　〃and　we　don't　want　one。〃

〃What　next；　the　bridge　is　a　government　business。〃

〃We　don't　want　it。〃

〃Your　opinion　is　not　asked。　What　is　it　to　you？〃

〃　'Your　opinion　is　not　asked；'　〃　Volodka　mimicked　hi　m。　〃We　don't
want　to　drive　anywhere；　what　do　we　want　with　a　bridge？　If　we　have
to；　we　can　cross　by　the　boat。〃

Someone　from　the　yard　outside　knocked　at　the　window　so　violently
that　it　seemed　to　shake　the　whole　hut。

〃Is　Volodka　at　home？〃　he　heard　the　voice　of　the　younger　Lytchkov。
〃Volodka；　come　out；　come　along。〃

Volodka　jumped　down　off　the　stove　and　began　looking　for　his　cap。

〃Don't　go；　Volodka；〃　said　Rodion　diffidently。　〃Don't　go　with
them；　son。　You　are　foolish；　like　a　little　child；　they　will　teach
you　no　good；　don't　go！〃

〃Don't　go；　son；〃　said　Stepanida；　and　she　blinked　as　though　about
to　shed　tears。　〃I　bet　they　are　calling　you　to　the　tavern。〃

〃　'To　the　tavern；'　〃　Volodka　mimicked。

〃You'll　come　back　drunk　again；　you　currish　Herod；〃　said　Lukerya；
looking　at　him　angrily。　〃Go　along；　go　along；　and　may　you　burn　up
with　vodka；　you　tailless　Satan！〃

〃You　hold　your　tongue；〃　shouted　Volodka。

〃They've　married　me　to　a　fool；　they've　ruined　me；　a　luckless
orphan；　you　red…headed　drunkard　。　。　。〃　wailed　Lukerya；　wiping　her
face　with　a　hand　covered　with　dough。　〃I　wish　I　had　never　set　eyes
on　you。〃

Volodka　gave　her　a　blow　on　the　ear　and　went　off。

III

Elena　Ivanovna　and　her　little　daughter　visited　the　village　on
foot。　They　were　out　for　a　walk。　It　was　a　Sunday；　and　the　peasant
women　and　girls　were　walking　up　and　down　the　street　in　their
brightly…coloured　dresses。　Rodion　and　Stepanida；　sitting　side　by
side　at　their　door；　bowed　and　smiled　to　Elena　Ivanovna　and　her
little　daughter　as　to　acquaintances。　From　the　windows　more　than　a
dozen　children　stared　at　them；　their　faces　expressed　amazement
and　curiosity；　and　they　could　be　heard　whispering：

〃The　Kutcherov　lady　has　come！　The　Kutcherov　lady！〃

〃Good…morning；〃　said　Elena　Ivanovna；　and　she　stopped；　she　paused；
and　then　asked：　〃Well；　how　are　you　getting　on？〃

〃We　get　along　all　right；　thank　God；〃　answered　Rodion；　speaking
rapidly。　〃To　be　sure　we　get　along。〃

〃The　life　we　lead！〃　smiled　Stepanida。　〃You　can　see　our　poverty
yourself；　dear　lady！　The　family　is　fourteen　souls　in　all；　and
only　two　bread…winners。　We　are　supposed　to　be　blacksmiths；　but
when　they　bring　us　a　horse　to　shoe　we　have　no　coal；　nothing　to
buy　it　with。　We　are　worried　to　death；　lady；〃　she　went　on；　and
laughed。　〃Oh；　oh；　we　are　worried　to　death。〃

Elena　Ivanovna　sat　down　at　the　entrance　and；　putting　her　arm
round　her　little　girl；　pondered　something；　and　judging　from　the
little　girl's　expression；　melancholy　thoughts　were　straying
through　her　mind；　too；　as　she　brooded　she　played　with　the
sumptuous　lace　on　the　parasol　she　had　taken　out　of　her　mother's
hands。

〃Poverty；〃　said　Rodion；　〃a　great　deal　of　anxiety　　you　see　no
end　to　it。　Here；　God　sends　no　rain　。　。　。　our　life　is　not　easy；
there　is　no　denying　it。〃

〃You　have　a　hard　time　in　this　life；〃　said　Elena　Ivanovna；　〃but　in
the　other　world　you　will　be　happy。〃

Rodion　did　not　understand　her；　and　simply　coughed　into　his
clenched　hand　by　way　of　reply。　Stepanida　said：

〃Dear　lady；　the　rich　men　will　be　all　right　in　the　next　world；
too。　The　rich　put　up　candles；　pay　for　services；　the　rich　give　to
beggars；　but　what　can　the　poor　man　do？　He　has　no　time　to　make　the
sign　of　the　cross。　He　is　the　beggar　of　beggars　himself；　how　can
he　think　of　his　soul？　And　many　sins　come　from　poverty；　from
trouble　we　snarl　at　one　another　like　dogs；　we　haven't　a　good　word
to　say　to　one　another；　and　all　sorts　of　things　happen；　dear　lady
　God　forbid！　It　seems　we　have　no　luck　in　this　world　nor　the
next。　All　the　luck　has　fallen　to　the　rich。〃

She　spoke　gaily；　she　was　evidently　used　to　talking　of　her　hard
life。　And　Rodion　smiled；　too；　he　was　pleased　that　his　old　woman
was　so　clever；　so　ready　of　speech。

〃It　is　only　on　the　surface　that　the　rich　seem　to　be　happy；〃　said
Elena　Ivanovna。　〃Every　man　has　his　sorrow。　Here　my　husband　and　I
do　not　live　poorly；　we　have　means；　but　are　we　happy？　I　am　young；
but　I　have　had　four　children；　my　children　are　always　being　ill。　I
am　ill；　too；　and　constantly　being　doctored。〃

〃And　what　is　your　illness？〃　asked　Rodion。

〃A　woman's　complaint。　I　get　no　sleep；　a　continual　headache　gives
me　no　peace。　Here　I　am　sitting　and　talking；　but　my　head　is　bad；　I
am　weak　all　over；　and　I　should　prefer　the　hardest　labour　to　such
a　condition。　My　soul；　too；　is　troubled；　I　am　in　continual　fear
for　my　children；　my　husband。　Every　family　has　its　own　trouble　of
some　sort；　we　have　ours。　I　am　not　of　noble　birth。　My　grandfather
was　a　simple　peasant；　my　father　was　a　tradesman　in　Moscow；　he　was
a　plain；　uneducated　man；　too；　while　my　husband's　parents　were
wealthy　and　distinguished。　They　did　not　want　him　to　marry　me；　but
he　disobeyed　them；　quarrelled　with　them；　and　they　have　not
forgiven　us　to　this　day。　That　worries　my　husband；　it　troubles　him
and　keeps　him　in　constant　agitation；　he　loves　his　mother；　loves
her　dearly。　So　I　am　uneasy；　too；　my　soul　is　in　pain。〃

Peasants；　men　and　women；　were　by　now　standing　round　Rodion's　hut
and　listening。　Kozov　came　up；　too；　and　stood　twitching　his　long；
narrow　beard。　The　Lytchkovs；　father　and　son；　drew　near。

〃And　say　what　you　like；　one　cannot　be　happy　and　satisfied　if　one
does　not　feel　in　one's　proper　place。〃　Elena　Ivanovna　went　on。
〃Each　of　you　has　his　strip　of　land；　each　of　you　works　and　knows
what　he　is　working　for；　my　husband　builds　bridges　　in　short；
everyone　has　his　place；　while　I；　I　simply　walk　about。　I　have　not
my　bit　to　work。　I　don't　work；　and　feel　as　though　I　were　an
outsider。　I　am　saying　all　this　that　you　may　not　judge　from
outward　appearances；　if　a　man　is　expensively　dressed　and　has
means　it　does　not　prove　that　he　is　satisfied　with　his　life。〃

She　got　up　to　go　away　and　took　her　daughter　by　the　hand。

〃I　like　your　place　here　very　much；〃　she　said；　and　smiled；　and
from　that　faint；　diffident　smile　one　could　tell　how　unwell　she
really　was；　how　young　and　how　pretty；　she　had　a　pale；　thinnish
face　with　dark　eyebrows　and　fair　hair。　And　the　little　girl　was
just　such　another　as　her　mother：　thin；　fair；　and　slender。　There
was　a　fragrance　of　scent　about　them。

〃I　like　the　river　and　the　forest　and　the　village；〃　Elena　Ivanovna
went　on；　〃I　could　live　here　all　my　life；　and　I　feel　as　though
here　I　should　get　strong　and　find　my　place。　I　want　to　help　you　
I　want　to　dreadfully　　to　be　of　use；　to　be　a　real　friend　to　you。
I　know　your　need；　and　what　I　don't　know　I　feel；　my　heart　guesses。
I　am　sick；　feeble；　and　for　me　perhaps　it　is　not　possible　to
change　my　life　as　I　would。　But　I　have　children。　I　will　try　to
bring　them　up　that　they　may　be　of　use　to　you；　m