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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 greatcoat； he threw that
down beside it； and； without saying good…evening； began pacing up and
down the hut。
He was a fair…haired； young postman wearing a shabby uniform and
black rusty…looking high boots。 After warming himself by walking to and
fro； he sat down at the table； stretched out his muddy feet towards the
sacks and leaned his chin on his fist。 His pale face； reddened in places by
the cold； still bore vivid traces of the pain and terror he had just been
through。 Though distorted by anger and bearing traces of recent suffering；
physical and moral； it was handsome in spite of the melting snow on the
eyebrows； moustaches； and short beard。
〃It's a dog's life！〃 muttered the postman； looking round the walls and
seeming hardly able to believe that he was in the warmth。 〃We were nearly
lost！ If it had not been for your light； I don't know what would have
happened。 Goodness only knows when it will all be over！ There's no end
to this dog's life！ Where have we come？〃 he asked； dropping his voice and
raising his eyes to the sexton's wife。
〃To the Gulyaevsky Hill on General Kalinovsky's estate；〃 she
answered； startled and blushing。
〃Do you hear； Stepan？〃 The postman turned to the driver； who was
wedged in the doorway with a huge mail…bag on his shoulders。 〃We've got
to Gulyaevsky Hill。〃
〃Yes 。 。 。 we're a long way out。〃 Jerking out these words like a hoarse
sigh； the driver went out and soon after returned with another bag； then
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went out once more and this time brought the postman's sword on a big
belt； of the pattern of that long flat blade with which Judith is portrayed by
the bedside of Holofernes in cheap woodcuts。 Laying the bags along the
wall； he went out into the outer room； sat down there and lighted his pipe。
〃Perhaps you'd like some tea after your journey？〃 Raissa inquired。
〃How can we sit drinking tea？〃 said the postman； frowning。 〃We must
make haste and get warm； and then set off； or we shall be late for the mail
train。 We'll stay ten minutes and then get on our way。 Only be so good as
to show us the way。〃
〃What an infliction it is； this weather！〃 sighed Raissa。
〃H'm； yes。 。 。 。 Who may you be？〃
〃We？ We live here； by the church。 。 。 。 We belong to the clergy。 。 。 。
There lies my husband。 Savely； get up and say good…evening！ This used to
be a separate parish till eighteen months ago。 Of course； when the gentry
lived here there were more people； and it was worth while to have the
services。 But now the gentry have gone； and I need not tell you there's
nothing for the clergy to live on。 The nearest village is Markovka； and
that's over three miles away。 Savely is on the retired list now； and has got
the watchman's job； he has to look after the church。 。 。 。〃
And the postman was immediately informed that if Savely were to go
to the General's lady and ask her for a letter to the bishop； he would be
given a good berth。 〃But he doesn't go to the General's lady because he is
lazy and afraid of people。 We belong to the clergy all the same 。 。 。〃 added
Raissa。
〃What do you live on？〃 asked the postman。
〃There's a kitchen garden and a meadow belonging to the church。 Only
we don't get much from that；〃 sighed Raissa。 〃The old skinflint； Father
Nikodim； from the next village celebrates here on St。 Nicolas' Day in the
winter and on St。 Nicolas' Day in the summer； and for that he takes almost
all the crops for himself。 There's no one to stick up for us！〃
〃You are lying；〃 Savely growled hoarsely。 〃Father Nikodim is a saintly
soul； a luminary of the Church； and if he does take it； it's the regulation！〃
〃You've a cross one！〃 said the postman； with a grin。 〃Have you been
married long？〃
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〃It was three years ago the last Sunday before Lent。 My father was
sexton here in the old days； and when the time came for him to die； he
went to the Consistory and asked them to send some unmarried man to
marry me that I might keep the place。 So I married him。〃
〃Aha； so you killed two birds with one stone！〃 said the postman；
looking at Savely's back。 〃Got wife and job together。〃
Savely wriggled his leg impatiently and moved closer to the wall。 The
postman moved away from the table； stretched； and sat down on the mail…
bag。 After a moment's thought he squeezed the bags with his hands；
shifted his sword to the other side； and lay down with one foot touching
the floor。
〃It's a dog's life；〃 he muttered； putting his hands behind his head and
closing his eyes。 〃I wouldn't wish a wild Tatar such a life。〃
Soon everything was still。 Nothing was audible except the sniffing of
Savely and the slow； even breathing of the sleeping po stman； who uttered
a deep prolonged 〃h…h…h〃 at every breath。 From time to time there was a
sound like a creaking wheel in his throat； and his twitching foot rustled
against the bag。
Savely fidgeted under the quilt and looked round slowly。 His wife was
sitting on the stool； and with her hands pressed against her cheeks was
gazing at the postman's face。 Her face was immovable； like the face of
some one frightened and astonished。
〃Well； what are you gaping at？〃 Savely whispered angrily。
〃What is it to you？ Lie down！〃 answered his wife without taking her
eyes off the flaxen head。
Savely angrily puffed all the air out of his chest and turned abruptly to
the wall。 Three minutes later he turned over restlessly again； knelt up on
the bed； and with his hands on the pillow looked askance at his wife。 She
was still sitting motionless； staring at the visitor。 Her cheeks were pale and
her eyes were glowing with a strange fire。 The sexton cleared his throat；
crawled on his stomach off the bed； and going up to the postman； put a
handkerchief over his face。
〃What's that for？〃 asked his wife。
〃To keep the light out of his eyes。〃
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
〃Then put out the light！〃
Savely looked distrustfully