the witch and other stories(女巫)-第3节
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winter and on St。 Nicolas' Day in the summer； and for that he takes almost
all the crops for himself。 There's no one to stick up for us！〃
〃You are lying；〃 Savely growled hoarsely。 〃Father Nikodim is a saintly
soul； a luminary of the Church； and if he does take it； it's the regulation！〃
〃You've a cross one！〃 said the postman； with a grin。 〃Have you been
married long？〃
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〃It was three years ago the last Sunday before Lent。 My father was
sexton here in the old days； and when the time came for him to die； he
went to the Consistory and asked them to send some unmarried man to
marry me that I might keep the place。 So I married him。〃
〃Aha； so you killed two birds with one stone！〃 said the postman；
looking at Savely's back。 〃Got wife and job together。〃
Savely wriggled his leg impatiently and moved closer to the wall。 The
postman moved away from the table； stretched； and sat down on the mail…
bag。 After a moment's thought he squeezed the bags with his hands；
shifted his sword to the other side； and lay down with one foot touching
the floor。
〃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。〃
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〃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！〃
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〃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
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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
