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the witch and other stories(女巫)-第2部分

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the darkness。 

     〃And it's the same thing now!〃 Savely went on。 〃It's not for nothing 

the postman is lost! Blast my eyes if the postman isn't looking for you! Oh; 

the devil is a good hand at his work; he is a fine one to help! He will turn 

him round and round and bring him here。 I know; I see! You can't conceal 

it; you devil's bauble; you heathen wanton! As soon as the storm began I 

knew what you were up to。〃 

     〃Here's   a   fool!〃   smiled   his   wife。   〃Why;   do   you   suppose;   you   thick… 

head; that I make the storm?〃 

     〃H'm! 。 。 。 Grin away! Whether it's your doing or not; I only know that 

when your blood's on fire there's sure to be bad weather; and when there's 

bad   weather   there's   bound   to   be   some   crazy   fellow   turning   up   here。   It 

happens so every time! So it must be you!〃 

     To be more impressive the sexton put his finger to his forehead; closed 

his left eye; and said in a singsong voice: 

     〃Oh;  the   madness!   oh;   the   unclean   Judas!   If   you   really  are   a   human 

being and not a witch; you ought to think what if he is not the mechanic; 

or the clerk; or the huntsman; but the devil in their form! Ah! You'd better 

think of that!〃 

     〃Why;      you    are   stupid;    Savely;〃    said   his   wife;    looking     at  him 

compassionately。   〃When          father   was    alive   and  living   here;   all   sorts  of 

people used to come to him to be cured of the ague: from the village; and 

the hamlets;   and   the Armenian   settlement。 They  came   almost   every  day; 



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and   no   one   called them  devils。   But if   anyone once   a   year   comes   in bad 

weather to warm himself; you wonder at it; you silly; and take all sorts of 

notions into your head at once。〃 

     His wife's logic touched Savely。 He stood with his bare feet wide apart; 

bent his head; and pondered。 He was not firmly convinced yet of the truth 

of   his   suspicions;    and   his  wife's   genuine    and   unconcerned       tone   quite 

disconcerted him。 Yet after   a moment's thought he   wagged his head   and 

said: 

     〃It's   not   as   though   they   were   old   men   or   bandy…legged   cripples;   it's 

always young men who want to come for the night。 。 。 。 Why is that? And 

if they only wanted to warm themselves  But they are up to mischief。 

No; woman;   there's no creature in   this   world  as cunning   as   your   female 

sort!   Of   real   brains   you've   not   an   ounce;   less   than   a   starling;   but   for 

devilish slyness  oo…oo…oo! The Queen of Heaven protect us! There is the 

postman's bell! When the storm was only beginning I knew all that was in 

your mind。 That's your witchery; you spider!〃 

     〃Why do you keep on at me; you heathen?〃 His wife lost her patience 

at last。 〃Why do you keep sticking to it like pitch?〃 

     〃I stick to it because if anything  God forbid  happens to…night 。 。 。 

do   you   hear?   。   。   。   if   anything   happens   to…night;   I'll   go   straight   off   to… 

morrow   morning   to   Father   Nikodim   and          tell   him   all   about   it。  'Father 

Nikodim;' I shall say; 'graciously excuse me; but she is a witch。' 'Why so?' 

'H'm! do you want to know why?' 'Certainly。 。 。 。' And I shall tell him。 And 

woe to you; woman! Not only at the dread Seat of Judgment; but in your 

earthly life you'll be punished; too! It's not for nothing there are prayers in 

the breviary against your kind!〃 

     Suddenly there was a knock at the window; so loud and unusual that 

Savely   turned   pale   and   almost   dropped   backwards   with   fright。   His   wife 

jumped up; and she; too; turned pale。 

     〃For    God's    sake;   let  us  come    in  and   get  warm!〃     they   heard    in  a 

trembling deep bass。 〃Who lives here? For mercy's sake! We've lost   our 

way。〃 

     〃Who are you?〃 asked Raissa; afraid to look at the window。 

     〃The post;〃 answered a second voice。 



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     〃You've succeeded with your devil's tricks;〃 said Savely with a wave 

of his hand。 〃No mistake; I am right! Well; you'd better look out!〃 

     The sexton jumped on to the bed in two skips; stretched himself on the 

feather   mattress;   and   sniffing   angrily;   turned   with   his   face   to   the   wall。 

Soon he felt a draught of cold air on his back。 The door creaked and the 

tall figure of a man; plastered over with snow from head to foot; appeared 

in the doorway。 Behind him could be seen a second figure as white。 

     〃Am I to bring in the bags?〃 asked the second in a hoarse bass voice。 

     〃You     can't  leave    them    there。〃   Saying    this;  the   first  figure   began 

untying his hood; but gave it up; and pulling it off impatiently with his cap; 

angrily flung it near the stove。 Then taking off his greatcoat; he threw that 

down   beside it;  and;  without   saying good…evening; began pacing   up   and 

down the hut。 

     He   was   a   fair…haired;   young postman   wearing   a   shabby  uniform  and 

black rusty…looking high boots。 After warming himself by walking to and 

fro;   he   sat   down   at   the   table;   stretched   out   his   muddy   feet   towards   the 

sacks and leaned his chin on his fist。 His pale face; reddened in places by 

the   cold;   still   bore   vivid   traces   of   the   pain   and   terror   he   had   just   been 

through。 Though distorted by anger and bearing traces of recent suffering; 

physical and moral; it was handsome in spite of the melting snow on the 

eyebrows; moustaches; and short beard。 

     〃It's a dog's life!〃 muttered the postman; looking round the walls and 

seeming hardly able to believe that he was in the warmth。 〃We were nearly 

lost!   If   it   had   not   been   for   your   light;   I   don't   know   what   would   have 

happened。 Goodness only knows when it will all be over! There's no end 

to this dog's life! Where have we come?〃 he asked; dropping his voice and 

raising his eyes to the sexton's wife。 

     〃To     the   Gulyaevsky       Hill   on   General     Kalinovsky's      estate;〃    she 

answered; startled and blushing。 

     〃Do   you   hear;   Stepan?〃   The   postman   turned   to   the   driver;   who   was 

wedged in the doorway with a huge mail…bag on his shoulders。 〃We've got 

to Gulyaevsky Hill。〃 

     〃Yes 。 。 。 we're a long way out。〃 Jerking out these words like a hoarse 

sigh;  the  driver  went   out   and   soon   after  returned   with   another bag;  then 



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                            THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES 



went out once more and this time brought the postman's sword on a big 

belt; of the pattern of that long flat blade with which Judith is portrayed by 

the bedside of Holofernes in cheap woodcuts。 Laying the bags along the 

wall; he went out into the outer room; sat down there and lighted his pipe。 

     〃Perhaps you'd like some tea after your journey?〃 Raissa inquired。 

     〃How can we sit drinking tea?〃 said the postman; frowning。 〃We must 

make haste and get warm; and then set off; or we shall be late for the mail 

train。 We'll stay ten minutes and then get on our way。 Only be so good as 

to show us the way。〃 

     〃What an infliction it is; this weather!〃 sighed Raissa。 

     〃H'm; yes。 。 。 。 Who may you be?〃 

     〃We? We live here; by the church。 。 。 。 We belong to the clergy。 。 。 。 

There lies my husband。 Savely; get up and say good…evening! This used to 

be a separate parish till eighteen months ago。 Of course; when the gentry 

lived   here   there   were   more   people;   and   it   was   worth   while   to   have   the 

services。   But   now   the   gentry   have   gone;   and   I   need   not   tell   you   there's 

nothing   for   the   clergy   to   live   on。   The   nearest   village   is   Markovka;   and 

that's over three miles away。 Savely is on the retired list now; and has got 

the watchman's job; he has to look after the church。 。 。 。〃 

     And the postman was immediately informed that if Savely were to go 

to the General's lady and ask her for a letter to the bishop; he would be 

given a good berth。 〃But he doesn't go to the General's lady because he is 

lazy and afraid of people。 We belong to the clergy all the same 。 。 。〃 added 

Raissa。 

     〃What do you live on?〃 asked the postman。 

     〃There's a kitchen garden and a meadow belonging to the church。 Only 

we   don't   get   much   from   that;〃   sighed   Raissa。   〃The   old   skinflint;   Father 

Nikodim; from the next village celebrates here on St。 Nicolas' Day in the 

winter and on St。 Nicolas' Day in the summer; and for that he takes almost 

all t
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