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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
THE WITCH AND
OTHER STORIES
ANTON CHEKHOV
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
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；
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
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。
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
〃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
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THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES
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 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