外国经典 》 呼嘯山莊 Wuthering Heights 》
第一章 CHAPTER I
艾米莉·勃朗特 Emily Bronte
CHAPTER I
1801年，洛剋烏先生來到山莊拜訪希刺剋厲夫先生，要租下他的畫眉山莊，希刺剋厲夫先生對他很粗暴，還有一群惡狗嚮他發起進攻。但他還是又一次造訪希刺剋厲夫先生，他遇到了行為粗俗，不修邊 幅的英俊少年哈裏頓恩蕭，和貌美的希刺剋厲夫先生之子的遺孀。由於天黑又下雪希刺剋厲夫先生不得不留他住了下來，夜裏他做了一個奇怪的夢，夢見樹枝打在窗齒打碎玻璃，想折斷外頭的樹枝，可手指卻觸到一雙冰涼的小手，一個幽靈似的啜泣聲乞求他放她進來。她說她叫凱瑟琳·林惇，已經在這遊蕩了20年了，她想闖進來，嚇得洛剋烏失聲大叫。希刺剋厲夫先生聞聲趕來，讓希剋厲出去，他自己撲倒在床上，哭着叫起來：“凱蒂，來吧！啊，來呀，再來一次！啊，我心中最親愛的！凱瑟琳，最後一次！”可窗外毫無聲息，一陣冷風吹滅了蠟燭。
第二天，洛剋烏先生來到畫眉山莊，嚮女管傢艾倫迪恩問起此事，女管傢便講了發生在呼嘯山莊的事情。
呼嘯山莊已有300年的歷史，以前的主人恩蕭夫婦從街頭撿來一個吉普賽人的棄兒，收他做養子，這就是希刺剋厲夫。希刺剋厲夫一到這傢就受到纔先生的兒子辛得雷的欺負和虐待，可享德萊的妹妹凱瑟琳卻瘋狂地愛上了希刺剋厲夫。
《呼嘯山莊》老主人死了之後，已婚的辛得雷成了呼嘯山莊的主人。他開始阻止希刺剋厲夫和凱瑟琳的交往，並把希刺剋厲夫趕到田裏去幹活，不斷地差辱他，折磨他，他變得不近人情，近乎癡呆，凱瑟琳也變得野性十足。
一次，他們到畫眉山莊去玩，凱瑟琳被狗咬傷，主人林惇夫婦知道她是恩蕭傢的孩子，就熱情地留她養傷，而把希刺剋厲夫當成壞小子趕跑了。卡凱瑟琳和林敦的兒子埃德加、女兒伊莎貝拉成了好朋友。凱瑟琳住了五個長星期回來後，變成溫文爾雅，儀態萬方的富傢小姐。當他再次見到希刺剋厲夫時，生怕他弄髒了自己的衣服。希刺剋厲夫的自尊心受到了傷害，他說：“我願意怎麽髒，就怎麽髒。”他發誓要對辛得雷進行報復，他心中的野性和憤恨全部對準辛得雷。
1778年6月，辛得雷的妻子生下哈裏頓恩蕭後因肺病死去，辛得雷受了很大的打擊，
從此變得更加殘忍，更加冷酷無情。凱瑟琳徘徊於希刺剋厲夫和埃德加的愛情之間，她真心愛希剋厲，但又覺得與一個僕人結婚，有失身份。當埃德加嚮她求婚時，想到他的漂亮和富有，便答應了。但在她靈魂深處，非常明白自己錯了，便嚮女僕艾倫迪恩吐露真情：“我對埃德加的愛像樹林中的葉子，當鼕季改變樹木的時候，隨之就會改變葉子。我對希剋厲的愛卻像地下水久不變的岩石……我就是希剋厲！他無時無刻不在我心中，並不是作為一種樂趣，擊是作為我的一部分。”
希剋厲聽到她們的對話，痛苦萬分，當夜離開了呼嘯山莊，卡瑟林因希剋厲的離去而大病一場。後來林敦夫婦相繼得熱病而死，在他們死後三年，卡瑟林同埃德加結婚了。
數年後，希刺剋厲夫突然出現在畫眉山莊，這時他已經長成了一個蕭灑英俊而又很有錢的青年。凱瑟琳見到他時欣喜若狂，他意味深長地說：“我衹是為了你纔奮鬥的”。他經常出入於畫眉山莊，這使伊莎貝拉發病似的愛上了他。他為的報復整夜整夜地和辛得雷打牌、喝酒，慢慢地使他破了産，最後把整個莊園抵押給希剋厲。儘管卡瑟林想盡辦法想輓回希剋厲的感情，但他還是和伊莎貝拉結婚了，婚後以虐待伊莎貝拉來發泄自己的仇恨。
此時卡瑟林正值臨産，希刺剋厲夫趁埃德加不在，進入了畫眉山莊，他死命地抱住凱瑟琳，悲切地叫道：“啊，凱蒂，啊，我的命！我怎能受得了哇！……” 凱瑟琳着說：“如果我做錯了，我會因此而死，你也離開過我，但我寬恕了你，你也寬恕我吧！”希刺剋夫厲答道：“這是難以辦到的，但我饒恕你對我做的事。我可以愛害了我的人，可是害了你的人，我又怎麽能夠饒恕他呢？”他們就這樣瘋狂地擁抱着，互相怨恨。
直到埃德加回來後，他們才分開，凱瑟琳再也沒有醒來。當天夜裏，她昏迷中生下一個女孩便死去了。希刺剋厲夫整夜守在莊園裏，當得知凱瑟琳死了，他用力地把頭撞在樹幹上，“天啊！沒有我的命根子，我不能活下去呀！”幾個月後享德萊死了，希剋厲成了呼嘯山莊的主人。把辛得雷的兒子哈裏頓培養成一個粗野無禮，沒有教養的野小子。伊莎貝拉忍受不了丈夫的虐待，逃到倫敦附近，在那兒生了一個兒子取名林敦。
12年後林敦已長成一個少年，凱瑟琳的小女兒也已長成一個美麗的少女，他雖不喜歡林敦，他還是趁小卡凱瑟琳的父親病危之際，把小凱瑟琳接到呼嘯山莊，逼迫她和林敦結婚，因為他要“勝利地看見我的後代堂皇地作為他們産業的主人，我的孩子用工錢雇他們的孩子種他們的土地”。
幾個月後，埃德加也死了，希刺剋厲夫作為小凱瑟琳的父親搬進了畫眉山莊。不久林敦也死了，小凱瑟琳成了年輕的寡婦。
小凱瑟琳和哈裏頓就像當年的希剋厲和卡瑟林一樣，希剋厲瘋狂地阻止他們的來往，當她抓住小凱瑟琳想打她時，他從她的眼睛裏看到了凱瑟琳的影子，而此時的哈裏頓不正是當年的自己嗎！他變得更孤獨了，他渴望着和凱瑟琳的孤魂在一起。連續幾天他不吃不喝，在沼地裏遊蕩，回來後把自己關在凱瑟琳住過的房間裏，第二天，人們發現他死了。
他死後被埋在凱瑟琳的墓旁，小凱瑟琳終於和哈裏頓結婚了。
《呼嘯山莊》-寫作背景
艾米莉•勃朗特所生活的三十年間正是英國社會動蕩的時代。資本主義正在發展並越來越暴露它內在的缺陷；勞資之
間矛盾尖銳化；失業工人的貧睏；大量的童工被殘酷地折磨至死（這從同時期的英國著名女詩人伊莉莎白•巴雷特•勃朗寧①的長詩《孩子們的哭聲》，可以看到一些概貌）。再加上英國政府對民主改革鬥爭和工人運動采取高壓手段：如一八一九年的彼得路大屠殺就是一個例子。因此這一時期的文學作品也有所反映。我們的女作傢艾米莉•勃朗特就是誕生在這樣鬥爭的年代！她生在一個牧師家庭裏，父親名叫佩特裏剋•勃朗特（1777—1861），原是個愛爾蘭教士，一八一二年娶英國西南部康瓦耳郡（Cornwall）人瑪麗亞•勃蘭威爾為妻，膝下六個兒女。大女兒瑪麗亞（1814），二女兒伊莉莎白（1815），三女兒夏洛蒂（1816），獨子勃蘭威爾（1817），下邊就是艾米莉（1818）和安恩（1820）。後面四個都生在位於約剋郡曠野的桑頓村②，勃朗特先生便在這一教區任牧師職。一八二○年全家搬到豪渥斯地區，在曠野的一處偏僻的角落安了傢。她們三姊妹就在這個地方度過了一生。
一八二七年她們的母親逝世，姨母從康瓦耳群來照顧家庭。三年後，以瑪麗亞為首的四姊妹進寄宿學校讀書。由於生活條件太差，瑪麗亞與伊莉莎白患肺結核夭折，夏洛蒂與艾米莉幸存，自此在傢與兄弟勃蘭威爾一起自學。這個家庭一嚮離群索居，四個兄弟姊妹便常以讀書、寫作詩歌，及杜撰傳奇故事來打發寂寞的時光。夏洛蒂和勃蘭威爾以想象的安格裏阿王朝為中心來寫小說，而艾米莉和小妹安則創造了一個她們稱為岡多爾的太平洋島嶼來杜撰故事。
她們的傢雖然臨近豪渥斯工業區，然而這所住宅恰好位於城鎮與荒野之間。艾米莉經常和她的姊妹們到西邊的曠野地裏散步。因此一方面勃朗特姊妹看到了城鎮中正在發展的資本主義社會，另一方面也受到了曠野氣氛的感染。特別是艾米莉，她表面沉默寡言，內心卻熱情奔放，雖不懂政治，卻十分關心政治。三姊妹常常看自由黨或保守黨的期刊，喜歡議論政治，這當然是受了她們父親的影響。佩特裏剋•勃朗特是個比較激進的保守黨人，早年反對過路德運動③，後來也幫助豪渥斯工人，支持他們的罷工。艾米莉和她的姊妹繼承了他的正義感，同情手工業工人的反抗和鬥爭。這就為《呼嘯山莊》的誕生創造了條件。
這個家庭收入很少，經濟相當拮据。三姊妹不得不經常出外謀生，以教書或做家庭教師來貼補傢用，幾年來歷受艱辛挫折。夏洛蒂曾打算她們自己開設一所學校，她和艾米莉因此到布魯塞爾學習了一年，隨後因夏洛蒂失戀而離開。一八四六年她們自己籌款以假名出版了一本詩集④，卻衹賣掉兩本。一八四七年，她們三姊妹的三本小說⑤終於出版，然而衹有《簡愛》獲得成功，得到了重視。《呼嘯山莊》的出版並不為當時讀者所理解，甚至她自己的姐姐夏洛蒂也無法理解艾米莉的思想。
一八四八年，她們唯一的兄弟勃蘭威爾由於長期酗酒、吸毒，也傳染了肺病，於九月死去，雖然這位家庭中的暴君之死對於這三姊妹也是一種解脫，然而，正如在夏洛蒂姊妹的書簡集中所說的：“過失與罪惡都已遺忘，剩下來的是憐憫和悲傷盤踞了心頭與記憶……”對勃蘭威爾的悼念縮短了艾米莉走嚮墳墓的路途，同年十二月艾米莉終於棄世。她們的小妹妹安也於第二年五月相繼死去，這時這個家庭最後的成員衹有夏洛蒂和她的老父了。
這一位後來纔馳名世界文壇的極有才華的年輕女作傢，當時就這樣抱憾地離開了衹能使她嘗到冷漠無情的人世間，默默地和她傢中僅餘的三位親人告別了！她曾在少女時期的一首詩中這樣寫道：
“我是唯一的人，命中註定 無人過問，也無人流淚哀悼； 自從我生下來，從未引起過 一綫憂慮，一個快樂的微笑。 在秘密的歡樂，秘密的眼淚中， 這個變化多端的生活就這樣滑過， 十八年後仍然無依無靠， 一如在我誕生那天同樣的寂寞。……”
她在同一首詩中最後慨嘆道：
“起初青春的希望被融化， 然後幻想的虹彩迅速退開； 於是經驗告訴我，說真理 决不會在人類的心胸中成長起來。……”
但是她很想振作起來，有所作為，卻已掙紮不起，這種痛苦的思想鬥爭和瀕於絶望的情緒，在她同一時期的詩句中也可以找到：“然而如今當我希望過歌唱， 我的手指卻撥動了一根無音的弦； 而歌詞的疊句仍舊是 ‘不要再奮鬥了，’一切全是枉然。”
《呼嘯山莊》-作品賞析
《呼嘯山莊》通過一個愛情悲劇，嚮人們展示了一副畸形社會的生活畫面，勾勒了被這個畸形社會扭麯的人性及其造成的種種可怖的事件，整個故事情節是通過四個階段逐步鋪開的：
第一階段敘述了希斯剋利夫與凱瑟琳朝夕相處的童年生活；一個棄兒和一個小姐在這種特殊環境中所形成的特殊感情，以及他們對辛德雷專橫暴虐的反抗。
第二階段着重描寫凱瑟琳因為虛榮、無知和愚昧，背棄了希斯剋利夫，成了畫眉田莊的女主人。
第三階段以大量筆墨描繪希斯剋利夫如何在絶望中把滿腔仇恨化為報仇雪恥的計謀和行動。
最後階段儘管衹交代了希斯剋利夫的死亡，卻突出地揭示了當他瞭解哈裏頓和凱蒂相愛後，思想上經歷的一種嶄新的變化——人性的復蘇，從而使這出具有恐怖色彩的愛情悲劇透露出一束令人快慰的希望之光。
因此，希斯剋利夫的愛一恨一復仇一人性的復蘇，既是小說的精髓，又是貫穿始終的一條紅綫。作者依此脈絡，謀篇佈局，把場景安排得變幻莫測，有時在陰雲密佈、鬼哭狼嚎的曠野，有時又是風狂雨驟、陰森慘暗的庭院，故事始終籠罩在一種神秘和恐怖的氣氛之中。
在小說中，作者的全部心血凝聚在希斯剋利夫形象的刻畫上，她在這裏寄托了自己的全部憤慨、同情和理想。這個被剝奪了人間溫暖的棄兒在實際生活中培養了強烈的愛與憎，辛德雷的皮鞭使他嘗到了人生的殘酷，也教會他懂得忍氣吞聲的屈服無法改變自己受辱的命運。他選擇了反抗。凱瑟琳曾經是他忠實的夥伴，他倆在共同的反抗中萌發了真摯的愛情。然而，凱瑟琳最後卻背叛了希斯剋利夫，嫁給了她不瞭解、也根本不愛的埃德加·林頓。造成這個愛情悲劇的直接原因是她的虛榮、無知和愚蠢，結果卻葬送了自己的青春、愛情和生命，也毀了對她始終一往情深的希斯剋利夫，還差一點坑害了下一代。艾米莉·勃朗特刻畫這個人物時，有同情，也有憤慨；有惋惜，也有鞭笞；既哀其不幸，又怒其不爭，心情是極其復雜的。
凱瑟琳的背叛及其婚後悲苦的命運，是全書最重大的轉折點。它使希斯剋利夫滿腔的愛化為無比的恨；凱瑟琳一死，這腔仇恨火山般迸發出來，成了瘋狂的復仇動力。希斯剋利夫的目的達到了，他不僅讓辛德雷和埃德加凄苦死去，獨霸了兩傢莊園的産業，還讓他們平白無辜的下一代也飽嘗了苦果。這種瘋狂的報仇泄恨，貌似悖於常理，但卻淋漓盡致地表達了他非同一般的叛逆精神，這是一種特殊環境、特殊性格所决定的特殊反抗。希斯剋利夫的愛情悲劇是社會的悲劇，也是時代的悲劇。
《呼嘯山莊》的故事是以希斯剋利夫達到復仇目的而自殺告終的。他的死是一種殉情，表達了他對凱瑟琳生死不渝的愛，一種生不能同衾、死也求同穴的愛的追求。而他臨死前放棄了在下一代身上報復的念頭，表明他的天性本來是善良的，衹是由於殘酷的現實扭麯了他的天性，迫使他變得暴虐無情。這種人性的復蘇是一種精神上的升華，閃耀着作者人道主義的理想。
《呼嘯山莊》出版後一直被人認為是英國文學史上一部“最奇特的小說”，是一部“奧秘莫測”的“怪書”。原因在於它一反同時代作品普遍存在的傷感主義情調，而以強烈的愛、狂暴的恨及由之而起的無情的報復，取代了低沉的傷感和憂鬱。它宛如一首奇特的抒情詩，字裏行間充滿着豐富的想象和狂飆般猛烈的情感，具有震撼人心的藝術力量。
人物表
恩蕭先生 ———— 呼嘯山莊主人
辛德雷·恩蕭—— 其 子
凱瑟琳·恩蕭 —— 其女，小名凱蒂
希斯剋利夫 ——— 恩蕭撫養的孤兒
弗蘭西斯 ———— 辛德雷之妻
哈裏頓·恩蕭 —— 辛德雷之子
丁耐莉 ————— 女管傢，又名艾倫
約瑟夫 ————— 呼嘯山莊的老僕人
林敦先生 ———— 畫眉田莊主人
埃德加·林敦 —— 其子，後娶凱瑟琳·恩蕭
伊莎貝拉·林敦 — 其女，後嫁希刺剋厲夫
凱瑟琳·林敦 —— 埃德加與凱瑟琳之女，亦名凱蒂林敦·希刺剋厲夫
伊莎貝拉與希刺剋厲夫之子
洛剋烏德先生 —— 房 客
肯尼茲醫生 ——— 當地醫生
齊 拉 ————— 呼嘯山莊的女僕
《呼嘯山莊》-故事情節年表
１７５７ 辛德雷·恩蕭誕生。丁耐莉之母攜其嬰兒耐莉往呼嘯山莊當保姆。
１７６２ 埃德加·林敦誕生。
１７６５ 凱瑟琳·恩蕭誕生。
１７６６ 伊莎貝拉·林敦誕生。
１７７１ 夏天，恩蕭先生從利物浦帶回希刺剋厲夫。
１７７３ 春天，恩蕭夫人逝世。
１７７４ 辛德雷上大學。
１７７７ 十月，恩蕭先生逝世。辛德雷攜其妻弗蘭西斯返傢。
十一月底，凱瑟琳在畫眉田莊闖禍。
聖誕節，凱瑟琳返傢。
１７７８ 六月，哈裏頓·恩蕭誕生。弗蘭西斯逝世。丁耐莉照顧哈裏頓。
１７８０ 夏天，凱瑟琳接受了埃德加·林敦的求婚。希刺剋厲夫失蹤。凱瑟琳患重病。老林敦先生與夫人逝世。
１７８３ 三月，埃德加娶凱瑟琳。丁耐莉陪同往畫眉田莊。
九月，希刺剋厲夫歸。
１７８４ 一月，埃德加·凱瑟琳和希刺剋厲夫之間發生爭吵。希刺剋厲夫帶伊莎貝拉私奔。凱瑟琳第二次重病。
三月，希刺剋厲夫與伊莎貝拉回呼嘯山莊。希刺剋厲夫去看凱瑟琳。
三月廿日，凱瑟琳逝世，留下纔誕生的女兒凱瑟琳。
三月廿五日，凱瑟琳下葬。希刺剋厲夫當晚到墓園去。
三月廿六日，伊莎貝拉逃跑。
九月，辛德雷逝世。希刺剋厲夫占有呼嘯山莊。
十月，林敦·希刺剋厲夫誕生於外地。
１７９７ 伊莎貝拉逝世。
小凱蒂首次到呼嘯山莊。
埃德加接外甥林敦回畫眉田莊。希刺剋厲夫要走他的兒子。
１８００ 三月廿日，小凱蒂第二次到呼嘯山莊。
秋天，埃德加感冒病倒。
十月，凱蒂第三次到呼嘯山莊。
這以後三個星期，凱蒂秘密往呼嘯山莊。
１８０１ 八月，凱蒂與表弟林敦在野外見面，被希刺剋厲夫所迫又進呼嘯山莊與林敦結婚。
九月，埃德加·林敦逝世。後希刺剋厲夫往凱瑟琳墓地掘墓。
林敦·希刺剋厲夫繼承了畫眉田莊。
十月，林敦死去。希刺剋厲夫占有了其子産業。
十一月，希刺剋厲夫將畫眉田莊出租給洛剋烏德先生。
洛剋烏德先生拜訪呼嘯山莊。
１８０２ 一月，洛剋烏德先生離開畫眉田莊往倫敦。
二月，丁耐莉回呼嘯山莊。
四月，希刺剋厲夫逝世。
九月，洛剋烏德先生路經畫眉田莊與呼嘯山莊，再次拜訪。
１８０３ 元旦，哈裏頓·恩蕭與凱蒂結婚。
第一章
一八○一年。我剛剛拜訪過我的房東回來——就是那個將要給我惹麻煩的孤獨的鄰居。這兒可真是一個美麗的鄉間！在整個英格蘭境內，我不相信我竟能找到這樣一個能與塵世的喧囂完全隔絶的地方，一個厭世者的理想的天堂。而希刺剋厲夫和我正是分享這兒荒涼景色的如此合適的一對。一個絶妙的人！在我騎着馬走上前去時，看見他的黑眼睛縮在眉毛下猜忌地瞅着我。而在我通報自己姓名時．他把手指更深地藏到背心袋裏，完全是一副不信任我的神氣。剎那間，我對他産生了親切之感，而他卻根本未察覺到。
“希刺剋厲夫先生嗎？”我說。
回答是點一下頭。
“先生，我是洛剋烏德，您的新房客。我一到這兒就盡可能馬上來嚮您表示敬意，希望我堅持要租畫眉田莊沒什麽使您不方便。昨天我聽說您想——”。
“畫眉田莊是我自己的，先生。”他打斷了我的話，閃避着。“衹要是我能夠阻止，我總是不允許任何人給我什麽不方便的。進來吧！”
這一聲“進來”是咬着牙說出來的，表示了這樣一種情緒，“見鬼！”甚至他靠着的那扇大門也沒有對這句許諾表現出同情而移動；我想情況决定我接受這樣的邀請：我對一個仿佛比我還更怪僻的人頗感興趣。
他看見我的馬的胸部簡直要碰上柵欄了，竟也伸手解開了門鏈，然後陰鬱地領我走上石路，在我們到了院子裏的時候，就叫着： “約瑟夫，把洛剋烏德先生的馬牽走。拿點酒來。”
“我想他全家衹有這一個人吧，”那句雙重命令引起了這種想法。“怪不得石板縫間長滿了草，而且衹有牛替他們修剪籬笆哩。”
約瑟夫是個上年紀的人，不，簡直是個老頭——也許很老了，雖然還很健壯結實。“求主保佑我們！”他接過我的馬時，別彆扭扭地不高興地低聲自言自語着，同時又那麽憤怒地盯着我的臉，使我善意地揣度他一定需要神來幫助才能消化他的飯食，而他那虔誠的突然喊叫跟我這突然來訪是毫無關係的。
呼嘯山莊是希刺剋厲夫先生的住宅名稱。“呼嘯”是一個意味深長的內地形容詞，形容這地方在風暴的天氣裏所受的氣壓騷動。的確，他們這兒一定是隨時都流通着振奮精神的純潔空氣。從房屋那頭有幾棵矮小的樅樹過度傾斜，還有那一排瘦削的荊棘都嚮着一個方向伸展枝條，仿佛在嚮太陽乞討溫暖，就可以猜想到北風吹過的威力了。幸虧建築師有先見把房子蓋得很結實：窄小的窗子深深地嵌在墻裏，墻角有大塊的凸出的石頭防護着。
在跨進門檻之前，我停步觀賞房屋前面大量的稀奇古怪的雕刻，特別是正門附近，那上面除了許多殘破的怪獸和不知羞的小男孩外，我還發現“一五○○”年代和“哈裏頓·恩蕭”的名字。我本想說一兩句話，嚮這倨傲無禮的主人請教這地方的簡短歷史，但是從他站在門口的姿勢看來，是要我趕快進去，要不就幹脆離開，而我在參觀內部之前也並不想增加他的不耐煩。
不用經過任何穿堂過道，我們徑直進了這傢的起坐間：他們頗有見地索性把這裏叫作“屋子”。一般所謂屋子是把廚房和大廳都包括在內的；但是我認為在呼嘯山莊裏，廚房是撤退到另一個角落裏去了；至少我辨別出在頂裏面有喋喋的說話聲和廚房用具的磕碰聲；而且在大壁爐裏我並沒看出燒煮或烘烤食物的痕跡，墻上也沒有銅鍋和錫濾鍋之類在閃閃發光。倒是在屋子的一頭，在一個大橡木櫥櫃上擺着一疊疊的白鑞盤子；以及一些銀壺和銀杯散置着，一排排，壘得高高的直到屋頂，的確它們射出的光綫和熱氣映照得燦爛奪目。櫥櫃從未上過漆；它的整個構造任憑人去研究。衹是有一處，被擺滿了麥餅、牛羊腿和火腿之類的木架遮蓋住了。壁爐臺上有雜七雜八的老式難看的槍，還有一對馬槍；並且，為了裝飾起見，還有三個畫得俗氣的茶葉罐靠邊排列着。地是平滑的白石鋪砌的；椅子是高背的，老式的結構，塗着緑色；一兩把笨重的黑椅子藏在暗處。櫥櫃下面的圓拱裏，躺着一條好大的、豬肝色的母獵狗，一窩唧唧叫着的小狗圍着它，還有些狗在別的空地走動。
要是這屋子和傢具屬於一個質樸的北方農民，他有着頑強的面貌，以及穿短褲和綁腿套挺方便的粗壯的腿，那倒沒有什麽稀奇。這樣的人，坐在他的扶手椅上，一大杯啤酒在面前的圓桌上冒着白沫，衹要你在飯後適當的時間，在這山中方圓五六英裏區域內走一趟，總可以看得到的。但是希刺剋厲夫先生和他的住宅，以及生活方式，卻形成一種古怪的對比。在外貌上他像一個黑皮膚的吉普賽人，在衣着和風度上他又像個紳士——也就是，像鄉紳那樣的紳士：也許有點邋遢，可是懶拖拖的並不難看，因為他有一個挺拔、漂亮的身材；而且有點鬱鬱不樂的樣子。可能有人會懷疑，他因某種程度的缺乏教養而傲慢無禮；我內心深處卻産生了同情之感，認為他並不是這類人。我直覺地知道他的冷淡是由於對矯揉造作——對互相表示親熱感到厭惡。他把愛和恨都掩蓋起來，至於被人愛或恨，他又認為是一種魯莽的事。不，我這樣下判斷可太早了：我把自己的特性慷慨地施與他了。希刺剋厲夫先生遇見一個算是熟人時，便把手藏起來，也許另有和我所想的完全不同的原因。但願我這天性可稱得上是特別的吧。我親愛的母親總說我永遠不會有個舒服的傢。直到去年夏天我自己纔證實了真是完全不配有那樣一個傢。
我正在海邊享受着一個月的好天氣的當兒，一下子認識了一個迷人的人兒——在她還沒註意到我的時候，在我眼中她就是一個真正的女神。我從來沒有把我的愛情說出口；可是，如果神色可以傳情的話，連傻子也猜得出我在沒命地愛她。後來她懂得我的意思了，就回送我一個秋波——一切可以想象得到的顧盼中最甜蜜的秋波。我怎麽辦呢？我羞愧地懺悔了——冷冰冰地退縮，像個蝸牛似的；她越看我，我就縮得越冷越遠。直到最後這可憐的天真的孩子不得不懷疑她自己的感覺，她自以為猜錯了，感到非常惶惑，便說服她母親撤營而去。由於我古怪的舉止，我得了個冷酷無情的名聲；
多麽冤枉啊，那衹有我自己才能體會。
我在爐邊的椅子上坐下，我的房東就去坐對面的一把。為了消磨這一刻的沉默，我想去摩弄那衹。它纔離開那窩崽子，正在兇狠地偷偷溜到我的腿後面，呲牙咧嘴地，白牙上饞涎欲滴。我的愛撫卻使它從喉頭裏發出一聲長長的狺聲。
“你最好別理這衹狗，”希刺剋厲夫先生以同樣的音調咆哮着，跺一下腳來警告它。“它是不習慣受人嬌慣的——它不是當作玩意兒養的。”接着，他大步走到一個邊門，又大叫：
“約瑟夫！”
約瑟夫在地窖的深處咕噥着，可是並不打算上來。因此他的主人就下地窖去找他，留下我和那兇暴的和一對猙獰的蓬毛守羊狗面面相覷。這對狗同那一起對我的一舉一動都提防着，監視着。我並不想和犬牙打交道，就靜坐着不動；然而，我以為它們不會理解沉默的蔑視，不幸我又對這三衹狗擠擠眼，作作鬼臉，我臉上的某種變化如此激怒了狗夫人，它忽然暴怒，跳上我的膝蓋。我把它推開，趕忙拉過一張桌子作擋箭牌。這舉動惹起了公憤；六衹大小不同、年齡不一的四腳惡魔，從暗處一齊竄到屋中。我覺得我的腳跟和衣邊尤其是攻擊的目標，就一面盡可能有效地用火鉗來擋開較大的鬥士，一面又不得不大聲求援，請這傢裏的什麽人來重建和平。
希刺剋厲夫和他的僕人邁着煩躁的懶洋洋的腳步，爬上了地窖的梯階：我認為他們走得並不比平常快一秒鐘，雖然爐邊已經給撕咬和狂吠鬧得大亂。幸虧廚房裏有人快步走來：一個健壯的女人，她捲着衣裙，光着胳臂，兩頰火紅，揮舞着一個煎鍋衝到我們中間——而且運用那個武器和她的舌頭頗為見效，很奇妙地平息了這場風暴。等她的主人上場時，她已如大風過後卻還在起伏的海洋一般，喘息着。
“見鬼，到底是怎麽回事？”他問。就在我剛纔受到那樣不禮貌的接待後，他還這樣瞅着我，可真難以忍受。
“是啊，真是見鬼！”我咕嚕着。“先生，有鬼附體的豬群，①還沒有您那些畜生兇呢。您倒不如把一個生客丟給一群老虎的好！”
①有鬼附體的豬群——見《聖經·新約·路加福音》第八章第三十一節到第三十三節：“鬼就央求耶穌，不要吩咐他們到無底坑裏去。那裏有一大群豬，在山上吃食。鬼央求耶穌，準他們進入豬裏去。耶穌準了他們。鬼就從那人身上出來，進入豬裏去。於是那群豬闖下山崖，投在湖裏淹死了。”
“對於不碰它們的人，它們不會多事的。”他說，把酒瓶放在我面前，又把搬開的桌子歸回原位。
“狗是應該警覺的。喝杯酒嗎？”
“不，謝謝您。”
“沒給咬着吧？”
“我要是給咬着了，我可要在這咬人的東西上打上我的印記呢。”
希刺剋厲夫的臉上現出笑容。
“好啦，好啦，”他說，“你受驚啦，洛剋烏德先生。喏，喝點酒。這所房子裏客人極少，所以我願意承認，我和我的狗都不大知道該怎麽接待客人。先生，祝你健康！”
我鞠躬，也回敬了他；我開始覺得為了一群狗的失禮而坐在那兒生氣，可有點傻。此外，我也討厭讓這個傢夥再取笑我，因為他的興致已經轉到取樂上來了。也許他也已察覺到，得罪一個好房客是愚蠢的，語氣便稍稍委婉些，提起了他以為我會有興趣的話頭——談到我目前住處的優點與缺點。我發現他對我們所觸及的話題，是非常有才智的；在我回傢之前，我居然興致勃勃，提出明天再來拜訪。而他顯然並不願我再來打攪。但是，我還是要去。我感到我自己跟他比起來是多麽擅長交際啊，這可真是驚人。
Wuthering Heights is a gothic novel, and the only novel by Emily Brontë. It was first published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, and a posthumous second edition was edited by her sister Charlotte.
The name of the novel comes from the Yorkshire manor on the moors on which the story centres (as an adjective; wuthering is a Yorkshire word referring to turbulent weather). The narrative tells the tale of the all-encompassing and passionate, yet thwarted, love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and how this unresolved passion eventually destroys them and many around them.
Now considered a classic of English literature, Wuthering Heights met with mixed reviews by critics when it first appeared, mainly because of the narrative's stark depiction of mental and physical cruelty. Though Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre was initially considered the best of the Brontë sisters' works, many subsequent critics of Wuthering Heights argued that its originality and achievement made it superior. Wuthering Heights has also given rise to many adaptations and inspired works, including films, radio, television dramatisations, a musical by Bernard J. Taylor, ballet, opera, and song.
Plot
Writing in his diary, Mr. Lockwood describes arriving in the winter of 1801, at the manor house of Thrushcross Grange, on the Yorkshire moors in northern England. He soon meets his landlord, Heathcliff, a wealthy man and the master of nearby Wuthering Heights. Despite not being welcome at Wuthering Heights, Lockwood returns for a second visit and is forced to stay overnight, due to a snow storm. Unable to sleep, he finds the diary of a girl named Catherine Earnshaw and reads an entry. Lockwood learns that she was a close childhood friend of Heathcliff. Later, he has a nightmare in which the ghost of a young girl appears at his window and begs to be let in. While Lockwood struggles to keep the ghost out of his room, Heathcliff is awakened by his cries of terror and rushes into the room. Upon hearing of Catherine's ghost, he asks Lockwood to leave the room. Standing outside the door, Lockwood hears Heathcliff sobbing, opening the window, and calling for Catherine to enter.
Upon returning to Thrushcross Grange, Lockwood asks his housekeeper, Nelly Dean, to tell him the story of Heathcliff and the others at Wuthering Heights. Nelly begins her story thirty years earlier, when Mr. Earnshaw brings Heathcliff, an orphan boy, home to raise with his own children, Hindley and Catherine. Eventually, Mr. Earnshaw comes to favour Heathcliff over his own children. Both Earnshaw children initially resent Heathcliff, but soon he and Catherine become inseparable. Hindley continues to hate and physically abuse him
Mr. Earnshaw dies three years later and Hindley, now married to Frances after returning from boarding school, inherits Wuthering Heights. He brutalises Heathcliff, forcing him to work as a hired hand. Catherine becomes friends with the neighboring Linton family who live at Thrushcross Grange, and Mrs. Linton starts teaching her to be a proper lady. She is attracted to young Edgar Linton, whom Heathcliff immediately dislikes.
A year later, Frances dies from consumption shortly after giving birth to a son, Hareton. Hindley takes to drinking and becomes even more abusive to Heathcliff. Some two years later, Catherine informs Nelly that she wishes to marry Edgar Linton, as it will give her status and riches; despite her love for Heathcliff. Heathcliff, upon hearing this, leaves Wuthering Heights, only to return three years later, soon after Catherine and Edgar are wed.
Heathcliff has apparently become a wealthy, respectable gentleman and now seeks revenge against all those he believes have wronged him. Heathcliff makes loans to Hindley that he knows cannot be repaid. Intent on ruining Edgar, Heathcliff elopes with Edgar's sister, Isabella Linton, setting himself up to inherit Thrushcross Grange. After their marriage, Heathcliff becomes very cruel and abusive towards Isabella.
Catherine becomes very ill and dies shortly after giving birth to a daughter, Cathy. A few hours before her death, however, she and Heathcliff reaffirm their feelings for one another. After Catherine’s death, Heathcliff becomes more bitter and vengeful towards those around him. Isabella flees to London a month later and gives birth to a boy, Linton Heathcliff.
About this time, Hindley dies. Heathcliff takes ownership of Wuthering Heights and raises Hindley's son, Hareton, with as much neglect as he had suffered at Hindley's hands.
Thirteen years later, Isabella dies and Linton comes to live at Wuthering Heights with his father, Heathcliff. He treats his son even more cruelly than he treated his wife. Three years pass and Heathcliff invites Cathy to Wuthering Heights. He then introduces her to his son, Linton, wishing them to marry which would strengthen his claim on Thrushcross Grange.
Cathy receives news that Linton has fallen ill. She hurries to Wuthering Heights to see if she can be of help. Linton's health declines swiftly and Heathcliff puts Cathy under house arrest, forcing her to marry his son. Soon after the marriage, Edgar dies, followed shortly by Linton. Heathcliff has now gained complete control of both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. He forces Cathy to stay at Wuthering Heights and treats her as a common servant. It is at this point in the narrative that Lockwood rents Thrushcross Grange from Heathcliff, and Nelly’s story reaches the present day. Lockwood is appalled and leaves for London.
Lockwood returns six months later to visit Nelly. She tells him that in his absence, Cathy gradually softened toward her rough, uneducated cousin Hareton, just as Catherine was tender towards Heathcliff. Having originally mocked Hareton for his illiteracy, she now teaches him to read. He allows her to open up again after becoming so bitter from Heathcliff's brutal treatment.
When Heathcliff is confronted by Cathy and Hareton's love, he seems to suffer a mental breakdown and begins to see Catherine's ghost. He seemingly abandons his life-long vendetta and dies, having "swallowed nothing for four days". Nelly describes finding Heathcliff lying on the bed, stiff with rigor mortis. Only Hareton mourns Heathcliff's death. He is buried next to Catherine in the graveyard. Cathy and Hareton inherit Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange and plan their wedding for New Year’s Day. Upon hearing the end of the story, Lockwood leaves Nelly and on his walk home he visits the graves of Catherine and Heathcliff.
Characters
* Heathcliff: Found, and presumably orphaned, on the streets of Liverpool, he is taken to Wuthering Heights by Mr. Earnshaw and reluctantly cared for by the rest of the family. He and Catherine later grow close, and their love becomes the central theme of the first volume; his revenge and its consequences are the main theme of the second volume. Heathcliff is typically considered a Byronic hero, but critics have found his character, with a capacity for self-invention, to be profoundly difficult to assess. His position in society, without status (Heathcliff serves as both his given name and surname), is often the subject of Marxist criticism.
* Catherine Earnshaw: First introduced in Lockwood's discovery of her diary and etchings, Catherine's life is almost entirely detailed in the first volume. She seemingly suffers from a crisis of identity, unable to choose between nature and culture (and, by extension, Heathcliff and Edgar). Her decision to marry Edgar Linton over Heathcliff has been seen as a surrender to culture, and has implications for all the characters of Wuthering Heights. The character of Catherine has been analysed by many forms of literary criticism, including: psychoanalytic and feminist.
* Edgar Linton: Introduced as a child of the Linton family, who reside at Thrushcross Grange, Edgar's life and mannerisms are immediately contrasted with those of Heathcliff and Catherine, and indeed the former dislikes him. Yet, owing much to his status, Catherine marries him and not Heathcliff. This decision, and the differences between Edgar and Heathcliff, have been read into by feminist criticisms.
* Nelly Dean: The second and primary narrator of the novel, Nelly has been a servant of each generation of both the Earnshaw and Linton families. She is presented as a character who straddles the idea of a 'culture versus nature' divide in the novel: she is a local of the area and a servant, and has experienced life at Wuthering Heights. However, she is also an educated woman and has lived at Thrushcross Grange. This idea is represented in her having two names, Ellen—her given name and used to show respect, and Nelly—used by her familiars. Whether Nelly is an unbiased narrator and how far her actions, as an apparent bystander, affect the other characters are two points of her character discussed by critics.
* Isabella Linton: Introduced as part of the Linton family, Isabella is only ever shown in relation to other characters. She views Heathcliff as a romantic hero, despite Catherine warning her against such an opinion, and becomes an unwitting participant in his plot for revenge. After being married to Heathcliff and abused at Wuthering Heights, she escapes to London and gives birth to Linton. Such abusive treatment has led many, especially feminist critics, to consider Isabella the true/conventional 'tragic romantic' figure of Wuthering Heights.
* Hindley Earnshaw
* Hareton Earnshaw
* Catherine Linton
* Linton Heathcliff
* Joseph
* Lockwood
Timeline
1500: The stone above the front door of Wuthering Heights, bearing the name of Mr Earnshaw, is inscribed, possibly to mark the completion of the house.
1757: Hindley Earnshaw born (summer); Nelly Dean born
1762: Edgar Linton born
1765: Catherine Earnshaw born (summer); Isabella Linton born (late 1765)
1771: Heathcliff brought to Wuthering Heights by Mr Earnshaw (late summer)
1773: Mrs Earnshaw dies (spring)
1774: Hindley sent off to college
1777: Hindley marries Frances; Mr Earnshaw dies and Hindley comes back (October); Heathcliff and Cathy visit Thrushcross Grange for the first time; Cathy remains behind (November), and then returns to Wuthering Heights (Christmas Eve)
1778: Hareton born (June); Frances dies
1780: Heathcliff runs away from Wuthering Heights; Mr and Mrs Linton both die
1783: Catherine has married Edgar (March); Heathcliff comes back (September)
1784: Heathcliff marries Isabella (February); Catherine dies and Cathy born (20 March); Hindley dies; Linton born (September)
1797: Isabella dies; Cathy visits Wuthering Heights and meets Hareton; Linton brought to Thrushcross Grange and then taken to Wuthering Heights
1800: Cathy meets Heathcliff and sees Linton again (20 March)
1801: Cathy and Linton are married (August); Edgar dies (August); Linton dies (September); Mr Lockwood goes to Thrushcross Grange and visits Wuthering Heights, beginning his narrative
1802: Mr Lockwood goes back to London (January); Heathcliff dies (April); Mr Lockwood comes back to Thrushcross Grange (September)
1803: Cathy plans to marry Hareton (1 January)
Development history
There are several theories as to which building was the inspiration for Wuthering Heights. One is Top Withens, a ruined farmhouse, that is located in a isolated area near the Haworth Parsonage. Yet, its structure does not match that of the farmhouse described in the novel, and is therefore considered less likely to be the model. Top Withens was first suggested as the model for the fictitious farmhouse by Ellen Nussey, a friend of Charlotte Brontë's, to Edward Morison Wimperis, a commissioned artist for the Brontë sisters' novels in 1872.
The second option is the now demolished High Sunderland Hall, near Halifax, West Yorkshire. This Gothic edifice is located near Law Hill, and was where Emily worked briefly as a governess in 1838. While very grand for the farmhouse of Wuthering Heights, the hall had grotesque embellishments of griffins and misshapen nude men similar to those described by Lockwood of Wuthering Heights in chapter one of the novel:
"Before passing the threshold, I paused to admire a quantity of grotesque carving lavished over the front, and especially about the principal door, above which, among a wilderness of crumbling griffins and shameless little boys, I detected the date '1500'".
The inspiration for Thrushcross Grange has been traditionally connected to Ponden Hall, near Haworth, although very small. More likely is Shibden Hall, near Halifax.
Critical response
Early reviews
Early reviews of Wuthering Heights were mixed in their assessment. Whilst most critics recognised the power and imagination of the novel, many found the story unlikeable and ambiguous.[note 1] Released in 1847, at a time when the background of the author was deemed to have an important impact on the story itself, many critics were also intrigued by the authorship of the novels.[note 2] H. F. Chorley of the Athenaeum said that it was a "disagreeable story" and that the 'Bells' (Brontës) "seem to affect painful and exceptional subjects". The Atlas review called it a "strange, inartistic story", but commented that every chapter seems to contain a "sort of rugged power". It supported the second point made in the Athenaeum, suggesting that the general effect of the novel was "inexpressibly painful", but adding that all of its subjects were either "utterly hateful or thoroughly contemptible".
The Douglas Jerrold's Weekly Newspaper critique was more positive, emphasizing the "great power" of the novel and its provocative qualities; it said that it was a "strange sort of book—baffling all regular criticism" and that "[it is] impossible to lay it aside afterwards and say nothing about it". Although the Examiner agreed on the strangeness, it saw the book as "wild, confused; disjointed and improbable". The Britannia review mirrored those comments made on the unpleasant characters, arguing that it would have been a "far better romance" if the characters were not "nearly as violent and destructive as [Heathcliff]". The unidentified review was less critical, considering it a "work of great ability" and that "it is not every day that so good a novel makes its appearance".
Adaptations
The earliest known film adaptation of Wuthering Heights was filmed in England and directed by A. V. Bramble. It is unknown if any prints still exist. The most famous was 1939's Wuthering Heights, starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon and directed by William Wyler. This adaptation, like many others, eliminated the second generation's story (young Cathy, Linton and Hareton). It won the 1939 New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film and was nominated for the 1939 Academy Award for Best Picture.
The 1970 film with Timothy Dalton as Heathcliff is notable for emphasizing that Heathcliff may be Cathy's illegitimate half-brother. This is the first colour version of the novel, and gained acceptance over the years though it was initially poorly received. The character of Hindley is portrayed much more sympathetically, and his story-arc is altered.
The 1992 film Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche is notable for including the oft-omitted second generation story of the children of Cathy, Hindley , and Heathcliff.
Adaptations which reset the story in a new setting include the 1954 adaptation by Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel set in Catholic Mexico, with Heathcliff and Cathy renamed Alejandro and Catalina, and Yoshishige Yoshida's 1988 adaptation which set the story in Tokugawa period Japan. In 2003, MTV produced a poorly reviewed version set in a modern California with the characters as high school students.
The novel has been popular in opera and theatre, including operas written by Bernard Herrmann and Carlisle Floyd (both of which like many films cover only the first half of the book) and a musical by Bernard J. Taylor, as well as a song by Kate Bush.
In autumn of 2008, Mark Ryan launched a dramatic musical adaptation of the novel, narrated by Beowulf and Sexy Beast star Ray Winstone. He composed, sang and produced the tracks with Robb Vallier who also worked on Spamalot. He also directed the video for the song "Women" filmed especially for the website and featuring Jennifer Korbee, Jessica Keenan Wynn and Katie Boeck.
In August 2009 ITV aired a two part drama series starring Tom Hardy, Charlotte Riley, Sarah Lancashire, and Andrew Lincoln.
Announced in April 2008, Natalie Portman was originally set to star as Cathy in a new film adaptation of the novel, but she left the project in May. In May 2008, director John Maybury cast Michael Fassbender as Heathcliff and Abbie Cornish as Cathy. They later left the project and in May 2009, Peter Webber was announced as the director, with Ed Westwick and Gemma Arterton attached to play Heathcliff and Cathy respectively. However, the project did not get off the ground and Andrea Arnold signed on to direct in January 2010. Kaya Scodelario was then cast as Cathy, with the filmmakers searching for an unknown young Yorkshire actor to play Heathcliff.
CHAPTER I
1801. - I have just returned from a visit to my landlord - the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with. This is certainly a beautiful country! In all England, I do not believe that I could have fixed on a situation so completely removed from the stir of society. A perfect misanthropist's heaven: and Mr. Heathcliff and I are such a suitable pair to divide the desolation between us. A capital fellow! He little imagined how my heart warmed towards him when I beheld his black eyes withdraw so suspiciously under their brows, as I rode up, and when his fingers sheltered themselves, with a jealous resolution, still further in his waistcoat, as I announced my name.
'Mr. Heathcliff?' I said.
A nod was the answer.
'Mr. Lockwood, your new tenant, sir. I do myself the honour of calling as soon as possible after my arrival, to express the hope that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in soliciting the occupation of Thrushcross Grange: I heard yesterday you had had some thoughts - '
'Thrushcross Grange is my own, sir,' he interrupted, wincing. 'I should not allow any one to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it - walk in!'
The 'walk in' was uttered with closed teeth, and expressed the sentiment, 'Go to the Deuce:' even the gate over which he leant manifested no sympathising movement to the words; and I think that circumstance determined me to accept the invitation: I felt interested in a man who seemed more exaggeratedly reserved than myself.
When he saw my horse's breast fairly pushing the barrier, he did put out his hand to unchain it, and then sullenly preceded me up the causeway, calling, as we entered the court, - 'Joseph, take Mr. Lockwood's horse; and bring up some wine.'
'Here we have the whole establishment of domestics, I suppose,' was the reflection suggested by this compound order. 'No wonder the grass grows up between the flags, and cattle are the only hedge- cutters.'
Joseph was an elderly, nay, an old man: very old, perhaps, though hale and sinewy. 'The Lord help us!' he soliloquised in an undertone of peevish displeasure, while relieving me of my horse: looking, meantime, in my face so sourly that I charitably conjectured he must have need of divine aid to digest his dinner, and his pious ejaculation had no reference to my unexpected advent.
Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. Heathcliff's dwelling. 'Wuthering' being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather. Pure, bracing ventilation they must have up there at all times, indeed: one may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun. Happily, the architect had foresight to build it strong: the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall, and the corners defended with large jutting stones.
Before passing the threshold, I paused to admire a quantity of grotesque carving lavished over the front, and especially about the principal door; above which, among a wilderness of crumbling griffins and shameless little boys, I detected the date '1500,' and the name 'Hareton Earnshaw.' I would have made a few comments, and requested a short history of the place from the surly owner; but his attitude at the door appeared to demand my speedy entrance, or complete departure, and I had no desire to aggravate his impatience previous to inspecting the penetralium.
One stop brought us into the family sitting-room, without any introductory lobby or passage: they call it here 'the house' pre- eminently. It includes kitchen and parlour, generally; but I believe at Wuthering Heights the kitchen is forced to retreat altogether into another quarter: at least I distinguished a chatter of tongues, and a clatter of culinary utensils, deep within; and I observed no signs of roasting, boiling, or baking, about the huge fireplace; nor any glitter of copper saucepans and tin cullenders on the walls. One end, indeed, reflected splendidly both light and heat from ranks of immense pewter dishes, interspersed with silver jugs and tankards, towering row after row, on a vast oak dresser, to the very roof. The latter had never been under-drawn: its entire anatomy lay bare to an inquiring eye, except where a frame of wood laden with oatcakes and clusters of legs of beef, mutton, and ham, concealed it. Above the chimney were sundry villainous old guns, and a couple of horse-pistols: and, by way of ornament, three gaudily-painted canisters disposed along its ledge. The floor was of smooth, white stone; the chairs, high-backed, primitive structures, painted green: one or two heavy black ones lurking in the shade. In an arch under the dresser reposed a huge, liver-coloured bitch pointer, surrounded by a swarm of squealing puppies; and other dogs haunted other recesses.
The apartment and furniture would have been nothing extraordinary as belonging to a homely, northern farmer, with a stubborn countenance, and stalwart limbs set out to advantage in knee- breeches and gaiters. Such an individual seated in his arm-chair, his mug of ale frothing on the round table before him, is to be seen in any circuit of five or six miles among these hills, if you go at the right time after dinner. But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living. He is a dark- skinned gipsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman: that is, as much a gentleman as many a country squire: rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss with his negligence, because he has an erect and handsome figure; and rather morose. Possibly, some people might suspect him of a degree of under-bred pride; I have a sympathetic chord within that tells me it is nothing of the sort: I know, by instinct, his reserve springs from an aversion to showy displays of feeling - to manifestations of mutual kindliness. He'll love and hate equally under cover, and esteem it a species of impertinence to be loved or hated again. No, I'm running on too fast: I bestow my own attributes over-liberally on him. Mr. Heathcliff may have entirely dissimilar reasons for keeping his hand out of the way when he meets a would-be acquaintance, to those which actuate me. Let me hope my constitution is almost peculiar: my dear mother used to say I should never have a comfortable home; and only last summer I proved myself perfectly unworthy of one.
While enjoying a month of fine weather at the sea-coast, I was thrown into the company of a most fascinating creature: a real goddess in my eyes, as long as she took no notice of me. I 'never told my love' vocally; still, if looks have language, the merest idiot might have guessed I was over head and ears: she understood me at last, and looked a return - the sweetest of all imaginable looks. And what did I do? I confess it with shame - shrunk icily into myself, like a snail; at every glance retired colder and farther; till finally the poor innocent was led to doubt her own senses, and, overwhelmed with confusion at her supposed mistake, persuaded her mamma to decamp. By this curious turn of disposition I have gained the reputation of deliberate heartlessness; how undeserved, I alone can appreciate.
I took a seat at the end of the hearthstone opposite that towards which my landlord advanced, and filled up an interval of silence by attempting to caress the canine mother, who had left her nursery, and was sneaking wolfishly to the back of my legs, her lip curled up, and her white teeth watering for a snatch. My caress provoked a long, guttural gnarl.
'You'd better let the dog alone,' growled Mr. Heathcliff in unison, checking fiercer demonstrations with a punch of his foot. 'She's not accustomed to be spoiled - not kept for a pet.' Then, striding to a side door, he shouted again, 'Joseph!'
Joseph mumbled indistinctly in the depths of the cellar, but gave no intimation of ascending; so his master dived down to him, leaving me VIS-A-VIS the ruffianly bitch and a pair of grim shaggy sheep-dogs, who shared with her a jealous guardianship over all my movements. Not anxious to come in contact with their fangs, I sat still; but, imagining they would scarcely understand tacit insults, I unfortunately indulged in winking and making faces at the trio, and some turn of my physiognomy so irritated madam, that she suddenly broke into a fury and leapt on my knees. I flung her back, and hastened to interpose the table between us. This proceeding aroused the whole hive: half-a-dozen four-footed fiends, of various sizes and ages, issued from hidden dens to the common centre. I felt my heels and coat-laps peculiar subjects of assault; and parrying off the larger combatants as effectually as I could with the poker, I was constrained to demand, aloud, assistance from some of the household in re-establishing peace.
Mr. Heathcliff and his man climbed the cellar steps with vexatious phlegm: I don't think they moved one second faster than usual, though the hearth was an absolute tempest of worrying and yelping. Happily, an inhabitant of the kitchen made more despatch: a lusty dame, with tucked-up gown, bare arms, and fire-flushed cheeks, rushed into the midst of us flourishing a frying-pan: and used that weapon, and her tongue, to such purpose, that the storm subsided magically, and she only remained, heaving like a sea after a high wind, when her master entered on the scene.
'What the devil is the matter?' he asked, eyeing me in a manner that I could ill endure, after this inhospitable treatment.
'What the devil, indeed!' I muttered. 'The herd of possessed swine could have had no worse spirits in them than those animals of yours, sir. You might as well leave a stranger with a brood of tigers!'
'They won't meddle with persons who touch nothing,' he remarked, putting the bottle before me, and restoring the displaced table. 'The dogs do right to be vigilant. Take a glass of wine?'
'No, thank you.'
'Not bitten, are you?'
'If I had been, I would have set my signet on the biter.' Heathcliff's countenance relaxed into a grin.
'Come, come,' he said, 'you are flurried, Mr. Lockwood. Here, take a little wine. Guests are so exceedingly rare in this house that I and my dogs, I am willing to own, hardly know how to receive them. Your health, sir?'
I bowed and returned the pledge; beginning to perceive that it would be foolish to sit sulking for the misbehaviour of a pack of curs; besides, I felt loth to yield the fellow further amusement at my expense; since his humour took that turn. He - probably swayed by prudential consideration of the folly of offending a good tenant - relaxed a little in the laconic style of chipping off his pronouns and auxiliary verbs, and introduced what he supposed would be a subject of interest to me, - a discourse on the advantages and disadvantages of my present place of retirement. I found him very intelligent on the topics we touched; and before I went home, I was encouraged so far as to volunteer another visit to-morrow. He evidently wished no repetition of my intrusion. I shall go, notwithstanding. It is astonishing how sociable I feel myself compared with him.
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