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herself。 〃Cross yourself； you fool！〃
〃A witch is a witch；〃 Savely pronounced in a hollow； tearful voice；
hurriedly blowing his nose on the hem of his shirt； 〃though you are my
wife； though you are of a clerical family； I'd say what you are even at
confession。 。 。 。 Why； God have mercy upon us！ Last year on the Eve of the
Prophet Daniel and the Three Young Men there was a snowstorm； and
what happened then？ The mechanic came in to warm himself。 Then on St。
Alexey's Day the ice broke on the river and the district policeman turned
up； and he was chatting with you all night 。 。 。 the damned brute！ And
when he came out in the morning and I looked at him； he had rings under
his eyes and his cheeks were hollow！ Eh？ During the August fast there
were two storms and each time the huntsman turned up。 I saw it all； damn
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
him！ Oh； she is redder than a crab now； aha！〃
〃You didn't see anything。〃
〃Didn't I！ And this winter before Christmas on the Day of the Ten
Martyrs of Crete； when the storm lasted for a whole day and night do
you remember？ the marshal's clerk was lost； and turned up here； the
hound。 。 。 。 Tfoo！ To be tempted by the clerk！ It was worth upsetting God's
weather for him！ A drivelling scribbler； not a foot from the ground；
pimples all over his mug and his neck awry！ If he were good…looking；
anyway but he； tfoo！ he is as ugly as Satan！〃
The sexton took breath； wiped his lips and listened。 The bell was not to
be heard； but the wind banged on the roof； and again there came a tinkle in
the darkness。
〃And it's the same thing now！〃 Savely went on。 〃It's not for nothing
the postman is lost！ Blast my eyes if the postman isn't looking for you！ Oh；
the devil is a good hand at his work； he is a fine one to help！ He will turn
him round and round and bring him here。 I know； I see！ You can't conceal
it； you devil's bauble； you heathen wanton！ As soon as the storm began I
knew what you were up to。〃
〃Here's a fool！〃 smiled his wife。 〃Why； do you suppose； you thick…
head； that I make the storm？〃
〃H'm！ 。 。 。 Grin away！ Whether it's your doing or not； I only know that
when your blood's on fire there's sure to be bad weather； and when there's
bad weather there's bound to be some crazy fellow turning up here。 It
happens so every time！ So it must be you！〃
To be more impressive the sexton put his finger to his forehead； closed
his left eye； and said in a singsong voice：
〃Oh； the madness！ oh； the unclean Judas！ If you really are a human
being and not a witch； you ought to think what if he is not the mechanic；
or the clerk； or the huntsman； but the devil in their form！ Ah！ You'd better
think of that！〃
〃Why； you are stupid； Savely；〃 said his wife； looking at him
compassionately。 〃When father was alive and living here； all sorts of
people used to come to him to be cured of the ague： from the village； and
the hamlets； and the Armenian settlement。 They came almost every day；
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
and no one called them devils。 But if anyone once a year comes in bad
weather to warm himself； you wonder at it； you silly； and take all sorts of
notions into your head at once。〃
His wife's logic touched Savely。 He stood with his bare feet wide apart；
bent his head； and pondered。 He was not firmly convinced yet of the truth
of his suspicions； and his wife's genuine and unconcerned tone quite
disconcerted him。 Yet after a moment's thought he wagged his head and
said：
〃It's not as though they were old men or bandy…legged cripples； it's
always young men who want to come for the night。 。 。 。 Why is that？ And
if they only wanted to warm themselves But they are up to mischief。
No； woman； there's no creature in this world as cunning as your female
sort！ Of real brains you've not an ounce； less than a starling； but for
devilish slyness oo…oo…oo！ The Queen of Heaven protect us！ There is the
postman's bell！ When the storm was only beginning I knew all that was in
your mind。 That's your witchery； you spider！〃
〃Why do you keep on at me； you heathen？〃 His wife lost her patience
at last。 〃Why do you keep sticking to it like pitch？〃
〃I stick to it because if anything God forbid happens to…night 。 。 。
do you hear？ 。 。 。 if anything happens to…night； I'll go straight off to…
morrow morning to Father Nikodim and tell him all about it。 'Father
Nikodim；' I shall say； 'graciously excuse me； but she is a witch。' 'Why so？'
'H'm！ do you want to know why？' 'Certainly。 。 。 。' And I shall tell him。 And
woe to you； woman！ Not only at the dread Seat of Judgment； but in your
earthly life you'll be punished； too！ It's not for nothing there are prayers in
the breviary against your kind！〃
Suddenly there was a knock at the window； so loud and unusual that
Savely turned pale and almost dropped backwards with fright。 His wife
jumped up； and she； too； turned pale。
〃For God's sake； let us come in and get warm！〃 they heard in a
trembling deep bass。 〃Who lives here？ For mercy's sake！ We've lost our
way。〃
〃Who are you？〃 asked Raissa； afraid to look at the window。
〃The post；〃 answered a second voice。
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〃You've succeeded with your devil's tricks；〃 said Savely with a wave
of his hand。 〃No mistake； I am right！ Well； you'd better look out！〃
The sexton jumped on to the bed in two skips； stretched himself on the
feather mattress； and sniffing angrily； turned with his face to the wall。
Soon he felt a draught of cold air on his back。 The door creaked and the
tall figure of a man； plastered over with snow from head to foot； appeared
in the doorway。 Behind him could be seen a second figure as white。
〃Am I to bring in the bags？〃 asked the second in a hoarse bass voice。
〃You can't leave them there。〃 Saying this； the first figure began
untying his hood； but gave it up； and pulling it off impatiently with his cap；
angrily flung it near the stove。 Then taking off his great