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！
towards the village。 It was a warm； bright day。 The cattle were being
driven out for the first time； and the peasant girls and women were
walking by the herd in their holiday dresses。 The dun…coloured bull
bellowed； glad to be free； and pawed the ground with his forefeet。 On all
sides； above and below； the larks were singing。 Anisim looked round at the
elegant white church it had only lately been whitewashed and he
thought how he had been praying in it five days before； he looked round at
the school with its green roof； at the little river in which he used once to
bathe and catch fish； and there was a stir of joy in his heart； and he wished
that walls might rise up from the ground and prevent him from going
further； and that he might be left with nothing but the past。
At the station they went to the refreshment room and drank a glass of
sherry each。 His father felt in his pocket for his purse to pay。
〃I will stand treat；〃 said Anisim。 The old man； touched and delighted；
slapped him on the shoulder； and winked to the waiter as much as to say；
〃See what a fine son I have got。〃
120
… Page 121…
THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
〃You ought to stay at home in the business； Anisim；〃 he said； 〃you
would be worth any price to me！ I would shower gold on you from head to
foot； my son。〃
〃It can't be done； papa。〃
The sherry was sour and smelt of sealing…wax； but they had another
glass。
When old Tsybukin returned home from the station； for the first
moment he did not recognize his younger daughter…in…law。 As soon as her
husband had driven out of the yard； Lipa was transformed and suddenly
brightened up。 Wearing a threadbare old petticoat； with her feet bare and
her sleeves tucked up to the shoulders； she was scrubbing the stairs in the
entry and singing in a silvery little voice； and when she brought out a big
tub of dirty water and looked up at the sun with her childlike smile it
seemed as though she； too； were a lark。
An old labourer who was passing by the door shook his head and
cleared his throat。
〃Yes； indeed； your daughters…in…law； Grigory Petrovitch； are a blessing
from God；〃 he said。 〃Not women； but treasures！〃
V
On Friday the 8th of July； Elizarov； nicknamed Crutch； and Lipa were
returning from the village of Kazanskoe； where they had been to a service
on the occasion of a church holiday in the honour of the Holy Mother of
Kazan。 A good distance after them walked Lipa's mother Praskovya； who
always fell behind； as she was ill and short of breath。 It was drawing
towards evening。
〃A…a…a 。 。 。〃 said Crutch； wondering as he listened to Lipa。 〃A…a！ 。 。 。
We…ell！
〃I am very fond of jam； Ilya Makaritch；〃 said Lipa。 〃I sit down in my
little corner and drink tea and eat jam。 Or I drink it with Varvara
Nikolaevna； and she tells some story full of feeling。 We have a lot of jam …
… four jars。 'Have some； Lipa； eat as much as you like。' 〃
〃A…a…a； four jars！〃
〃They live very well。 We have white bread with our tea； and meat； too；
121
… Page 122…
THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
as much as one wants。 They live very well； only I am frightened with them；
Ilya Makaritch。 Oh； oh； how frightened I am！〃
〃Why are you frightened； child？〃 asked Crutch； and he looked back to
see how far Praskovya was behind。
〃To begin with； when the wedding had been celebrated I was afraid of
Anisim Grigoritch。 Anisim Grigoritch did nothing； he didn't ill…treat me；
only when he comes near me a cold shiver runs all over me； through all
my bones。 And I did not sleep one night； I trembled all over and kept
praying to God。 And now I am afraid of Aksinya； Ilya Makaritch。 It's not
that she does anything； she is always laughing； but sometimes she glances
at the window； and her eyes are so fierce and there is a gleam of green in
them like the eyes of the sheep in the shed。 The Hrymin Juniors are
leading her astray： 'Your old man；' they tell her； 'has a bit of land at
Butyokino； a hundred and twenty acres；' they say； 'and there is sand and
water there； so you； Aksinya；' they say； 'build a brickyard there and we will
go shares in it。' Bricks now are twenty roubles the thousand； it's a
profitable business。 Yesterday at dinner Aksinya said to my father…in…law：
'I want to build a brickyard at Butyokino； I'm going into business on my
own account。' She laughed as she said it。 And Grigory Petrovitch's face
darkened； one could see he did not like it。 'As long as I live；' he said； 'the
family must not break up； we must go on altogether。' She gave a look and
gritted her teeth。 。 。 。 Fritters were served； she would not eat them。〃
〃A…a…a！ 。 。 。〃 Crutch was surprised。
〃And tell me； if you please； when does she sleep？〃 said Lipa。 〃She
sleeps for half an hour； then jumps up and keeps walking and walking
about to see whether the peasants have not set fire to something； have not
stolen something。 。 。 。 I am frightened with her； Ilya Makaritch。 And the
Hrymin Juniors did not go to bed after the wedding； but drove to the town
to go to law with each other； and folks do say it is all on account of
Aksinya。 Two of the brothers have promised to build her a brickyard； but
the third is offended； and the factory has been at a standstill for a month；
and my uncle Prohor is without work and goes about from house to house
getting crusts。 'Hadn't you better go working on the land or sawing up
wood； meanwhile； uncle？' I tell him； 'why disgrace yourself？' 'I've got out
122
… Page 123…
THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
of the way of it；' he says； 'I don't know how to do any sort of peasant's
work now； Lipinka。' 。 。 。〃
They stopped to rest and wait for Praskovya near a copse of young
aspen…trees。 Elizarov had long been a contractor in a small way； but he
kept no horses； going on foot all over the district with nothing but a little
bag in which there was bread and onions； and stalking along with big
strides； swinging his arms。 And it was difficult to walk with him。