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The Witch and other Stories
by Anton Chekhov
THE WITCH
PEASANT WIVES
THE POST
THE NEW VILLA
DREAMS
THE PIPE
AGAFYA
AT CHRISTMAS TIME
GUSEV
THE STUDENT
IN THE RAVINE
THE HUNTSMAN
HAPPINESS
A MALEFACTOR
PEASANTS
THE WITCH
IT was approaching nightfall。 The sexton； Savely Gykin； was lying
in his huge bed in the hut adjoining the church。 He was not
asleep； though it was his habit to go to sleep at the same time
as the hens。 His coarse red hair peeped from under one end of the
greasy patchwork quilt； made up of coloured rags； while his big
unwashed feet stuck out from the other。 He was listening。 His hut
adjoined the wall that encircled the church and the solitary
window in it looked out upon the open country。 And out there a
regular battle was going on。 It was hard to say who was being
wiped off the face of the earth； and for the sake of whose
destruction nature was being churned up into such a ferment； but；
judging from the unceasing malignant roar； someone was getting it
very hot。 A victorious force was in full chase over the fields；
storming in the forest and on the church roof； battering
spitefully with its fists upon the windows； raging and tearing；
while something vanquished was howling and wailing。 。 。 。 A
plaintive lament sobbed at the window； on the roof； or in the
stove。 It sounded not like a call for help； but like a cry of
misery； a consciousness that it was too late； that there was no
salvation。 The snowdrifts were covered with a thin coating of
ice； tears quivered on them and on the trees； a dark slush of mud
and melting snow flowed along the roads and paths。 In short； it
was thawing； but through the dark night the heavens failed to see
it； and flung flakes of fresh snow upon the melting earth at a
terrific rate。 And the wind staggered like a drunkard。 It would
not let the snow settle on the ground； and whirled it round in
the darkness at random。
Savely listened to all this din and frowned。 The fact was that he
knew； or at any rate suspected； what all this racket outside the
window was tending to and whose handiwork it was。
〃I know！〃 he muttered； shaking his finger menacingly under the
bedclothes； 〃I know all about it。〃
On a stool by the window sat the sexton's wife； Raissa Nilovna。 A
tin lamp standing on another stool； as though timid and
distrustful of its powers； shed a dim and flickering light on her
broad shoulders； on the handsome； tempting…looking contours of
her person； and on her thick plait； which reached to the floor。
She was making sacks out of coarse hempen stuff。 Her hands moved
nimbly； while her whole body； her eyes； her eyebrows； her full
lips； her white neck were as still as though they were asleep；
absorbed in the monotonous； mechanical toil。 Only from time to
time she raised her head to rest her weary neck； glanced for a
moment towards the window； beyond which the snowstorm was raging；
and bent again over her sacking。 No desire； no joy； no grief；
nothing was expressed by her handsome face with its turned…up
nose and its dimples。 So a beautiful fountain expresses nothing
when it is not playing。
But at last she had finished a sack。 She flung it aside； and；
stretching luxuriously； rested her motionless； lack…lustre eyes
on the window。 The panes were swimming with drops like tears； and
white with short…lived snowflakes which fell on the window；
glanced at Raissa； and melted。 。 。 。
〃Come to bed！〃 growled the sexton。 Raissa remained mute。 But
suddenly her eyelashes flickered and there was a gleam of
attention in her eye。 Savely； all the time watching her
expression from under the quilt； put out his head and asked：
〃What is it？〃
〃Nothing。 。 。 。 I fancy someone's coming；〃 she answered quietly。
The sexton flung the quilt off with his arms and legs； knelt up
in bed； and looked blankly at his wife。 The timid light of the
lamp illuminated his hirsute； pock…marked countenance and glided
over his rough matted hair。
〃Do you hear？〃 asked his wife。
Through the monotonous roar of the storm he caught a scarcely
audible thin and jingling monotone like the shrill note of a gnat
when it wants to settle on one's cheek and is angry at being
prevented。
〃It's the post；〃 muttered Savely； squatting on his heels。
Two miles from the church ran the posting road。 In windy weather；
when the wind was blowing from the road to the church； the
inmates of the hut caught the sound of bells。
〃Lord！ fancy people wanting to drive about in such weather；〃
sighed Raissa。
〃It's government work。 You've to go whether you like or not。〃
The murmur hung in the air and died away。
〃It has driven by；〃 said Savely； getting into bed。
But before he had time to cover himself up with the bedclothes he
heard a distinct sound of the bell。 The sexton looked anxiously
at his wife； leapt out of bed and walked； waddling； to and fro by
the stove。 The bell went on ringing for a little； then died away
again as though it had ceased。
〃I don't hear it；〃 said the sexton； stopping and looking at his
wife with his eyes screwed up。
But at that moment the wind rapped on the window and with it
floated a shrill jingling note。 Savely turned pale； cleared his
throat； and flopped about the floor with his bare feet again。
〃The postman is lost in the storm；〃 he wheezed out glancing
malignantly at his wife。 〃Do you hear？ The postman has lost his
way！ 。 。 I 。 。 。 I know！ Do you suppose I 。 。 don't understand？ 〃
he muttered。 〃I know all about it； curse you！〃
〃What do you know？〃 Raissa asked quietly； keeping her eyes fixed
on the window。
〃I know that it's all your doing； you she…devil！ Your doing； damn
you！ This snowstorm and the post going wrong； you've done it all
you！〃
〃You're mad； you silly；〃 his wife answered calmly。
〃I've been watching you for a long time past and I've seen it。
From the first day I married you I noticed that you'd bitch's
blood in you！〃
〃Tfoo！〃 said Raissa； surprised； shrugging her shoulders and
crossing 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 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 G