English
YESTERDAYafternoonsetinmistyandcold.
Ihadhalfamindtospenditbymystudyfire,insteadofwadingthroughheathandmudtoWutheringHeights.
Oncomingupfromdinnerhowever(N.B.—Idinebetweentwelveandoneo’clock;thehousekeeper,amatronlylady,takenasafixturealongwiththehouse,couldnot,orwouldnot,comprehendmyrequestthatImightbeservedatfive),onmountingthestairswiththislazyintention,andsteppingintotheroom,Isawaservant-girlonherkneessurroundedbybrushesandcoalscuttles,andraisinganinfernaldustassheextinguishedtheflameswithheapsofcinders.
Thisspectacledrovemebackimmediately;Itookmyhat,and,afterafourmiles’walkarrivedatHeathcliff’sgardengatejustintimetoescapethefirstfeatheryflakesofasnow-shower.
Onthatbleakhill-toptheearthwashardwithablackfrost,andtheairmademeshiverthrougheverylimb.
Beingunabletoremovethechain,Ijumpedover,and,runninguptheflaggedcausewayborderedwithstragglinggooseberrybushes,knockedvainlyforadmittance,tillmyknucklestingledandthedogshowled.
“Wretchedinmates!”Iejaculatedmentally,“youdeserveperpetualisolationfromyourspeciesforyourchurlishinhospitality.
Atleast,Iwouldnotkeepmydoorbarredintheday-time.Idon’tcare—Iwillgetin!”
Soresolved,Igraspedthelatchandshookitvehemently.
Vinegar-facedJosephprojectedhisheadfromaroundwindowofthebarn.
“Whatareyefor?”heshouted.“T’maister’sdowni’t’fowld.Goroundbyth’endot’laith,ifyewenttospaketohim.”
“Istherenobodyinsidetoopenthedoor?”Ihallooed,responsively.
“There’snobbutt’missis;andshoo’llnotoppen’tanyemakyerflaysomedinstillneeght.”
“Why?CannotyoutellherwhoIam,eh,Joseph?”
“Nor-neme!I’llhaenohendwit,”mutteredthehead,vanishing.
Thesnowbegantodrivethickly.Iseizedthehandletoessayanothertrial;whenayoungmanwithoutcoat,andshoulderingapitchfork,appearedintheyardbehind.
Hehailedmetofollowhim,and,aftermarchingthroughawashhouse,andapavedareacontainingacoal-shed,pump,andpigeon-cot,weatlengtharrivedinthehuge,warmcheerfulapartment,whereIwasformerlyreceived.
Itgloweddelightfullyintheradianceofanimmensefire,compoundedofcoal,peat,andwood;andnearthetable,laidforaplentifuleveningmeal,Iwaspleasedtoobservethe“missis,”anindividualwhoseexistenceIhadneverpreviouslysuspected.
Ibowedandwaited,thinkingshewouldbidmetakeaseat.
Shelookedatme,leaningbackinherchair,andremainedmotionlessandmute.
“Roughweather!”Iremarked.“I’mafraid,Mrs.Heathcliff,thedoormustbeartheconsequenceofyourservants’leisureattendance:Ihadhardworktomakethemhearme.”
Sheneveropenedhermouth.Istared—shestaredalso:atanyrate,shekepthereyesonmeinacool,regardlessmanner,exceedinglyembarrassinganddisagreeable.
“Sitdown,”saidtheyoungmangruffly.“He’llbeinsoon.”
Iobeyed;andhemmed,andcalledthevillainJuno,whodeigned,atthissecondinterview,tomovetheextremetipofhertail,intokenofowningmyacquaintance.
“Abeautifulanimal!”Icommentedagain.“Doyouintendpartingwiththelittleones,madam?”
“Theyarenotmine,”saidtheamiablehostess,morerepellinglythanHeathcliffhimselfcouldhavereplied.
“Ah,yourfavouritesareamongthese?”Icontinued,turningtoanobscurecushionfullofsomethinglikecats.
“Astrangechoiceoffavourites!”sheobservedscornfully.
Unluckily,itwasaheapofdeadrabbits.Ihemmedoncemore,anddrewclosertothehearth,repeatingmycommentonthewildnessoftheevening.
“Youshouldnothavecomeout,”shesaid,risingandreachingfromthechimney-piecetwoofthepaintedcanisters.
Herpositionbeforewasshelteredfromthelight;now,Ihadadistinctviewofherwholefigureandcountenance.
Shewasslender,andapparentlyscarcelypastgirlhood:anadmirableform,andthemostexquisitelittlefacethatIhaveeverhadthepleasureofbeholding;smallfeatures,veryfair;flaxenringlets,orrathergolden,hanginglooseonherdelicateneck;andeyes,hadtheybeenagreeableinexpression,thatwouldhavebeenirresistible:fortunatelyformysusceptibleheart,theonlysentimenttheyevincedhoveredbetweenscorn,andakindofdesperation,singularlyunnaturaltobedetectedthere.
Thecanisterswerealmostoutofherreach;Imadeamotiontoaidher;sheturneduponmeasamisermightturnifanyoneattemptedtoassisthimincountinghisgold.
“Idon’twantyourhelp,”shesnapped;“Icangetthemformyself.”
“Ibegyourpardon!”Ihastenedtoreply.
“Wereyouaskedtotea?”shedemanded,tyinganapronoverherneatblackfrock,andstandingwithaspoonfuloftheleafpoisedoverthepot.
“Ishallbegladtohaveacup,”Ianswered.
“Wereyouasked?”sherepeated.
“No,”Isaid,halfsmiling.“Youaretheproperpersontoaskme.”
Sheflungtheteaback,spoonandall,andresumedherchairinapet;herforeheadcorrugated,andherredunder-lippushedout,likeachild’sreadytocry.
Meanwhile,theyoungmanhadslungontohispersonadecidedlyshabbyuppergarment,and,erectinghimselfbeforetheblaze,lookeddownonmefromthecornerofhiseyes,foralltheworldasifthereweresomemortalfeudunavengedbetweenus.
Ibegantodoubtwhetherhewereaservantornot:hisdressandspeechwerebothrude,entirelydevoidofthesuperiorityobservableinMr.andMrs.Heathcliff;histhick,browncurlswereroughanduncultivated,hiswhiskersencroachedbearishlyoverhischeeks,andhishandswereembrownedlikethoseofacommonlabourer:stillhisbearingwasfree,almosthaughty,andheshowednoneofadomestic’sassiduityinattendingontheladyofthehouse.
Intheabsenceofclearproofsofhiscondition,Ideemeditbesttoabstainfromnoticinghiscuriousconduct;andfiveminutesafterwards,theentranceofHeathcliffrelievedme,insomemeasure,frommyuncomfortablestate.
“Yousee,sir,Iamcome,accordingtopromise!”Iexclaimed,assumingthecheerful;“andIfearIshallbeweather-boundforhalfanhour,ifyoucanaffordmeshelterduringthatspace.”
“Half-an-hour?”hesaid,shakingthewhiteflakesfromhisclothes;“Iwonderyoushouldselectthethickofasnowstormtorambleaboutin.
Doyouknowthatyourunariskofbeinglostinthemarshes?
Peoplefamiliarwiththesemoorsoftenmisstheirroadonsuchevenings;andIcantellyouthereisnochanceofachangeatpresent.”
“PerhapsIcangetaguideamongyourlads,andhemightstayattheGrangetillmorning—couldyousparemeone?”
“No,Icouldnot.”
“Oh,indeed!Well,then,Imusttrusttomyownsagacity.”
“Umph!”
“Areyougoingtomaketh’tea?”demandedheoftheshabbycoat,shiftinghisferociousgazefrommetotheyounglady.
“Ishetohaveany?”sheasked,appealingtoHeathcliff.
“Getitready,willyou?”wastheanswer,utteredsosavagelythatIstarted.
Thetoneinwhichthewordsweresaidrevealedagenuinebadnature.
InolongerfeltinclinedtocallHeathcliffacapitalfellow.
Whenthepreparationswerefinished,heinvitedmewith—“Now,sir,bringforwardyourchair.”
Andweall,includingtherusticyouth,drewroundthetable:anausteresilenceprevailingwhilewediscussedourmeal.
Ithought,ifIhadcausedthecloud,itwasmydutytomakeanefforttodispelit.
Theycouldnoteverydaysitsogrimandtaciturn;anditwasimpossible,howeverill-temperedtheymightbe,thattheuniversalscowltheyworewastheireverydaycountenance.
“Itisstrange,”Ibegan,intheintervalofswallowingonecupofteaandreceivinganother—“Itisstrangehowcustomcanmouldourtastesandideas:manycouldnotimaginetheexistenceofhappinessinalifeofsuchcompleteexilefromtheworldasyouspend,Mr.Heathcliff;yetI’llventuretosay,that,surroundedbyyourfamily,andwithyouramiableladyasthepresidinggeniusoveryourhomeandheart-”
“Myamiablelady!”heinterrupted,withanalmostdiabolicalsneeronhisface.“Whereisshe—myamiablelady?”
“Mrs.Heathcliff,yourwife,Imean.”
“Well,yes—Oh,youwouldintimatethatherspirithastakenthepostofministeringangel,andguardsthefortunesofWutheringHeightsevenwhenherbodyisgone.Isthatit?”
Perceivingmyselfinablunder,Iattemptedtocorrectit.
Imighthaveseentherewastoogreatadisparitybetweentheagesofthepartiestomakeitlikelythattheyweremanandwife.
Onewasaboutforty:aperiodofmentalvigouratwhichmenseldomcherishthedelusionofbeingmarriedforlovebygirls:thatdreamisreservedforthesolaceofourdecliningyears.Theotherdidnotlookseventeen.
Thenitflasheduponme—“Theclownatmyelbow,whoisdrinkinghisteaoutofabasinandeatinghisbreadwithunwashedhands,maybeherhusband:Heathcliff,junior,ofcourse.
Hereistheconsequenceofbeingburiedalive:shehasthrownherselfawayuponthatboorfromsheerignorancethatbetterindividualsexisted!
Asadpity—ImustbewarehowIcausehertoregretherchoice.”
Thelastreflectionmayseemconceited;itwasnot.
Myneighbourstruckmeasborderingonrepulsive;Iknew,throughexperience,thatIwastolerablyattractive.
“Mrs.Heathcliffismydaughter-in-law,”saidHeathcliff,corroboratingmysurmise.
Heturned,ashespoke,apeculiarlookinherdirection:alookofhatred;unlesshehasamostperversesetoffacialmusclesthatwillnot,likethoseofotherpeople,interpretthelanguageofhissoul.
“Ah,certainly—Iseenow:youarethefavouredpossessorofthebeneficentfairy,”Iremarked,turningtomyneighbour.
Thiswasworsethanbefore:theyouthgrewcrimson,andclinchedhisfist,witheveryappearanceofameditatedassault.
Butheseemedtorecollecthimselfpresently,andsmotheredthestorminabrutalcurse,mutteredonmybehalf.
which,however,Itookcarenottonotice.
“Unhappyinyourconjectures,sir,”observedmyhost;“weneitherofushavetheprivilegeofowningyourgoodfairy;hermateisdead.
Isaidshewasmydaughter-in-law,therefore,shemusthavemarriedmyson.”
“Andthisyoungmanis-”
“Notmyson,assuredly.”
Heathcliffsmiledagain,asifitwererathertooboldajesttoattributethepaternityofthatbeartohim.
“MynameisHaretonEarnshaw,”growledtheother;“andI’dcounselyoutorespectit!”
“I’veshownnodisrespect,”wasmyreply,laughinginternallyatthedignitywithwhichheannouncedhimself.
HefixedhiseyeonmelongerthanIcaredtoreturnthestare,forfearImightbetemptedeithertoboxhisearsorrendermyhilarityaudible.
Ibegantofeelunmistakablyoutofplaceinthatpleasantfamilycircle.
Thedismalspiritualatmosphereovercame,andmorethanneutralised,theglowingphysicalcomfortsroundme;andIresolvedtobecautioushowIventuredunderthoseraftersathirdtime.
Thebusinessofeatingbeingconcluded,andnooneutteringawordofsociableconversation,Iapproachedawindowtoexaminetheweather.
AsorrowfulsightIsaw:darknightcomingdownprematurely,andskyandhillsmingledinonebitterwhirlofwindandsuffocatingsnow.
“Idon’tthinkitpossibleformetogethomenowwithoutaguide,”Icouldnothelpexclaiming.
“Theroadswillbeburiedalready;and,iftheywerebare,Icouldscarcelydistinguishafootinadvance.”
“Hareton,drivethosedozensheepintothebarnporch.They’llbecoveredifleftinthefoldallnight:andputaplankbeforethem,”saidHeathcliff.
“HowmustIdo?”Icontinued,withrisingirritation.
Therewasnoreplytomyquestion;andonlookingroundIsawonlyJosephbringinginapailofporridgeforthedogs,andMrs.Heathcliffleaningoverthefire,divertingherselfwithburningabundleofmatcheswhichhadfallenfromthechimney-pieceassherestoredtheteacanistertoitsplace.
Theformer,whenhehaddepositedhisburden,tookacriticalsurveyoftheroom,andincrackedtones,gratedout:
“Awwonderhowyahcanfaishiontostandtheari’idlenessunwar,whenallonem’sgoanout!
Budyah’reanowt,andit’snousetalking—yah’llnivermendo’yerillways,butgoaraighttot’devil,likeyermotheraforeye!”
Iimagined,foramoment,thatthispieceofeloquencewasaddressedtome;and,sufficientlyenraged,steppedtowardstheagedrascalwithanintentionofkickinghimoutofthedoor.
Mrs.Heathcliff,however,checkedmebyheranswer.
“Youscandalousoldhypocrite!”shereplied.
“Areyounotafraidofbeingcarriedawaybodily,wheneveryoumentionthedevil’sname?
Iwarnyoutorefrainfromprovokingme,orI’llaskyourabductionasaspecialfavour.Stop!
lookhere,Joseph,”shecontinued,takingalong,darkbookfromashelf;“I’llshowyouhowfarI’veprogressedintheBlackArt:Ishallsoonbecompetenttomakeaclearhouseofit.
Theredcowdidn’tdiebychance;andyourrheumatismcanhardlybereckonedamongprovidentialvisitations!”
“Oh,wicked,wicked!”gaspedtheelder;“maytheLorddeliverusfromevil!”
“No,reprobate!youareacastaway—beoff,orI’llhurtyouseriously!
I’llhaveyouallmodelledinwaxandclay;andthefirstwhopassesthelimitsIfix,shall—I’llnotsaywhatheshallbedoneto—but,you’llsee!Go,I’mlookingatyou!”
Thelittlewitchputamockmalignityintoherbeautifuleyes,andJoseph,tremblingwithsincerehorror,hurriedoutprayingandejaculating“wicked”ashewent.
Ithoughtherconductmustbepromptedbyaspeciesofdrearyfun;and,nowthatwewerealone,Iendeavouredtointerestherinmydistress.
“Mrs.Heathcliff,”Isaidearnestly,“youmustexcusemefortroublingyou.
Ipresume,because,withthatface,I’msureyoucannothelpbeinggood-hearted.
DopointoutsomelandmarksbywhichImayknowmywayhome:IhavenomoreideahowtogettherethanyouwouldhavehowtogettoLondon!”
“Taketheroadyoucame,”sheanswered,ensconcingherselfinachair,withacandle,andthelongbookopenbeforeher.“Itisbriefadvice,butassoundasIcangive.”
“Then,ifyouhearofmebeingdiscovereddeadinabogorapitfullofsnow,yourconsciencewon’twhisperthatitispartlyyourfault?”
“Howso?Icannotescortyou.Theywouldn’tletmegototheendofthegarden-wall.”
“You!Ishouldbesorrytoaskyoutocrossthethreshold,formyconvenience,onsuchanight,”Icried.
“Iwantyoutotellmemyway,nottoshowit;orelsetopersuadeMr.Heathclifftogivemeaguide.”
“Who?Thereishimself,Earnshaw,Zillah,JosephandI.Whichwouldyouhave?”
“Aretherenoboysatthefarm?”
“No;thoseareall.”
“Then,itfollowsthatIamcompelledtostay.”
“Thatyoumaysettlewithyourhost.Ihavenothingtodowithit.”
“Ihopeitwillbealessontoyoutomakenomorerashjourneysonthesehills,”criedHeathcliff’ssternvoicefromthekitchenentrance.
“Astostayinghere,Idon’tkeepaccommodationsforvisitors:youmustshareabedwithHaretonorJoseph,ifyoudo.”
“Icansleeponachairinthisroom,”Ireplied.
“No,no!Astrangerisastranger,beherichorpoor;itwillnotsuitmetopermitanyonetherangeoftheplacewhileIamoffguard!”saidtheunmannerlywretch.
Withthisinsult,mypatiencewasatanend.
Iutteredanexpressionofdisgustandpushedpasthimintotheyard,runningagainstEarnshawinmyhaste.
ItwassodarkthatIcouldnotseethemeansofexit;and,asIwanderedround,Iheardanotherspecimenoftheircivilbehaviouramongsteachother.
Atfirsttheyoungmanappearedabouttobefriendme.
“I’llgowithhimasfarasthepark,”hesaid.
“You’llgowithhimtohell!”exclaimedhismaster,orwhateverrelationhebore.“Andwhoistolookafterthehorses,eh?”
“Aman’slifeisofmoreconsequencethanoneevening’sneglectofthehorses:somebodymustgo,”murmuredMrs.Heathcliff,morekindlythanIexpected.
“Notatyourcommand!”retortedHareton.“Ifyousetstoreonhim,you’dbetterbequiet.”
“ThenIhopehisghostwillhauntyou;andIhopeMr.HeathcliffwillnevergetanothertenanttilltheGrangeisaruin!”sheansweredsharply.
“Hearken,hearken,shoo’scursingon‘em!”mutteredJoseph,towardswhomIhadbeensteering.
Hesatwithinearshot,milkingthecowsbythelightofalantern,whichIseizedunceremoniously,and,callingoutthatIwouldsenditbackonthemorrow,rushedtothenearestpostern.
“Maister,maister,he’sstalingt’lanthern!”shoutedtheancient,pursuingmyretreat.“Hey,Gnasher!Heydog!Hey,Wolf,holldhim,holldhim!”
Onopeningthelittledoor,twohairymonstersflewatmythroat,bearingmedownandextinguishingthelight;whileamingledguffawfromHeathcliffandHareton,putthecopestoneonmyrageandhumiliation.
Fortunately,thebeastsseemedmorebentonstretchingtheirpawsandyawningandflourishingtheirtails,thandevouringmealive;buttheywouldsuffernoresurrection,andIwasforcedtolietilltheirmalignantmasterspleasedtodeliverme:then,hatlessandtremblingwithwrath,Iorderedthemiscreantstoletmeout—ontheirperiltokeepmeoneminutelonger—withseveralincoherentthreatsofretaliationthat,intheirindefinitedepthofvirulency,smackedofKingLear.
Thevehemenceofmyagitationbroughtonacopiousbleedingatthenose,andstillHeathclifflaughed,andstillIscolded.
Idon’tknowwhatwouldhaveconcludedthescene,hadtherenotbeenonepersonathandrathermorerationalthanmyself,andmorebenevolentthanmyentertainer.
ThiswasZillah,thestouthousewife;whoatlengthissuedforthtoenquireintothenatureoftheuproar.
Shethoughtthatsomeofthemhadbeenlayingviolenthandsonme;and,notdaringtoattackhermaster,sheturnedhervocalartilleryagainsttheyoungerscoundrel.
“Well,Mr.Earnshaw,”shecried,“Iwonderwhatyou’llhaveagaitnext!
Arewegoingtomurderfolkonourverydoorstones?
Iseethishousewillneverdoforme—lookatt’poorlad,he’sfairchoking!Wisht,wisht!youmun’n’tgoonso.
Comein,andI’llcurethat:therenow,holdyestill.”
Withthesewordsshesuddenlysplashedapintoficywaterdownmyneck,andpulledmeintothekitchen.Mr.Heathclifffollowed,hisaccidentalmerrimentexpiringquicklyinhishabitualmoroseness.
Iwassickexceedingly,anddizzyandfaint;andthuscompelledperforcetoacceptlodgingsunderhisroof.
HetoldZillahtogivemeaglassofbrandy,andthenpassedontotheinnerroom;whileshecondoledwithmeonmysorrypredicament,andhavingobeyedhisorders,wherebyIwassomewhatrevived,usheredmetobed.
Share this article to
FINISH