English
WHATVAINweather-cocksweare!I,whohaddeterminedtoholdmyselfindependentofallsocialintercourse,andthankedmystarsthat,atlength,Ihadlightedonaspotwhereitwasnexttoimpracticable—I,weakwretch,aftermaintainingtillduskastrugglewithlowspiritsandsolitude,wasfinallycompelledtostrikemycolours;and,underpretenceofgaininginformationconcerningthenecessitiesofmyestablishment,IdesiredMrs.Dean,whenshebroughtinsupper,tositdownwhileIateit;hopingsincerelyshewouldprovearegulargossip,andeitherrousemetoanimationorlullmetosleepbyhertalk.
“Youhavelivedhereaconsiderabletime,”Icommenced;“didyounotsaysixteenyears?”
“Eighteen,sir:Icame,whenthemistresswasmarried,towaitonher;aftershedied,themasterretainedmeforhishousekeeper.”
“Indeed.”
Thereensuedapause.Shewasnotagossip,Ifeared;unlessaboutherownaffairs,andthosecouldhardlyinterestme.
However,havingstudiedforaninterval,withafistoneitherknee,andacloudofmeditationoverherruddycountenance,sheejaculated:“Ah,timesaregreatlychangedsincethen!”
“Yes,”Iremarked,“you’veseenagoodmanyalterations,Isuppose?”
“Ihave:andtroublestoo,”shesaid.
“Oh,I’llturnthetalkonmylandlord’sfamily!”Ithoughttomyself.“Agoodsubjecttostart!
Andthatprettygirl-widow,Ishouldliketoknowherhistory:whethershebeanativeofthecountry,or,asismoreprobable,anexoticthatthesurlyindigenaewillnotrecogniseforkin.”
WiththisintentionIaskedMrs.DeanwhyHeathcliffletThrushcrossGrange,andpreferredlivinginasituationandresidencesomuchinferior.
“Ishenotrichenoughtokeeptheestateingoodorder?”Ienquired.
“Rich,sir!”shereturned.
“Hehas,nobodyknowswhatmoney,andeveryyearitincreases.
Yes,yes,he’srichenoughtoliveinafinerhousethanthis:buthe’sverynear—close-handed;and,ifhehadmeanttoflittoThrushcrossGrange,assoonasheheardofagoodtenanthecouldnothavebornetomissthechanceofgettingafewhundredsmore.
Itisstrangepeopleshouldbesogreedy,whentheyarealoneintheworld!”
“Hehadason,itseems?”
“Yes,hehadone—heisdead.”
“Andthatyounglady,Mrs.Heathcliff,ishiswidow?”
“Yes.”
“Wheredidshecomefromoriginally?”
“Why,sir,sheismylatemaster’sdaughter:CatherineLintonwashermaidenname.Inursedher,poorthing!IdidwishMr.Heathcliffwouldremovehere,andthenwemighthavebeentogetheragain.”
“What!CatherineLinton?”Iexclaimed,astonished.Butaminute’sreflectionconvincedmeitwasnotmyghostlyCatherine.“Then,”Icontinued,“mypredecessor’snamewasLinton?”
“Itwas.”
“AndwhoisthatEarnshaw:HaretonEarnshaw,wholiveswithMr.Heathcliff?aretheyrelations?”
“No;heisthelateMrs.Linton’snephew.”
“Theyounglady’scousin,then?”
“Yes;andherhusbandwashercousinalso:oneonthemother’s,theotheronthefather’sside:HeathcliffmarriedMr.Linton’ssister.”
“IseethehouseatWutheringHeightshas‘Earnshaw’carvedoverthefrontdoor.Aretheyanoldfamily?”
“Veryold,sir;andHaretonisthelastofthem,asourMissCathyisofus—ImeanoftheLintons.HaveyoubeentoWutheringHeights?Ibegpardonforasking;butIshouldliketohearhowsheis!”
“Mrs.Heathcliff?Shelookedverywell,andveryhandsome;yet,Ithink,notveryhappy.”
“Odear,Idon’twonder!Andhowdidyoulikethemaster?”
“Aroughfellow,rather,Mrs.Dean.Isnotthathischaracter?”
“Roughasasaw-edge,andhardaswhinstone!Thelessyoumeddlewithhimthebetter.”
“Hemusthavehadsomeupsanddownsinlifetomakehimsuchachurl.Doyouknowanythingofhishistory?”
“It’sacuckoo’s,sir—Iknowallaboutit:exceptwherehewasborn,andwhowerehisparents,andhowhegothismoney,atfirst.
AndHaretonhasbeencastoutlikeanunfledgeddunnock!
Theunfortunateladistheonlyoneinallthisparishthatdoesnotguesshowhehasbeencheated.”
“Well,Mrs.Dean,itwillbeacharitabledeedtotellmesomethingofmyneighbours:IfeelIshallnotrest,ifIgotobed;sobegoodenoughtositandchatanhour.”
“Oh,certainly,sir!I’lljustfetchalittlesewing,andthenI’llsitaslongasyouplease.Butyou’vecaughtcold:Isawyoushivering,andyoumusthavesomegrueltodriveitout.”
Theworthywomanbustledoff,andIcrouchednearerthefire;myheadfelthot,andtherestofmechill:moreover,Iwasexcited,almosttoapitchoffoolishness,throughmynervesandbrain.
Thiscausedmetofeel,notuncomfortable,butratherfearful(asIamstill)ofseriouseffectsfromtheincidentsofto-dayandyesterday.
Shereturnedpresently,bringingasmokingbasinandabasketofwork;and,havingplacedtheformeronthehob,drewinherseat,evidentlypleasedtofindmesocompanionable.
BeforeIcametolivehere,shecommenced—waitingnofartherinvitationtoherstory—IwasalmostalwaysatWutheringHeights;becausemymotherhadnursedMr.HindleyEarnshaw,thatwasHareton’sfather,andIgotusedtoplayingwiththechildren:Iranerrandstoo,andhelpedtomakehay,andhungaboutthefarmreadyforanythingthatanybodywouldsetmeto.
Onefinesummermorning—itwasthebeginningofharvest,Iremember—Mr.Earnshaw,theoldmaster,camedownstairs,dressedforajourney;andafterhehadtoldJosephwhatwastobedoneduringtheday,heturnedtoHindley,andCathy,andme—forIsateatingmyporridgewiththem—andhesaid,speakingtohisson,“Nowmybonnyman,I’mgoingtoLiverpooltoday,whatshallIbringyou?
Youmaychoosewhatyoulike:onlyletitbelittle,forIshallwalkthereandback:sixtymileseachway,thatisalongspell!”
Hindleynamedafiddle,andthenheaskedMissCathy;shewashardlysixyearsold,butshecouldrideanyhorseinthestable,andshechoseawhip.
Hedidnotforgetme;forhehadakindheart,thoughhewasratherseveresometimes.
Hepromisedtobringmeapocketfulofapplesandpears,andthenhekissedhischildren,saidgood-bye,andsetoff.
Itseemedalongwhiletousall—thethreedaysofhisabsence—andoftendidlittleCathyaskwhenhewouldbehome.
Mrs.Earnshawexpectedhimbysupper-timeonthethirdevening,andsheputthemealoffhourafterhour;therewerenosignsofhiscoming,however,andatlastthechildrengottiredofrunningdowntothegatetolook.
Thenitgrewdark;shewouldhavehadthemtobed,buttheybeggedsadlytobeallowedtostayup;and,justabouteleveno’clock,thedoorlatchwasraisedquietlyandinsteppedthemaster.
Hethrewhimselfintoachair,laughingandgroaning,andbidthemallstandoff,forhewasnearlykilled—hewouldnothavesuchanotherwalkforthethreekingdoms.
“Andattheendofit,tobeflightedtodeath!”
hesaid,openinghisgreat-coat,whichheheldbundledupinhisarms.“Seehere,wife!
Iwasneversobeatenwithanythinginmylife:butyoumuste’entakeitasagiftofGod;thoughit’sasdarkalmostasifitcamefromthedevil.”
Wecrowdedround,andoverMissCathy’shead,Ihadapeepatadirty,ragged,black-hairedchild;bigenoughbothtowalkandtalk:indeed,itsfacelookedolderthanCatherine’s;yet,whenitwassetonitsfeet,itonlystaredround,andrepeatedoverandoveragainsomegibberish,thatnobodycouldunderstand.
Iwasfrightened,andMrs.Earnshawwasreadytoflingitoutofdoors:shedidflyup,askinghowhecouldfashiontobringthatgypsybratintothehouse,whentheyhadtheirownbairnstofeedandfendfor?
Whathemeanttodowithit,andwhetherheweremad?
Themastertriedtoexplainthematter;buthewasreallyhalfdeadwithfatigue,andallthatIcouldmakeout,amongstherscolding,wasataleofhisseeingitstarving,andhouseless,andasgoodasdumb,inthestreetsofLiverpool,wherehepickeditupandenquiredforitsowner.
Notasoulknewtowhomitbelonged,hesaid;andhismoneyandtimebeingbothlimited,hethoughtitbettertotakeithomewithhimatonce,thanrunintovainexpensesthere:becausehewasdeterminedhewouldnotleaveitashefoundit.
Well,theconclusionwasthatmymistressgrumbledherselfcalm;andMr.Earnshawtoldmetowashit,andgiveitcleanthings,andletitsleepwiththechildren.
HindleyandCathycontentedthemselveswithlookingandlisteningtillpeacewasrestored:then,bothbegansearchingtheirfather’spocketsforthepresentshehadpromisedthem.
Theformerwasaboyoffourteen,butwhenhedrewoutwhathadbeenafiddlecrushedtomorselsinthegreat-coat,heblubberedaloud;andCathy,whenshelearnedthemasterhadlostherwhipinattendingonthestranger,showedherhumourbygrinningandspittingatthestupidlittlething;earningforherpainsasoundblowfromherfathertoteachhercleanermanners.
Theyentirelyrefusedtohaveitinbedwiththem,orevenintheirroom;andIhadnomoresense,soIputitonthelandingofthestairs,hopingitmightbegoneonthemorrow.
Bychance,orelseattractedbyhearinghisvoice,itcrepttoMr.Earnshaw’sdoor,andtherehefounditonquittinghischamber.
Enquiriesweremadeastohowitgotthere;Iwasobligedtoconfess,andinrecompenseformycowardiceandinhumanitywassentoutofthehouse.
ThiswasHeathcliff’sfirstintroductiontothefamily.
Oncomingbackafewdaysafterwards(forIdidnotconsidermybanishmentperpetual)Ifoundtheyhadchristenedhim“Heathcliff”:itwasthenameofasonwhodiedinchildhood,andithasservedhimeversince,bothforChristianandsurname.
MissCathyandhewerenowverythick;butHindleyhatedhim!
andtosaythetruthIdidthesame;andweplaguedandwentonwithhimshamefully:forIwasn’treasonableenoughtofeelmyinjustice,andthemistressneverputinawordonhisbehalfwhenshesawhimwronged.
Heseemedasullen,patientchild;hardened,perhaps,toill-treatment:hewouldstandHindley’sblowswithoutawinkorsheddingatear,andmypinchesmovedhimonlytodrawinabreathandopenhiseyes,asifhehadhurthimselfbyaccidentandnobodywastoblame.
ThisendurancemadeoldEarnshawfurious,whenhediscoveredhissonpersecutingthepoor,fatherlesschild,ashecalledhim.
HetooktoHeathcliffstrangely,believingallhesaid(forthatmatter,hesaidpreciouslittle,andgenerallythetruth),andpettinghimupfaraboveCathy,whowastoomischievousandwaywardforafavourite.
So,fromtheverybeginning,hebredbadfeelinginthehouse;andatMrs.Earnshaw’sdeath,whichhappenedinlessthantwoyearsafter,theyoungmasterhadlearnedtoregardhisfatherasanoppressorratherthanafriend,andHeathcliffasausurperofhisparent’saffectionsandhisprivileges;andhegrewbitterwithbroodingovertheseinjuries.
Isympathisedawhile;butwhenthechildrenfellillofthemeasles,andIhadtotendthem,andtakeonmethecaresofawomanatonce,Ichangedmyideas.
Heathcliffwasdangerouslysick:andwhilehelayattheworsthewouldhavemeconstantlybyhispillow:IsupposehefeltIdidagooddealforhim,andhehadn’twittoguessthatIwascompelledtodoit.
However,Iwillsaythis,hewasthequietestchildthatevernursewatchedover.
Thedifferencebetweenhimandtheothersforcedmetobelesspartial.
Cathyandherbrotherharassedmeterribly:hewasasuncomplainingasalamb;thoughhardness,notgentleness,madehimgivelittletrouble.
Hegotthrough,andthedoctoraffirmeditwasinagreatmeasureowingtomeandpraisedmeformycare.
Iwasvainofhiscommendations,andsoftenedtowardsthebeingbywhosemeansIearnedthem,andthusHindleylosthislastally:stillIcouldn’tdoteonHeathcliff,andIwonderedoftenwhatmymastersawtoadmiresomuchinthesullenboy,whonever,tomyrecollection,repaidhisindulgencebyanysignofgratitude.
Hewasnotinsolenttohisbenefactor,hewassimplyinsensible;thoughknowingperfectlytheholdhehadonhisheart,andconscioushehadonlytospeakandallthehousewouldbeobligedtobendtohiswishes.
Asaninstance,IrememberMr.Earnshawonceboughtacoupleofcoltsattheparishfair,andgavetheladseachone.
Heathclifftookthehandsomest,butitsoonfelllame,andwhenhediscoveredit,hesaidtoHindley—“Youmustexchangehorseswithme:Idon’tlikemine;andifyouwon’tIshalltellyourfatherofthethreethrashingsyou’vegivenmethisweek,andshowhimmyarm,whichisblacktotheshoulder.”
Hindleyputouthistongueandcuffedhimovertheears.
“You’dbetterdoitatonce,”hepersisted,escapingtotheporch(theywereinthestable):“youwillhaveto;andifIspeakoftheseblows,you’llgetthemagainwithinterest.”“Off,dog!”
criedHindley,threateninghimwithanironweightusedforweighingpotatoesandhay.
“Throwit,”hereplied,standingstill,“andthenI’lltellhowyouboastedthatyouwouldturnmeoutofdoorsassoonashedied,andseewhetherhewillnotturnyououtdirectly.”
Hindleythrewit,hittinghimonthebreast,anddownhefell,butstaggeredupimmediately,breathlessandwhite;andhadnotIpreventedit,hewouldhavegonejustsotothemaster,andgotfullrevengebylettinghisconditionpleadforhim,intimatinghehadcausedit.“Takemycolt,gypsy,then!”saidyoungEarnshaw.
“AndIpraythathemaybreakyourneck:takehim,andbedamned,youbeggarlyinterloper!
andwheedlemyfatheroutofallhehas:onlyafterwardsshowhimwhatyouare,impofSatan.
—Andtakethat,Ihopehe’llkickoutyourbrains!”
Heathcliffhadgonetoloosethebeast,andshiftittohisownstall;hewaspassingbehindit,whenHindleyfinishedhisspeechbyknockinghimunderitsfeet,andwithoutstoppingtoexaminewhetherhishopeswerefulfilled,ranawayasfastashecould.
Iwassurprisedtowitnesshowcoollythechildgatheredhimselfup,andwentonwithhisintention;exchangingsaddlesandall,andthensittingdownonabundleofhaytoovercomethequalmwhichtheviolentblowoccasioned,beforeheenteredthehouse.
Ipersuadedhimeasilytoletmelaytheblameofhisbruisesonthehorse:hemindedlittlewhattalewastoldsincehehadwhathewanted.
Hecomplainedsoseldom,indeed,ofsuchstirsasthese,thatIreallythoughthimnotvindictive:Iwasdeceivedcompletely,asyouwillhear.
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