English
1802—ThisSeptemberIwasinvitedtodevastatethemoorsofafriendinthenorth,andonmyjourneytohisabode,IunexpectedlycamewithinfifteenmilesofGimmerton.
The‘ostlerataroadsidepublichousewasholdingapailofwatertorefreshmyhorses,whenacartofverygreenoats,newlyreaped,passedby,andheremarked:
“Yon’sfroughGimmerton,nah!They’reallasthreewickafterotherfolkwi’therharvest.”
“Gimmerton?”Irepeated—myresidenceinthatlocalityhadalreadygrowndimanddreamy.“Ah!Iknow.Howfarisitfromthis?”
“Happenfourteenmileo’erth’hills;andaroughroad,”heanswered.
AsuddenimpulseseizedmetovisitThrushcrossGrange.
Itwasscarcelynoon,andIconceivedthatImightaswellpassthenightundermyownroofasinaninn.
Besides,Icouldspareadayeasilytoarrangematterswithmylandlord,andthussavemyselfthetroubleofinvadingtheneighbourhoodagain.
Havingrestedawhile,Idirectedmyservanttoenquirethewaytothevillage;and,withgreatfatiguetoourbeasts,wemanagedthedistanceinsomethreehours.
Ilefthimthere,andproceededdownthevalleyalone.
Thegreychurchlookedgrayer,andthelonelychurchyardlonelier.
Idistinguishedamoorsheepcroppingtheshortturfonthegraves.
Itwassweet,warmweather—toowarmfortravelling;buttheheatdidnothindermefromenjoyingthedelightfulsceneryaboveandbelow:hadIseenitnearerAugust,I’msureitwouldhavetemptedmetowasteamonthamongitssolitudes.
Inwinternothingmoredreary,insummernothingmoredivine,thanthoseglensshutinbyhills,andthosebluff,boldswellsofheath.
IreachedtheGrangebeforesunset,andknockedforadmittance;butthefamilyhadretreatedintothebackpremises,Ijudged,byonethin,bluewreathcurlingfromthekitchenchimney,andtheydidnothear.Irodeintothecourt.
Undertheporch,agirlofnineortensatknitting,andanoldwomanreclinedonthehousesteps,smokingameditativepipe.
“IsMrs.Deanwithin?”Idemandedofthedame.
“MistressDean?Nay!”sheanswered,“shoodoesn’tbidehere:Shoo’supatth’Heights.”
“Areyouthehousekeeper,then?”Icontinued.
“Eea,awkeepth’house,”shereplied.
“Well,I’mMr.Lockwood,themaster.Arethereanyroomstolodgemein,Iwonder?Iwishtostayallnight.”
“T’maister!”shecriedinastonishment.“Whet,whoiverknewyahwurcoming?Yahsudha’sendword.They’snowtnortherdrynormensfulabahtt’place:nowtthereisn’t!”
Shethrewdownherpipeandbustledin,thegirlfollowed,andIenteredtoo;soonperceivingthatherreportwastrue,and,moreover,thatIhadalmostupsetherwitsbymyunwelcomeapparition,Ibadeherbecomposed.
Iwouldgooutforawalk;and,meantime,shemusttrytoprepareacornerofasitting-roomformetosupin,andabedroomtosleepin.
Nosweepinganddusting,onlygoodfireanddrysheetswerenecessary.
Sheseemedwillingtodoherbest;thoughshethrustthehearth-brushintothegratesinmistakeforthepoker,andmal-appropriatedseveralotherarticlesofhercraft:butIretired,confidinginherenergyforaresting-placeagainstmyreturn.
WutheringHeightswasthegoalofmyproposedexcursion.
Anafter-thoughtbroughtmeback,whenIhadquittedthecourt.
“AllwellattheHeights?”Ienquiredofthewoman.
“Eea,f’rowteeknew,”sheanswered,skurryingawaywithapanofhotcinders.
IwouldhaveaskedwhyMrs.DeanhaddesertedtheGrange,butitwasimpossibletodelayheratsuchacrisis,soIturnedawayandmademyexit,ramblingleisurelyalongwiththeglowofasinkingsunbehind,andthemildgloryofarisingmooninfront—onefading,andtheotherbrightening—asIquittedthepark,andclimbedthestonybyroadbranchingofftoMr.Heathcliff’sdwelling.
BeforeIarrivedinsightofit,allthatremainedofdaywasabeamlessamberlightalongthewest:butIcouldseeeverypebbleonthepath,andeverybladeofgrass,bythatsplendidmoon.
Ihadneithertoclimbthegatenortoknock—ityieldedtomyhand.Thatisanimprovement,Ithought.
AndInoticedanother,bytheaidofmynostrils;afragranceofstocksandwall-flowerswaftedontheairfromamongstthehomelyfruit-trees.
Bothdoorsandlatticeswereopen;andyet,asisusuallythecaseinacoaldistrict,afine,redfireilluminedthechimney:thecomfortwhichtheeyesderivesfromitrenderstheextraheatendurable.
ButthehouseofWutheringHeightsissolarge,thattheinmateshaveplentyofspaceforwithdrawingoutofitsinfluence;andaccordingly,whatinmatestherewerehadstationedthemselvesnotfarfromoneofthewindows.
IcouldbothseethemandhearthemtalkbeforeIentered,andlookedandlistenedinconsequence;beingmovedtheretobyamingledsenseofcuriosityandenvy,thatgrewasIlingered.
“Con-trary!”saidavoiceassweetasasilverbell—“Thatforthethirdtime,youdunce!I’mnotgoingtotellyouagain.RecollectorI’llpullyourhair!
“Contrary,then,”answeredanother,indeepbutsoftenedtones.“Andnow,kissme,formindingsowell.”
“No,readitoverfirstcorrectly,withoutasinglemistake.”
Themalespeakerbegantoread:hewasayoungman,respectablydressedandseatedatatable,havingabookbeforehim.
Hishandsomefeaturesglowedwithpleasure,andhiseyeskeptimpatientlywanderingfromthepagetoasmallwhitehandoverhisshoulder,whichrecalledhimbyasmartslaponthecheek,wheneveritsownerdetectedsuchsignsofinattention.
Itsownerstoodbehind;herlight,shiningringletsblending,atintervals,withhisbrownlocks,asshebenttosuperintendhisstudies;andherface—itwasluckyhecouldnotseeherface,orhewouldneverhavebeensosteady.
Icould;andIbitmylipinspite,athavingthrownawaythechanceImighthavehadofdoingsomethingbesidesstaringatitssmilingbeauty.
Thetaskwasdone,notfreefromfurtherblunders;butthepupilclaimedareward,andreceivedatleastfivekisses:which,however,hegenerouslyreturned.
Thentheycametothedoor,andfromtheirconversationIjudgedtheywereabouttoissueoutandhaveawalkonthemoors.
IsupposedIshouldbecondemnedinHaretonEarnshaw’sheart,ifnotbyhismouth,tothelowestpitintheinfernalregions,ifIshowedmyunfortunatepersoninhisneighborhoodthen;andfeelingverymeanandmalignant,Iskulkedroundtoseekrefugeinthekitchen.
Therewasunobstructedadmittanceonthatsidealso,andatthedoorsatmyoldfriendNellyDean,sewingandsingingasong;whichwasofteninterruptedfromwithinbyharshwordsofscornandintolerance,utteredinfarfrommusicalaccents.
“I’drayther,bythe‘haulf,hev‘emswearingi’mylugsfro’hmorntoneeght,norhearkenye,hahsiver!”
saidthetenantofthekitchen,inanswertoanunheardspeechofNelly’s.
“It’sablazingshame,thatIcannotoppent’blessedBook,butyahsetupthemgloriestoSattan,andallt’flaysomewickednessesthativerwerebornintoth’warld!Oh!
ye’eraraightnowt;andshoo’sanother;andthatpoorlad’llbelostatweenye.Poorlad!”
headded,withagroan;“he’switched:I’msartinon’t!
OLord,judge‘em,forthere’snortherlawnorjusticeamongwerrullers!”
“No!orweshouldbesittinginflamingfagots,Isuppose,”retortedthesinger.
“Butwisht,oldman,andreadyourBiblelikeaChristian,andnevermindme.
Thisis‘FairyAnnie’sWedding’—abonnytune—itgoestoadance.”
Mrs.Deanwasabouttorecommence,whenIadvanced;andrecognizingmedirectly,shejumpedtoherfeet,crying:
“Why,blessyou,Mr.Lockwood!Howcouldyouthinkofreturninginthisway?All’sshutupatThrushcrossGrange.Youshouldhavegivenusnotice!”
“I’vearrangedtobeaccommodatedthere,foraslongasIshallstay,”Ianswered.“Idepartagaintomorrow.Andhowareyoutransplantedhere,Mrs.Dean?tellmethat.”
“Zillahleft,andMr.Heathcliffwishedmetocome,soonafteryouwenttoLondon,andstaytillyoureturned.But,stepin,pray!HaveyouwalkedfromGimmertonthisevening?”
“FromtheGrange,”Ireplied;“andwhiletheymakemelodgingroomthere,Iwanttofinishmybusinesswithyourmaster;becauseIdon’tthinkofhavinganotheropportunityinahurry.”
“Whatbusiness,sir?”saidNelly,conductingmeintothehouse.“He’sgoneoutatpresent,andwon’treturnsoon.”
“Abouttherent,”Ianswered.
“Oh!thenitiswithMrs.Heathcliffyoumustsettle,”sheobserved;“orratherwithme.Shehadnotlearnttomanageheraffairsyet,andIactforher:there’snobodyelse.”
Ilookedsurprised.
“Ah!youhavenotheardofHeathcliff’sdeath,Isee,”shecontinued.
“Heathcliffdead!”Iexclaimed.“Howlongago?”
“Threemonthssince:butsitdownandletmetakeyourhat,andI’lltellyouallaboutit.Stop,youhavehadnothingtoeat,haveyou?”
“Iwantnothing:Ihaveorderedsupperathome.Yousitdowntoo.Ineverdreamtofhisdying!Letmehearhowitcametopass.Yousayyoudon’texpectthembackforsometime—theyoungpeople?”
“No—Ihavetoscoldthemeveryeveningfortheirlaterambles:buttheydon’tcareforme.Atleasthaveadrinkofouroldale;itwilldoyougood:youseemweary.”
ShehastenedtofetchitbeforeIcouldrefuse,andIheardJosephaskingwhether“itwarn’tacryingscandalthatsheshouldhavefollowersathertimeoflife?
Andthen,togetthemjocksouto’t’maister’scellar!
Hefairshaamedto‘bidestillandseeit.”
Shedidnotstaytoretaliate,butreenteredinaminute,bearingareamingsilverpint,whosecontentsIlaudedwithbecomingearnestness.
AndafterwardsshefurnishedmewiththesequelofHeathcliff’shistory.
Hehada“queer”end,assheexpressedit.
IwassummonedtoWutheringHeights,withinafortnightofyourleavingus,shesaid;andIobeyedjoyfully,forCatherine’ssake.
Myfirstinterviewwithhergrievedandshockedme:shehadalteredsomuchsinceourseparation.
Mr.Heathcliffdidnotexplainhisreasonsfortakinganewmindaboutmycominghere;heonlytoldmehewantedme,andhewastiredofseeingCatherine:Imustmakethelittleparlourmysittingroom,andkeepherwithme.
Itwasenoughifhewereobligedtoseeheronceortwiceaday.
Sheseemedpleasedatthisarrangement;and,bydegrees,Ismuggledoveragreatnumberofbooks,andotherarticles,thathadformedheramusementattheGrange;andflatteredmyselfweshouldgetonintolerablecomfort.Thedelusiondidnotlastlong.
Catherine,contentedatfirst,inabriefspacegrewirritableandrestless.
Foronething,shewasforbiddentomoveoutofthegarden,anditfrettedhersadlytobeconfinedtoitsnarrowboundsasspringdrewon;foranother,infollowingthehouse,Iwasforcedtoquitherfrequently,andshecomplainedofloneliness:shepreferredquarrellingwithJosephinthekitchentosittingatpeaceinhersolitude.
Ididnotmindtheirskirmishes:butHaretonwasoftenobligedtoseekthekitchenalso,whenthemasterwantedtohavethehousetohimself;andthoughinthebeginningsheeitherleftitathisapproach,orquietlyjoinedinmyoccupations,andshunnedremarkingoraddressinghim—andthoughhewasalwaysassullenandsilentaspossible—afterawhileshechangedherbehaviour,andbecameincapableoflettinghimalone:talkingathim;commentingonhisstupidityandidleness;expressingherwonderhowhecouldendurethelifehelived—howhecouldsitawholeeveningstaringintothefireanddozing.
“He’sjustlikeadog,ishenot,Ellen?”sheonceobserved,“oracart-horse?
Hedoeshiswork,eatshisfood,andsleepseternally!Whatablank,drearymindhemusthave!Doyoueverdream,Hareton?And,ifyoudo,whatisitabout?Butyoucan’tspeaktome!”
Thenshelookedathim;buthewouldneitheropenhismouthnorlookagain.
“He’s,perhaps,dreamingnow,”shecontinued.“HetwitchedhisshoulderasJunotwitcheshers.Askhim,Ellen.”
“Mr.Haretonwillaskthemastertosendyouupstairs,ifyoudon’tbehave!”Isaid.Hehadnotonlytwitchedhisshoulderbutclenchedhisfist,asiftemptedtouseit.
“IknowwhyHaretonneverspeaks,whenIaminthekitchen,”sheexclaimed,onanotheroccasion.“HeisafraidIshalllaughathim.Ellen,whatdoyouthink?
Hebegantoteachhimselftoreadonce;andbecauseIlaughed,heburnedhisbooks,anddroppedit:washenotafool?”
“Werenotyounaughty?”Isaid;“answermethat.”
“PerhapsIwas,”shewenton;“butIdidnotexpecthimtobesosilly.Hareton,ifIgaveyouabook,wouldyoutakeitnow?I’lltry!”
Sheplacedoneshehadbeenperusingonhishand;heflungitoff,andmuttered,ifshedidnotgiveover,hewouldbreakherneck.
“Well,Ishallputithere,”shesaid,“inthetabledrawer;andI’mgoingtobed.”
Thenshewhisperedmetowatchwhetherhetouchedit,anddeparted.
Buthewouldnotcomenearit;andsoIinformedherinthemorning,tohergreatdisappointment.
Isawshewassorryforhisperseveringsulkinessandindolence:herconsciencereprovedherforfrighteninghimoffimprovinghimself.shehaddoneiteffectually.
Butheringenuitywasatworktoremedytheinjury:whileIironed,orpursuedothersuchstationaryemploymentsasIcouldnotwelldointheparlour,shewouldbringsomepleasantvolumeandreaditaloudtome.
WhenHaretonwasthere,shegenerallypausedinaninterestingpart,andleftthebooklyingabout:thatshedidrepeatedly;buthewasasobstinateasamule,and,insteadofsnatchingatherbait,inwetweatherhetooktosmokingwithJoseph;andtheysatlikeautomatons,oneoneachsideofthefire,theelderhappilytoodeaftounderstandherwickednonsense,ashewouldhavecalledit,theyoungerdoinghisbesttoseemtodisregardit.
Onfineeveningsthelatterfollowedhisshootingexpeditions,andCatherineyawnedandsighed,andteasedmetotalktoher,andranoffintothecourtorgarden,themomentIbegan;and,asalastresource,cried,andsaidshewastiredofliving:herlifewasuseless.
Mr.Heathcliff,whogrewmoreandmoredisinclinedtosociety,hadalmostbanishedEarnshawfromhisapartment.
OwingtoanaccidentatthecommencementofMarch,hebecameforsomedaysafixtureinthekitchen.
Hisgunburstwhileoutonthehillsbyhimself;asplintercuthisarm,andhelostagooddealofbloodbeforehecouldreachhome.
Theconsequencewasthat,perforce,hewascondemnedtothefiresideandtranquillity,tillhemadeitupagain.
ItsuitedCatherinetohavehimthere:atanyrate,itmadeherhateherroomupstairsmorethanever:andshewouldcompelmetofindoutbusinessbelow,thatshemightaccompanyme.
OnEasterMonday,JosephwenttoGimmertonfairwithsomecattle;and,intheafternoon,Iwasbusygettinguplineninthekitchen.
Earnshawsat,moroseasusual,atthechimney-corner,andmylittlemistresswasbeguilinganidlehourwithdrawingpicturesonthewindowpanes;varyingheramusementbysmotheredburstsofsongsandwhisperedejaculations,andquickglancesofannoyanceandimpatienceinthedirectionofhercousin,whosteadfastlysmoked,andlookedintothegrate.
AtanoticethatIcoulddowithhernolongerinterceptingmylight,sheremovedtothehearthstone.
Ibestowedlittleattentiononherproceedings,but,presently,Iheardherbegin:
“I’vefoundout,Hareton,thatIwant—thatI’mglad—thatIshouldlikeyoutobemycousinnow,ifyouhadnotgrownsocrosstome,andsorough.”
Haretonreturnednoanswer.
“Hareton,Hareton,Hareton!doyouhear?”shecontinued.
“Getoffwi’ye!”hegrowled,withuncompromisinggruffness.
“Letmetakethatpipe,”shesaid,cautiouslyadvancingherhandandabstractingitfromhismouth.
Beforehecouldattempttorecoverit,itwasbrokenandbehindthefire.Hesworeatherandseizedanother.
“Stop,”shecried,“youmustlistentomefirst;andIcan’tspeakwhilethosecloudsarefloatinginmyface.”
“Willyougotothedevil!”heexclaimedferociously,“andletmebe!”
“No,”shepersisted,“Iwon’t:Ican’ttellwhattodotomakeyoutalktome;andyouaredeterminednottounderstand.
WhenIcallyoustupid,Idon’tmeananything:Idon’tmeanthatIdespiseyou.
Come,youshalltakenoticeofme,Hareton!
youaremycousin,andyoushallownme.”
“Ishallhavenaughttodowi’youandyourmuckypride,andyourdamnedmockingtricks!”heanswered.
“I’llgotohell,bodyandsoul,beforeIlooksidewaysafteryouagain.Sideouto’t’gate,now;thisminute!”
Catherinefrowned,andretreatedtothewindow-seatchewingherlip,andendeavouring,byhumminganeccentrictune,toconcealagrowingtendencytosob.
“Youshouldbefriendswithyourcousin,Mr.Hareton,”Iinterrupted,“sincesherepentsofhersauciness.
Itwoulddoyouagreatdealofgood:itwouldmakeyouanothermantohaveherforacompanion.”
“Acompanion!”hecried;“whenshehatesme,anddoesnotthinkmefittowipehershoon!Nay!ifitmademeaking,I’dnotbescornedforseekinghergood-willanymore.”
“ItisnotIwhohateyou,itisyouwhohateme!”weptCathy,nolongerdisguisinghertrouble.“YouhatemeasmuchasMr.Heathcliffdoes,andmore.”
“You’readamnedliar,”beganEarnshaw:“whyhaveImadehimangry,bytakingyourpart,then,ahundredtimes?
andthatwhenyousneeredatanddespisedme,and—Goonplaguingme,andI’llstepinyonder,andsayyouworriedmeoutofthekitchen!”
“Ididn’tknowyoutookmypart,”sheanswered,dryinghereyes;“andIwasmiserableandbitterateverybody;butnowIthankyou,andbegyoutoforgiveme:whatcanIdobesides?”
Shereturnedtothehearth,andfranklyextendedherhand.
Heblackenedandscowledlikeathunder-cloud,andkepthisfistresolutelyclenched,andhisgazefixedontheground.
Catherine,byinstinct,musthavedivineditwasobdurateperversity,andnotdislike,thatpromptedthisdoggedconduct;for,afterremaininganinstantundecided,shestoopedandimpressedonhischeekagentlekiss.
ThelittleroguethoughtIhadnotseenher,and,drawingback,shetookherformerstationbythewindow,quitedemurely.
Ishookmyheadreprovingly,andthensheblushedandwhispered:
“Well!whatshouldIhavedone,Ellen?Hewouldn’tshakehands,andhewouldn’tlook:ImustshowhimsomewaythatIlikehim—thatIwanttobefriends.”
WhetherthekissconvincedHareton,Icannottell:hewasverycareful,forsomeminutes,thathisfaceshouldnotbeseen,andwhenhedidraiseit,hewassadlypuzzledwheretoturnhiseyes.
Catherineemployedherselfinwrappingahandsomebookneatlyinwhitepaper,andhavingtieditwithabitofribbon,andaddresseditto“Mr.HaretonEarnshaw.”
shedesiredmetobeherambassadress,andconveythepresenttoitsdestinedrecipient.
“Andtellhim,ifhe’lltakeitI’llcomeandteachhimtoreaditright,”shesaid;“and,ifherefuseit,I’llgoupstairs,andneverteasehimagain.
Icarriedit,andrepeatedthemessage;anxiouslywatchedbymyemployer.
Haretonwouldnotopenhisfingers,soIlaiditonhisknee.Hedidnotstrikeitoff,either.Ireturnedtomywork.
Catherineleanedherheadandarmsonthetable,tillsheheardtheslightrustleofthecoveringbeingremoved;thenshestoleaway,andquietlyseatedherselfbesidehercousin.
Hetrembled,andhisfaceglowed:allhisrudenessandallhissurlyharshnesshaddesertedhim:hecouldnotsummoncourage,atfirst,toutterasyllableinreplytoherquestioninglook,andhermurmuredpetition.
“Sayyouforgiveme,Hareton,do?Youcanmakemesohappybyspeakingthatlittleword.”
Hemutteredsomethinginaudible.
“Andyou’llbemyfriend?”addedCatherineinterrogatively.
“Nay,you’llbeashamedofmeeverydayofyourlife,”heanswered;“andthemoreashamed,themoreyouknowme;andIcannotbideit.”
“Soyouwon’tbemyfriend?”shesaid,smilingassweetashoney,andcreepingcloseup.
Ioverheardnofurtherdistinguishabletalk,but,onlookingroundagain,Iperceivedtwosuchradiantcountenancesbentoverthepageoftheacceptedbook,thatIdidnotdoubtthetreatyhadbeenratifiedonbothsides;andtheenemieswere,thenceforth,swornallies.
Theworktheystudiedwasfullofcostlypictures;andthoseandtheirpositionhadcharmenoughtokeepthemunmovedtillJosephcamehome.
He,poorman,wasperfectlyaghastatthespectacleofCatherineseatedonthesamebenchwithHaretonEarnshaw,leaningherhandonhisshoulder;andconfoundedathisfavourite’senduranceofherproximity:itaffectedhimtoodeeplytoallowanobservationonthesubjectthatnight.
Hisemotionwasonlyrevealedbytheimmensesighshedrew,ashesolemnlyspreadhislargeBibleonthetableandoverlaiditwithdirtybank-notesfromhispocketbook,theproduceoftheday’stransactions.
Atlength,hesummonedHaretonfromhisseat.
“Tak’theseintot’maister,lad,”hesaid,“andbidethere.I’sganguptomyownrahm.Thishoile’sneithermensfulnorseemlyforus:wemunsideoutandseearchanother.”
“Come,Catherine,”Isaid,“wemust‘sideout’too;I’vedonemyironing,areyoureadytogo?”
“Itisnoteighto’clock!”sheanswered,risingunwillingly.“Hareton,I’llleavethisbookuponthechimneypiece,andI’llbringsomemoreto-morrow.”
“Onybooksthatyahleave,Ishalltak’intoth’hahse,”saidJoseph,“andit’llbemitchifyahfindemagean;soa,yahmayplaseyerseln!”
Cathythreatenedthathislibraryshouldpayforhers;and,smilingasshepassedHareton,wentsingingupstairs:lighterofheart,Iventuretosay,thanevershehadbeenunderthatroofbefore;except,perhaps,duringherearliestvisitstoLinton.
Theintimacythuscommencedgrewrapidly;thoughitencounteredtemporaryinterruptions.
Earnshawwasnottobecivilisedwithawish,andmyyoungladywasnophilosopher,andnoparagonofpatience;butboththeirmindstendingtothesamepoint—onelovinganddesiringtoesteem,andtheotherlovinganddesiringtobeesteemed—theycontrivedintheendtoreachit.
Yousee,Mr.Lockwood,itwaseasyenoughtowinMrs.Heathcliff’sheart.Butnow,I’mgladyoudidnottry.
Thecrownofallmywisheswillbetheunionofthosetwo.
Ishallenvynooneontheirwedding-day:therewon’tbeahappierwomanthanmyselfinEngland!
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