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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； 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。
〃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 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 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