the witch and other stories-第3章
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〃It's a dog's life；〃 he muttered； putting his hands behind his
head and closing his eyes。 〃I wouldn't wish a wild Tatar such a
life。〃
Soon everything was still。 Nothing was audible except the
sniffing of Savely and the slow； even breathing of the sleeping
po stman； who uttered a deep prolonged 〃h…h…h〃 at every breath。
From time to time there was a sound like a creaking wheel in his
throat； and his twitching foot rustled against the bag。
Savely fidgeted under the quilt and looked round slowly。 His wife
was sitting on the stool； and with her hands pressed against her
cheeks was gazing at the postman's face。 Her face was immovable；
like the face of some one frightened and astonished。
〃Well； what are you gaping at？〃 Savely whispered angrily。
〃What is it to you？ Lie down！〃 answered his wife without taking
her eyes off the flaxen head。
Savely angrily puffed all the air out of his chest and turned
abruptly to the wall。 Three minutes later he turned over
restlessly again； knelt up on the bed； and with his hands on the
pillow looked askance at his wife。 She was still sitting
motionless； staring at the visitor。 Her cheeks were pale and her
eyes were glowing with a strange fire。 The sexton cleared his
throat； crawled on his stomach off the bed； and going up to the
postman； put a handkerchief over his face。
〃What's that for？〃 asked his wife。
〃To keep the light out of his eyes。〃
〃Then put out the light！〃
Savely looked distrustfully at his wife； put out his lips towards
the lamp； but at once thought better of it and clasped his hands。
〃Isn't that devilish cunning？〃 he exclaimed。 〃Ah！ Is there any
creature slyer than womenkind？〃
〃Ah； you long…skirted devil！〃 hissed his wife； frowning with
vexation。 〃You wait a bit！〃
And settling herself more comfortably； she stared at the postman
again。
It did not matter to her that his face was covered。 She was not
so much interested in his face as in his whole appearance； in the
novelty of this man。 His chest was broad and powerful； his hands
were slender and well formed； and his graceful； muscular legs
were much comelier than Savely's stumps。 There could be no
comparison； in fact。
〃Though I am a long…skirted devil；〃 Savely said after a brief
interval； 〃they've no business to sleep here。 。 。 。 It's
government work； we shall have to answer for keeping them。 If you
carry the letters； carry them； you can't go to sleep。 。 。 。 Hey！
you！〃 Savely shouted into the outer room。 〃You； driver。 What's
your name？ Shall I show you the way？ Get up； postmen mustn't
sleep！〃
And Savely； thoroughly roused； ran up to the postman and tugged
him by the sleeve。
〃Hey； your honour； if you must go； go； and if you don't； it's not
the thing。 。 。 。 Sleeping won't do。〃
The postman jumped up； sat down； looked with blank eyes round the
hut； and lay down again。
〃But when are you going？〃 Savely pattered away。 〃That's what the
post is for to get there in good time； do you hear？ I'll take
you。〃
The postman opened his eyes。 Warmed and relaxed by his first
sweet sleep； and not yet quite awake； he saw as through a mist
the white neck and the immovable； alluring eyes of the sexton's
wife。 He closed his eyes and smiled as though he had been
dreaming it all。
〃Come； how can you go in such weather！〃 he heard a soft feminine
voice； 〃you ought to have a sound sleep and it would do you
good！〃
〃And what about the post？〃 said Savely anxiously。 〃Who's going to
take the post？ Are you going to take it； pray； you？
The postman opened his eyes again； looked at the play of the
dimples on Raissa's face； remembered where he was； and understood
Savely。 The thought that he had to go out into the cold darkness
sent a chill shudder all down him； and he winced。
〃I might sleep another five minutes；〃 he said； yawning。 〃I shall
be late； anyway。 。 。 。〃
〃We might be just in time；〃 came a voice from the outer room。
〃All days are not alike； the train may be late for a bit of
luck。〃
The postman got up； and stretching lazily began putting on his
coat。
Savely positively neighed with delight when he saw his visitors
were getting ready to go。
〃Give us a hand；〃 the driver shouted to him as he lifted up a
mail…bag。
The sexton ran out and helped him drag the post…bags into the
yard。 The postman began undoing the knot in his hood。 The
sexton's wife gazed into his eyes； and seemed trying to look
right into his soul。
〃You ought to have a cup of tea 。 。 。〃 she said。
〃I wouldn't say no 。 。 。 but； you see； they're getting ready；〃 he
assented。 〃We are late； anyway。〃
〃Do stay；〃 she whispered； dropping her eyes and touching him by
the sleeve。
The postman got the knot undone at last and flung the hood over
his elbow； hesitating。 He felt it comfortable standing by Raissa。
〃What a 。 。 。 neck you've got！ 。 。 。〃 And he touched her neck
with two fingers。 Seeing that she did not resist； he stroked her
neck and shoulders。
〃I say； you are 。 。 。〃
〃You'd better stay 。 。 。 have some tea。〃
〃Where are you putting it？〃 The driver's voice could be heard
outside。 〃Lay it crossways。〃
〃You'd better stay。 。 。 。 Hark how the wind howls。〃
And the postman； not yet quite awake； not yet quite able to shake
off the intoxicating sleep of youth and fatigue； was suddenly
overwhelmed by a desire for the sake of which mail…bags； postal
trains 。 。 。 and all things in the world； are forgotten。 He
glanced at the door in a frightened way； as though he wanted to
escape or hide himself； seized Raissa round the waist； and was
just bending over the lamp to put out the light； when he heard
the tramp of boots in the outer room； and the driver appeared in
the doorway。 Savely peeped in over his shoulder。 The postman
dropped his hands quickly and stood still as though irresolute。
〃It's all ready；〃 said the driver。 The postman stood still for a
moment； resolutely threw up his head as though waking up
completely； and followed the driver out。 Raissa was left alone。
〃Come； get in and show us the way！〃 she heard。
One bell sounded languidly； then another； and the jingling notes
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 f
