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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？〃
〃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。〃
〃Then put out the light！〃
Savely looked distrustfully at his wife； put out his lips towards
the lamp； but at once thought better of it and clasped his hands。
〃Isn't that devilish cunning？〃 he exclaimed。 〃Ah！ Is there any
creature slyer than womenkind？〃
〃Ah； you long…skirted devil！〃 hissed his wife； frowning with
vexation。 〃You wait a bit！〃
And settling herself more comfortably； she stared at the postman
again。
It did not matter to her that his face was covered。 She was not
so much interested in his face as in his whole appearance； in the
novelty of this man。 His chest was broad and powerful； his hands
were slender and well formed； and his graceful； muscular legs
were much comelier than Savely's stumps。 There could be no
comparison； in fact。
〃Though I am a long…skirted devil；〃 Savely said after a brief
interval； 〃they've no business to sleep here。 。 。 。 It's
government work； we shall have to answer for keeping them。 If you
carry the letters； carry them； you can't go to sleep。 。 。 。 Hey！
you！〃 Savely shouted into the outer room。 〃You； driver。 What's
your name？ Shall I show you the way？ Get up； postmen mustn't
sleep！〃
And Savely； thoroughly roused； ran up to the postman and tugged
him by the sleeve。
〃Hey； your honour； if you must go； go； and if you don't； it's not
the thing。 。 。 。 Sleeping won't do。〃
The postman jumped up； sat down； looked with blank eyes round the
hut； and lay down again。
〃But when are you going？〃 Savely pattered away。 〃That's what the
post is for to get there in good time； do you hear？ I'll take
you。〃
The postman opened his eyes。 Warmed and relaxed by his first
sweet sleep； and not yet quite awake； he saw as through a mist
the white neck and the immovable； alluring eyes of the sexton's
wife。 He closed his eyes and smiled as though he had been
dreaming it all。
〃Come； how can you go in such weather！〃 he heard a soft feminine
voice； 〃you ought to have a sound sleep and it would do you
good！〃
〃And what about the post？〃 said Savely anxiously。 〃Who's going to
take the post？ Are you going to take it； pray； you？
The postman opened his eyes again； looked at the play of the
dimples on Raissa's face； remembered where he was； and understood
Savely。 The thought that he had to go out into the cold darkness
sent a chill shudder all down him； and he winced。
〃I might sleep another five minutes；〃 he said； yawning。 〃I shall
be late； anyway。 。 。 。〃
〃We might be just in time；〃 came a voice from the outer room。
〃All days are not alike； the train may be late for a bit of
luck。〃
The postman got up； and stretching lazily began putting on his
coat。
Savely positively neighed with delight when he saw his visitors
were getting ready to go。
〃Give us a hand；〃 the driver shouted to him as he lifted up a
mail…bag。
The sexton ran out and helped him drag the post…bags into the
yard。 The postman began undoing the knot in his hood。 The
sexton's wife gazed into his eyes； and seemed trying to look
right into his soul。
〃You ought to have a cup of tea 。 。 。〃 she said。
〃I wouldn't say no 。 。 。 but； you see； they're getting ready；〃 he
assented。 〃We are late； anyway。〃
〃Do stay；〃 she whispered； dropping her eyes and touching him by
the sleeve。
The postman got the knot undone at last and flung the hood over
his elbow； hesitating。 He felt it comfortable standing by Raissa。
〃What a 。 。 。 neck you've got！ 。 。 。〃 And he touched her neck
with two fingers。 Seeing that she did not resist； he stroked her
neck and shoulders。
〃I say； you are 。 。 。〃
〃You'd better stay 。 。 。 have some tea。〃
〃Where are you putting it？〃 The driver's voice could be heard
outside。 〃Lay it crossways。〃
〃You'd better stay。 。 。 。 Hark how the wind howls。〃
And the postma