外国经典 》 呼啸山庄 Wuthering Heights 》
第一章 CHAPTER I
艾米莉·勃朗特 Emily Bronte
CHAPTER I
1801年，洛克乌先生来到山庄拜访希刺克厉夫先生，要租下他的画眉山庄，希刺克厉夫先生对他很粗暴，还有一群恶狗向他发起进攻。但他还是又一次造访希刺克厉夫先生，他遇到了行为粗俗，不修边 幅的英俊少年哈里顿恩萧，和貌美的希刺克厉夫先生之子的遗孀。由于天黑又下雪希刺克厉夫先生不得不留他住了下来，夜里他做了一个奇怪的梦，梦见树枝打在窗齿打碎玻璃，想折断外头的树枝，可手指却触到一双冰凉的小手，一个幽灵似的啜泣声乞求他放她进来。她说她叫凯瑟琳·林惇，已经在这游荡了20年了，她想闯进来，吓得洛克乌失声大叫。希刺克厉夫先生闻声赶来，让希克厉出去，他自己扑倒在床上，哭着叫起来：“凯蒂，来吧！啊，来呀，再来一次！啊，我心中最亲爱的！凯瑟琳，最后一次！”可窗外毫无声息，一阵冷风吹灭了蜡烛。
第二天，洛克乌先生来到画眉山庄，向女管家艾伦迪恩问起此事，女管家便讲了发生在呼啸山庄的事情。
呼啸山庄已有300年的历史，以前的主人恩萧夫妇从街头捡来一个吉普赛人的弃儿，收他做养子，这就是希刺克厉夫。希刺克厉夫一到这家就受到才先生的儿子辛得雷的欺负和虐待，可享德莱的妹妹凯瑟琳却疯狂地爱上了希刺克厉夫。
《呼啸山庄》老主人死了之后，已婚的辛得雷成了呼啸山庄的主人。他开始阻止希刺克厉夫和凯瑟琳的交往，并把希刺克厉夫赶到田里去干活，不断地差辱他，折磨他，他变得不近人情，近乎痴呆，凯瑟琳也变得野性十足。
一次，他们到画眉山庄去玩，凯瑟琳被狗咬伤，主人林惇夫妇知道她是恩萧家的孩子，就热情地留她养伤，而把希刺克厉夫当成坏小子赶跑了。卡凯瑟琳和林敦的儿子埃德加、女儿伊莎贝拉成了好朋友。凯瑟琳住了五个长星期回来后，变成温文尔雅，仪态万方的富家小姐。当他再次见到希刺克厉夫时，生怕他弄脏了自己的衣服。希刺克厉夫的自尊心受到了伤害，他说：“我愿意怎么脏，就怎么脏。”他发誓要对辛得雷进行报复，他心中的野性和愤恨全部对准辛得雷。
1778年6月，辛得雷的妻子生下哈里顿恩萧后因肺病死去，辛得雷受了很大的打击，
从此变得更加残忍，更加冷酷无情。凯瑟琳徘徊于希刺克厉夫和埃德加的爱情之间，她真心爱希克厉，但又觉得与一个仆人结婚，有失身份。当埃德加向她求婚时，想到他的漂亮和富有，便答应了。但在她灵魂深处，非常明白自己错了，便向女仆艾伦迪恩吐露真情：“我对埃德加的爱像树林中的叶子，当冬季改变树木的时候，随之就会改变叶子。我对希克厉的爱却像地下水久不变的岩石……我就是希克厉！他无时无刻不在我心中，并不是作为一种乐趣，击是作为我的一部分。”
希克厉听到她们的对话，痛苦万分，当夜离开了呼啸山庄，卡瑟林因希克厉的离去而大病一场。后来林敦夫妇相继得热病而死，在他们死后三年，卡瑟林同埃德加结婚了。
数年后，希刺克厉夫突然出现在画眉山庄，这时他已经长成了一个萧洒英俊而又很有钱的青年。凯瑟琳见到他时欣喜若狂，他意味深长地说：“我只是为了你才奋斗的”。他经常出入于画眉山庄，这使伊莎贝拉发病似的爱上了他。他为的报复整夜整夜地和辛得雷打牌、喝酒，慢慢地使他破了产，最后把整个庄园抵押给希克厉。尽管卡瑟林想尽办法想挽回希克厉的感情，但他还是和伊莎贝拉结婚了，婚后以虐待伊莎贝拉来发泄自己的仇恨。
此时卡瑟林正值临产，希刺克厉夫趁埃德加不在，进入了画眉山庄，他死命地抱住凯瑟琳，悲切地叫道：“啊，凯蒂，啊，我的命！我怎能受得了哇！……” 凯瑟琳着说：“如果我做错了，我会因此而死，你也离开过我，但我宽恕了你，你也宽恕我吧！”希刺克夫厉答道：“这是难以办到的，但我饶恕你对我做的事。我可以爱害了我的人，可是害了你的人，我又怎么能够饶恕他呢？”他们就这样疯狂地拥抱着，互相怨恨。
直到埃德加回来后，他们才分开，凯瑟琳再也没有醒来。当天夜里，她昏迷中生下一个女孩便死去了。希刺克厉夫整夜守在庄园里，当得知凯瑟琳死了，他用力地把头撞在树干上，“天啊！没有我的命根子，我不能活下去呀！”几个月后享德莱死了，希克厉成了呼啸山庄的主人。把辛得雷的儿子哈里顿培养成一个粗野无礼，没有教养的野小子。伊莎贝拉忍受不了丈夫的虐待，逃到伦敦附近，在那儿生了一个儿子取名林敦。
12年后林敦已长成一个少年，凯瑟琳的小女儿也已长成一个美丽的少女，他虽不喜欢林敦，他还是趁小卡凯瑟琳的父亲病危之际，把小凯瑟琳接到呼啸山庄，逼迫她和林敦结婚，因为他要“胜利地看见我的后代堂皇地作为他们产业的主人，我的孩子用工钱雇他们的孩子种他们的土地”。
几个月后，埃德加也死了，希刺克厉夫作为小凯瑟琳的父亲搬进了画眉山庄。不久林敦也死了，小凯瑟琳成了年轻的寡妇。
小凯瑟琳和哈里顿就像当年的希克厉和卡瑟林一样，希克厉疯狂地阻止他们的来往，当她抓住小凯瑟琳想打她时，他从她的眼睛里看到了凯瑟琳的影子，而此时的哈里顿不正是当年的自己吗！他变得更孤独了，他渴望着和凯瑟琳的孤魂在一起。连续几天他不吃不喝，在沼地里游荡，回来后把自己关在凯瑟琳住过的房间里，第二天，人们发现他死了。
他死后被埋在凯瑟琳的墓旁，小凯瑟琳终于和哈里顿结婚了。
《呼啸山庄》-写作背景
艾米莉•勃朗特所生活的三十年间正是英国社会动荡的时代。资本主义正在发展并越来越暴露它内在的缺陷；劳资之
间矛盾尖锐化；失业工人的贫困；大量的童工被残酷地折磨至死（这从同时期的英国著名女诗人伊莉莎白•巴雷特•勃朗宁①的长诗《孩子们的哭声》，可以看到一些概貌）。再加上英国政府对民主改革斗争和工人运动采取高压手段：如一八一九年的彼得路大屠杀就是一个例子。因此这一时期的文学作品也有所反映。我们的女作家艾米莉•勃朗特就是诞生在这样斗争的年代！她生在一个牧师家庭里，父亲名叫佩特里克•勃朗特（1777—1861），原是个爱尔兰教士，一八一二年娶英国西南部康瓦耳郡（Cornwall）人玛丽亚•勃兰威尔为妻，膝下六个儿女。大女儿玛丽亚（1814），二女儿伊莉莎白（1815），三女儿夏洛蒂（1816），独子勃兰威尔（1817），下边就是艾米莉（1818）和安恩（1820）。后面四个都生在位于约克郡旷野的桑顿村②，勃朗特先生便在这一教区任牧师职。一八二○年全家搬到豪渥斯地区，在旷野的一处偏僻的角落安了家。她们三姊妹就在这个地方度过了一生。
一八二七年她们的母亲逝世，姨母从康瓦耳群来照顾家庭。三年后，以玛丽亚为首的四姊妹进寄宿学校读书。由于生活条件太差，玛丽亚与伊莉莎白患肺结核夭折，夏洛蒂与艾米莉幸存，自此在家与兄弟勃兰威尔一起自学。这个家庭一向离群索居，四个兄弟姊妹便常以读书、写作诗歌，及杜撰传奇故事来打发寂寞的时光。夏洛蒂和勃兰威尔以想象的安格里阿王朝为中心来写小说，而艾米莉和小妹安则创造了一个她们称为冈多尔的太平洋岛屿来杜撰故事。
她们的家虽然临近豪渥斯工业区，然而这所住宅恰好位于城镇与荒野之间。艾米莉经常和她的姊妹们到西边的旷野地里散步。因此一方面勃朗特姊妹看到了城镇中正在发展的资本主义社会，另一方面也受到了旷野气氛的感染。特别是艾米莉，她表面沉默寡言，内心却热情奔放，虽不懂政治，却十分关心政治。三姊妹常常看自由党或保守党的期刊，喜欢议论政治，这当然是受了她们父亲的影响。佩特里克•勃朗特是个比较激进的保守党人，早年反对过路德运动③，后来也帮助豪渥斯工人，支持他们的罢工。艾米莉和她的姊妹继承了他的正义感，同情手工业工人的反抗和斗争。这就为《呼啸山庄》的诞生创造了条件。
这个家庭收入很少，经济相当拮据。三姊妹不得不经常出外谋生，以教书或做家庭教师来贴补家用，几年来历受艰辛挫折。夏洛蒂曾打算她们自己开设一所学校，她和艾米莉因此到布鲁塞尔学习了一年，随后因夏洛蒂失恋而离开。一八四六年她们自己筹款以假名出版了一本诗集④，却只卖掉两本。一八四七年，她们三姊妹的三本小说⑤终于出版，然而只有《简爱》获得成功，得到了重视。《呼啸山庄》的出版并不为当时读者所理解，甚至她自己的姐姐夏洛蒂也无法理解艾米莉的思想。
一八四八年，她们唯一的兄弟勃兰威尔由于长期酗酒、吸毒，也传染了肺病，于九月死去，虽然这位家庭中的暴君之死对于这三姊妹也是一种解脱，然而，正如在夏洛蒂姊妹的书简集中所说的：“过失与罪恶都已遗忘，剩下来的是怜悯和悲伤盘踞了心头与记忆……”对勃兰威尔的悼念缩短了艾米莉走向坟墓的路途，同年十二月艾米莉终于弃世。她们的小妹妹安也于第二年五月相继死去，这时这个家庭最后的成员只有夏洛蒂和她的老父了。
这一位后来才驰名世界文坛的极有才华的年轻女作家，当时就这样抱憾地离开了只能使她尝到冷漠无情的人世间，默默地和她家中仅余的三位亲人告别了！她曾在少女时期的一首诗中这样写道：
“我是唯一的人，命中注定 无人过问，也无人流泪哀悼； 自从我生下来，从未引起过 一线忧虑，一个快乐的微笑。 在秘密的欢乐，秘密的眼泪中， 这个变化多端的生活就这样滑过， 十八年后仍然无依无靠， 一如在我诞生那天同样的寂寞。……”
她在同一首诗中最后慨叹道：
“起初青春的希望被融化， 然后幻想的虹彩迅速退开； 于是经验告诉我，说真理 决不会在人类的心胸中成长起来。……”
但是她很想振作起来，有所作为，却已挣扎不起，这种痛苦的思想斗争和濒于绝望的情绪，在她同一时期的诗句中也可以找到：“然而如今当我希望过歌唱， 我的手指却拨动了一根无音的弦； 而歌词的叠句仍旧是 ‘不要再奋斗了，’一切全是枉然。”
《呼啸山庄》-作品赏析
《呼啸山庄》通过一个爱情悲剧，向人们展示了一副畸形社会的生活画面，勾勒了被这个畸形社会扭曲的人性及其造成的种种可怖的事件，整个故事情节是通过四个阶段逐步铺开的：
第一阶段叙述了希斯克利夫与凯瑟琳朝夕相处的童年生活；一个弃儿和一个小姐在这种特殊环境中所形成的特殊感情，以及他们对辛德雷专横暴虐的反抗。
第二阶段着重描写凯瑟琳因为虚荣、无知和愚昧，背弃了希斯克利夫，成了画眉田庄的女主人。
第三阶段以大量笔墨描绘希斯克利夫如何在绝望中把满腔仇恨化为报仇雪耻的计谋和行动。
最后阶段尽管只交代了希斯克利夫的死亡，却突出地揭示了当他了解哈里顿和凯蒂相爱后，思想上经历的一种崭新的变化——人性的复苏，从而使这出具有恐怖色彩的爱情悲剧透露出一束令人快慰的希望之光。
因此，希斯克利夫的爱一恨一复仇一人性的复苏，既是小说的精髓，又是贯穿始终的一条红线。作者依此脉络，谋篇布局，把场景安排得变幻莫测，有时在阴云密布、鬼哭狼嚎的旷野，有时又是风狂雨骤、阴森惨暗的庭院，故事始终笼罩在一种神秘和恐怖的气氛之中。
在小说中，作者的全部心血凝聚在希斯克利夫形象的刻画上，她在这里寄托了自己的全部愤慨、同情和理想。这个被剥夺了人间温暖的弃儿在实际生活中培养了强烈的爱与憎，辛德雷的皮鞭使他尝到了人生的残酷，也教会他懂得忍气吞声的屈服无法改变自己受辱的命运。他选择了反抗。凯瑟琳曾经是他忠实的伙伴，他俩在共同的反抗中萌发了真挚的爱情。然而，凯瑟琳最后却背叛了希斯克利夫，嫁给了她不了解、也根本不爱的埃德加·林顿。造成这个爱情悲剧的直接原因是她的虚荣、无知和愚蠢，结果却葬送了自己的青春、爱情和生命，也毁了对她始终一往情深的希斯克利夫，还差一点坑害了下一代。艾米莉·勃朗特刻画这个人物时，有同情，也有愤慨；有惋惜，也有鞭笞；既哀其不幸，又怒其不争，心情是极其复杂的。
凯瑟琳的背叛及其婚后悲苦的命运，是全书最重大的转折点。它使希斯克利夫满腔的爱化为无比的恨；凯瑟琳一死，这腔仇恨火山般迸发出来，成了疯狂的复仇动力。希斯克利夫的目的达到了，他不仅让辛德雷和埃德加凄苦死去，独霸了两家庄园的产业，还让他们平白无辜的下一代也饱尝了苦果。这种疯狂的报仇泄恨，貌似悖于常理，但却淋漓尽致地表达了他非同一般的叛逆精神，这是一种特殊环境、特殊性格所决定的特殊反抗。希斯克利夫的爱情悲剧是社会的悲剧，也是时代的悲剧。
《呼啸山庄》的故事是以希斯克利夫达到复仇目的而自杀告终的。他的死是一种殉情，表达了他对凯瑟琳生死不渝的爱，一种生不能同衾、死也求同穴的爱的追求。而他临死前放弃了在下一代身上报复的念头，表明他的天性本来是善良的，只是由于残酷的现实扭曲了他的天性，迫使他变得暴虐无情。这种人性的复苏是一种精神上的升华，闪耀着作者人道主义的理想。
《呼啸山庄》出版后一直被人认为是英国文学史上一部“最奇特的小说”，是一部“奥秘莫测”的“怪书”。原因在于它一反同时代作品普遍存在的伤感主义情调，而以强烈的爱、狂暴的恨及由之而起的无情的报复，取代了低沉的伤感和忧郁。它宛如一首奇特的抒情诗，字里行间充满着丰富的想象和狂飙般猛烈的情感，具有震撼人心的艺术力量。
人物表
恩萧先生 ———— 呼啸山庄主人
辛德雷·恩萧—— 其 子
凯瑟琳·恩萧 —— 其女，小名凯蒂
希斯克利夫 ——— 恩萧抚养的孤儿
弗兰西斯 ———— 辛德雷之妻
哈里顿·恩萧 —— 辛德雷之子
丁耐莉 ————— 女管家，又名艾伦
约瑟夫 ————— 呼啸山庄的老仆人
林敦先生 ———— 画眉田庄主人
埃德加·林敦 —— 其子，后娶凯瑟琳·恩萧
伊莎贝拉·林敦 — 其女，后嫁希刺克厉夫
凯瑟琳·林敦 —— 埃德加与凯瑟琳之女，亦名凯蒂林敦·希刺克厉夫
伊莎贝拉与希刺克厉夫之子
洛克乌德先生 —— 房 客
肯尼兹医生 ——— 当地医生
齐 拉 ————— 呼啸山庄的女仆
《呼啸山庄》-故事情节年表
１７５７ 辛德雷·恩萧诞生。丁耐莉之母携其婴儿耐莉往呼啸山庄当保姆。
１７６２ 埃德加·林敦诞生。
１７６５ 凯瑟琳·恩萧诞生。
１７６６ 伊莎贝拉·林敦诞生。
１７７１ 夏天，恩萧先生从利物浦带回希刺克厉夫。
１７７３ 春天，恩萧夫人逝世。
１７７４ 辛德雷上大学。
１７７７ 十月，恩萧先生逝世。辛德雷携其妻弗兰西斯返家。
十一月底，凯瑟琳在画眉田庄闯祸。
圣诞节，凯瑟琳返家。
１７７８ 六月，哈里顿·恩萧诞生。弗兰西斯逝世。丁耐莉照顾哈里顿。
１７８０ 夏天，凯瑟琳接受了埃德加·林敦的求婚。希刺克厉夫失踪。凯瑟琳患重病。老林敦先生与夫人逝世。
１７８３ 三月，埃德加娶凯瑟琳。丁耐莉陪同往画眉田庄。
九月，希刺克厉夫归。
１７８４ 一月，埃德加·凯瑟琳和希刺克厉夫之间发生争吵。希刺克厉夫带伊莎贝拉私奔。凯瑟琳第二次重病。
三月，希刺克厉夫与伊莎贝拉回呼啸山庄。希刺克厉夫去看凯瑟琳。
三月廿日，凯瑟琳逝世，留下才诞生的女儿凯瑟琳。
三月廿五日，凯瑟琳下葬。希刺克厉夫当晚到墓园去。
三月廿六日，伊莎贝拉逃跑。
九月，辛德雷逝世。希刺克厉夫占有呼啸山庄。
十月，林敦·希刺克厉夫诞生于外地。
１７９７ 伊莎贝拉逝世。
小凯蒂首次到呼啸山庄。
埃德加接外甥林敦回画眉田庄。希刺克厉夫要走他的儿子。
１８００ 三月廿日，小凯蒂第二次到呼啸山庄。
秋天，埃德加感冒病倒。
十月，凯蒂第三次到呼啸山庄。
这以后三个星期，凯蒂秘密往呼啸山庄。
１８０１ 八月，凯蒂与表弟林敦在野外见面，被希刺克厉夫所迫又进呼啸山庄与林敦结婚。
九月，埃德加·林敦逝世。后希刺克厉夫往凯瑟琳墓地掘墓。
林敦·希刺克厉夫继承了画眉田庄。
十月，林敦死去。希刺克厉夫占有了其子产业。
十一月，希刺克厉夫将画眉田庄出租给洛克乌德先生。
洛克乌德先生拜访呼啸山庄。
１８０２ 一月，洛克乌德先生离开画眉田庄往伦敦。
二月，丁耐莉回呼啸山庄。
四月，希刺克厉夫逝世。
九月，洛克乌德先生路经画眉田庄与呼啸山庄，再次拜访。
１８０３ 元旦，哈里顿·恩萧与凯蒂结婚。
第一章
一八○一年。我刚刚拜访过我的房东回来——就是那个将要给我惹麻烦的孤独的邻居。这儿可真是一个美丽的乡间！在整个英格兰境内，我不相信我竟能找到这样一个能与尘世的喧嚣完全隔绝的地方，一个厌世者的理想的天堂。而希刺克厉夫和我正是分享这儿荒凉景色的如此合适的一对。一个绝妙的人！在我骑着马走上前去时，看见他的黑眼睛缩在眉毛下猜忌地瞅着我。而在我通报自己姓名时．他把手指更深地藏到背心袋里，完全是一副不信任我的神气。刹那间，我对他产生了亲切之感，而他却根本未察觉到。
“希刺克厉夫先生吗？”我说。
回答是点一下头。
“先生，我是洛克乌德，您的新房客。我一到这儿就尽可能马上来向您表示敬意，希望我坚持要租画眉田庄没什么使您不方便。昨天我听说您想——”。
“画眉田庄是我自己的，先生。”他打断了我的话，闪避着。“只要是我能够阻止，我总是不允许任何人给我什么不方便的。进来吧！”
这一声“进来”是咬着牙说出来的，表示了这样一种情绪，“见鬼！”甚至他靠着的那扇大门也没有对这句许诺表现出同情而移动；我想情况决定我接受这样的邀请：我对一个仿佛比我还更怪僻的人颇感兴趣。
他看见我的马的胸部简直要碰上栅栏了，竟也伸手解开了门链，然后阴郁地领我走上石路，在我们到了院子里的时候，就叫着： “约瑟夫，把洛克乌德先生的马牵走。拿点酒来。”
“我想他全家只有这一个人吧，”那句双重命令引起了这种想法。“怪不得石板缝间长满了草，而且只有牛替他们修剪篱笆哩。”
约瑟夫是个上年纪的人，不，简直是个老头——也许很老了，虽然还很健壮结实。“求主保佑我们！”他接过我的马时，别别扭扭地不高兴地低声自言自语着，同时又那么愤怒地盯着我的脸，使我善意地揣度他一定需要神来帮助才能消化他的饭食，而他那虔诚的突然喊叫跟我这突然来访是毫无关系的。
呼啸山庄是希刺克厉夫先生的住宅名称。“呼啸”是一个意味深长的内地形容词，形容这地方在风暴的天气里所受的气压骚动。的确，他们这儿一定是随时都流通着振奋精神的纯洁空气。从房屋那头有几棵矮小的枞树过度倾斜，还有那一排瘦削的荆棘都向着一个方向伸展枝条，仿佛在向太阳乞讨温暖，就可以猜想到北风吹过的威力了。幸亏建筑师有先见把房子盖得很结实：窄小的窗子深深地嵌在墙里，墙角有大块的凸出的石头防护着。
在跨进门槛之前，我停步观赏房屋前面大量的稀奇古怪的雕刻，特别是正门附近，那上面除了许多残破的怪兽和不知羞的小男孩外，我还发现“一五○○”年代和“哈里顿·恩萧”的名字。我本想说一两句话，向这倨傲无礼的主人请教这地方的简短历史，但是从他站在门口的姿势看来，是要我赶快进去，要不就干脆离开，而我在参观内部之前也并不想增加他的不耐烦。
不用经过任何穿堂过道，我们径直进了这家的起坐间：他们颇有见地索性把这里叫作“屋子”。一般所谓屋子是把厨房和大厅都包括在内的；但是我认为在呼啸山庄里，厨房是撤退到另一个角落里去了；至少我辨别出在顶里面有喋喋的说话声和厨房用具的磕碰声；而且在大壁炉里我并没看出烧煮或烘烤食物的痕迹，墙上也没有铜锅和锡滤锅之类在闪闪发光。倒是在屋子的一头，在一个大橡木橱柜上摆着一叠叠的白镴盘子；以及一些银壶和银杯散置着，一排排，垒得高高的直到屋顶，的确它们射出的光线和热气映照得灿烂夺目。橱柜从未上过漆；它的整个构造任凭人去研究。只是有一处，被摆满了麦饼、牛羊腿和火腿之类的木架遮盖住了。壁炉台上有杂七杂八的老式难看的枪，还有一对马枪；并且，为了装饰起见，还有三个画得俗气的茶叶罐靠边排列着。地是平滑的白石铺砌的；椅子是高背的，老式的结构，涂着绿色；一两把笨重的黑椅子藏在暗处。橱柜下面的圆拱里，躺着一条好大的、猪肝色的母猎狗，一窝唧唧叫着的小狗围着它，还有些狗在别的空地走动。
要是这屋子和家具属于一个质朴的北方农民，他有着顽强的面貌，以及穿短裤和绑腿套挺方便的粗壮的腿，那倒没有什么稀奇。这样的人，坐在他的扶手椅上，一大杯啤酒在面前的圆桌上冒着白沫，只要你在饭后适当的时间，在这山中方圆五六英里区域内走一趟，总可以看得到的。但是希刺克厉夫先生和他的住宅，以及生活方式，却形成一种古怪的对比。在外貌上他像一个黑皮肤的吉普赛人，在衣着和风度上他又像个绅士——也就是，像乡绅那样的绅士：也许有点邋遢，可是懒拖拖的并不难看，因为他有一个挺拔、漂亮的身材；而且有点郁郁不乐的样子。可能有人会怀疑，他因某种程度的缺乏教养而傲慢无礼；我内心深处却产生了同情之感，认为他并不是这类人。我直觉地知道他的冷淡是由于对矫揉造作——对互相表示亲热感到厌恶。他把爱和恨都掩盖起来，至于被人爱或恨，他又认为是一种鲁莽的事。不，我这样下判断可太早了：我把自己的特性慷慨地施与他了。希刺克厉夫先生遇见一个算是熟人时，便把手藏起来，也许另有和我所想的完全不同的原因。但愿我这天性可称得上是特别的吧。我亲爱的母亲总说我永远不会有个舒服的家。直到去年夏天我自己才证实了真是完全不配有那样一个家。
我正在海边享受着一个月的好天气的当儿，一下子认识了一个迷人的人儿——在她还没注意到我的时候，在我眼中她就是一个真正的女神。我从来没有把我的爱情说出口；可是，如果神色可以传情的话，连傻子也猜得出我在没命地爱她。后来她懂得我的意思了，就回送我一个秋波——一切可以想象得到的顾盼中最甜蜜的秋波。我怎么办呢？我羞愧地忏悔了——冷冰冰地退缩，像个蜗牛似的；她越看我，我就缩得越冷越远。直到最后这可怜的天真的孩子不得不怀疑她自己的感觉，她自以为猜错了，感到非常惶惑，便说服她母亲撤营而去。由于我古怪的举止，我得了个冷酷无情的名声；
多么冤枉啊，那只有我自己才能体会。
我在炉边的椅子上坐下，我的房东就去坐对面的一把。为了消磨这一刻的沉默，我想去摩弄那只。它才离开那窝崽子，正在凶狠地偷偷溜到我的腿后面，呲牙咧嘴地，白牙上馋涎欲滴。我的爱抚却使它从喉头里发出一声长长的狺声。
“你最好别理这只狗，”希刺克厉夫先生以同样的音调咆哮着，跺一下脚来警告它。“它是不习惯受人娇惯的——它不是当作玩意儿养的。”接着，他大步走到一个边门，又大叫：
“约瑟夫！”
约瑟夫在地窖的深处咕哝着，可是并不打算上来。因此他的主人就下地窖去找他，留下我和那凶暴的和一对狰狞的蓬毛守羊狗面面相觑。这对狗同那一起对我的一举一动都提防着，监视着。我并不想和犬牙打交道，就静坐着不动；然而，我以为它们不会理解沉默的蔑视，不幸我又对这三只狗挤挤眼，作作鬼脸，我脸上的某种变化如此激怒了狗夫人，它忽然暴怒，跳上我的膝盖。我把它推开，赶忙拉过一张桌子作挡箭牌。这举动惹起了公愤；六只大小不同、年龄不一的四脚恶魔，从暗处一齐窜到屋中。我觉得我的脚跟和衣边尤其是攻击的目标，就一面尽可能有效地用火钳来挡开较大的斗士，一面又不得不大声求援，请这家里的什么人来重建和平。
希刺克厉夫和他的仆人迈着烦躁的懒洋洋的脚步，爬上了地窖的梯阶：我认为他们走得并不比平常快一秒钟，虽然炉边已经给撕咬和狂吠闹得大乱。幸亏厨房里有人快步走来：一个健壮的女人，她卷着衣裙，光着胳臂，两颊火红，挥舞着一个煎锅冲到我们中间——而且运用那个武器和她的舌头颇为见效，很奇妙地平息了这场风暴。等她的主人上场时，她已如大风过后却还在起伏的海洋一般，喘息着。
“见鬼，到底是怎么回事？”他问。就在我刚才受到那样不礼貌的接待后，他还这样瞅着我，可真难以忍受。
“是啊，真是见鬼！”我咕噜着。“先生，有鬼附体的猪群，①还没有您那些畜生凶呢。您倒不如把一个生客丢给一群老虎的好！”
①有鬼附体的猪群——见《圣经·新约·路加福音》第八章第三十一节到第三十三节：“鬼就央求耶稣，不要吩咐他们到无底坑里去。那里有一大群猪，在山上吃食。鬼央求耶稣，准他们进入猪里去。耶稣准了他们。鬼就从那人身上出来，进入猪里去。于是那群猪闯下山崖，投在湖里淹死了。”
“对于不碰它们的人，它们不会多事的。”他说，把酒瓶放在我面前，又把搬开的桌子归回原位。
“狗是应该警觉的。喝杯酒吗？”
“不，谢谢您。”
“没给咬着吧？”
“我要是给咬着了，我可要在这咬人的东西上打上我的印记呢。”
希刺克厉夫的脸上现出笑容。
“好啦，好啦，”他说，“你受惊啦，洛克乌德先生。喏，喝点酒。这所房子里客人极少，所以我愿意承认，我和我的狗都不大知道该怎么接待客人。先生，祝你健康！”
我鞠躬，也回敬了他；我开始觉得为了一群狗的失礼而坐在那儿生气，可有点傻。此外，我也讨厌让这个家伙再取笑我，因为他的兴致已经转到取乐上来了。也许他也已察觉到，得罪一个好房客是愚蠢的，语气便稍稍委婉些，提起了他以为我会有兴趣的话头——谈到我目前住处的优点与缺点。我发现他对我们所触及的话题，是非常有才智的；在我回家之前，我居然兴致勃勃，提出明天再来拜访。而他显然并不愿我再来打搅。但是，我还是要去。我感到我自己跟他比起来是多么擅长交际啊，这可真是惊人。
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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