the witch and other stories(女巫)-第7节
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She fell sick of fever and died in prison。〃
〃Live like a dog and you must die a dog's death；〃 said Dyudya。
〃Kuzka was sent back home。 。 。 。 I thought it over and took him to
bring up。 After all though a convict's child still he was a living soul； a
Christian。 。 。 。 I was sorry for him。 I shall make him my clerk； and if I have
no children of my own； I'll make a merchant of him。 Wherever I go now； I
take him with me； let him learn his work。〃
All the while Matvey Savitch had been telling his story； Kuzka had sat
on a little stone near the gate。 His head propped in both hands； he gazed at
the sky； and in the distance he looked in the dark like a stump of wood。
〃Kuzka； come to bed；〃 Matvey Savitch bawled to him。
〃Yes； it's time；〃 said Dyudya； getting up； he yawned loudly and added：
〃Folks will go their own way； and that's what comes of it。〃
Over the yard the moon was floating now in the heavens； she was
moving one way； while the clouds beneath moved the other way； the
clouds were disappearing into the darkness； but still the moon could be
seen high above the yard。
Matvey Savitch said a prayer； facing the church； and saying good…
night； he lay down on the ground near his cart。 Kuzka； too； said a prayer；
lay down in the cart； and covered himself with his little overcoat； he made
himself a little hole in the hay so as to be more comfortable； and curled up
so that his elbows looked like knees。 From the yard Dyudya could be seen
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lighting a candle in his room below； putting on his spectacles and standing
in the corner with a book。 He was a long while reading and crossing
himself。
The travellers fell asleep。 Afanasyevna and Sofya came up to the cart
and began looking at Kuzka。
〃The little orphan's asleep；〃 said the old woman。 〃He's thin and frail；
nothing but bones。 No mother and no one to care for him properly。〃
〃My Grishutka must be two years older；〃 said Sofya。 〃Up at the
factory he lives like a slave without his mother。 The foreman beats him； I
dare say。 When I looked at this poor mite just now； I thought of my own
Grishutka； and my heart went cold within me。〃 A minute passed in silence。
〃Doesn't remember his mother； I suppose；〃 said the old woman。
〃How could he remember？〃
And big tears began dropping from Sofya's eyes。
〃He's curled himself up like a cat；〃 she said； sobbing and laughing
with tenderness and sorrow。 。 。 。 〃Poor motherless mite！
Kuzka started and opened his eyes。 He saw before him an ugly；
wrinkled； tear…stained face； and beside it another； aged and toothless； with
a sharp chin and hooked nose； and high above them the infinite sky with
the flying clouds and the moon。 He cried out in fright； and Sofya； too；
uttered a cry； both were answered by the echo； and a faint stir passed over
the stifling air； a watchman tapped somewhere near； a dog barked。 Matvey
Savitch muttered something in his sleep and turned over on the other side。
Late at night when Dyudya and the old woman and the neighbouring
watchman were all asleep； Sofya went out to the gate and sat down on the
bench。 She felt stifled and her head ached from weeping。 The street was a
wide and long one； it stretched for nearly two miles to the right and as far
to the left； and the end of it was out of sight。 The moon was now not over
the yard； but behind the church。 One side of the street was flooded with
moonlight； while the other side lay in black shadow。 The long shadows of
the poplars and the starling…cotes stretched right across the street； while
the church cast a broad shadow； black and terrible that enfolded Dyudya's
gates and half his house。 The street was still and deserted。 From time to
time the strains of mu sic floated faintly from the end of the street
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Alyoshka； most likely； playing his concertina。
Someone moved in the shadow near the church enclosure； and Sofya
could not make out whether it were a man or a cow； or perhaps merely a
big bird rustling in the trees。 But then a figure stepped out of the shadow；
halted； and said something in a man's voice； then vanished down the
turning by the church。 A little later； not three yards from the gate； another
figure came into sight； it walked straight from the church to the gate and
stopped short； seeing Sofya on the bench。
〃Varvara； is that you？〃 said Sofya。
〃And if it were？〃
It was Varvara。 She stood still a minute； then came up to the bench and
sat down。
〃Where have you been？〃 asked Sofya。
Varvara made no answer。
〃You'd better mind you don't get into trouble with such goings…on； my
girl；〃 said Sofya。 〃Did you hear how Mashenka was kicked and lashed
with the reins？ You'd better look out； or they'll treat you the same。〃
〃Well； let them！〃
Varvara laughed into her kerchief and whispered：
〃I have just been with the priest's son。〃
〃Nonsense！〃
〃I have！〃
〃It's a sin！〃 whispered Sofya。
〃Well； let it be。 。 。 。 What do I care？ If it's a sin； then it is a sin； but
better be struck dead by thunder than live like this。 I'm young and strong；
and I've a filthy crooked hunchback for a husband； worse than Dyudya
himself； curse him！ When I was a girl； I hadn't bread to eat； or a shoe to
my foot； and to get away from that wretchedness I was tempted by
Alyoshka's money； and got caught like a fish in a net； and I'd rather have a
viper for my bedfellow than that scurvy Alyoshka。 And what's your life？ It
makes me sick to look at it。 Your Fyodor sent you packing from the
factory and he's taken up with another woman。 They have robbed you of
your boy and made a slave of him。 You work like a horse； and never hear a
kind word。 I'd rather pine all my days an old maid； I'd rather get half a
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rouble from the priest's son； I'd rather beg my bread； or throw myself into
the well。 。 。
〃It's a sin！〃 whispered Sofya again。
〃Well； let it be。〃
Somewhere behind the church the same three voices； two tenors and a
bass； began singing again a mournful song。 And again the words could not
be distinguished。
〃They are not early to bed；〃 Varvara said； laughing。
And she began telling in a whisper of her midnight walks with the
priest's son； and of the stories he had told her； and of his comrades； and of
the fun she had with the travellers who stayed in the house。 The mournful
song stirred a longing for life and freedom。 Sofya began to laugh； she
thought it sinful and terrible and sweet to hear about； and she felt envious
and sorry that she； too； had not been a sinner when she was young and
pretty。
In the churchyard they heard twelve strokes beaten on the watchman's
board。
〃It's time we were asleep；〃 said Sofya； getting up； 〃or； maybe； we shall
catch it from Dyudya。〃
They both went softly into the yard。
〃I went away without hearing what he was telling about Mashenka；〃
said Varvara； making herself a bed under the window。
〃She died in prison； he said。 She poisoned her husband。〃
Varvara lay down beside Sofya a while； and said softly：
〃I'd make away with my Alyoshka and never regret it。〃
〃You talk nonsense； God forgive you。〃
When Sofya was just dropping asleep； Varvara； coming close；
whispered in her ear：
〃Let us get rid of Dyudya and Alyoshka！〃
Sofya started and said nothing。 Then she opened her eyes and gazed a
long while steadily at the sky。
〃People would find out；〃 she said。
〃No； they wouldn't。 Dyudya's an old man； it's time he did die； and
they'd say Alyoshka died of drink。〃
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〃I'm afraid 。 。 。 God would chastise us。〃
〃Well； let Him。 。 。 。〃
Both lay awake thinking in silence。
〃It's cold；〃 said Sofya； beginning to shiver a
