the witch and other stories(女巫)-第47节
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won't mend your trouble with tears。 Bear it in patience； that is all。 It is
written in the Scriptures： 'If anyone smite thee on the right cheek； offer
him the left one also。' 。 。 。 Aye； aye； dearie。〃
Then in a low singsong murmur she told them about Moscow； about
her own life； how she had been a servant in furnished lodgings。
〃And in Moscow the houses are big； built of brick；〃 she said； 〃and
there are ever so many churches； forty times forty； dearie； and they are all
gentry in the houses； so handsome and so proper！〃
Marya told her that she had not only never been in Moscow； but had
not even been in their own district town； she could not read or write； and
knew no prayers； not even 〃Our Father。〃 Both she and Fyokla； the other
sister…in…law； who was sitting a little way off listening； were extremely
ignorant and could understand nothing。 They both disliked their husbands；
Marya was afraid of Kiryak； and whenever he stayed with her she was
shaking with fear； and always got a headache from the fumes of vodka and
tobacco with which he reeked。 And in answer to the question whether she
did not miss her husband； Fyokla answered with vexation：
〃Miss him！〃
They talked a little and sank into silence。
It was cool； and a cock crowed at the top of his voice near the barn；
preventing them from sleeping。 When the bluish morning light was
already peeping through all the crevices； Fyokla got up stealthily and went
out； and then they heard the sound of her bare feet running off somewhere。
II
Olga went to church； and took Marya with her。 As they went down the
path towards the meadow both were in good spirits。 Olga liked the wide
view； and Marya felt that in her sister…in…law she had someone near and
akin to her。 The sun was rising。 Low down over the meadow floated a
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drowsy hawk。 The river looked gloomy； there was a haze hovering over it
here and there； but on the further bank a streak of light already stretched
across the hill。 The church was gleaming； and in the manor garden the
rooks were cawing furiously。
〃The old man is all right；〃 Marya told her； 〃but Granny is strict； she is
continually nagging。 Our own grain lasted till Carnival。 We buy flour now
at the tavern。 She is angry about it； she says we eat too much。〃
〃Aye； aye； dearie！ Bear it in patience； that is all。 It is written： 'Come
unto Me； all ye that labour and are heavy laden。' 〃
Olga spoke sedately； rhythmically； and she walked like a pilgrim
woman； with a rapid； anxious step。 Every day she read the gospel； read it
aloud like a deacon； a great deal of it she did not understand； but the words
of the gospel moved her to tears； and words like 〃forasmuch as〃 and
〃verily〃 she pronounced with a sweet flutter at her heart。 She believed in
God； in the Holy Mother； in the Saints； she believed one must not offend
anyone in the world not simple folks； nor Germans； nor gypsies； nor
Jews and woe even to those who have no compassion on the beasts。 She
believed this was written in the Holy Scriptures； and so； when she
pronounced phrases from Holy Writ； even though she did not understand
them； her face grew softened； compassionate； and radiant。
〃What part do you come from？〃 Marya asked her。
〃I am from Vladimir。 Only I was taken to Moscow long ago； when I
was eight years old。〃
They reached the river。 On the further side a woman was standing at
the water's edge； undressing。
〃It's our Fyokla；〃 said Marya； recognizing her。 〃She has been over the
river to the manor yard。 To the stewards。 She is a shameless hussy and
foul…mouthed fearfully！〃
Fyokla； young and vigorous as a girl； with her black eyebrows and her
loose hair； jumped off the bank and began splashing the water with her
feet； and waves ran in all directions from her。
〃Shameless dreadfully！ 〃 repeated Marya。
The river was crossed by a rickety little bridge of logs； and exactly
below it in the clear； limpid water was a shoal of broad…headed mullets。
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The dew was glistening on the green bushes that looked into the water。
There was a feeling of warmth； it was comforting！ What a lovely morning！
And how lovely life would have been in this world； in all likelihood； if it
were not for poverty； horrible； hopeless poverty； from which one can find
no refuge！ One had only to look round at the village to remember vividly
all that had happened the day before； and the illusion of happiness which
seemed to surround them vanished instantly。
They reached the church。 Marya stood at the entrance； and did not dare
to go farther。 She did not dare to sit down either。 Though they only began
ringing for mass between eight and nine； she remained standing the whole
time。
While the gospel was being read the crowd suddenly parted to make
way for the family from the great house。 Two young girls in white frocks
and wide…brimmed hats walked in； with them a chubby； rosy boy in a
sailor suit。 Their appearance touched Olga； she made up her mind from the
first glance that they were refined； well…educated； handsome people。
Marya looked at them from under her brows； sullenly； dejectedly； as
though they were not human beings coming in； but monsters who might
crush her if she did not make way for them。
And every time the deacon boomed out something in his bass voice
she fancied she heard 〃Ma…arya！〃 and she shuddered。
III
The arrival of the visitors was already known in the village； and
directly after mass a number of people gathered together in the hut。 The
Leonytchevs and Matvyeitchevs and the Ilyitchovs came to inquire about
their relations who were in service in Moscow。 All the lads of Zhukovo
who could read and write were packed off to Moscow and hired out as
butlers or waiters （while from the village on the other side of the river the
boys all became bakers）； and that had been the custom from the days of
serfdom long ago when a certain Luka Ivanitch； a peasant from Zhukovo；
now a legendary figure； who had been a waiter in one of the Moscow
clubs； would take none but his fellow…villagers into his service； and found
jobs for them in taverns and restaurants； and from that time the village of
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Zhukovo was always called among the inhabitants of the surrounding
districts Slaveytown。 Nikolay had been taken to Moscow when he was
eleven； and Ivan Makaritch； one of the Matvyeitchevs； at that time a
headwaiter in the 〃Hermitage〃 garden； had put him into a situation。 And
now； addressing the Matvyeitchevs； Nikolay said emphatically：
〃Ivan Makaritch was my benefactor； and I am bound to pray for him
day and night； as it is owing to him I have become a good man。〃
〃My good soul！〃 a tall old woman； the sister of Ivan Makaritch； said
tearfully； 〃and not a word have we heard about him； poor dear。〃
〃In the winter he was in service at Omon's； and this season there was a
rumour he was somewhere out of town； in gardens。 。 。 。 He has aged！ In
old days he would bring home as much as ten roubles a day in the
summer…time； but now things are very quiet everywhere。 The old man
frets。〃
The women looked at Nikolay's feet； shod in felt boots； and at his pale
face； and said mournfully：
〃You are not one to get on； Nikolay Osipitch； you are not one to get on！
No； indeed！〃
And they all made much of Sasha。 She was ten years old； but she was
little and very thin； and might have been taken for no more than seven。
Among the other little girls； with their sunburnt faces and roughly cropped
hair； dressed in long faded smocks； she with her white little face； with her
big dark eyes； with a red ribbon in her hair； looked funny； as though she
wer
