the witch and other stories-第7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！


though　the　postman　were　still　in　pain　and　still　angry　with　the
driver。

〃Thank　God　it　is　daylight！〃　said　the　student；　looking　at　his
chilled　and　angry　face。　〃I　am　quite　frozen。　The　nights　are　cold
in　September；　but　as　soon　as　the　sun　rises　it　isn't　cold。　Shall
we　soon　reach　the　station？〃

The　postman　frowned　and　made　a　wry　face。

〃How　fond　you　are　of　talking；　upon　my　word！〃　he　said。　〃Can't　you
keep　quiet　when　you　are　travelling？〃

The　student　was　confused；　and　did　not　approach　him　again　all　the
journey。　The　morning　came　on　rapidly。　The　moon　turned　pale　and
melted　away　into　the　dull　grey　sky；　the　cloud　turned　yellow　all
over；　the　stars　grew　dim；　but　the　east　was　still　cold…looking　and
the　same　colour　as　the　rest　of　the　sky；　so　that　one　could　hardly
believe　the　sun　was　hidden　in　it。

The　chill　of　the　morning　and　the　surliness　of　the　postman
gradually　infected　the　student。　He　looked　apathetically　at　the
country　around　him；　waited　for　the　warmth　of　the　sun；　and　thought
of　nothing　but　how　dreadful　and　horrible　it　must　be　for　the　poor
trees　and　the　grass　to　endure　the　cold　nights。　The　sun　rose　dim；
drowsy；　and　cold。　The　tree…tops　were　not　gilded　by　the　rays　of
the　rising　sun；　as　usually　described；　the　sunbeams　did　not　creep
over　the　earth　and　there　was　no　sign　of　joy　in　the　flight　of　the
sleepy　birds。　The　cold　remained　just　the　same　now　that　the　sun
was　up　as　it　had　been　in　the　night。

The　student　looked　drowsily　and　ill…humouredly　at　the　curtained
windows　of　a　mansion　by　which　the　mail　cart　drove。　Behind　those
windows；　he　thought；　people　were　most　likely　enjoying　their
soundest　morning　sleep　not　hearing　the　bells；　nor　feeling　the
cold；　nor　seeing　the　postman's　angry　face；　and　if　the　bell　did
wake　some　young　lady；　she　would　turn　over　on　the　other　side；
smile　in　the　fulness　of　her　warmth　and　comfort；　and；　drawing　up
her　feet　and　putting　her　hand　under　her　cheek；　would　go　off　to
sleep　more　soundly　than　ever。

The　student　looked　at　the　pond　which　gleamed　near　the　house　and
thought　of　the　carp　and　the　pike　which　find　it　possible　to　live
in　cold　water。　。　。　。

〃It's　against　the　regulations　to　take　anyone　with　the　post。　。　。
。〃　the　postman　said　unexpectedly。　〃It's　not　allowed！　And　since　it
is　not　allowed；　people　have　no　business　。　。　。　to　get　in。　。　。　。
Yes。　It　makes　no　difference　to　me；　it's　true；　only　I　don't　like
it；　and　I　don't　wish　it。〃

〃Why　didn't　you　say　so　before；　if　you　don't　like　it？〃

The　postman　made　no　answer　but　still　had　an　unfriendly；　angry
expression。　When；　a　little　later；　the　horses　stopped　at　the
entrance　of　the　station　the　student　thanked　him　and　got　out　of
the　cart。　The　mail　train　had　not　yet　come　in。　A　long　goods　train
stood　in　a　siding；　in　the　tender　the　engine　driver　and　his
assistant；　with　faces　wet　with　dew；　were　drinking　tea　from　a
dirty　tin　teapot。　The　carriages；　the　platforms；　the　seats　were
all　wet　and　cold。　Until　the　train　came　in　the　student　stood　at
the　buffet　drinking　tea　while　the　postman；　with　his　hands　thrust
up　his　sleeves　and　the　same　look　of　anger　still　on　his　face；
paced　up　and　down　the　platform　in　solitude；　staring　at　the　ground
under　his　feet。

With　whom　was　he　angry？　Was　it　with　people；　with　poverty；　with
the　autmn　nights？


THE　NEW　VILLA

I

Two　miles　from　the　village　of　Obrutchanovo　a　huge　bridge　was
being　built。　From　the　village；　which　stood　up　high　on　the　steep
river…bank；　its　trellis…like　skeleton　could　be　seen；　and　in　foggy
weather　and　on　still　winter　days；　when　its　delicate　iron　girders
and　all　the　scaffolding　around　was　covered　with　hoar　frost；　it
presented　a　picturesque　and　even　fantastic　spectacle。　Kutcherov；
the　engineer　who　was　building　the　bridge；　a　stout；
broad…shouldered；　bearded　man　in　a　soft　crumpled　cap　drove
through　the　village　in　his　racing　droshky　or　his　open　carriage。
Now　and　then　on　holidays　navvies　working　on　the　bridge　would　come
to　the　village；　they　begged　for　alms；　laughed　at　the　women；　and
sometimes　carried　off　something。　But　that　was　rare；　as　a　rule　the
days　passed　quietly　and　peacefully　as　though　no　bridge…building
were　going　on；　and　only　in　the　evening；　when　camp　fires　gleamed
near　the　bridge；　the　wind　faintly　wafted　the　songs　of　the
navvies。　And　by　day　there　was　sometimes　the　mournful　clang　of
metal；　don…don…don。

It　happened　that　the　engineer's　wife　came　to　see　him。　She　was
pleased　with　the　river…banks　and　the　gorgeous　view　over　the　green
valley　with　trees；　churches；　flocks；　and　she　began　begging　her
husband　to　buy　a　small　piece　of　ground　and　to　build　them　a
cottage　on　it。　Her　husband　agreed。　They　bought　sixty　acres　of
land；　and　on　the　high　bank　in　a　field；　where　in　earlier　days　the
cows　of　Obrutchanovo　used　to　wander；　they　built　a　pretty　house　of
two　storeys　with　a　terrace　and　a　verandah；　with　a　tower　and　a
flagstaff　on　which　a　flag　fluttered　on　Sundays　　they　built　it
in　about　three　months；　and　then　all　the　winter　they　were　planting
big　trees；　and　when　spring　came　and　everything　began　to　be　green
there　were　already　avenues　to　the　new　house；　a　gardener　and　two
labourers　in　white　aprons　were　digging　near　it；　there　was　a
little　fountain；　and　a　globe　of　looking…glass　flashed　so
brilliantly　that　it　was　painful　to　look　at。　The　house　had　already
been　named　the　New　Villa。

On　a　bright；　warm　morning　at　the　end　of　May　two　horses　were
brought　to　Obrutchanovo　to　the　village　blacksmith；　Rodion　Petrov。
They　came　from　the　New　Villa。　The　horses　were　sleek；　graceful
beasts；　as　white　as　snow；　and　strikingly　alike。

〃Perfect　swans！〃　said　Rodion；　gazing　at　them　with　reverent
admiration。

His　wife　Stepanida；　his　children　and　grandchildren　came　out　into
the　street　to　look　at　them。　By　degrees　a　crowd　collected。　The
Lytchkovs；　father　and　son；　both　men　with　swollen　faces　and
entirely　beardless；　came　up　bareheaded。　Kozov；　a　tall；　thin　old
man　with　a　long；　narrow　beard；　came　up　leaning　on　a　stick　with　a
crook　handle：　he　kept　winking　with　his　crafty　eyes　and　smiling
ironically　as　though　he　knew　something。

〃It's　only　that　they　are　white；　what　is　there　in　them？〃　he　said。
〃Put　mine　on　oats；　and　they　will　be　just　as　sleek。　They　ought　to
be　in　a　plough　and　with　a　whip；　too。　。　。　。〃

The　coachman　simply　looked　at　him　with　disdain；　but　did　not　utter
a　word。　And　afterwards；　while　they　were　blowing　up　the　fire　at
the　forge；　the　coachman　talked　while　he　smoked　cigarettes。　The
peasants　learned　from　him　various　details：　his　employers　were
wealthy　people；　his　mistress；　Elena　Ivanovna；　had　till　her
marriage　lived　in　Moscow　in　a　poor　way　as　a　governess；　she　was
kind…hearted；　compassionate；　and　fond　of　helping　the　poor。　On　the
new　estate；　he　told　them；　they　were　not　going　to　plough　or　to
sow；　but　simply　to　live　for　their　pleasure；　live　only　to　breathe
the　fresh　air。　When　he　had　finished　and　led　the　horses　back　a
crowd　of　boys　followed　him；　the　dogs　barked；　and　Kozov；　looking
after　him；　winked　sarcastically。

〃Landowners；　too…oo！〃　he　said。　〃They　have　built　a　house　and　set
up　horses；　but　I　bet　they　are　nobodies　　landowners；　too…oo。〃

Kozov　for　some　reason　took　a　dislike　from　the　first　to　the　new
house；　to　the　white　horses；　and　to　the　handsome；　well…fed
coachman。　Kozov　was　a　solitary　man；　a　widower；　he　had　a　dreary
life　（he　was　prevented　from　working　by　a　disease　which　he
sometimes　called　a　rupture　and　sometimes　worms）　he　was　maintained
by　his　son；　who　worked　at　a　confectioner's　in　Harkov　and　sent　him
money；　and　from　early　morning　till　evening　he　sauntered　at
leisure
　about　the　river　or　about　the　village；　if　he　saw；　for　instance；　a
peasant　carting　a　log；　or　fishing；　he　would　say：　〃That　log's　dry
wood　　it　is　rotten；〃　or；　〃They　won't　bite　in　weather　like
this。〃　In　times　of　drought　he　would　declare　that　there　would　not
be　a　drop　of　rain　till　the　frost　came；　and　when　the　rains　came　he
would　say　that　everything　would　rot　in　the　fields；　that
everything　was　ruined。　And　as　he　said　these　things　he　would　wink
as　though　he　knew　something。

At　the　New　Villa　they　burned　Bengal　lights　and　sent　up　fireworks
in　the　evenings；　and　a　sailing…boat　with　red　lanterns　floated　by
Obrutchanovo。　One　morning　the　engineer's　wife；　Elena　Ivanovna；
and　her　little　daughter　drove　to　the　village　in　a　carriage　with
yellow　wheels　and　a　pair　of　dark　bay　ponies；　both　mother　and
daughter　were　wearing　broad…brimmed　straw　hats；　bent　down　over
their　ears。

This　was　exactly　at　the　time　when　they　were　carting　manure；　and
the　blacksmith　Rodion；　a　tall；　gaunt　old　man；　bareheaded　and
barefooted；　was　standing　near　his　dirty　and　repulsive…looking
cart　and；　flustered；　looked　at　the　ponies；　and　it　was　evident　by
his　face　that　he　had　never　seen　such　little　horses　before。

〃The　Kutcherov　lady　has　come！〃　was　whispered　around。　〃Look；　the
Kutcherov　lady　has　come！〃

Elena　Ivanovna　looked　at　the　huts　as　though　she　were　selecting
one；　and　then　stopped　at　the　very　poorest；　at　the　windows　of
which　there　were　so　many　children's　heads　　flaxen；　red；　and
dark。　Stepanida；　Rodion's　wife；　a　stout　woman；　came　running　out
of　the　hut；　her　kerchief　slipped　off　her　grey　head；　she　looked　at
the　carriage　facing　the　sun；　and　her　face　smiled　and　wrinkled　up
as　though　she　were　blind。

〃This　is　for　your　children；〃　said　Elena　Ivanovna；　and　she　gave
her　three　roubles。

Stepanida　suddenly　burst　into　tears　and　bowed　down　to　the　ground。
Rodion；　too；　flopped　to　the　ground；　displaying　his　brownish　bald
head；　and　as　he　did　so　he　almost　caught　his　wife　in　the　ribs　with
the　fork。　Elena　Ivanovna　was　overcome　with　confusion　and　drove
back。

II


The　Lytchkovs；　father　and　son；　caught　in　their　meadows　two
cart…horses；　a　pony；　and　a　broad…faced　Aalhaus　bull…calf；　and
with　the　help　of　red…headed　Volodka；　son　of　the　blacksmith
Rodion；　drove　them　to　the　village。　They　called　the　village　elder；
collected　witnesses；　and　went　to　look　at　the　damage。

〃All　right；　let　'em！〃　said　Kozov；　winking；　〃le…et　em！　Let　them
get　out　of　it　if　they　can；　the　engineers！　Do　you　think　there　is
no　such　thing　as　law？　All　right！　Send　for　the　police　inspector；
draw　up　a　statement！　。　。　。〃

〃Draw　up　a　statement；〃　repeated　Volodka。

〃I　don't　want　to　let　this　pass！〃　shouted　the　younger　Lytchkov。　He
shouted　louder　and　louder；　and　his　beardless　face　seemed　to　be
more　and　more　swollen。　〃They've　set　up　a　nice　fashion！　Leave　them
free；　and　they　will　ruin　all　the　meadows！　You've　no　sort　of　right
to　ill…treat　people！　We　are　not　serfs　now！〃

〃We　are　not　serfs　now！〃　repeated　Volodka。

〃We　got　on　all　right　without　a　bridge；〃　said　the　elder　Lytchkov
gloomily；　〃we　did　not　ask　for　it。　What　do　we　want　a　bridge　for？
We　don't　want　it！〃

〃Brothers；　good　Christians；　we　cannot　leave　it　like　this！〃

〃All　right；　let　'em！〃　said　Kozov；　winking。　〃Let　them　get　out　of
it　if　they　can！　Landowners；　indeed！〃

They　went　back　to　the　village；　and　as　they　walked　the　younger
Lytchkov　beat　himself　on　the　breast　with　his　fist　and　shouted　all
the　way；　and　Volodka　shouted；　too；　repeating　his　words。　And
meanwhile　quite　a　crowd　had　gathered　in　the　village　round　the
thoroughbred　bull…calf　and　the　horses。　The　bullcalf　was
embarrassed　and　looked　up　from　under　his　brows；　but　suddenly
lowered　his　muzzle　to　the　ground　and　took　to　his　heels；　kicking
up　his　hind　legs；　Kozov