the witch and other stories-第34章

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jostled　against　each　other；　fell　down；　and　they　could　hardly　see
in　the　unaccustomed　light；　and　did　not　recognize　each　other。　It
was　terrible。　What　seemed　particularly　dreadful　was　that　doves
were　flying　over　the　fire　in　the　smoke；　and　in　the　tavern；　where
they　did　not　yet　know　of　the　fire；　they　were　still　singing　and
playing　the　concertina　as　though　there　were　nothing　the　matter。

〃Uncle　Semyon's　on　fire；〃　shouted　a　loud；　coarse　voice。

Marya　was　fussing　about　round　her　hut；　weeping　and　wringing　her
hands；　while　her　teeth　chattered；　though　the　fire　was　a　long　way
off　at　the　other　end　of　the　village。　Nikolay　came　out　in　high
felt　boots；　the　children　ran　out　in　their　little　smocks。　Near　the
village　constable's　hut　an　iron　sheet　was　struck。　Boom；　boom；
boom！　。　。　。　floated　through　the　air；　and　this　repeated；
persistent　sound　sent　a　pang　to　the　heart　and　turned　one　cold。
The　old　women　stood　with　the　holy　ikons。　Sheep；　calves；　cows　were
driven　out　of　the　back…yards　into　the　street；　boxes；　sheepskins；
tubs　were　carried　out。　A　black　stallion；　who　was　kept　apart　from
the　drove　of　horses　because　he　kicked　and　injured　them；　on　being
set　free　ran　once　or　twice　up　and　down　the　village；　neighing　and
pawing　the　ground；　then　suddenly　stopped　short　near　a　cart　and
began　kicking　it　with　his　hind…legs。

They　began　ringing　the　bells　in　the　church　on　the　other　side　of
the　river。

Near　the　burning　hut　it　was　hot　and　so　light　that　one　could
distinctly　see　every　blade　of　grass。　Semyon；　a　red…haired　peasant
with　a　long　nose；　wearing　a　reefer…jacket　and　a　cap　pulled　down
right　over　his　ears；　sat　on　one　of　the　boxes　which　they　had
succeeded　in　bringing　out：　his　wife　was　lying　on　her　face；
moaning　and　unconscious。　A　little　old　man　of　eighty；　with　a　big
beard；　who　looked　like　a　gnome　　not　one　of　the　villagers；
though　obviously　connected　in　some　way　with　the　fire　　walked
about　bareheaded；　with　a　white　bundle　in　his　arms。　The　glare　was
reflected　on　his　bald　head。　The　village　elder；　Antip　Syedelnikov；
as　swarthy　and　black…haired　as　a　gypsy；　went　up　to　the　hut　with
an　axe；　and　hacked　out　the　windows　one　after　another　　no　one
knew　why　　then　began　chopping　up　the　roof。

〃Women；　water！〃　he　shouted。　〃Bring　the　engine！　Look　sharp！〃

The　peasants；　who　had　been　drinking　in　the　tavern　just　before；
dragged　the　engine　up。　They　were　all　drunk；　they　kept　stumbling
and　falling　down；　and　all　had　a　helpless　expression　and　tears　in
their　eyes。

〃Wenches；　water！　〃　shouted　the　elder；　who　was　drunk；　too。　〃Look
sharp；　wenches！〃

The　women　and　the　girls　ran　downhill　to　where　there　was　a　spring；
and　kept　hauling　pails　and　buckets　of　water　up　the　hill；　and；
pouring　it　into　the　engine；　ran　down　again。　Olga　and　Marya　and
Sasha　and　Motka　all　brought　water。　The　women　and　the　boys　pumped
the　water；　the　pipe　hissed；　and　the　elder；　directing　it　now　at
the　door；　now　at　the　windows；　held　back　the　stream　with　his
finger；　which　made　it　hiss　more　sharply　still。

〃Bravo；　Antip！〃　voices　shouted　approvingly。　〃Do　your　best。〃

Antip　went　inside　the　hut　into　the　fire　and　shouted　from　within。

〃Pump！　Bestir　yourselves；　good　Christian　folk；　in　such　a　terrible
mischance！〃

The　peasants　stood　round　in　a　crowd；　doing　nothing　but　staring　at
the　fire。　No　one　knew　what　to　do；　no　one　had　the　sense　to　do
anything；　though　there　were　stacks　of　wheat；　hay；　barns；　and
piles　of　faggots　standing　all　round。　Kiryak　and　old　Osip；　his
father；　both　tipsy；　were　standing　there；　too。　And　as　though　to
justify　his　doing　nothing；　old　Osip　said；　addressing　the　woman
who　lay　on　the　ground：

〃What　is　there　to　trouble　about；　old　girl！　The　hut　is　insured　
why　are　you　taking　on？〃

Semyon；　addressing　himself　first　to　one　person　and　then　to
another；　kept　describing　how　the　fire　had　started。

〃That　old　man；　the　one　with　the　bundle；　a　house…serf　of　General
Zhukov's。　。　。　。　He　was　cook　at　our　general's；　God　rest　his　soul！
He　came　over　this　evening：　'Let　me　stay　the　night；'　says　he。　。　。
。　Well；　we　had　a　glass；　to　be　sure。　。　。　。　The　wife　got　the
samovar　　she　was　going　to　give　the　old　fellow　a　cup　of　tea；　and
in　an　unlucky　hour　she　set　the　samovar　in　the　entrance。　The
sparks　from　the　chimney　must　have　blown　straight　up　to　the
thatch；　that's　how　it　was。　We　were　almost　burnt　ourselves。　And
the　old　fellow's　cap　has　been　burnt；　what　a　shame！〃

And　the　sheet　of　iron　was　struck　indefatigably；　and　the　bells
kept　ringing　in　the　church　the　other　side　of　the　river。　In　the
glow　of　the　fir　e　Olga；　breathless；　looking　with　horror　at　the
red　sheep　and　the　pink　doves　flying　in　the　smoke；　kept　running
down　the　hill　and　up　again。　It　seemed　to　her　that　the　ringing
went　to　her　heart　with　a　sharp　stab；　that　the　fire　would　never　be
over；　that　Sasha　was　lost。　。　。　。　And　when　the　ceiling　of　the　hut
fell　in　with　a　crash；　the　thought　that　now　the　whole　village
would　be　burnt　made　her　weak　and　faint；　and　she　could　not　go　on
fetching　water；　but　sat　down　on　the　ravine；　setting　the　pail　down
near　her；　beside　her　and　below　her；　the　peasant　women　sat　wailing
as　though　at　a　funeral。

Then　the　stewards　and　watchmen　from　the　estate　the　other　side　of
the　river　arrived　in　two　carts；　bringing　with　them　a　fire…engine。
A　very　young　student　in　an　unbuttoned　white　tunic　rode　up　on
horseback。　There　was　the　thud　of　axes。　They　put　a　ladder　to　the
burning　framework　of　the　house；　and　five　men　ran　up　it　at　once。
Foremost　of　them　all　was　the　student；　who　was　red　in　the　face　and
shouting　in　a　harsh　hoarse　voice；　and　in　a　tone　as　though　putting
out　fires　was　a　thing　he　was　used　to。　They　pulled　the　house　to
pieces；　a　beam　at　a　time；　they　dragged　away　the　corn；　the
hurdles；　and　the　stacks　that　were　near。

〃Don't　let　them　break　it　up！　〃　cried　stern　voices　in　the　crowd。
〃Don't　let　them。〃

Kiryak　made　his　way　up　to　the　hut　with　a　resolute　air；　as　though
he　meant　to　prevent　the　newcomers　from　breaking　up　the　hut；　but
one　of　the　workmen　turned　him　back　with　a　blow　in　his　neck。　There
was　the　sound　of　laughter；　the　workman　dealt　him　another　blow；
Kiryak　fell　down；　and　crawled　back　into　the　crowd　on　his　hands
and　knees。

Two　handsome　girls　in　hats；　probably　the　student's　sisters；　came
from　the　other　side　of　the　river。　They　stood　a　little　way　off；
looking　at　the　fire。　The　beams　that　had　been　dragged　apart　were
no　longer　burning；　but　were　smoking　vigorously；　the　student；　who
was　working　the　hose；　turned　the　water；　first　on　the　beams；　then
on　the　peasants；　then　on　the　women　who　were　bringing　the　water。

〃George！〃　the　girls　called　to　him　reproachfully　in　anxiety；
〃George！〃

The　fire　was　over。　And　only　when　they　began　to　disperse　they
noticed　that　the　day　was　breaking；　that　everyone　was　pale　and
rather　dark　in　the　face；　as　it　always　seems　in　the　early　morning
when　the　last　stars　are　going　out。　As　they　separated；　the
peasants　laughed　and　made　jokes　about　General　Zhukov's　cook　and
his　cap　which　had　been　burnt；　they　already　wanted　to　turn　the
fire　into　a　joke；　and　even　seemed　sorry　that　it　had　so　soon　been
put　out。

〃How　well　you　extinguished　the　fire；　sir！〃　said　Olga　to　the
student。　〃You　ought　to　come　to　us　in　Moscow：　there　we　have　a　fire
every　day。〃

〃Why；　do　you　come　from　Moscow？〃　asked　one　of　the　young　ladies。

〃Yes；　miss。　My　husband　was　a　waiter　at　the　Slavyansky　Bazaar。　And
this　is　my　daughter；〃　she　said；　indicating　Sasha；　who　was　cold
and　huddling　up　to　her。　〃She　is　a　Moscow　girl；　too。〃

The　two　young　ladies　said　something　in　French　to　the　student；　and
he　gave　Sasha　a　twenty…kopeck　piece。

Old　Father　Osip　saw　this；　and　there　was　a　gleam　of　hope　in　his
face。

〃We　must　thank　God；　your　honour；　there　was　no　wind；〃　he　said；
addressing　the　student；　〃or　else　we　should　have　been　all　burnt　up
together。　Your　honour；　kind　gentlefolks；〃　he　added　in
embarrassment　in　a　lower　tone；　〃the　morning's　chilly　。　。　。
something　to　warm　one　。　。　。　half　a　bottle　to　your　honour's
health。〃

Nothing　was　given　him；　and　clearing　his　throat　he　slouched　home。
Olga　stood　afterwards　at　the　end　of　the　street　and　watched　the
two　carts　crossing　the　river　by　the　ford　and　the　gentlefolks
walking　across　the　meadow；　a　carriage　was　waiting　for　them　the
other　side　of　the　river。　Going　into　the　hut；　she　described　to　her
husband　with　enthusiasm：

〃Such　good　people！　And　so　beautiful！　The　young　ladies　were　like
cherubim。〃

〃Plague　take　them！〃　Fyokla；　sleepy；　said　spitefully。

VI

Marya　thought　herself　unhappy；　and　said　that　she　would　be　very
glad　to　die；　Fyokla；　on　the　other　hand；　found　all　this　life　to
her　taste：　the　poverty；　the　uncleanliness；　and　the　incessant
quarrelling。　She　ate　what　was　given　her　without　discrimination；
slept　anywhere；　on　whatever　came　to　hand。　She　would　empty　the
slops　just　at　the　porch；　would　splash　them　out　from　the　doorway；
and　then　walk　barefoot　through　the　puddle。　And　from　the　very
first　day　she　took　a　dislike　to　Olga　and　Nikolay　just　because
they　did　not　like　this　life。

〃We　shall　see　what　you'll　find　to　eat　here；　you　Moscow　gentry！〃
she　said　malignantly。　〃We　shall　see！〃

One　morning；　it　was　at　the　beginning　of　September；　Fyokla；
vigorous；　good…looking；　and　rosy　from　the　cold；　brought　up　two
pails　of　water；　Marya　and　Olga　were　sitting　meanwhile　at　the
table　drinking　tea。

〃Tea　and　sugar；〃　said　Fyokla　sarcastically。　〃The　fine　ladies！〃
she　added；　setting　down　the　pails。　〃You　have　taken　to　the　fashion
of　tea　every　day。　You　better　look　out　that　you　don't　burst　with
your　tea…drinking；〃　she　went　on；　looking　with　hatred　at　Olga。
〃That's　how　you　have　come　by　your　fat　mug；　having　a　good　time　in
Moscow；　you　lump　of　flesh！〃　She　swung　the　yoke　and　hit　Olga　such
a　blow　on　the　shoulder　that　the　two　sisters…in…law　could　only
clasp　their　hands　and　say：

〃Oh；　holy　Saints！〃

Then　Fyokla　went　down　to　the　river　to　wash　the　clothes；　swearing
all　the　time　so　loudly　that　she　could　be　heard　in　the　hut。

The　day　passed　and　was　followed　by　the　long　autumn　evening。　They
wound　silk　in　the　hut；　everyone　did　it　except　Fyokla；　she　had
gone　over　the　river。　They　got　the　silk　from　a　factory　close　by；
and　the　whole　family　working　together　earned　next　to　nothing；
twenty　kopecks　a　week。

〃Things　were　better　in　the　old　days　under　the　gentry；〃　said　the
old　father　as　he　wound　silk。　〃You　worked　and　ate　and　slept；
everything　in　its　turn。　At　dinner　you　had　cabbage…soup　and　boiled
grain；　and　at　supper　the　same　again。　Cucumbers　and　cabbage　in
plenty：　you　could　eat　to　your　heart's　content；　as　much　as　you
wanted。　And　there　was　more　strictness。　Everyone　minded　what　he
was　about。〃

The　hut　was　lighted　by　a　single　little　lamp；　which　burned　dimly
and　smoked。　When　someone　screened　the　lamp　and　a　big　shadow　fell
across　the　window；　the　bright　moonlight　could　be　seen。　Old　Osip；
speaking　slowly；　told　them　how　they　used　to　live　before　the
emancipation；　how　in　those　very　parts；　where　life　was　now　so　poor
and　so　dreary；　they　used　to　hunt　with　harriers；　greyhounds；。
retrievers；　and　when　they　went　out　as　beaters　the　peasants　were
given　vodka；　how　whole　waggonloads　of　game　used　to　be　sent　to
Moscow　for　the　young　masters；　how　the　bad　were　beaten　with　rods
or　sent　away　to　the　Tver　estate；　while　the　good　were　rewarded。
And　Granny　told　them　something；　too。　She　remembered　e