the witch and other stories-第4章

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and　dull。　And　I'd　be　continually　making　up　something　that　I　must
see　her　about：　'It's　high　time；'　I'd　say　to　myself；　'to　put　the
double　windows　in　for　the　winter；'　and　the　whole　day　I'd　idle
away　over　at　her　place　putting　in　the　windows　and　take　good　care
to　leave　a　couple　of　them　over　for　the　next　day　too。

〃　'I　ought　to　count　over　Vasya's　pigeons；　to　see　none　of　them
have　strayed；'　and　so　on。　I　used　always　to　be　talking　to　her
across　the　fence；　and　in　the　end　I　made　a　little　gate　in　the
fence　so　as　not　to　have　to　go　so　far　round。　From　womankind　comes
much　evil　into　the　world　and　every　kind　of　abomination。　Not　we
sinners　only；　even　the　saints　themselves　have　been　led　astray　by
them。　Mashenka　did　not　try　to　keep　me　at　a　distance。　Instead　of
thinking　of　her　husband　and　being　on　her　guard；　she　fell　in　love
with　me。　I　began　to　notice　that　she　was　dull　without　me；　and　was
always　walking　to　and　fro　by　the　fence　looking　into　my　yard
through　the　cracks。

〃My　brains　were　going　round　in　my　head　in　a　sort　of　frenzy。　On
Thursday　in　Holy　Week　I　was　going　early　in　the　morning　　it　was
scarcely　light　　to　market。　I　passed　close　by　her　gate；　and　the
Evil　One　was　by　me　　at　my　elbow。　I　looked　　she　had　a　gate
with　open　trellis　work　at　the　top　　and　there　she　was；　up
already；　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　yard；　feeding　the　ducks。　I
could　not　restrain　myself；　and　I　called　her　name。　She　came　up　and
looked　at　me　through　the　trellis。　。　。　。　Her　little　face　was
white；　her　eyes　soft　and　sleepy…looking。　。　。　。　I　liked　her　looks
immensely；　and　I　began　paying　her　compliments；　as　though　we　were
not　at　the　gate；　but　just　as　one　does　on　namedays；　while　she
blushed；　and　laughed；　and　kept　looking　straight　into　my　eyes
without　winking。　。　。　。　I　lost　all　sense　and　began　to　declare　my
love　to　her。　。　。　。　She　opened　the　gate；　and　from　that　morning　we
began　to　live　as　man　and　wife。　。　。　。〃

The　hunchback　Alyoshka　came　into　the　yard　from　the　street　and　ran
out　of　breath　into　the　house；　not　looking　at　any　one。　A　minute
later　he　ran　out　of　the　house　with　a　concertina。　Jingling　some
coppers　in　his　pocket；　and　cracking　sunflower　seeds　as　he　ran；　he
went　out　at　the　gate。

〃And　who's　that；　pray？〃　asked　Matvey　Savitch。

〃My　son　Alexey；〃　answered　Dyudya。　〃He's　off　on　a　spree；　the
rascal。　God　has　afflicted　him　with　a　hump；　so　we　are　not　very
hard　on　him。〃

〃And　he's　always　drinking　with　the　other　fellows；　always
drinking；〃　sighed　Afanasyevna。　〃Before　Carnival　we　married　him；
thinking　he'd　be　steadier；　but　there！　he's　worse　than　ever。〃

〃It's　been　no　use。　Simply　keeping　another　man's　daughter　for
nothing；〃　said　Dyudya。

Somewhere　behind　the　church　they　began　to　sing　a　glorious；
mournful　song。　The　words　they　could　not　catch　and　only　the　voices
could　be　heard　　two　tenors　and　a　bass。　All　were　listening；
there　was　complete　stillness　in　the　yard。　。　。　。　Two　voices
suddenly　broke　off　with　a　loud　roar　of　laughter；　but　the　third；　a
tenor；　still　sang　on；　and　took　so　high　a　note　that　every　one
instinctively　looked　upwards；　as　though　the　voice　had　soared　to
heaven　itself。

Varvara　came　out　of　the　house；　and　screening　her　eyes　with　her
hand；　as　though　from　the　sun；　she　looked　towards　the　church。

〃It's　the　priest's　sons　with　the　schoolmaster；〃　she　said。

Again　all　the　three　voices　began　to　sing　together。　Matvey　Savitch
sighed　and　went　on：

〃Well；　that's　how　it　was；　old　man。　Two　years　later　we　got　a
letter　from　Vasya　from　Warsaw。　He　wrote　that　he　was　being　sent
home　sick。　He　was　ill。　By　that　time　I　had　put　all　that
foolishness　out　of　my　head；　and　I　had　a　fine　match　picked　out　all
ready　for　me；　only　I　didn't　know　how　to　break　it　off　with　my
sweetheart。　Every　day　I'd　make　up　my　mind　to　have　it　out　with
Mashenka；　but　I　didn't　know　how　to　approach　her　so　as　not　to　have
a　woman's　screeching　about　my　ears。　The　letter　freed　my　hands。　I
read　it　through　with　Mashenka；　she　turned　white　as　a　sheet；　while
I　said　to　her：　'Thank　God；　now；'　says　I；　'you'll　be　a　married
woman　again。'　But　says　she：　'I'm　not　going　to　live　with　him。'
'Why；　isn't　he　your　husband？'　said　I。　'Is　it　an　easy　thing？　。　。　。
I　never　loved　him　and　I　married　him　not　of　my　own　free　will。　My
mother　made　me。'　'Don't　try　to　get　out　of　it；　silly；'　said　I；
'but　tell　me　this：　were　you　married　to　him　in　church　or　not？'　'I
was　married；'　she　said；　'but　it's　you　that　I　love；　and　I　will
stay　with　you　to　the　day　of　my　death。　Folks　may　jeer。　I　don't
care。　。　。　。'　'You're　a　Christian　woman；'　said　I；　'and　have　read
the　Scriptures；　what　is　written　there？'

〃Once　married；　with　her　husband　she　must　live；〃　said　Dyudya。

〃　'Man　and　wife　are　one　flesh。　We　have　sinned；'　I　said；　'you　and
I；　and　it　is　enough；　we　must　repent　and　fear　God。　We　must　confess
it　all　to　Vasya；'　said　I；　'he's　a　quiet　fellow　and　soft　　he
won't　kill　you。　And　indeed；'　said　I；　'better　to　suffer　torments
in　this　world　at　the　hands　of　your　lawful　master　than　to　gnash
your　teeth　at　the　dread　Seat　of　Judgment。'　The　wench　wouldn't
listen；　she　stuck　to　her　silly；　'It's　you　I　love！'　and　nothing
more　could　I　get　out　of　her。

〃Vasya　came　back　on　the　Saturday　before　Trinity；　early　in　the
morning。　From　my　fence　I　could　see　everything；　he　ran　into　the
house；　and　came　back　a　minute　later　with　Kuzka　in　his　arms；　and
he　was　laughing　and　crying　all　at　once；　he　was　kissing　Kuzka　and
looking　up　at　the　hay…loft；　and　hadn't　the　heart　to　put　the　child
down；　and　yet　he　was　longing　to　go　to　his　pigeons。　He　was　always
a　soft　sort　of　chap　　sentimental。　That　day　passed　off　very
well；　all　quiet　and　proper。　They　had　begun　ringing　the　church
bells　for　the　evening　service；　when　the　thought　struck　me：
'To…morrow's　Trinity　Sunday；　how　is　it　they　are　not　decking　the
gates　and　the　fence　with　green？　Something's　wrong；'　I　thought。　I
went　over　to　them。　I　peeped　in；　and　there　he　was；　sitting　on　the
floor　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　his　eyes　staring　like　a　drunken
man's；　the　tears　streaming　down　his　cheeks　and　his　hands　shaking；
he　was　pulling　cracknels；　necklaces；　gingerbread　nuts；　and　all
sorts　of　little　presents　out　of　his　bundle　and　flinging　them　on
the　floor。　Kuzka　　he　was　three　years　old　　was　crawling　on　the
floor；　munching　the　gingerbreads；　while　Mashenka　stood　by　the
stove；　white　and　shivering　all　over；　muttering：　'I'm　not　your
wife；　I　can't　live　with　you；'　and　all　sorts　of　foolishness。　I
bowed　down　at　Vasya's　feet；　and　said：　'We　have　sinned　against
you；　Vassily　Maximitch；　forgive　us；　for　Christ's　sake！'　Then　I
got　up　and　spoke　to　Mashenka：　'You；　Marya　Semyonovna；　ought　now
to　wash　Vassily　Maximitch's　feet　and　drink　the　water。　Do　you　be
an　obedient　wife　to　him；　and　pray　to　God　for　me；　that　He　in　His
mercy　may　forgive　my　transgression。'　It　came　to　me　like　an
inspiration　from　an　angel　of　Heaven；　I　gave　her　solemn　counsel
and　spoke　with　such　feeling　that　my　own　tears　flowed　too。　And　so
two　days　later　Vasya　comes　to　me：　'Matyusha；'　says　he；　'I　forgive
you　and　my　wife；　God　have　mercy　on　you！　She　was　a　soldier's　wife；
a　young　thing　all　alone；　it　was　hard　for　her　to　be　on　her　guard。
She's　not　the　first；　nor　will　she　be　the　last。　Only；'　he　says；　'I
beg　you　to　behave　as　though　there　had　never　been　anything　between
you；　and　to　make　no　sign；　while　I；'　says　he；　'will　do　my　best　to
please　her　in　every　way；　so　that　she　may　come　to　love　me　again。'
He　gave　me　his　hand　on　it；　drank　a　cup　of　tea；　and　went　away　more
cheerful。

〃　'Well；'　thought　I；　'thank　God！'　and　I　did　feel　glad　that
everything　had　gone　off　so　well。　But　no　sooner　had　Vasya　gone　out
of　the　yard；　when　in　came　Mashenka。　Ah！　What　I　had　to　suffer！　She
hung　on　my　neck；　weeping　and　praying：　'For　God's　sake；　don't　cast
me　off；　I　can't　live　without　you！'　〃

〃The　vile　hussy！〃　sighed　Dyudya。

〃I　swore　at　her；　stamped　my　foot；　and　dragging　her
　into　the　passage；　I　fastened　the　door　with　the　hook。　'Go　to　your
husband；'　I　cried。　'Don't　shame　me　before　folks。　Fear　God！'　And
every　day　there　was　a　scene　of　that　sort。

〃One　morning　I　was　standing　in　my　yard　near　the　stable　cleaning　a
bridle。　All　at　once　I　saw　her　running　through　the　little　gate
into　my　yard；　with　bare　feet；　in　her　petticoat；　and　straight
towards　me；　she　clutched　at　the　bridle；　getting　all　smeared　with
the　pitch；　and　shaking　and　weeping；　she　cried：　'I　can't　stand
him；　I　loathe　him；　I　can't　bear　it！　If　you　don't　love　me；　better
kill　me！'　I　was　angry；　and　I　struck　her　twice　with　the　bridle；
but　at　that　instant　Vasya　ran　in　at　the　gate；　and　in　a　despairing
voice　he　shouted：　'Don't　beat　her！　Don't　beat　her！'　But　he　ran　up
himself；　and　waving　his　arms；　as　though　he　were　mad；　he　let　fly
with　his　fists　at　her　with　all　his　might；　then　flung　her　on　the
ground　and　kicked　her。　I　tried　to　defend　her；　but　he　snatched　up
the　reins　and　thrashed　her　with　them；　and　all　the　while；　like　a
colt's　whinny；　he　went：　'He　　he　he！'　〃

〃I'd　take　the　reins　and　let　you　feel　them；〃　muttered　Varvara；
moving　away；　〃murdering　our　sister；　the　damned　brutes！　。　。　。〃

〃Hold　your　tongue；　you　jade！〃　Dyudya　shouted　at　her。

〃　'He　　he　　he！'　〃　Matvey　Savitch　went　on。　〃A　carrier　ran　out
of　his　yard；　I　called　to　my　workman；　and　the　three　of　us　got
Mashenka　away　from　him　and　carried　her　home　in　our　arms。　The
disgrace　of　it！　The　same　day　I　went　over　in　the　evening　to　see
how　things　were。　She　was　lying　in　bed；　all　wrapped　up　in
bandages；　nothing　but　her　eyes　and　nose　to　be　seen；　she　was
looking　at　the　ceiling。　I　said：　'Good…evening；　Marya　Semyonovna！'
She　did　not　speak。　And　Vasya　was　sitting　in　the　next　room；　his
head　in　his　hands；　crying　and　saying：　'Brute　that　I　am！　I've
ruined　my　life！　O　God；　let　me　die！'　I　sat　for　half　an　hour　by
Mashenka　and　gave　her　a　good　talking…to。　I　tried　to　frighten　her
a　bit。　'The　righteous；'　said　I；　'after　this　life　go　to　Paradise；
but　you　will　go　to　a　Gehenna　of　fire；　like　all　adulteresses。
Don't　strive　against　your　husband；　go　and　lay　yourself　at　his
feet。'　But　never　a　word　from　her；　she　didn't　so　much　as　blink　an
eyelid；　for　all　the　world　as　though　I　were　talking　to　a　post。　The
next　day　Vasya　fell　ill　with　something　like　cholera；　and　in　the
evening　I　heard　that　he　was　dead。　Well；　so　they　buried　him；　and
Mashenka　did　not　go　to　the　funeral；　she　didn't　care　to　show　her
shameless　face　and　her　bruises。　And　soon　there　began　to　be　talk
all　over　the　district　that　Vasya　had　not　died　a　natural　death；
that　Mashenka　had　made　away　with　him。　It　got　to　the　ears　of　the
police；　they　had　Vasya　dug　up　and　cut　open；　and　in　his　stomach
they　found　arsenic。　It　was　clear　he　had　been　poisoned；　the　police
came　and　took　Mashenka　away；　and　with　her　the　innocent　Kuzka。
They　were　put　in　prison。　。　。　。　The　woman　had　gone　too　far　　God
punished　her。　。　。　。　Eight　months　later　they　tried　her。　She　sat；　I
remember；　on　a　low　stool；　with　a　little　white　kerchief　on　her
head；　wearing　a　grey　gown；　and　she　was　so　thin；　so　pale；　so
sharp…eyed　it　made　one　sad　to　look　at　her。　Behind　her　stood　a
soldier　with　a　gun。　She　would　not　confess　her　guilt。　Some　in　the
court　said　she　had　poisoned　her　husband　and　others　declared　he
had　poisoned　himself　for　grief。　I　was　one　of　the　witnesses。　When
they　questioned　me；　I　told　the　whole　truth　according　to　my　oath。
'Hers；'　said　I；　'is　the　guilt。　It's　no　good　to　conceal　it；　she