the witch and other stories-第25章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


real　person。　Here　he　can　do　nothing；　he　can't　talk；　and　yet　I
know　what　he　wants　with　his　little　eyes。〃

Varvara　was　listening；　the　sound　of　the　evening　train　coming　in
to　the　station　reached　her。　Had　her　husband　come？　She　did　not
hear　and　she　did　not　heed　what　Lipa　was　saying；　she　had　no　idea
how　the　time　passed；　but　only　trembled　all　over　　not　from
dread；　but　intense　curiosity。　She　saw　a　cart　full　of　peasants
roll　quickly　by　with　a　rattle。　It　was　the　witnesses　coming　back
from　the　station。　When　the　cart　passed　the　shop　the　old　workman
jumped　out　and　walked　into　the　yard。　She　could　hear　him　being
greeted　in　the　yard　and　being　asked　some　questions。　。　。　。

〃Deprivation　of　rights　and　all　his　property；〃　he　said　loudly；
〃and　six　years'　penal　servitude　in　Siberia。〃

She　could　see　Aksinya　come　out　of　the　shop　by　the　back　way；　she
had　just　been　selling　kerosene；　and　in　one　hand　held　a　bottle　and
in　the　other　a　can；　and　in　her　mouth　she　had　some　silver　coins。

〃Where　is　father？〃　she　asked；　lisping。

〃At　the　station；〃　answered　the　labourer。　〃　'When　it　gets　a　little
darker；'　he　said；　'then　I　shall　come。'　〃

And　when　it　became　known　all　through　the　household　that　Anisim
was　sentenced　to　penal　servitude；　the　cook　in　the　kitchen
suddenly　broke　into　a　wail　as　though　at　a　funeral；　imagining　that
this　was　demanded　by　the　proprieties：

〃There　is　no　one　to　care　for　us　now　you　have　gone；　Anisim
Grigoritch；　our　bright　falcon。　。　。　。〃

The　dogs　began　barking　in　alarm。　Varvara　ran　to　the　window；　and
rushing　about　in　distress；　shouted　to　the　cook　with　all　her
might；　straining　her　voice：

〃Sto…op；　Stepanida；　sto…op！　Don't　harrow　us；　for　Christ's　sake！〃

They　forgot　to　set　the　samovar；　they　could　think　of　nothing。　Only
Lipa　could　not　make　out　what　it　was　all　about　and　went　on　playing
with　her　baby。

When　the　old　father　arrived　from　the　station　they　asked　him　no
questions。　He　greeted　them　and　walked　through　all　the　rooms　in
silence；　he　had　no　supper。

〃There　was　no　one　to　see　about　things　。　。　。〃　Varvara　began　when
they　were　alone。　〃I　said　you　should　have　asked　some　of　the
gentry；　you　would　not　heed　me　at　the　time。　。　。　。　A　petition　would
。　。　。〃

〃I　saw　to　things；〃　said　her　husband　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。
〃When　Anisim　was　condemned　I　went　to　the　gentleman　who　was
defending　him。　'It's　no　use　now；'　he　said；　'it's　too　late'；　and
Anisim　said　the　same；　it's　too　late。　But　all　the　same　as　I　came
out　of　the　court　I　made　an　agreement　with　a　lawyer；　I　paid　him
something　in　advance。　I'll　wait　a　week　and　then　I　will　go　again。
It　is　as　God　wills。〃

Again　the　old　man　walked　through　all　the　rooms；　and　when　he　went
back　to　Varvara　he　said：

〃I　must　be　ill。　My　head's　in　a　sort　of　。　。　。　fog。　My　thoughts　are
in　a　maze。〃

He　closed　the　door　that　Lipa　might　not　hear；　and　went　on　softly：

〃I　am　unhappy　about　my　money。　Do　you　remember　on　Low　Sunday
before　his　wedding　Anisim's　bringing　me　some　new　roubles　and
half…roubles？　One　parcel　I　put　away　at　the　time；　but　the　others　I
mixed　with　my　own　money。　When　my　uncle　Dmitri　Filatitch　　the
kingdom　of　heaven　be　his　　was　alive；　he　used　constantly　to　go
journeys　to　Moscow　and　to　the　Crimea　to　buy　goods。　He　had　a　wife；
and　this　same　wife；　when　he　was　away　buying　goods；　used　to　take
up　with　other　men。　She　had　half　a　dozen　children。　And　when　uncle
was　in　his　cups　he　would　laugh　and　say：　'I　never　can　make　out；'
he　used　to　say；　'which　are　my　children　and　which　are　other
people's。'　An　easy…going　disposition；　to　be　sure；　and　so　I　now
can't　distinguish　which　are　genuine　roubles　and　which　are　false
ones。　And　it　seems　to　me　that　they　are　all　false。〃

〃Nonsense；　God　bless　you。〃

〃I　take　a　ticket　at　the　station；　I　give　the　man　three　roubles；
and　I　keep　fancying　they　are　false。　And　I　am　frightened。　I　must
be　ill。〃

〃There's　no　denying　it；　we　are　all　in　God's　hands。　。　。　。　Oh　dear；
dear　。　。　。〃　said　Varvara；　and　she　shook　her　head。　〃You　ought　to
think　about　this；　Grigory　Petrovitch：　you　never　know；　anything
may　happen；　you　are　not　a　young　man。　See　they　don't　wrong　your
grandchild　when　you　are　dead　and　gone。　Oy；　I　am　afraid　they　will
be　unfair　to　Nikifor！　He　has　as　good　as　no　father；　his　mother's
young　and　foolish　。　。　。　you　ought　to　secure　something　for　him；
poor　little　boy；　at　least　the　land；　Butyokino；　Grigory
Petrovitch；　really！　Think　it　over！〃　Varvara　went　on　persuading
him。　〃The　pretty　boy；　one　is　sorry　for　him！　You　go　to…morrow　and
make　out　a　deed；　why　put　it　off？〃

〃I'd　forgotten　about　my　grandson；〃　said　Tsybukin。　〃I　must　go　and
have　a　look　at　him。　So　you　say　the　boy　is　all　right？　Well；　let
him　grow　up；　please　God。〃

He　opened　the　door　and；　crooking　his　finger；　beckoned　to　Lipa。
She　went　up　to　him　with　the　baby　in　her　arms。

〃If　there　is　anything　you　want；　Lipinka；　you　ask　for　it；〃　he
said。　〃And　eat　anything　you　like；　we　don't　grudge　it；　so　long　as
it　does　you　good。　。　。　。〃　He　made　the　sign　of　the　cross　over　the
baby。　〃And　take　care　of　my　grandchild。　My　son　is　gone；　but　my
grandson　is　left。〃

Tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks；　he　gave　a　sob　and　went　away。　Soon
afterwards　he　went　to　bed　and　slept　soundly　after　seven　sleepless
nights。

VII

Old　Tsybukin　went　to　the　town　for　a　short　time。　Someone　told
Aksinya　that　he　had　gone　to　the　notary　to　make　his　will　and　that
he　was　leaving　Butyokino；　the　very　place　where　she　had　set　up　a
brickyard；　to　Nikifor；　his　grandson。　She　was　informed　of　this　in
the　morning
　when　old　Tsybukin　and　Varvara　were　sitting　near　the　steps　under
the　birch…tree；　drinking　their　tea。　She　closed　the　shop　in　the
front　and　at　the　back；　gathered　together　all　the　keys　she　had；
and　flung　them　at　her　father…in…law's　feet。

〃I　am　not　going　on　working　for　you；〃　she　began　in　a　loud　voice；
and　suddenly　broke　into　sobs。　〃It　seems　I　am　not　your
daughter…in…law；　but　a　servant！　Everybody's　jeering　and　saying；
'See　what　a　servant　the　Tsybukins　have　got　hold　of！'　I　did　not
come　to　you　for　wages！　I　am　not　a　beggar；　I　am　not　a　slave；　I
have　a　father　and　mother。〃

She　did　not　wipe　away　her　tears；　she　fixed　upon　her　father…in…law
eyes　full　of　tears；　vindictive；　squinting　with　wrath；　her　face
and　neck　were　red　and　tense；　and　she　was　shouting　at　the　top　of
her　voice。

〃I　don't　mean　to　go　on　being　a　slave！〃　she　went　on。　〃I　am　worn
out。　When　it　is　work；　when　it　is　sitting　in　the　shop　day　in　and
day　out；　scurrying　out　at　night　for　vodka　　then　it　is　my　share；
but　when　it　is　giving　away　the　land　then　it　is　for　that　convict's
wife　and　her　imp。　She　is　mistress　here；　and　I　am　her　servant。
Give　her　everything；　the　convict's　wife；　and　may　it　choke　her！　I
am　going　home！　Find　yourselves　some　other　fool；　you　damned
Herods！〃

Tsybukin　had　never　in　his　life　scolded　or　punished　his　children；
and　had　never　dreamed　that　one　of　his　family　could　speak　to　him
rudely　or　behave　disrespectfully；　and　now　he　was　very　much
frightened；　he　ran　into　the　house　and　there　hid　behind　the
cupboard。　And　Varvara　was　so　much　flustered　that　she　could　not
get　up　from　her　seat；　and　only　waved　her　hands　before　her　as
though　she　were　warding　off　a　bee。

〃Oh；　Holy　Saints！　what's　the　meaning　of　it？〃　she　muttered　in
horror。　〃What　is　she　shouting？　Oh；　dear；　dear！　。　。　。　People　will
hear！　Hush。　Oh；　hush！〃

〃He　has　given　Butyokino　to　the　convict's　wife；〃　Aksinya　went　on
bawling。　〃Give　her　everything　now；　I　don't　want　anything　from
you！　Let　me　alone！　You　are　all　a　gang　of　thieves　here！　I　have
seen　my　fill　of　it；　I　have　had　enough！　You　have　robbed　folks
coming　in　and　going　out；　you　have　robbed　old　and　young　alike；　you
brigands！　And　who　has　been　selling　vodka　without　a　licence？　And
false　money？　You've　filled　boxes　full　of　false　coins；　and　now　I
am　no　more　use！〃

A　crowd　had　by　now　collected　at　the　open　gate　and　was　staring
into　the　yard。

〃Let　the　people　look；〃　bawled　Aksinya。　〃I　will　shame　you　all！　You
shall　burn　with　shame！　You　shall　grovel　at　my　feet。　Hey！　Stepan；〃
she　called　to　the　deaf　man；　〃let　us　go　home　this　minute！　Let　us
go　to　my　father　and　mother；　I　don't　want　to　live　with　convicts。
Get　ready！〃

Clothes　were　hanging　on　lines　stretched　across　the　yard；　she
snatched　off　her　petticoats　and　blouses　still　wet　and　flung　them
into　the　deaf　man's　arms。　Then　in　her　fury　she　dashed　about　the
yard　by　the　linen；　tore　down　all　of　it；　and　what　was　not　hers　she
threw　on　the　ground　and　trampled　upon。

〃Holy　Saints；　take　her　away；〃　moaned　Varvara。　〃What　a　woman！　Give
her　Butyokino！　Give　it　her；　for　the　Lord's　sake！

〃Well！　Wha…at　a　woman！〃　people　were　saying　at　the　gate。　〃She's　a
wo…oman！　She's　going　it　　something　like！〃

Aksinya　ran　into　the　kitchen　where　washing　was　going　on。　Lipa　was
washing　alone；　the　cook　had　gone　to　the　river　to　rinse　the
clothes。　Steam　was　rising　from　the　trough　and　from　the　caldron　on
the　side　of　the　stove；　and　the　kitchen　was　thick　and　stifling
from　the　steam。　On　the　floor　was　a　heap　of　unwashed　clothes；　and
Nikifor；　kicking　up　his　little　red　legs；　had　been　put　down　on　a
bench　near　them；　so　that　if　he　fell　he　should　not　hurt　himself。
Just　as　Aksinya　went　in　Lipa　took　the　former's　chemise　out　of　the
heap　and　put　it　in　the　trough；　and　was　just　stretching　out　her
hand　to　a　big　ladle　of　boiling　water　which　was　standing　on　the
table。

〃Give　it　here；〃　said　Aksinya；　looking　at　her　with　hatred；　and
snatching　the　chemise　out　of　the　trough；　〃it　is　not　your　business
to　touch　my　linen！　You　are　a　convict's　wife；　and　ought　to　know
your　place　and　who　you　are。〃

Lipa　gazed　at　her；　taken　aback；　and　did　not　understand；　but
suddenly　she　caught　the　look　Aksinya　turned　upon　the　child；　and
at　once　she　understood　and　went　numb　all　over。

〃You've　taken　my　land；　so　here　you　are！〃　Saying　this　Aksinya
snatched　up　the　ladle　with　the　boiling　water　and　flung　it　over
Nikifor。

After　this　there　was　heard　a　scream　such　as　had　never　been　heard
before　in　Ukleevo；　and　no　one　would　have　believed　that　a　little
weak　creature　like　Lipa　could　scream　like　that。　And　it　was
suddenly　silent　in　the　yard。

Aksinya　walked　into　the　house　with　her　old　naive　smile。　。　。　。　The
deaf　man　kept　moving　about　the　yard　with　his　arms　full　of　linen；
then　he　began　hanging　it　up　again；　in　silence；　without　haste。　And
until　the　cook　came　back　from　the　river　no　one　ventured　to　go
into　the　kitchen　and　see　what　was　there。

VIII

Nikifor　was　taken　to　the　district　hospital；　and　towards　evening
he　died　there。　Lipa　did　not　wait　for　them　to　come　for　her；　but
wrapped　the　dead　baby　in　its　little　quilt　and　carried　it　home。

The　hospital；　a　new　one　recently　built；　with　big　windows；　stood
high　up　on　a　hill；　it　was　glittering　from　the　setting　sun　and
looked　as　though　it　were　on　fire　from　inside。　There　was　a　little
village　below。　Lipa　went　down　along　the　road；　and　before　reaching
the　village　sat　down　by　a　pond。　A　woman　brought　a　horse　down　to
drink　and　the　horse　did　not　drink。

〃What　more　do　you　want？〃　said　the　woman　to　it　softly。　〃What　do
you　want？〃

A　boy　in　a　red　shirt；　sitting　at　the　water's　edge；　was　washing
his　father's　boots。　And　not　another　soul　was　in　sight　either　in
the　village　or　on　the　hill。

〃It's　not　drinking；〃　said　Lipa；　looking　at　the　horse。

Then　the　woman　with　the　horse　and　the　boy　with　the　boots　walked
away；　and　there　was　no