Wuthering Heights

lf a mind to spend it by my study fire, instead of

erved at five)-on mounting the stairs with this lazy intention, and stepping into the room, I saw a servant-girl on her knees surrounded by brushes and coal-scuttles, and raising an infernal dust as she extinguished the

mb. Being unable to remove the chain, I jumped over, and, running up the flagged causeway bordered with s

hospitality. At least, I would not keep my doors barred in the day-time. I don't care-I will get in!' So resolved,

r's down i' t' fowld. Go round by th' end

e to open the door?' I

shoo'll not oppen 't an ye mak'

tell her whom I

no hend wi't,' mutter

ning a coal-shed, pump, and pigeon-cot, we at length arrived in the huge, warm, cheerful apartment where I was formerly received. It glowed delightfully in the radiance of an immense fire, compounded of coal, peat, and wood; and near the table, laid for a ple

f, the door must bear the consequence of your servants'

at any rate, she kept her eyes on me in a cool, regard

young man, gruffly.

deigned, at this second interview, to move the extrem

ed again. 'Do you intend partin

le hostess, more repellingly than H

?' I continued, turning to an obscur

f favourites!' she

ed once more, and drew closer to the hearth, rep

id, rising and reaching from the chimn

beholding; small features, very fair; flaxen ringlets, or rather golden, hanging loose on her delicate neck; and eyes, had they been agreeable in expression, that would have been irresistible: fortunately for my susceptible heart, the only sentiment they evince

p,' she snapped; 'I ca

ardon!' I has

apron over her neat black frock, and standing

ad to have a c

asked?' sh

ling. 'You are the pro

er chair in a pet; her forehead corrugated, and her

nd speech were both rude, entirely devoid of the superiority observable in Mr. and Mrs. Heathcliff; his thick brown curls were rough and uncultivated, his whiskers encroached bearishly over his cheeks, and his hands were embrowned like those of a common labourer: still his bearing was free, almost haughty, a

assuming the cheerful; 'and I fear I shall be weather-bound fo

ow-storm to ramble about in. Do you know that you run a risk of being lost in the marshes? People familiar with t

lads, and he might stay at the Grang

could

then, I must trust

mp

ed he of the shabby coat, shifting his

?' she asked, appe

ture. I no longer felt inclined to call Heathcliff a capital fellow. When the preparations were finished, he invited me with-'Now, sir, bring

ey could not every day sit so grim and taciturn; and it was impossible, however ill-tem

s and ideas: many could not imagine the existence of happiness in a life of such complete exile from the world as you spend, Mr. Heathclif

th an almost diabolical sneer on his

liff, your w

the post of ministering angel, and guards the fortunes of

rties to make it likely that they were man and wife. One was about forty: a period of mental vigour at which men seldom cherish the del

is the consequence of being buried alive: she has thrown herself away upon that boor from sheer ignorance that better individuals existed! A sad pity-I must beware how I cause her to

s he spoke, a peculiar look in her direction: a look of hatred; unless he has a most perverse se

avoured possessor of the beneficent fai

rance of a meditated assault. But he seemed to recollect himself presently, and smothered t

s have the privilege of owning your good fairy; her mate is dead. I sa

s young

son, ass

re rather too bold a jest to attribu

,' growled the other; 'and I

eply, laughing internally at the dig

y audible. I began to feel unmistakably out of place in that pleasant family circle. The dismal spiritual atmosphere overcame, and more

, I approached a window to examine the weather. A sorrowful sight I saw: dark night coming

I could not help exclaiming. 'The roads will be buried already; and,

rch. They'll be covered if left in the fold all ni

I continued, with

which had fallen from the chimney-piece as she restored the tea-canister to its place. The former, when he had deposited his burden, took a critical survey of the room, and in cracked tones grated out-'Aw wonder h

d, sufficiently enraged, stepped towards the aged rascal with an intention of

or I'll ask your abduction as a special favour! Stop! look here, Joseph,' she continued, taking a long, dark book from a shelf; 'I'll show you how far I've progressed in the

ped the elder; 'may the L

you all modelled in wax and clay! and the first who passes the limits I fix sha

or, hurried out, praying, and ejaculating 'wicked' as he went. I thought her conduct must be prompted

h that face, I'm sure you cannot help being good-hearted. Do point out some landmarks by which I ma

lf in a chair, with a candle, and the long book open bef

in a bog or a pit full of snow, your conscien

. They wouldn't let me go to

venience, on such a night,' I cried. 'I want you to tell me my way, n

rnshaw, Zillah, Joseph and

no boys a

hose a

ws that I am co

ith your host. I have

d Heathcliff's stern voice from the kitchen entrance. 'As to staying here, I don't kee

a chair in this

it will not suit me to permit any one the range of the

ing against Earnshaw in my haste. It was so dark that I could not see the means of exit; and, as I wandered round, I he

im as far as th

is master, or whatever relation he bore.

ing's neglect of the horses: somebody must go,' mu

d Hareton. 'If you set store o

e Mr. Heathcliff will never get another tenant t

ng on 'em!' muttered Joseph, to

ern, which I seized unceremoniously, and, calling out that I w

outed the ancient, pursuing my retreat. 'Hey, Gn

s seemed more bent on stretching their paws, and yawning, and flourishing their tails, than devouring me alive; but they would suffer no resurrection, and I was forced to lie till their malignant masters pleased to deliver me: then

t been one person at hand rather more rational than myself, and more benevolent than my entertainer. This was Zillah, the stout housewife; who at length issued forth to inquire into the

k on our very door-stones? I see this house will never do for me-look at t' poor lad, he's fair ch

neck, and pulled me into the kitchen. Mr. Heathcliff followed, hi

He told Zillah to give me a glass of brandy, and then passed on to the inner room; while she condoled with