yī bā yī nián。 wǒ gāng gāng bài fǎng guò wǒ de fáng dōng huí lái héng héng jiù shì nà gè jiāng yào gěi wǒ rě má fán de gū dú de lín jū。 zhè 'ér kě zhēn shì yī gè měi lì de xiāng jiān！ zài zhěng gè yīng gé lán jìng nèi， wǒ bù xiāng xìn wǒ jìng néng zhǎo dào zhè yàng yī gè néng yǔ chén shì de xuān 'áo wán quán gé jué de dì fāng， yī gè yàn shì zhě de lǐ xiǎng de tiān táng。 ér xī cì kè lì fū hé wǒ zhèng shì fēn xiǎng zhè 'ér huāng liáng jǐng sè de rú cǐ hé shì de yī duì。 yī gè jué miào de rén！ zài wǒ qí zhe mǎ zǒu shàng qián qù shí， kàn jiàn tā de hēi yǎn jīng suō zài méi máo xià cāi jì dì chǒu zhe wǒ。 ér zài wǒ tōng bào zì jǐ xìng míng shí ． tā bǎ shǒu zhǐ gēngshēn dì cáng dào bèi xīn dài lǐ， wán quán shì yī fù bù xìn rèn wǒ de shén qì。 chà nà jiān， wǒ duì tā chǎn shēng liǎo qīnqiè zhī gǎn， ér tā què gēn běn wèi chá jué dào。
“ xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng má？” wǒ shuō。
huí dá shì diǎn yī xià tóu。
“ xiān shēng， wǒ shì luò kè wū dé， nín de xīn fáng kè。 wǒ yī dào zhè 'ér jiù jìn kě néng mǎ shàng lái xiàng nín biǎo shì jìng yì， xī wàng wǒ jiān chí yào zū huà méi tián zhuāng méi shí me shǐ nín bù fāng biàn。 zuó tiān wǒ tīng shuō nín xiǎng héng héng”。
“ huà méi tián zhuāng shì wǒ zì jǐ de， xiān shēng。” tā dǎ duàn liǎo wǒ de huà， shǎn bì zhe。“ zhǐ yào shì wǒ néng gòu zǔ zhǐ， wǒ zǒng shì bù yǔn xǔ rèn hé rén gěi wǒ shénme bù fāng biàn de。 jìn lái bā！”
zhè yī shēng“ jìn lái” shì yǎo zhe yá shuō chū lái de， biǎo shì liǎo zhè yàng yī zhǒng qíng xù，“ jiàn guǐ！” shèn zhì tā kào zhe de nà shàn dà mén yě méi yòu duì zhè jù xǔ nuò biǎo xiàn chū tóng qíng 'ér yí dòng； wǒ xiǎng qíng kuàng jué dìng wǒ jiē shòu zhè yàng de yāo qǐng： wǒ duì yī gè fǎng fó bǐ wǒ hái gèng guài pì de rén pō gǎn xīng qù。
tā kàn jiàn wǒ de mǎ de xiōng bù jiǎn zhí yào pèng shàng shān lán liǎo， jìng yě shēn shǒu jiě kāi liǎo mén liàn， rán hòu yīn yù dì lǐng wǒ zǒu shàng shí lù， zài wǒ men dào liǎo yuàn zǐ lǐ de shí hòu， jiù jiào zhe：“ yuē sè fū， bǎ luò kè wū dé xiān shēng de mǎ qiān zǒu。 ná diǎn jiǔ lái。”
“ wǒ xiǎng tā quán jiā zhǐ yòu zhè yī gè rén bā，” nà jù shuāngchóng mìng lìng yǐn qǐ liǎo zhè zhǒng xiǎng fǎ。“ guài bù dé shí bǎn féng jiān cháng mǎn liǎo cǎo， ér qiě zhǐ yòu niú tì tā men xiū jiǎn lí bā li。”
yuē sè fū shì gè shàng nián jì de rén， bù， jiǎn zhí shì gè lǎo tóu héng héng yě xǔ hěn lǎo liǎo， suī rán hái hěn jiàn zhuàng jiēshí。“ qiú zhù bǎo yòu wǒ men！” tā jiē guò wǒ de mǎ shí， bié bié niǔ niǔ dì bù gāo xīng dì dī shēng zì yán zì yǔ zhe， tóng shí yòu nà me fèn nù dì dīng zhe wǒ de liǎn， shǐ wǒ shàn yì dì chuàiduó tā yī dìng xū yào shén lái bāng zhù cái néng xiāo huà tā de fàn shí， ér tā nà qián chéng de tū rán hǎn jiào gēn wǒ zhè tū rán lái fǎng shì háo wú guān xì de。
hū xiào shān zhuāng shì xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng de zhù zhái míng chēng。“ hū xiào” shì yī gè yì wèi shēn cháng de nèi dì xíng róng cí， xíng róng zhè dì fāng zài fēng bào de tiān qì lǐ suǒ shòu de qì yā sāo dòng。 díquè， tā men zhè 'ér yī dìng shì suí shí dū liú tōng zhe zhèn fèn jīng shén de chún jié kōng qì。 cóng fáng wū nà tóu yòu jǐ kē 'ǎi xiǎo de cōng shù guò dù qīng xié， hái yòu nà yī pái shòuxuē de jīng jí dū xiàng zhe yī gè fāng xiàng shēn zhǎn zhī tiáo， fǎng fó zài xiàng tài yáng qǐ tǎo wēn nuǎn， jiù kě yǐ cāi xiǎng dào běi fēng chuī guò de wēi lì liǎo。 xìng kuī jiàn zhù shī yòu xiān jiàn bǎ fáng zǐ gài dé hěn jiēshí： zhǎi xiǎo de chuāng zǐ shēn shēn dì qiàn zài qiáng lǐ， qiáng jiǎo yòu dà kuài de tū chū de shí tóu fáng hù zhe。
zài kuà jìn mén jiàn zhī qián， wǒ tíng bù guān shǎng fáng wū qián miàn dà liàng de xī qí gǔ guài de diāo kè， tè bié shì zhèng mén fù jìn， nà shàng miàn chú liǎo xǔ duō cán pò de guài shòu hé bù zhī xiū de xiǎo nán hái wài， wǒ hái fā xiàn“ yī wǔ ” nián dài hé“ hā lǐ dùn · ēn xiāo” de míng zì。 wǒ běn xiǎng shuō yī liǎng jù huà， xiàng zhè jù 'ào wú lǐ de zhù rén qǐng jiào zhè dì fāng de jiǎn duǎn lì shǐ， dàn shì cóng tā zhàn zài mén kǒu de zī shì kàn lái， shì yào wǒ gǎn kuài jìn qù， yào bù jiù gān cuì lí kāi， ér wǒ zài cān guān nèi bù zhī qián yě bìng bù xiǎng zēng jiā tā de bù nài fán。
bù yòng jīng guò rèn hé chuān táng guò dào， wǒ men jìng zhí jìn liǎo zhè jiā de qǐ zuò jiān： tā men pō yòu jiàn dì suǒ xìng bǎ zhè lǐ jiào zuò“ wū zǐ”。 yī bān suǒ wèi wū zǐ shì bǎ chú fáng hé dà tīng dū bāo kuò zài nèi de； dàn shì wǒ rèn wéi zài hū xiào shān zhuāng lǐ， chú fáng shì chè tuì dào lìng yī gè jiǎo luò lǐ qù liǎo； zhì shǎo wǒ biàn bié chū zài dǐng lǐ miàn yòu dié dié de shuō huà shēng hé chú fáng yòng jù de kē pèng shēng； ér qiě zài dà bì lú lǐ wǒ bìng méi kàn chū shāo zhǔ huò hōng kǎo shí wù de hén jì， qiáng shàng yě méi yòu tóng guō hé xī lǜ guō zhī lèi zài shǎn shǎn fā guāng。 dǎo shì zài wū zǐ de yī tóu， zài yī gè dà xiàng mù chú guì shàng bǎi zhe yī dié dié de bái là pán zǐ； yǐ jí yī xiē yín hú hé yín bēi sàn zhì zhe， yī pái pái， lěi dé gāo gāo de zhí dào wū dǐng， díquè tā men shè chū de guāng xiàn hé rè qì yìng zhào dé càn làn duó mù。 chú guì cóng wèi shàng guò qī； tā de zhěng gè gòu zào rèn píng rén qù yán jiū。 zhǐ shì yòu yī chù， bèi bǎi mǎn liǎo mài bǐng、 niú yáng tuǐ hé huǒ tuǐ zhī lèi de mù jià zhē gài zhù liǎo。 bì lú tái shàng yòu zá qī zá bā de lǎo shì nán kàn de qiāng， hái yòu yī duì mǎ qiāng； bìng qiě， wèile zhuāng shì qǐ jiàn， hái yòu sān gè huà dé sú qì de chá yè guàn kào biān pái liè zhe。 dì shì píng huá de bái shí pū qì de； yǐ zǐ shì gāo bèi de， lǎo shì de jié gòu， tú zhe lǜ sè； yī liǎng bǎ bèn zhòng de hēi yǐ zǐzàng zài 'àn chù。 chú guì xià miàn de yuán gǒng lǐ， tǎng zhe yī tiáo hǎo dà de、 zhū gān sè de mǔ liè gǒu， yī wō jī jī jiào zhe de xiǎo gǒu wéi zhe tā， hái yòu xiē gǒu zài bié de kōng dì zǒu dòng。
yào shì zhè wū zǐ hé jiā jù shǔ yú yī gè zhì pǔ de běi fāng nóng mín， tā yòu zhe wán qiáng de miàn mào， yǐ jí chuān duǎn kù hé bǎng tuǐ tào tǐng fāng biàn de cū zhuàng de tuǐ， nà dǎo méi yòu shénme xī qí。 zhè yàng de rén， zuò zài tā de fú shǒu yǐ shàng， yī dà bēi pí jiǔ zài miàn qián de yuán zhuō shàng mào zhe bái mò， zhǐ yào nǐ zài fàn hòu shìdàng de shí jiān， zài zhè shān zhōng fāng yuán wǔ liù yīng lǐ qū yù nèi zǒu yī tàng， zǒng kě yǐ kàn dé dào de。 dàn shì xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng hé tā de zhù zhái， yǐ jí shēng huó fāng shì， què xíng chéng yī zhǒng gǔ guài de duì bǐ。 zài wài mào shàng tā xiàng yī gè hēi pí fū de jí pǔ sài rén， zài yī zhe hé fēng dù shàng tā yòu xiàng gè shēn shì héng héng yě jiù shì， xiàng xiāng shēn nà yàng de shēn shì： yě xǔ yòu diǎn lā tà， kě shì lǎn tuō tuō de bìng bù nán kàn， yīn wéi tā yòu yī gè tǐng bá、 piào liàng de shēn cái； ér qiě yòu diǎn yù yù bù lè de yàng zǐ。 kě néng yòu rén huì huái yí， tā yīn mǒu zhǒng chéng dù de quē fá jiào yǎng 'ér 'ào màn wú lǐ； wǒ nèi xīn shēn chù què chǎn shēng liǎo tóng qíng zhī gǎn， rèn wéi tā bìng bù shì zhè lèi rén。 wǒ zhí jué dì zhī dào tā de lěng dàn shì yóu yú duì jiáo róu zào zuò héng héng duì hù xiāng biǎo shì qīn rè gǎn dào yàn 'è。 tā bǎ 'ài hé hèn dū yǎn gài qǐ lái， zhì yú bèi rén 'ài huò hèn， tā yòu rèn wéi shì yī zhǒng lǔ mǎng de shì。 bù， wǒ zhè yàng xià pàn duàn kě tài zǎo liǎo： wǒ bǎ zì jǐ de tè xìng kāng kǎi dì shī yǔ tā liǎo。 xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng yù jiàn yī gè suàn shì shú rén shí， biàn bǎ shǒu cáng qǐ lái， yě xǔ lìng yòu hé wǒ suǒ xiǎng de wán quán bù tóng de yuán yīn。 dàn yuàn wǒ zhè tiān xìng kě chēng dé shàng shì tè bié de bā。 wǒ qīn 'ài de mǔ qīn zǒng shuō wǒ yǒng yuǎn bù huì yòu gè shū fú de jiā。 zhí dào qù nián xià tiān wǒ zì jǐ cái zhèng shí liǎo zhēn shì wán quán bù pèi yòu nà yàng yī gè jiā。
wǒ zhèng zài hǎi biān xiǎng shòu zhe yī gè yuè de hǎo tiān qì de dāng 'ér， yī xià zǐ rèn shí liǎo yī gè mí rén de rén 'ér héng héng zài tā hái méi zhù yì dào wǒ de shí hòu， zài wǒ yǎn zhōng tā jiù shì yī gè zhēn zhèng de nǚ shén。 wǒ cóng lái méi yòu bǎ wǒ de 'ài qíng shuō chū kǒu； kě shì， rú guǒ shén sè kě yǐ chuán qíng de huà， lián shǎ zǐ yě cāi dé chū wǒ zài méi mìng dì 'ài tā。 hòu lái tā dǒng dé wǒ de yì sī liǎo， jiù huí sòng wǒ yī gè qiū bō héng héng yī qiē kě yǐ xiǎng xiàng dé dào de gù pàn zhōng zuì tián mì de qiū bō。 wǒ zěn me bàn ní？ wǒ xiū kuì dì chàn huǐ liǎo héng héng lěng bīng bīng dì tuì suō， xiàng gè wō niú shìde； tā yuè kàn wǒ， wǒ jiù suō dé yuè lěng yuè yuǎn。 zhí dào zuì hòu zhè kě lián de tiān zhēn de hái zǐ bù dé bù huái yí tā zì jǐ de gǎn jué， tā zì yǐ wéi cāi cuò liǎo， gǎn dào fēi cháng huáng huò， biàn shuō fú tā mǔ qīn chè yíng 'ér qù。 yóu yú wǒ gǔ guài de jǔ zhǐ， wǒ dé liǎo gè lěng kù wú qíng de míng shēng；
duō me yuān wǎng 'ā， nà zhǐ yòu wǒ zì jǐ cái néng tǐ huì。
wǒ zài lú biān de yǐ zǐ shàng zuò xià， wǒ de fáng dōng jiù qù zuò duì miàn de yī bǎ。 wèile xiāo mó zhè yī kè de chén mò， wǒ xiǎng qù mó nòng nà zhǐ。 tā cái lí kāi nà wō zǎi zǐ， zhèng zài xiōng hěn dì tōu tōu liù dào wǒ de tuǐ hòu miàn， cī yá lie zuǐ dì， bái yá shàng chán xián yù dī。 wǒ de 'ài fǔ què shǐ tā cóng hóu tóu lǐ fā chū yī shēng cháng cháng de yín shēng。
“ nǐ zuì hǎo bié lǐ zhè zhǐ gǒu，” xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng yǐ tóng yàng de yīn diào páo xiào zhe， duǒ yī xià jiǎo lái jǐng gào tā。“ tā shì bù xí guàn shòu rén jiāo guàn de héng héng tā bù shì dāng zuò wán yì 'ér yǎng de。” jiē zhe， tā dà bù zǒu dào yī gè biān mén， yòu dà jiào：
“ yuē sè fū！”
yuē sè fū zài dì jiào de shēn chù gū nóng zhe， kě shì bìng bù dǎ suàn shàng lái。 yīn cǐ tā de zhù rén jiù xià dì jiào qù zhǎo tā， liú xià wǒ hé nà xiōng bào de hé yī duì zhēng níng de péng máo shǒu yáng gǒu miàn miàn xiāng qù。 zhè duì gǒu tóng nà yī qǐ duì wǒ de yī jǔ yī dòng dū dīfáng zhe， jiān shì zhe。 wǒ bìng bù xiǎng hé quǎn yá dǎ jiāo dào， jiù jìng zuò zhe bù dòng； rán 'ér， wǒ yǐ wéi tā men bù huì lǐ jiě chén mò de miè shì， bù xìng wǒ yòu duì zhè sān zhǐ gǒu jǐ jǐ yǎn， zuò zuò guǐ liǎn， wǒ liǎn shàng de mǒu zhǒng biàn huà rú cǐ jī nù liǎo gǒu fū rén， tā hū rán bào nù， tiào shàng wǒ de xī gài。 wǒ bǎ tā tuī kāi， gǎn máng lā guò yī zhāng zhuō zǐ zuò dǎng jiàn pái。 zhè jǔ dòng rě qǐ liǎo gōng fèn； liù zhǐ dà xiǎo bù tóng、 nián líng bù yī de sì jiǎo 'è mó， cóng 'àn chù yī qí cuàn dào wū zhōng。 wǒ jué dé wǒ de jiǎo gēn hé yī biān yóu qí shì gōng jī de mù biāo， jiù yī miàn jìn kě néng yòu xiào dì yòng huǒ qián lái dǎng kāi jiào dà de dǒu shì， yī miàn yòu bù dé bù dà shēng qiú yuán， qǐng zhè jiā lǐ de shénme rén lái chóngjiàn hé píng。
xī cì kè lì fū hé tā de pú rén mài zhe fán zào de lǎn yáng yáng de jiǎo bù， pá shàng liǎo dì jiào de tī jiē： wǒ rèn wéi tā men zǒude bìng bù bǐ píng cháng kuài yī miǎo zhōng， suī rán lú biān yǐ jīng gěi sī yǎo hé kuáng fèi nào dé dà luàn。 xìng kuī chú fáng lǐ yòu rén kuài bù zǒu lái： yī gè jiàn zhuàng de nǚ rén， tā juàn zhe yī qún， guāng zhe gēbei， liǎng jiá huǒ hóng， huī wǔ zhe yī gè jiān guō chōng dào wǒ men zhōng jiān héng héng 'ér qiě yùn yòng nà gè wǔ qì hé tā de shé tóu pō wéi jiàn xiào， hěn qí miào dì píng xī liǎo zhè chǎng fēng bào。 děng tā de zhù rén shàng chǎng shí， tā yǐ rú dà fēng guò hòu què hái zài qǐ fú de hǎi yáng yī bān， chuǎn xī zhe。
“ jiàn guǐ， dào dǐ shì zěn me huí shì？” tā wèn。 jiù zài wǒ gāng cái shòu dào nà yàng bù lǐ mào de jiē dài hòu， tā hái zhè yàng chǒu zhe wǒ， kě zhēn nán yǐ rěn shòu。
“ shì 'ā， zhēn shì jiàn guǐ！” wǒ gū lū zhe。“ xiān shēng， yòu guǐ fù tǐ de zhū qún，① hái méi yòu nín nà xiē chù shēng xiōng ní。 nín dǎo bù rú bǎ yī gè shēng kè diū gěi yī qún lǎo hǔ de hǎo！”
① yòu guǐ fù tǐ de zhū qún héng héng jiàn《 shèng jīng · xīn yuē · lù jiā fú yīn》 dì bā zhāng dì sān shí yī jié dào dì sān shí sān jié：“ guǐ jiù yāng qiú yé sū， bù yào fēn fù tā men dào wú dǐ kēng lǐ qù。 nà lǐ yòu yī dà qún zhū， zài shān shàng chī shí。 guǐ yāng qiú yé sū， zhǔn tā men jìn rù zhū lǐ qù。 yé sū zhǔn liǎo tā men。 guǐ jiù cóng nà rén shēn shàng chū lái， jìn rù zhū lǐ qù。 yú shì nà qún zhū chuǎng xià shān yá， tóu zài hú lǐ yān sǐ liǎo。”
“ duì yú bù pèng tā men de rén， tā men bù huì duō shì de。” tā shuō， bǎ jiǔ píng fàng zài wǒ miàn qián， yòu bǎ bān kāi de zhuō zǐ guī huí yuán wèi。
“ gǒu shì yīnggāi jǐng jué de。 hē bēi jiǔ má？”
“ bù， xiè xiè nín。”
“ méi gěi yǎo zhe bā？”
“ wǒ yào shì gěi yǎo zhe liǎo， wǒ kě yào zài zhè yǎo rén de dōng xī shàng dǎ shàng wǒ de yìn jì ní。”
xī cì kè lì fū de liǎn shàng xiàn chū xiào róng。
“ hǎo lā， hǎo lā，” tā shuō，“ nǐ shòu jīng lā， luò kè wū dé xiān shēng。 nuò， hē diǎn jiǔ。 zhè suǒ fáng zǐ lǐ kè rén jí shǎo， suǒ yǐ wǒ yuàn yì chéng rèn， wǒ hé wǒ de gǒu dōubù dà zhī dào gāi zěn me jiē dài kè rén。 xiān shēng， zhù nǐ jiàn kāng！”
wǒ jū gōng， yě huí jìng liǎo tā； wǒ kāi shǐ jué dé wèile yī qún gǒu de shī lǐ 'ér zuò zài nà 'ér shēng qì， kě yòu diǎn shǎ。 cǐ wài， wǒ yě tǎo yàn ràng zhè gè jiā huǒ zài qǔ xiào wǒ， yīn wéi tā de xīng zhì yǐ jīng zhuǎn dào qǔ lè shàng lái liǎo。 yě xǔ tā yě yǐ chá jué dào， dé zuì yī gè hǎo fáng kè shì yú chǔn de， yǔ qì biàn shāo shāo wěi wǎn xiē， tí qǐ liǎo tā yǐ wèiwǒ huì yòu xīng qù de huà tóu héng héng tán dào wǒ mù qián zhù chù de yōu diǎn yǔ quē diǎn。 wǒ fā xiàn tā duì wǒ men suǒ chù jí de huà tí， shì fēi cháng yòu cái zhì de； zài wǒ huí jiā zhī qián， wǒ jū rán xīng zhì bó bó， tí chū míng tiān zài lái bài fǎng。 ér tā xiǎn rán bìng bù yuàn wǒ zài lái dǎ jiǎo。 dàn shì， wǒ hái shì yào qù。 wǒ gǎn dào wǒ zì jǐ gēn tā bǐ qǐ lái shì duō me shàn cháng jiāo jì 'ā， zhè kě zhēn shì jīng rén。
'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.
“ xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng má？” wǒ shuō。
huí dá shì diǎn yī xià tóu。
“ xiān shēng， wǒ shì luò kè wū dé， nín de xīn fáng kè。 wǒ yī dào zhè 'ér jiù jìn kě néng mǎ shàng lái xiàng nín biǎo shì jìng yì， xī wàng wǒ jiān chí yào zū huà méi tián zhuāng méi shí me shǐ nín bù fāng biàn。 zuó tiān wǒ tīng shuō nín xiǎng héng héng”。
“ huà méi tián zhuāng shì wǒ zì jǐ de， xiān shēng。” tā dǎ duàn liǎo wǒ de huà， shǎn bì zhe。“ zhǐ yào shì wǒ néng gòu zǔ zhǐ， wǒ zǒng shì bù yǔn xǔ rèn hé rén gěi wǒ shénme bù fāng biàn de。 jìn lái bā！”
zhè yī shēng“ jìn lái” shì yǎo zhe yá shuō chū lái de， biǎo shì liǎo zhè yàng yī zhǒng qíng xù，“ jiàn guǐ！” shèn zhì tā kào zhe de nà shàn dà mén yě méi yòu duì zhè jù xǔ nuò biǎo xiàn chū tóng qíng 'ér yí dòng； wǒ xiǎng qíng kuàng jué dìng wǒ jiē shòu zhè yàng de yāo qǐng： wǒ duì yī gè fǎng fó bǐ wǒ hái gèng guài pì de rén pō gǎn xīng qù。
tā kàn jiàn wǒ de mǎ de xiōng bù jiǎn zhí yào pèng shàng shān lán liǎo， jìng yě shēn shǒu jiě kāi liǎo mén liàn， rán hòu yīn yù dì lǐng wǒ zǒu shàng shí lù， zài wǒ men dào liǎo yuàn zǐ lǐ de shí hòu， jiù jiào zhe：“ yuē sè fū， bǎ luò kè wū dé xiān shēng de mǎ qiān zǒu。 ná diǎn jiǔ lái。”
“ wǒ xiǎng tā quán jiā zhǐ yòu zhè yī gè rén bā，” nà jù shuāngchóng mìng lìng yǐn qǐ liǎo zhè zhǒng xiǎng fǎ。“ guài bù dé shí bǎn féng jiān cháng mǎn liǎo cǎo， ér qiě zhǐ yòu niú tì tā men xiū jiǎn lí bā li。”
yuē sè fū shì gè shàng nián jì de rén， bù， jiǎn zhí shì gè lǎo tóu héng héng yě xǔ hěn lǎo liǎo， suī rán hái hěn jiàn zhuàng jiēshí。“ qiú zhù bǎo yòu wǒ men！” tā jiē guò wǒ de mǎ shí， bié bié niǔ niǔ dì bù gāo xīng dì dī shēng zì yán zì yǔ zhe， tóng shí yòu nà me fèn nù dì dīng zhe wǒ de liǎn， shǐ wǒ shàn yì dì chuàiduó tā yī dìng xū yào shén lái bāng zhù cái néng xiāo huà tā de fàn shí， ér tā nà qián chéng de tū rán hǎn jiào gēn wǒ zhè tū rán lái fǎng shì háo wú guān xì de。
hū xiào shān zhuāng shì xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng de zhù zhái míng chēng。“ hū xiào” shì yī gè yì wèi shēn cháng de nèi dì xíng róng cí， xíng róng zhè dì fāng zài fēng bào de tiān qì lǐ suǒ shòu de qì yā sāo dòng。 díquè， tā men zhè 'ér yī dìng shì suí shí dū liú tōng zhe zhèn fèn jīng shén de chún jié kōng qì。 cóng fáng wū nà tóu yòu jǐ kē 'ǎi xiǎo de cōng shù guò dù qīng xié， hái yòu nà yī pái shòuxuē de jīng jí dū xiàng zhe yī gè fāng xiàng shēn zhǎn zhī tiáo， fǎng fó zài xiàng tài yáng qǐ tǎo wēn nuǎn， jiù kě yǐ cāi xiǎng dào běi fēng chuī guò de wēi lì liǎo。 xìng kuī jiàn zhù shī yòu xiān jiàn bǎ fáng zǐ gài dé hěn jiēshí： zhǎi xiǎo de chuāng zǐ shēn shēn dì qiàn zài qiáng lǐ， qiáng jiǎo yòu dà kuài de tū chū de shí tóu fáng hù zhe。
zài kuà jìn mén jiàn zhī qián， wǒ tíng bù guān shǎng fáng wū qián miàn dà liàng de xī qí gǔ guài de diāo kè， tè bié shì zhèng mén fù jìn， nà shàng miàn chú liǎo xǔ duō cán pò de guài shòu hé bù zhī xiū de xiǎo nán hái wài， wǒ hái fā xiàn“ yī wǔ ” nián dài hé“ hā lǐ dùn · ēn xiāo” de míng zì。 wǒ běn xiǎng shuō yī liǎng jù huà， xiàng zhè jù 'ào wú lǐ de zhù rén qǐng jiào zhè dì fāng de jiǎn duǎn lì shǐ， dàn shì cóng tā zhàn zài mén kǒu de zī shì kàn lái， shì yào wǒ gǎn kuài jìn qù， yào bù jiù gān cuì lí kāi， ér wǒ zài cān guān nèi bù zhī qián yě bìng bù xiǎng zēng jiā tā de bù nài fán。
bù yòng jīng guò rèn hé chuān táng guò dào， wǒ men jìng zhí jìn liǎo zhè jiā de qǐ zuò jiān： tā men pō yòu jiàn dì suǒ xìng bǎ zhè lǐ jiào zuò“ wū zǐ”。 yī bān suǒ wèi wū zǐ shì bǎ chú fáng hé dà tīng dū bāo kuò zài nèi de； dàn shì wǒ rèn wéi zài hū xiào shān zhuāng lǐ， chú fáng shì chè tuì dào lìng yī gè jiǎo luò lǐ qù liǎo； zhì shǎo wǒ biàn bié chū zài dǐng lǐ miàn yòu dié dié de shuō huà shēng hé chú fáng yòng jù de kē pèng shēng； ér qiě zài dà bì lú lǐ wǒ bìng méi kàn chū shāo zhǔ huò hōng kǎo shí wù de hén jì， qiáng shàng yě méi yòu tóng guō hé xī lǜ guō zhī lèi zài shǎn shǎn fā guāng。 dǎo shì zài wū zǐ de yī tóu， zài yī gè dà xiàng mù chú guì shàng bǎi zhe yī dié dié de bái là pán zǐ； yǐ jí yī xiē yín hú hé yín bēi sàn zhì zhe， yī pái pái， lěi dé gāo gāo de zhí dào wū dǐng， díquè tā men shè chū de guāng xiàn hé rè qì yìng zhào dé càn làn duó mù。 chú guì cóng wèi shàng guò qī； tā de zhěng gè gòu zào rèn píng rén qù yán jiū。 zhǐ shì yòu yī chù， bèi bǎi mǎn liǎo mài bǐng、 niú yáng tuǐ hé huǒ tuǐ zhī lèi de mù jià zhē gài zhù liǎo。 bì lú tái shàng yòu zá qī zá bā de lǎo shì nán kàn de qiāng， hái yòu yī duì mǎ qiāng； bìng qiě， wèile zhuāng shì qǐ jiàn， hái yòu sān gè huà dé sú qì de chá yè guàn kào biān pái liè zhe。 dì shì píng huá de bái shí pū qì de； yǐ zǐ shì gāo bèi de， lǎo shì de jié gòu， tú zhe lǜ sè； yī liǎng bǎ bèn zhòng de hēi yǐ zǐzàng zài 'àn chù。 chú guì xià miàn de yuán gǒng lǐ， tǎng zhe yī tiáo hǎo dà de、 zhū gān sè de mǔ liè gǒu， yī wō jī jī jiào zhe de xiǎo gǒu wéi zhe tā， hái yòu xiē gǒu zài bié de kōng dì zǒu dòng。
yào shì zhè wū zǐ hé jiā jù shǔ yú yī gè zhì pǔ de běi fāng nóng mín， tā yòu zhe wán qiáng de miàn mào， yǐ jí chuān duǎn kù hé bǎng tuǐ tào tǐng fāng biàn de cū zhuàng de tuǐ， nà dǎo méi yòu shénme xī qí。 zhè yàng de rén， zuò zài tā de fú shǒu yǐ shàng， yī dà bēi pí jiǔ zài miàn qián de yuán zhuō shàng mào zhe bái mò， zhǐ yào nǐ zài fàn hòu shìdàng de shí jiān， zài zhè shān zhōng fāng yuán wǔ liù yīng lǐ qū yù nèi zǒu yī tàng， zǒng kě yǐ kàn dé dào de。 dàn shì xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng hé tā de zhù zhái， yǐ jí shēng huó fāng shì， què xíng chéng yī zhǒng gǔ guài de duì bǐ。 zài wài mào shàng tā xiàng yī gè hēi pí fū de jí pǔ sài rén， zài yī zhe hé fēng dù shàng tā yòu xiàng gè shēn shì héng héng yě jiù shì， xiàng xiāng shēn nà yàng de shēn shì： yě xǔ yòu diǎn lā tà， kě shì lǎn tuō tuō de bìng bù nán kàn， yīn wéi tā yòu yī gè tǐng bá、 piào liàng de shēn cái； ér qiě yòu diǎn yù yù bù lè de yàng zǐ。 kě néng yòu rén huì huái yí， tā yīn mǒu zhǒng chéng dù de quē fá jiào yǎng 'ér 'ào màn wú lǐ； wǒ nèi xīn shēn chù què chǎn shēng liǎo tóng qíng zhī gǎn， rèn wéi tā bìng bù shì zhè lèi rén。 wǒ zhí jué dì zhī dào tā de lěng dàn shì yóu yú duì jiáo róu zào zuò héng héng duì hù xiāng biǎo shì qīn rè gǎn dào yàn 'è。 tā bǎ 'ài hé hèn dū yǎn gài qǐ lái， zhì yú bèi rén 'ài huò hèn， tā yòu rèn wéi shì yī zhǒng lǔ mǎng de shì。 bù， wǒ zhè yàng xià pàn duàn kě tài zǎo liǎo： wǒ bǎ zì jǐ de tè xìng kāng kǎi dì shī yǔ tā liǎo。 xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng yù jiàn yī gè suàn shì shú rén shí， biàn bǎ shǒu cáng qǐ lái， yě xǔ lìng yòu hé wǒ suǒ xiǎng de wán quán bù tóng de yuán yīn。 dàn yuàn wǒ zhè tiān xìng kě chēng dé shàng shì tè bié de bā。 wǒ qīn 'ài de mǔ qīn zǒng shuō wǒ yǒng yuǎn bù huì yòu gè shū fú de jiā。 zhí dào qù nián xià tiān wǒ zì jǐ cái zhèng shí liǎo zhēn shì wán quán bù pèi yòu nà yàng yī gè jiā。
wǒ zhèng zài hǎi biān xiǎng shòu zhe yī gè yuè de hǎo tiān qì de dāng 'ér， yī xià zǐ rèn shí liǎo yī gè mí rén de rén 'ér héng héng zài tā hái méi zhù yì dào wǒ de shí hòu， zài wǒ yǎn zhōng tā jiù shì yī gè zhēn zhèng de nǚ shén。 wǒ cóng lái méi yòu bǎ wǒ de 'ài qíng shuō chū kǒu； kě shì， rú guǒ shén sè kě yǐ chuán qíng de huà， lián shǎ zǐ yě cāi dé chū wǒ zài méi mìng dì 'ài tā。 hòu lái tā dǒng dé wǒ de yì sī liǎo， jiù huí sòng wǒ yī gè qiū bō héng héng yī qiē kě yǐ xiǎng xiàng dé dào de gù pàn zhōng zuì tián mì de qiū bō。 wǒ zěn me bàn ní？ wǒ xiū kuì dì chàn huǐ liǎo héng héng lěng bīng bīng dì tuì suō， xiàng gè wō niú shìde； tā yuè kàn wǒ， wǒ jiù suō dé yuè lěng yuè yuǎn。 zhí dào zuì hòu zhè kě lián de tiān zhēn de hái zǐ bù dé bù huái yí tā zì jǐ de gǎn jué， tā zì yǐ wéi cāi cuò liǎo， gǎn dào fēi cháng huáng huò， biàn shuō fú tā mǔ qīn chè yíng 'ér qù。 yóu yú wǒ gǔ guài de jǔ zhǐ， wǒ dé liǎo gè lěng kù wú qíng de míng shēng；
duō me yuān wǎng 'ā， nà zhǐ yòu wǒ zì jǐ cái néng tǐ huì。
wǒ zài lú biān de yǐ zǐ shàng zuò xià， wǒ de fáng dōng jiù qù zuò duì miàn de yī bǎ。 wèile xiāo mó zhè yī kè de chén mò， wǒ xiǎng qù mó nòng nà zhǐ。 tā cái lí kāi nà wō zǎi zǐ， zhèng zài xiōng hěn dì tōu tōu liù dào wǒ de tuǐ hòu miàn， cī yá lie zuǐ dì， bái yá shàng chán xián yù dī。 wǒ de 'ài fǔ què shǐ tā cóng hóu tóu lǐ fā chū yī shēng cháng cháng de yín shēng。
“ nǐ zuì hǎo bié lǐ zhè zhǐ gǒu，” xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng yǐ tóng yàng de yīn diào páo xiào zhe， duǒ yī xià jiǎo lái jǐng gào tā。“ tā shì bù xí guàn shòu rén jiāo guàn de héng héng tā bù shì dāng zuò wán yì 'ér yǎng de。” jiē zhe， tā dà bù zǒu dào yī gè biān mén， yòu dà jiào：
“ yuē sè fū！”
yuē sè fū zài dì jiào de shēn chù gū nóng zhe， kě shì bìng bù dǎ suàn shàng lái。 yīn cǐ tā de zhù rén jiù xià dì jiào qù zhǎo tā， liú xià wǒ hé nà xiōng bào de hé yī duì zhēng níng de péng máo shǒu yáng gǒu miàn miàn xiāng qù。 zhè duì gǒu tóng nà yī qǐ duì wǒ de yī jǔ yī dòng dū dīfáng zhe， jiān shì zhe。 wǒ bìng bù xiǎng hé quǎn yá dǎ jiāo dào， jiù jìng zuò zhe bù dòng； rán 'ér， wǒ yǐ wéi tā men bù huì lǐ jiě chén mò de miè shì， bù xìng wǒ yòu duì zhè sān zhǐ gǒu jǐ jǐ yǎn， zuò zuò guǐ liǎn， wǒ liǎn shàng de mǒu zhǒng biàn huà rú cǐ jī nù liǎo gǒu fū rén， tā hū rán bào nù， tiào shàng wǒ de xī gài。 wǒ bǎ tā tuī kāi， gǎn máng lā guò yī zhāng zhuō zǐ zuò dǎng jiàn pái。 zhè jǔ dòng rě qǐ liǎo gōng fèn； liù zhǐ dà xiǎo bù tóng、 nián líng bù yī de sì jiǎo 'è mó， cóng 'àn chù yī qí cuàn dào wū zhōng。 wǒ jué dé wǒ de jiǎo gēn hé yī biān yóu qí shì gōng jī de mù biāo， jiù yī miàn jìn kě néng yòu xiào dì yòng huǒ qián lái dǎng kāi jiào dà de dǒu shì， yī miàn yòu bù dé bù dà shēng qiú yuán， qǐng zhè jiā lǐ de shénme rén lái chóngjiàn hé píng。
xī cì kè lì fū hé tā de pú rén mài zhe fán zào de lǎn yáng yáng de jiǎo bù， pá shàng liǎo dì jiào de tī jiē： wǒ rèn wéi tā men zǒude bìng bù bǐ píng cháng kuài yī miǎo zhōng， suī rán lú biān yǐ jīng gěi sī yǎo hé kuáng fèi nào dé dà luàn。 xìng kuī chú fáng lǐ yòu rén kuài bù zǒu lái： yī gè jiàn zhuàng de nǚ rén， tā juàn zhe yī qún， guāng zhe gēbei， liǎng jiá huǒ hóng， huī wǔ zhe yī gè jiān guō chōng dào wǒ men zhōng jiān héng héng 'ér qiě yùn yòng nà gè wǔ qì hé tā de shé tóu pō wéi jiàn xiào， hěn qí miào dì píng xī liǎo zhè chǎng fēng bào。 děng tā de zhù rén shàng chǎng shí， tā yǐ rú dà fēng guò hòu què hái zài qǐ fú de hǎi yáng yī bān， chuǎn xī zhe。
“ jiàn guǐ， dào dǐ shì zěn me huí shì？” tā wèn。 jiù zài wǒ gāng cái shòu dào nà yàng bù lǐ mào de jiē dài hòu， tā hái zhè yàng chǒu zhe wǒ， kě zhēn nán yǐ rěn shòu。
“ shì 'ā， zhēn shì jiàn guǐ！” wǒ gū lū zhe。“ xiān shēng， yòu guǐ fù tǐ de zhū qún，① hái méi yòu nín nà xiē chù shēng xiōng ní。 nín dǎo bù rú bǎ yī gè shēng kè diū gěi yī qún lǎo hǔ de hǎo！”
① yòu guǐ fù tǐ de zhū qún héng héng jiàn《 shèng jīng · xīn yuē · lù jiā fú yīn》 dì bā zhāng dì sān shí yī jié dào dì sān shí sān jié：“ guǐ jiù yāng qiú yé sū， bù yào fēn fù tā men dào wú dǐ kēng lǐ qù。 nà lǐ yòu yī dà qún zhū， zài shān shàng chī shí。 guǐ yāng qiú yé sū， zhǔn tā men jìn rù zhū lǐ qù。 yé sū zhǔn liǎo tā men。 guǐ jiù cóng nà rén shēn shàng chū lái， jìn rù zhū lǐ qù。 yú shì nà qún zhū chuǎng xià shān yá， tóu zài hú lǐ yān sǐ liǎo。”
“ duì yú bù pèng tā men de rén， tā men bù huì duō shì de。” tā shuō， bǎ jiǔ píng fàng zài wǒ miàn qián， yòu bǎ bān kāi de zhuō zǐ guī huí yuán wèi。
“ gǒu shì yīnggāi jǐng jué de。 hē bēi jiǔ má？”
“ bù， xiè xiè nín。”
“ méi gěi yǎo zhe bā？”
“ wǒ yào shì gěi yǎo zhe liǎo， wǒ kě yào zài zhè yǎo rén de dōng xī shàng dǎ shàng wǒ de yìn jì ní。”
xī cì kè lì fū de liǎn shàng xiàn chū xiào róng。
“ hǎo lā， hǎo lā，” tā shuō，“ nǐ shòu jīng lā， luò kè wū dé xiān shēng。 nuò， hē diǎn jiǔ。 zhè suǒ fáng zǐ lǐ kè rén jí shǎo， suǒ yǐ wǒ yuàn yì chéng rèn， wǒ hé wǒ de gǒu dōubù dà zhī dào gāi zěn me jiē dài kè rén。 xiān shēng， zhù nǐ jiàn kāng！”
wǒ jū gōng， yě huí jìng liǎo tā； wǒ kāi shǐ jué dé wèile yī qún gǒu de shī lǐ 'ér zuò zài nà 'ér shēng qì， kě yòu diǎn shǎ。 cǐ wài， wǒ yě tǎo yàn ràng zhè gè jiā huǒ zài qǔ xiào wǒ， yīn wéi tā de xīng zhì yǐ jīng zhuǎn dào qǔ lè shàng lái liǎo。 yě xǔ tā yě yǐ chá jué dào， dé zuì yī gè hǎo fáng kè shì yú chǔn de， yǔ qì biàn shāo shāo wěi wǎn xiē， tí qǐ liǎo tā yǐ wèiwǒ huì yòu xīng qù de huà tóu héng héng tán dào wǒ mù qián zhù chù de yōu diǎn yǔ quē diǎn。 wǒ fā xiàn tā duì wǒ men suǒ chù jí de huà tí， shì fēi cháng yòu cái zhì de； zài wǒ huí jiā zhī qián， wǒ jū rán xīng zhì bó bó， tí chū míng tiān zài lái bài fǎng。 ér tā xiǎn rán bìng bù yuàn wǒ zài lái dǎ jiǎo。 dàn shì， wǒ hái shì yào qù。 wǒ gǎn dào wǒ zì jǐ gēn tā bǐ qǐ lái shì duō me shàn cháng jiāo jì 'ā， zhè kě zhēn shì jīng rén。
'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.
zuó tiān xià wǔ yòu lěng yòu yòu wù。 wǒ xiǎng jiù zài shū fáng lú biān xiāo mó yī xià wǔ， bù xiǎng cǎi zhe zá cǎo wū ní dào hū xiào shān zhuāng liǎo。
dàn shì， chī guò wǔ fàn（ zhù yì héng héng wǒ zài shí 'èr diǎn yǔ yī diǎn zhōng zhī jiān chī wǔ fàn， ér kě yǐ dāng zuò zhè suǒ fáng zǐ de fù shǔ wù de guǎn jiā pó， yī wèi cí xiáng de tài tài què bù néng， huò zhě bìng bù yuàn lǐ jiě wǒ qǐng qiú zài wǔ diǎn zhōng kāi fàn de yòng yì）， zài wǒ huái zhe zhè gè lǎn duò de xiǎng fǎ shàng liǎo lóu， mài jìn wū zǐ de shí hòu， kàn jiàn yī gè nǚ pú guì zài dì shàng， shēn biān shì sǎo zhǒu hé méi dǒu。 tā zhèng zài yòng yī duī duī méi zhā fēng huǒ， gǎo qǐ yī piàn mí màn de huī chén。 zhè jǐng xiàng lì kè bǎ wǒ gǎn huí tóu liǎo。 wǒ ná liǎo mào zǐ， zǒu liǎo sì lǐ lù， dào dá liǎo xī cì kè lì fū de huā yuán kǒu kǒu， gāng hǎo duǒ guò liǎo yīcháng jīn nián chū jiàng de 'é máo dà xuě。
zài nà huāng liáng de shān dǐng shàng， tǔ dì yóu yú jié liǎo yī céng hēi bīng 'ér dòng dé jiān yìng， lěng kōng qì shǐ wǒ sì zhī fā dǒu。 wǒ nòng bù kāi mén liàn， jiù tiào jìn qù， shùn zhe liǎng biān zhǒng zhe màn yán de cù lì shù cóng de shí lù páo qù。 wǒ bái bái dì qiāo liǎo bàn tiān mén， yī zhí qiāo dào wǒ de shǒu zhǐ gǔ dū tòng liǎo， gǒu yě kuáng fèi qǐ lái。
“ dǎo méi de rén jiā！” wǒ xīn lǐ zhí jiào，“ zhǐ wéi nǐ zhè yàng wú lǐ dài kè， jiù gāi yī bèi zǐ gēn rén qún gé lí。 wǒ zhì shǎo hái bù huì zài bái tiān bǎ mén shuān zhù。 wǒ cái bù guǎn ní héng héng wǒ yào jìn qù！” rú cǐ jué dìng liǎo。 wǒ jiù zhuā zhù mén shuān， shǐ jìn yáo tā。 kǔ liǎn de yuē sè fū cóng gǔ cāng de yī gè yuán chuāng lǐ tàn chū tóu lái。
“ nǐ gànmá？” tā dà jiào。“ zhù rén zài niú lán lǐ， nǐ yào shì zhǎo tā shuō huà， jiù cóng zhè tiáo lù kǒu rào guò qù。”
“ wū lǐ méi rén kāi mén má？” wǒ yě jiào qǐ lái。
“ chú liǎo tài tài méi yòu bié rén。 nǐ jiù shì nào téng dào yè lǐ， tā yě bù huì kāi。”
“ wèishénme？ nǐ jiù bù néng gào sù tā wǒ shì shuí má， e， yuē sè fū？”
“ bié zhǎo wǒ！ wǒ cái bù guǎn zhè xiē xián shì ní，” zhè gè nǎo dài gū lū zhe， yòu bù jiàn liǎo。
xuě kāi shǐ xià dà liǎo。 wǒ wò zhù mén bǐng yòu shì yī huí。 zhè shí yī gè méi chuān wài yī de nián qīng rén， káng zhe yī gēn cǎo pá， zài hòu miàn yuàn zǐ lǐ chū xiàn liǎo。 tā zhāo hū wǒ gēn zhe tā zǒu， chuān guò liǎo yī gè xǐ yī fáng hé yī piàn pū píng de dì， nà 'ér yòu méi péng、 chōu shuǐ jī hé gē lóng， wǒ men zhōng yú dào liǎo wǒ shàng cì bèi jiē dài guò de nà jiān wēn nuǎn de、 rè nào de dà wū zǐ。 méi、 tàn hé mù cái hùn hé zài yī qǐ rán qǐ de xióng xióng lú huǒ， shǐ zhè wū zǐ fàng zhe guāng cǎi。 zài zhǔn bèi bǎi shàng fēng shèng wǎn cān de zhuō bàng， wǒ hěn gāo xīng dì kàn dào liǎo nà wèi“ tài tài”， yǐ qián wǒ cóng wèi liào xiǎng dào huì yòu zhè me yī gè rén cún zài de。 wǒ jū gōng děng hòu， yǐ wéi tā huì jiào wǒ zuò xià。 tā wàng wàng wǒ， wǎng tā de yǐ bèi yī kào， bù dòng， yě bù chū shēng。
“ tiān qì zhēn huài！” wǒ shuō，“ xī cì kè lì fū tài tài， kǒng pà dà mén yīn wéi nín de pú rén tōu lǎn 'ér dà chī kǔ tóu， wǒ fèi liǎo hǎo dà jìn cái shǐ tā men tīng jiàn wǒ qiāo mén！”
tā sǐ bù kāi kǒu。 wǒ dèng yǎn héng héng tā yě dèng yǎn。 fǎn zhèng tā zǒng shì yǐ yī zhǒng lěng lěng de、 mò bù guān xīn de shén qì dīng zhù wǒ， shǐ rén shí fēn jiǒng， ér qiě bù yú kuài。
“ zuò xià bā，” nà nián qīng rén cū shēng cū qì dì shuō，“ tā jiù yào lái liǎo。”
wǒ fú cóng liǎo； qīng qīng ké liǎo yī xià， jiào huàn nà 'è gǒu zhū nuò。 lín dào dì 'èr cì huì miàn， tā zǒng suàn shǎng liǎn， yáo qǐ wěi bā jiān， biǎo shì rèn wǒ shì shú rén liǎo。
“ hǎo piào liàng de gǒu！” wǒ yòu kāi shǐ shuō huà。“ nín shì bù shì dǎ suàn bù yào zhè xiē xiǎo de ní， fū rén？”
“ nà xiē bù shì wǒ de，” zhè kě 'ài kě qīn de nǚ zhù rén shuō， bǐ xī cì kè lì fū běn rén suǒ néng huí dá de qiāng diào hái yào gèng lěng dàn xiē。
“ ā， nín suǒ xīn 'ài de shì zài zhè yī duī lǐ lā！” wǒ zhuǎn shēn zhǐ zhe yī gè kàn bù qīng chǔ de kào diàn shàng nà yī duī xiàng māo shìde dōng xī， jiē zhe shuō xià qù。
“ shuí huì 'ài zhè xiē dōng xī nà cái guài ní！” tā qīng miè dì shuō。
dǎo méi， yuán lái nà shì duī sǐ tù zǐ。 wǒ yòu qīng ké yī shēng， xiàng huǒ lú còu jìn xiē， yòu bǎ jīn wǎn tiān qì bù hǎo de huà píng lùn yī tōng。
“ nǐ běn lái jiù bù gāi chū lái。” tā shuō， zhàn qǐ lái qù ná bì lú tái shàng de liǎng gè cǎi sè chá yè guàn。
tā yuán xiān zuò zài guāng xiàn bèi zhē zhù de dì fāng， xiàn zài wǒ bǎ tā de quán shēn huómiàn mào dū kàn dé qīng qīng chǔ chǔ。 tā miáo tiáo， xiǎn rán hái méi yòu guò qīng chūn qī。 tǐng hǎo kàn de tǐ tài， hái yòu yī zhāng wǒ shēng píng cóng wèi yòu xìng jiàn guò de jué miào de xiǎo liǎn dàn。 wǔ guān xiān lì， fēi cháng piào liàng。 dàn huáng sè de juǎnfà， huò zhě bù rú shuō shì jīn huáng sè de， sōng sōng dì chuí zài tā nà xì nèn de jǐng shàng。 zhì yú yǎn jīng， yào shì yǎn shén néng xiǎn dé hé yuè xiē， jiù yào shǐ rén wú fǎ kàng jù liǎo。 duì wǒ zhè róng yì dòng qíng de xīn shuō lái dǎo shì cháng shì， yīn wéi tā men suǒ biǎo xiàn de zhǐ shì zài qīng miè yǔ jìn sì jué wàng zhī jiān de yī zhǒng qíng xù， ér zài nà zhāng liǎn shàng kàn jiàn nà yàng de yǎn shén shì tè bié bù zì rán de。
tā jiǎn zhí gòu bù dào chá yè guàn。 wǒ dòng liǎo yī dòng， xiǎng bāng tā yī xià。 tā měng dì niǔ zhuǎn shēn xiàng wǒ， xiàng shǒu cái nú kàn jiàn bié rén dǎ suàn bāng tā shù tā de jīn zǐ yī yàng。
“ wǒ bù yào nǐ bāng máng，” tā nù qì chōng chōng dì shuō，“ wǒ zì jǐ ná dé dào。”
“ duì bù qǐ！” wǒ lián máng huí dá。
“ shì qǐng nǐ lái chī chá de má？” tā wèn， bǎ yī tiáo wéi qún xì zài tā nà gān jìng de hēi yī fú shàng， jiù zhè yàng zhàn zhe， ná yī chí chá yè zhèng yào wǎng chá hú lǐ dǎo。
“ wǒ hěn xiǎng hē bēi chá。” wǒ huí dá。
“ shì qǐng nǐ lái de má？” tā yòu wèn。
“ méi yòu，” wǒ shuō， miǎnqiǎng xiào yī xiào。“ nín zhèng hǎo qǐng wǒ hē chá。”
tā bǎ chá yè diū huí qù， lián chí dài chá yè， yī qǐ shōu qǐ lái， shǐ xìng dì yòu zuò zài yǐ zǐ shàng。 tā de qián 'é cù qǐ， hóng hóng de xià zuǐ chún juē qǐ， xiàng yī gè xiǎo hái yào kū shìde。
tóng shí， nà nián qīng rén yǐ jīng chuān shàng liǎo yī jiàn xiāng dāng pò jiù de shàng yī， zhàn zài lú huǒ qián miàn， yòng yǎn jiǎo chǒu zhe wǒ， jiǎn zhí hǎo xiàng wǒ men zhī jiān yòu shénme wèi liǎo de sǐ chóu shìde。 wǒ kāi shǐ huái yí tā dào dǐ shì bù shì yī gè pú rén liǎo。 tā de yī zhe hé yán yǔ dū xiǎn dé méi yòu jiào yǎng， wán quán méi yòu zài xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng hé tā tài tài shēn shàng suǒ néng kàn dào de nà zhǒng yōu yuè gǎn。 tā nà hòu hòu de zōng sè juǎnfà luàn qī bā zāo， tā de hú zǐ xiàng tóu xióng shìde bù mǎn miàn jiá， ér tā de shǒu jiù xiàng pǔ tōng gōng rén de shǒu nà yàng biàn chéng hè sè； kě shì， tā de tài dù hěn suí biàn， jīhū yòu diǎn 'ào màn， ér qiě yī diǎn méi yòu jiā pú cìhou nǚ zhù rén nà jǐn shèn yīn qín de yàng zǐ。 jì rán quē fá guān yú tā de dì wèi de míng bái zhèng jù， wǒ rèn wéi zuì hǎo hái shì bù qù zhù yì tā nà gǔ guài de jǔ zhǐ。 wǔ fēn zhōng yǐ hòu， xī cì kè lì fū jìn lái liǎo， duō shǎo suàn shì bǎ wǒ cóng nà bù shū fú de jìng kuàng zhōng jiě jiù chū lái liǎo。
“ nín qiáo， xiān shēng， shuō huà suàn shù， wǒ shì lái lā！” wǒ jiào dào， zhuāng zhe gāo xīng de yàng zǐ，“ wǒ dān xīn yào gěi zhè tiān qì kùn zhù bàn gè zhōng tóu ní， nín néng bù néng ràng wǒ zài zhè huì 'ér bì yī xià。”
“ bàn gè zhōng tóu？” tā shuō， dǒu luò tā yī fú shàng de xuě piàn，“ wǒ qí guài nǐ wèishénme yào tiǎo zhè me gè dà xuě tiān chū lái guàng dàng。 nǐ zhī dào nǐ shì zài mào zhe mí lù hé diào zài zhǎo zé dì lǐ de wēi xiǎn má？ shú xī zhè xiē huāng yě de rén， wǎng wǎng hái huì zài zhè yàng de wǎn shàng mí lù de。 ér qiě wǒ kě yǐ gào sù nǐ， mù qián tiān qì shì bù huì zhuǎn hǎo de。”
“ huò xǔ wǒ kě yǐ zài nín de pú rén zhōng jiān zhǎo yī wèi dài lù rén bā， tā kě yǐ zài tián zhuāng zhù dào míng tiān zǎo shàng héng héng nín néng gěi wǒ yī wèi má？”
“ bù， wǒ bù néng。”
“ ā yā！ zhēn de！ nà wǒ zhǐ dé kào wǒ zì jǐ de běn shì lā。”
“ hēng！”
“ nǐ shì bù shì gāi zhǔn bèi chá lā？” chuānzhuó pò yī fú de rén wèn， tā nà 'è hěn hěn de yǎn guāng cóng wǒ shēn shàng zhuǎn dào nà nián qīng de tài tài nà biān。
“ qǐng tā hē má？” tā wèn xī cì kè lì fū。
“ zhǔn bèi hǎo， xíng má？” zhè jiù shì huí dá， tā shuō dé zhè me mánhèng， jìng bǎ wǒ xià liǎo yī tiào。 zhè jù huà de qiāng diào lù chū tā zhēn zhèng de huài xìng zǐ。 wǒ zài yě bù xiǎng chēng xī cì kè lì fū wéi yī gè jué miào de rén liǎo。 chá yù bèi hǎo liǎo zhī hòu， tā jiù zhè yàng qǐng wǒ，“ xiàn zài， xiān shēng， bǎ nǐ de yǐ zǐ nuó guò lái。” yú shì wǒ men quán tǐ， bāo kuò nà cū yě de nián qīng rén zài nèi， dū lā guò yǐ zǐ lái wéi zhuō 'ér zuò。 zài wǒ men pǐn cháng shí wù shí， sì xià lǐ yī piàn yán jùn de chén mò。
wǒ xiǎng， rú guǒ shì wǒ yǐn qǐ liǎo zhè kuài wū yún， nà wǒ jiù gāi fù zé nǔ lì qū sàn tā。 tā men bù néng měi tiān dū zhè me yīn chén jiān mò dì zuò zhe bā。 wú lùn tā men yòu duō huài de pí qì， yě bù kě néng měi tiān liǎn shàng dū dài zhe nù róng bā。
“ qí guài de shì，” wǒ zài hē wán yī bēi chá， jiē guò dì 'èr bēi de dāng 'ér kāi shǐ shuō，“ qí guài de shì xí guàn rú hé xíng chéng wǒ men de qù wèi hé sī xiǎng， hěn duō rén jiù bù néng xiǎng xiàng， xiàng nín， xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng， suǒ guò de zhè me yī zhǒng yǔ shì wán quán gé jué de shēng huó lǐ yě huì yòu xìng fú cún zài。 kě shì wǒ gǎn shuō， yòu nín yī jiā rén wéi zhe nín， hái yòu nín kě 'ài de fū rén zuò wéi nín de jiā tíng yǔ nín de xīn líng shàng de zhù zǎi héng héng”
“ wǒ kě 'ài de fū rén！” tā chā zuǐ， liǎn shàng dài zhe jīhū shì 'è mó shìde jī xiào。“ tā zài nǎ 'ér héng héng wǒ kě 'ài de fū rén？”
“ wǒ de yì sī shì shuō xī cì kè lì fū fū rén， nín de tài tài。”
“ ò， shì lā héng héng 'ā！ nǐ shì shuō shèn zhì zài tā de ròu tǐ sǐ qù liǎo yǐ hòu， tā de líng hún hái zhàn zài jiā shén de gǎng wèi shàng， ér qiě shǒu hù zhe hū xiào shān zhuāng de chǎn yè。
shì bù shì zhè yàng？”
wǒ chá jué wǒ gǎo cuò liǎo， biàn qǐ tú gǎi zhèng tā。 wǒ běn lái gāi kàn chū shuāng fāng de nián líng xiāngchà tài dà， bù xiàng shì fū qī。 yī gè dà gài sì shí liǎo， zhèng shì jīng lì jiàn zhuàng de shí qī， nán rén zài zhè shí qī hěn shǎo huì huái zhe nǚ hái zǐ men shì yóu yú 'ài qíng 'ér jià gěi tā de wàng xiǎng。 nà zhǒng mèng shì liú gěi wǒ men dào lǎo nián liáo yǐ de。 lìng yī gè rén ní， wàng shàng qù què hái bù dào shí qī suì。
yú shì yī gè niàn tóu zài wǒ xīn shàng yī shǎn，“ zài wǒ gēbei zhǒu bàng biān de nà gè shǎ guā， yòng pén hē chá， yòng méi xǐ guò de shǒu ná miàn bāo chī， yě xǔ jiù shì tā de zhàng fū： xī cì kè lì fū shàoye， dāng rán shì luó。 zhè jiù shì hé lǐ de hòu guǒ： zhǐ yīn wéi tā quán rán bù zhī dào tiān xià hái yòu gèng hǎo de rén， tā jiù jià gěi liǎo nà gè xiāng xià lǎo！ hàn shì héng héng wǒ bì xū dāng xīn， wǒ kě bié yǐn qǐ tā huǐ hèn tā de xuǎn zé。” zuì hòu de niàn tóu fǎng fó yòu diǎn zì fù， qí shí dǎo yě bù shì。 wǒ bàng biān de rén zài wǒ kàn lái jìn hū lìng rén shēng yàn。 gēn jù jīng yàn， wǒ zhī dào wǒ duō shǎo hái yòu diǎn xī yǐn lì。
“ xī cì kè lì fū tài tài shì wǒ de 'ér xí fù，” xī cì kè lì fū shuō， zhèng shí liǎo wǒ de cāi cè。 tā shuō zhe， diào guò tóu yǐ yī zhǒng tè bié de yǎn guāng xiàng tā wàng zhe： yī zhǒng zēng hèn de yǎn guāng， chú fēi shì tā liǎn shàng de jī ròu shēng dé jí fǎn cháng， bù huì xiàng bié rén yī yàng dì biǎo xiàn chū tā xīn líng de yǔ yán。
“ ā， dāng rán héng héng wǒ xiàn zài kàn chū lái lā： nín cái shì zhè cí shàn de tiān xiān de yòu fú qì de zhàn yòu zhě li。” wǒ zhuǎn guò tóu lái duì wǒ bàng biān nà gè rén shuō。
bǐ gāng cái gèng zāo： zhè nián qīng rén liǎn shàng tōng hóng， wò jǐn quán tóu， jiǎn zhí xiǎng yào bǎi chū dòng wǔ de jià shì。 kě shì tā fǎng fó mǎ shàng yòu zhèn dìng liǎo， zhǐ chòngzhe wǒ gū lū liǎo yī jù cū yě de mà rén de huà， yā xià liǎo zhè chǎng fēng bō， zhè jù huà， wǒ jiǎ zhuāng méi zhù yì。
“ bù xìng nǐ cāi dé bù duì， xiān shēng！” wǒ de zhù rén shuō，“ wǒ men liǎng gèdōu méi nà zhǒng fú fēn zhàn yòu nǐ de hǎo tiān xiān， tā de nán rén sǐ lā。 wǒ shuō guò tā shì wǒ de 'ér xí fù， yīn cǐ， tā dāng rán shì jià gěi wǒ de 'ér zǐ de liǎo。”
“ zhè wèi nián qīng rén shì héng héng”
“ dāng rán bù shì wǒ de 'ér zǐ！”
xī cì kè lì fū yòu wēi xiào liǎo， hǎo xiàng bǎ nà gè cū rén suàn zuò tā de 'ér zǐ， jiǎn zhí shì bǎ wán xiào kāi dé tài mǎng zhuàng liǎo。
“ wǒ de xìng míng shì hā lǐ dùn · ēn xiāo，” lìng yī gè rén hǒu zhe，“ ér qiě wǒ quàn nǐ zūn jìng tā！”
“ wǒ méi yòu biǎo shì bù zūn jìng yā。” zhè shì wǒ de huí dá， xīn lǐ 'àn xiào tā bào chū zì jǐ de xìng míng shí de zhuāng yán shén qì。
tā sǐ dīng zhe wǒ， dīng dé wǒdōu bù yuàn yì zài huí dèng tā liǎo， wéi kǒng wǒ huì nài bù zhù gěi tā gè 'ěr guāng huò shì xiào chū shēng lái。 wǒ kāi shǐ gǎn dào zài zhè gè yú kuài de yī jiā rén zhōng jiān， wǒ de què shì 'ài shì。 nà zhǒng jīng shén shàng de yīn yù qì fēn bù zhǐ shì dǐ xiāo， ér qiě shì yā dǎo liǎo wǒ sì zhōu míng liàng de wù zhì shàng de shū shì。 wǒ jué xīn zài dì sān cì gǎn yú zài lái dào zhè wū lǐ shí kě yào xiǎo xīn jǐn shèn。
chī hē wán bì， shuí yě méi shuō jù yìng chóu huà， wǒ jiù zǒu dào yī shàn chuāng zǐ gēn qián qù kàn kàn tiān qì。 wǒ jiàn dào yī piàn bēi cǎn de jǐng xiàng： hēi yè tí qián jiàng lín， tiān kōng hé qún shān hùn zá zài yī tuán hán liè de xuán fēng hé shǐ rén zhì xī de dà xuě zhōng。
“ xiàn zài méi yòu dài lù rén， wǒ kǒng pà bù kě néng huí jiā liǎo，” wǒ bù jìn jiào qǐ lái。
“ dào lù yǐ jīng mái shàng liǎo， jiù shì hái lù chū lái de huà， wǒ yě kàn bù qīng wǎng nǎ 'ér mài bù lā。”
“ hā lǐ dùn， bǎ nà shí jǐ zhǐ yáng gǎn dào gǔ cāng de zǒu láng shàng qù， yào shì zhěng yè liú zài yáng juàn jiù dé gěi tā men gài diǎn dōng xī， qián miàn yě yào dǎng kuài mù bǎn。” xī cì kè lì fū shuō。
“ wǒ gāi zěn me bàn ní？” wǒ yòu shuō， gèng jiāo jí liǎo。
méi yòu rén dā lǐ wǒ。 wǒ huí tóu wàng wàng， zhǐ jiàn yuē sè fū gěi gǒu sòng jìn yī tǒng yù， xī cì kè lì fū tài tài fǔ shēn xiàng zhe huǒ， shāo zhe huǒ chái wán； zhè duī huǒ chái shì tā gāng cái bǎ chá yè guàn fàng huí lú tái shí pèng xià lái de。 yuē sè fū fàng xià liǎo tā de yù tǒng zhī hòu， zhǎo chá sì dì bǎ zhè wū zǐ liú lǎn yī tōng， chě zhe shā yǎ de hóu lóng hǎn qǐ lái：
“ wǒ zhēn qí guài bié réndōu chū qù liǎo， nǐ zěn me néng jiù xián zài nà 'ér zhàn zhe！ kě nǐ jiù shì méi chū xī， shuō yě méi yòng héng héng nǐ yī bèi zǐ yě gǎi bù liǎo， jiù děng sǐ hòu jiàn mó guǐ， gēn nǐ mā yī yàng！”
wǒ yī shí hái yǐ wéi zhè yī fān tāo tāo bù jué shì duì wǒ 'ér fā de。 wǒ dà wéi fèn nù， biàn xiàng zhe zhè lǎo liú máng zǒu qù， dǎ suàn bǎ tā tī chū mén wài。 dàn shì， xī cì kè lì fū fū rén de huí dá zhǐ zhù liǎo wǒ。
“ nǐ zhè hú chě bā dào de jiǎ zhèng jīng de lǎo dōng xī！” tā huí dá，“ nǐ tí dào mó guǐ de míng zì shí， nǐ jiù bù pà gěi huó zhuō má？ wǒ jǐng gào nǐ bù yào rě wǒ， bù rán wǒ jiù yào tè bié qǐng tā bǎ nǐ gòu qù。 zhàn zhù！ qiáo qiáo zhè 'ér， yuē sè fū，” tā jiē zhe shuō， bìng cóng shū jià shàng ná chū yī běn dà hēi shū，“ wǒ yào gěi nǐ kàn kàn wǒ xué mó shù yǐ jīng jìn bù liǎo duō shǎo， bù jiǔ wǒ jiù kě yǐ wán quán jīng tōng。 nà tiáo hóng niú bù shì 'ǒu rán sǐ diào de， ér nǐ de fēng shī bìng hái bù néng suàn zuò tiān cì de chéng fá！”
“ ā， è dú， è dú！” lǎo tóu chuǎn xī zhe，“ qiú zhù zhěng jiù wǒ men tuō lí bā！”
“ bù， húndàn！ nǐ shì gè shàng dì pāo qì de rén héng héng gǔn kāi， bù rán wǒ yào hěn hěn dì shāng hài nǐ lā！ wǒ yào bǎ nǐ men quán yòng là huóní niē chéng mó xíng； shuí xiān yuè guò wǒ dìng de jiè xiàn， wǒ jiù yào héng héng wǒ bù shuō tā yào dǎo shénme yàng de méi héng héng kě shì， qiáo zhe bā！ qù， wǒ kě zài chǒu zhe nǐ ní。”
zhè gè xiǎo nǚ wū nà shuāng měi lì de yǎn jīng lǐ tiān shàng yī zhǒng cháo nòng de 'è dú shén qì。 yuē sè fū zhēn de xià dé zhí dǒu， gǎn jǐn páo chū qù， yī biān páo yī biān dǎo gào， hái rǎng zhe“ è dú！” wǒ xiǎng tā de xíng wéi yī dìng shì yóu yú wú liáo nào zhe wán wán de。 xiàn zài zhǐ yòu wǒ men liǎ liǎo， wǒ xiǎng duì tā sù sù kǔ。
“ xī cì kè lì fū tài tài，” wǒ kěnqiè dì shuō，“ nín yī dìng dé yuán liàng wǒ má fán nín。 wǒ gǎn yú zhè yàng shì yīn wéi， nín jì yòu zhè me yī zhāng liǎn， wǒ gǎn shuō nín yī dìng yě xīn hǎo。 qǐng zhǐ chū jǐ gè lù biāo， wǒ yě hǎo zhī dào huí jiā de lù。 wǒ yī diǎn yě bù zhī dào gāi zěn me zǒu， jiù gēn nín bù zhī dào zěn me qù lún dūn yī yàng！”
“ shùn nǐ lái de lù zǒu huí qù hǎo lā，” tā huí dá， réng rán 'ān zuò zài yǐ zǐ shàng， miàn qián yī zhī là zhú， hái yòu nà běn tān kāi de dà shū。“ hěn jiǎn dān de bàn fǎ， kě yě shì wǒ suǒ néng tí de dǐng wěn dāng de bàn fǎ。”
“ nà me， yào shì nín yǐ hòu tīng shuō wǒ gěi rén fā xiàn yǐ jīng sǐ zài ní zhǎo huò xuě kēng lǐ， nín de liáng xīn jiù bù huì dī shēng shuō nín yě yòu bù fēn de guò cuò má？”
“ zěn me huì ní？ wǒ yòu bù néng sòng nǐ zǒu。 tā men bù xǔ wǒ zǒu dào huā yuán qiáng nà tóu de。”
“ nín sòng wǒ！ zài zhè yàng yī gè wǎn shàng， wèile wǒ de fāng biàn jiù shì qǐng nín mài chū zhè gè mén jiàn， nà wǒ yě yú xīn bù rěn 'ā！” wǒ jiào dào，“ wǒ yào nín gào sù wǒ zěn me zǒu， bù shì lǐng wǒ zǒu。 yào bù rán jiù quàn quàn xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng gěi wǒ pài yī wèi dài lù rén bā。”
“ pài shuí ní？ zhǐ yòu tā zì jǐ， ēn xiāo， qí lā， yuē sè fū， wǒ。 nǐ yào nǎ yī gè ní？”
“ zhuāng shàng méi yòu nán hái zǐ má？”
“ méi yòu， jiù zhè xiē rén。”
“ nà jiù shì shuō wǒ bù dé bù zhù zài zhè 'ér lā！”
“ nà nǐ kě yǐ gēn nǐ de zhù rén shāng liàng。 wǒ bù guǎn。”
“ wǒ xī wàng zhè shì duì nǐ de yī gè jiào xùn， yǐ hòu bié zài zài zhè shān jiān xiā guàng dàng。” cóng chú fáng mén kǒu chuán lái xī cì kè lì fū de yán lì de hǎn shēng：“ zhì yú zhù zài zhè 'ér， wǒ kě méi yòu zhāo dài kè rén de shè bèi。 nǐ yào zhù， jiù gēn hā lǐ dùn huò zhě yuē sè fū shuì yī zhāng chuáng bā！”
“ wǒ kě yǐ shuì zài zhè jiān wū zǐ lǐ de yī bǎ yǐ zǐ shàng。” wǒ huí dá。
“ bù xíng， bù xíng！ shēng rén zǒng shì shēng rén， bù lùn tā shì qióng shì fù。 wǒ bù xí guàn yǔn xǔ rèn hé rén jìn rù wǒ fáng bù dào de dì fāng！” zhè méi yòu lǐ mào de huài dàn shuō。
shòu liǎo zhè gè wǔ rǔ， wǒ de rěn nài dào tóu liǎo。 wǒ shí fēn fèn kǎi dì mà liǎo yī shēng， zài tā de shēn biān cā guò， chōng dào yuàn zǐ lǐ， cōng máng zhōng zhèng zhuàng zhe 'ēn xiāo。 nà shí shì zhè me qī hēi， yǐ zhì wǒ jìng zhǎo bù dào chū kǒu； wǒ zhèng zài luàn zhuǎn， yòu tīng jiàn tā men zhī jiān yòu jiào yǎng de jǔ zhǐ de lìng yī lì zhèng： qǐ chū nà nián qīng rén hǎo xiàng duì wǒ hái yǒu hǎo。
“ wǒ péi tā zǒu dào gōng yuán nà 'ér qù bā，” tā shuō。
“ nǐ péi tā xià dì yù hǎo liǎo！” tā de zhù rén huò shì tā de shénme qīn shǔ jiào dào。
“ nà me shuí kàn mǎ ní， e？”
“ yī gè rén de xìng mìng zǒng bǐ yī wǎn shàng méi yòu rén zhào yìng mǎ zhòng yào xiē。 zǒng dé yòu gè rén qù de。” xī cì kè lì fū fū rén qīng qīng dì shuō， bǐ wǒ suǒ xiǎng de hé shàn duō liǎo。
“ bù yào nǐ mìng lìng wǒ！” hā lǐ dùn liǎo。“ nǐ yào shì zhòng shì tā， dǐng hǎo bié kēng shēng。”
“ nà me wǒ xī wàng tā de guǐ hún chán zhù nǐ， wǒ yě xī wàng xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng zài yě zhǎo bù dào yī gè fáng kè， zhí děng tián zhuāng quán huǐ diào！” tā jiān kè dì huí dá。
“ tīng bā， tīng bā， tā zài zhòu tā men lā！” yuē sè fū gū lū zhe， wǒ zhèng xiàng tā zǒu qù。
tā zuò zài shuō huà tīng dé jiàn de jìn chù， jiè zhe yī zhǎn tí dēng de guāng zài jǐ niú nǎi， wǒ jiù háo wú lǐ mào dì bǎ tí dēng qiǎng guò lái， dà hǎn zhe wǒ míng tiān bǎ tā sòng huí lái， biàn bēn xiàng zuì jìn de yī gè biān mén。
“ zhù rén， zhù rén， tā bǎ tí dēng tōu páo lā！” zhè lǎo tóu yī miàn dà hǎn， yī miàn zhuī wǒ。“ wèi， yǎo rén de！ wèi， gǒu！ wèi， láng！ dài zhù tā， dài zhù tā！”
yī kāi xiǎo mén， liǎng gè yī shēn máo de yāo guài biàn pū dào wǒ de hóu tóu shàng， bǎ wǒ nòng dǎo liǎo， bǎ dēng yě nòng miè liǎo。 tóng shí xī cì kè lì fū yǔ hā lǐ dùn yī qǐ fàng shēng dà xiào， zhè dà dà dì jī nù zhe wǒ， yě shǐ wǒ gǎn dào xiū rǔ。 xìng 'ér， zhè xiē chù shēng dǎo hǎo xiàng zhǐ xiǎng shēn shēn zhuǎzǐ， dǎ hē qiàn， yáo wěi bā， bìng bù xiǎng bǎ wǒ huó huó tūn xià qù。 dàn shì tā men yě bù róng wǒ zài qǐ lái， wǒ jiù bù dé bù tǎng zhe děng tā men de 'è dú de zhù rén gāo xīng zài shénme shí hòu lái jiě jiù wǒ。 wǒ mào zǐ yě diū liǎo， qì dé zhí dǒu。 wǒ mìng lìng zhè xiē tǔ fěi fàng wǒ chū qù héng héng zài duō liú wǒ yī fēn zhōng， jiù yào ràng tā men zāo yāng héng héng wǒ shuō liǎo hǎo duō bù lián guàn de、 kǒnghè de、 yào bào fù de huà， cuò cí zhī 'è dú， pō yòu lǐ 'ěr wáng① zhī fēng。
① lǐ 'ěr wáng héng héng“ Kinglear” suō shì bǐ yà de míng jù zhī yī， jù míng jí yǐ zhù rén gōng lǐ 'ěr wáng wéi míng。
wǒ zhè jù liè de jī dòng shǐ wǒ liú liǎo dà liàng de bí xuè， kě shì xī cì kè lì fū hái zài xiào， wǒ yě hái zài mà， yào bù shì bàng biān yòu gè rén bǐ wǒ yòu lǐ xìng xiē， bǐ wǒ de kuǎn dài zhě rén cí xiē， wǒ zhēn bù zhī dào zěn me xià tái。 zhè rén shì qí lā， jiàn zhuàng de guǎn jiā pó。 tā zhōng yú tǐng shēn 'ér chū tàn wèn zhè chǎng zhàn dǒu de。 tā yǐ wéi tā men dāng zhōng bì shì yòu rén duì wǒ xià liǎo dú shǒu。 tā bù gǎn gōng jī tā de zhù rén， jiù xiàng nà nián qīng de 'è gùn kāi huǒ liǎo。
“ hǎo 'ā， ēn xiāo xiān shēng，” tā jiào dào，“ wǒ bù zhī dào nǐ xià cì hái yào gān chū shénme hǎo shì！ wǒ men shì yào zài wǒ men jiā mén kǒu móu hài rén má？ wǒ qiáo zài zhè jiā lǐ wǒ kě zài yě zhù bù xià qù lā héng héng qiáo qiáo zhè kě lián de xiǎo zǐ， tādōu yào shā sǐ lā！ wèi， wèi！ nǐ kě bù néng zhè yàng zǒu。 jìn lái， wǒ gěi nǐ zhì zhì。 hǎo lā， bié dòng。”
tā shuō zhe zhè xiē huà， jiù měng rán bǎ yī tǒng bīng lěng de shuǐ shùn zhe wǒ de bó zǐ shàng yī dǎo， yòu bǎ wǒ lā jìn chú fáng lǐ。 xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng gēn zài hòu miàn， tā de 'ǒu 'ěr de huān lè hěn kuài dì xiāo sàn， yòu huī fù tā de xí guàn de yīn yù liǎo。
wǒ nán guò jí liǎo， ér qiě tóu hūn nǎo zhàng， yīn cǐ bù dé bù zài tā de jiā lǐ jiè sù yī xiāo。 tā jiào qí lā gěi wǒ yī bēi bái lán dì， suí hòu jiù jìn wū qù liǎo。 tā ní， duì wǒ bù xìng de zāo yù 'ān wèi yī fān， ér qiě zūn zhù rén zhī mìng， gěi liǎo wǒ yī bēi bái lán dì， kàn jiàn wǒ lüè lüè huī fù liǎo yī xiē， biàn yǐn wǒ qù shuì liǎo。
On that bleak hill-top the earth was hard with a black frost, and the air made me shiver through every limb. Being unable to remove the chain, I jumped over, and, running up the flagged causeway bordered with straggling gooseberry-bushes, knocked vainly for admittance, till my knuckles tingled and the dogs howled.
'Wretched inmates!' I ejaculated, mentally, 'you deserve perpetual isolation from your species for your churlish inhospitality. At least, I would not keep my doors barred in the day-time. I don't care - I will get in!' So resolved, I grasped the latch and shook it vehemently. Vinegar-faced Joseph projected his head from a round window of the barn.
'What are ye for?' he shouted. 'T' maister's down i' t' fowld. Go round by th' end o' t' laith, if ye went to spake to him.'
'Is there nobody inside to open the door?' I hallooed, responsively.
'There's nobbut t' missis; and shoo'll not oppen 't an ye mak' yer flaysome dins till neeght.'
'Why? Cannot you tell her whom I am, eh, Joseph?'
'Nor-ne me! I'll hae no hend wi't,' muttered the head, vanishing.
The snow began to drive thickly. I seized the handle to essay another trial; when a young man without coat, and shouldering a pitchfork, appeared in the yard behind. He hailed me to follow him, and, after marching through a wash-house, and a paved area containing 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 plentiful evening meal, I was pleased to observe the 'missis,' an individual whose existence I had never previously suspected. I bowed and waited, thinking she would bid me take a seat. She looked at me, leaning back in her chair, and remained motionless and mute.
'Rough weather!' I remarked. 'I'm afraid, Mrs. Heathcliff, the door must bear the consequence of your servants' leisure attendance: I had hard work to make them hear me.'
She never opened her mouth. I stared - she stared also: at any rate, she kept her eyes on me in a cool, regardless manner, exceedingly embarrassing and disagreeable.
'Sit down,' said the young man, gruffly. 'He'll be in soon.'
I obeyed; and hemmed, and called the villain Juno, who deigned, at this second interview, to move the extreme tip of her tail, in token of owning my acquaintance.
'A beautiful animal!' I commenced again. 'Do you intend parting with the little ones, madam?'
'They are not mine,' said the amiable hostess, more repellingly than Heathcliff himself could have replied.
'Ah, your favourites are among these?' I continued, turning to an obscure cushion full of something like cats.
'A strange choice of favourites!' she observed scornfully.
Unluckily, it was a heap of dead rabbits. I hemmed once more, and drew closer to the hearth, repeating my comment on the wildness of the evening.
'You should not have come out,' she said, rising and reaching from the chimney-piece two of the painted canisters.
Her position before was sheltered from the light; now, I had a distinct view of her whole figure and countenance. She was slender, and apparently scarcely past girlhood: an admirable form, and the most exquisite little face that I have ever had the pleasure of 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 evinced hovered between scorn and a kind of desperation, singularly unnatural to be detected there. The canisters were almost out of her reach; I made a motion to aid her; she turned upon me as a miser might turn if any one attempted to assist him in counting his gold.
'I don't want your help,' she snapped; 'I can get them for myself.'
'I beg your pardon!' I hastened to reply.
'Were you asked to tea?' she demanded, tying an apron over her neat black frock, and standing with a spoonful of the leaf poised over the pot.
'I shall be glad to have a cup,' I answered.
'Were you asked?' she repeated.
'No,' I said, half smiling. 'You are the proper person to ask me.'
She flung the tea back, spoon and all, and resumed her chair in a pet; her forehead corrugated, and her red under-lip pushed out, like a child's ready to cry.
Meanwhile, the young man had slung on to his person a decidedly shabby upper garment, and, erecting himself before the blaze, looked down on me from the corner of his eyes, for all the world as if there were some mortal feud unavenged between us. I began to doubt whether he were a servant or not: his dress and 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, and he showed none of a domestic's assiduity in attending on the lady of the house. In the absence of clear proofs of his condition, I deemed it best to abstain from noticing his curious conduct; and, five minutes afterwards, the entrance of Heathcliff relieved me, in some measure, from my uncomfortable state.
'You see, sir, I am come, according to promise!' I exclaimed, assuming the cheerful; 'and I fear I shall be weather-bound for half an hour, if you can afford me shelter during that space.'
'Half an hour?' he said, shaking the white flakes from his clothes; 'I wonder you should select the thick of a snow-storm to ramble about in. Do you know that you run a risk of being lost in the marshes? People familiar with these moors often miss their road on such evenings; and I can tell you there is no chance of a change at present.'
'Perhaps I can get a guide among your lads, and he might stay at the Grange till morning - could you spare me one?'
'No, I could not.'
'Oh, indeed! Well, then, I must trust to my own sagacity.'
'Umph!'
'Are you going to mak' the tea?' demanded he of the shabby coat, shifting his ferocious gaze from me to the young lady.
'Is HE to have any?' she asked, appealing to Heathcliff.
'Get it ready, will you?' was the answer, uttered so savagely that I started. The tone in which the words were said revealed a genuine bad nature. I no longer felt inclined to call Heathcliff a capital fellow. When the preparations were finished, he invited me with - 'Now, sir, bring forward your chair.' And we all, including the rustic youth, drew round the table: an austere silence prevailing while we discussed our meal.
I thought, if I had caused the cloud, it was my duty to make an effort to dispel it. They could not every day sit so grim and taciturn; and it was impossible, however ill-tempered they might be, that the universal scowl they wore was their every-day countenance.
'It is strange,' I began, in the interval of swallowing one cup of tea and receiving another - 'it is strange how custom can mould our tastes and ideas: many could not imagine the existence of happiness in a life of such complete exile from the world as you spend, Mr. Heathcliff; yet, I'll venture to say, that, surrounded by your family, and with your amiable lady as the presiding genius over your home and heart - '
'My amiable lady!' he interrupted, with an almost diabolical sneer on his face. 'Where is she - my amiable lady?'
'Mrs. Heathcliff, your wife, I mean.'
'Well, yes - oh, you would intimate that her spirit has taken the post of ministering angel, and guards the fortunes of Wuthering Heights, even when her body is gone. Is that it?'
Perceiving myself in a blunder, I attempted to correct it. I might have seen there was too great a disparity between the ages of the parties 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 delusion of being married for love by girls: that dream is reserved for the solace of our declining years. The other did not look seventeen.
Then it flashed on me - 'The clown at my elbow, who is drinking his tea out of a basin and eating his broad with unwashed hands, may be her husband: Heathcliff junior, of course. Here 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 regret her choice.' The last reflection may seem conceited; it was not. My neighbour struck me as bordering on repulsive; I knew, through experience, that I was tolerably attractive.
'Mrs. Heathcliff is my daughter-in-law,' said Heathcliff, corroborating my surmise. He turned, as he spoke, a peculiar look in her direction: a look of hatred; unless he has a most perverse set of facial muscles that will not, like those of other people, interpret the language of his soul.
'Ah, certainly - I see now: you are the favoured possessor of the beneficent fairy,' I remarked, turning to my neighbour.
This was worse than before: the youth grew crimson, and clenched his fist, with every appearance of a meditated assault. But he seemed to recollect himself presently, and smothered the storm in a brutal curse, muttered on my behalf: which, however, I took care not to notice.
'Unhappy in your conjectures, sir,' observed my host; 'we neither of us have the privilege of owning your good fairy; her mate is dead. I said she was my daughter-in-law: therefore, she must have married my son.'
'And this young man is - '
'Not my son, assuredly.'
Heathcliff smiled again, as if it were rather too bold a jest to attribute the paternity of that bear to him.
'My name is Hareton Earnshaw,' growled the other; 'and I'd counsel you to respect it!'
'I've shown no disrespect,' was my reply, laughing internally at the dignity with which he announced himself.
He fixed his eye on me longer than I cared to return the stare, for fear I might be tempted either to box his ears or render my hilarity audible. I began to feel unmistakably out of place in that pleasant family circle. The dismal spiritual atmosphere overcame, and more than neutralised, the glowing physical comforts round me; and I resolved to be cautious how I ventured under those rafters a third time.
The business of eating being concluded, and no one uttering a word of sociable conversation, I approached a window to examine the weather. A sorrowful sight I saw: dark night coming down prematurely, and sky and hills mingled in one bitter whirl of wind and suffocating snow.
'I don't think it possible for me to get home now without a guide,' I could not help exclaiming. 'The roads will be buried already; and, if they were bare, I could scarcely distinguish a foot in advance.'
'Hareton, drive those dozen sheep into the barn porch. They'll be covered if left in the fold all night: and put a plank before them,' said Heathcliff.
'How must I do?' I continued, with rising irritation.
There was no reply to my question; and on looking round I saw only Joseph bringing in a pail of porridge for the dogs, and Mrs. Heathcliff leaning over the fire, diverting herself with burning a bundle of matches 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 how yah can faishion to stand thear i' idleness un war, when all on 'ems goan out! Bud yah're a nowt, and it's no use talking - yah'll niver mend o'yer ill ways, but goa raight to t' divil, like yer mother afore ye!'
I imagined, for a moment, that this piece of eloquence was addressed to me; and, sufficiently enraged, stepped towards the aged rascal with an intention of kicking him out of the door. Mrs. Heathcliff, however, checked me by her answer.
'You scandalous old hypocrite!' she replied. 'Are you not afraid of being carried away bodily, whenever you mention the devil's name? I warn you to refrain from provoking me, 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 Black Art: I shall soon be competent to make a clear house of it. The red cow didn't die by chance; and your rheumatism can hardly be reckoned among providential visitations!'
'Oh, wicked, wicked!' gasped the elder; 'may the Lord deliver us from evil!'
'No, reprobate! you are a castaway - be off, or I'll hurt you seriously! I'll have you all modelled in wax and clay! and the first who passes the limits I fix shall - I'll not say what he shall be done to - but, you'll see! Go, I'm looking at you!'
The little witch put a mock malignity into her beautiful eyes, and Joseph, trembling with sincere horror, hurried out, praying, and ejaculating 'wicked' as he went. I thought her conduct must be prompted by a species of dreary fun; and, now that we were alone, I endeavoured to interest her in my distress.
'Mrs. Heathcliff,' I said earnestly, 'you must excuse me for troubling you. I presume, because, with that face, I'm sure you cannot help being good-hearted. Do point out some landmarks by which I may know my way home: I have no more idea how to get there than you would have how to get to London!'
'Take the road you came,' she answered, ensconcing herself in a chair, with a candle, and the long book open before her. 'It is brief advice, but as sound as I can give.'
'Then, if you hear of me being discovered dead in a bog or a pit full of snow, your conscience won't whisper that it is partly your fault?'
'How so? I cannot escort you. They wouldn't let me go to the end of the garden wall.'
'YOU! I should be sorry to ask you to cross the threshold, for my convenience, on such a night,' I cried. 'I want you to tell me my way, not to SHOW it: or else to persuade Mr. Heathcliff to give me a guide.'
'Who? There is himself, Earnshaw, Zillah, Joseph and I. Which would you have?'
'Are there no boys at the farm?'
'No; those are all.'
'Then, it follows that I am compelled to stay.'
'That you may settle with your host. I have nothing to do with it.'
'I hope it will be a lesson to you to make no more rash journeys on these hills,' cried Heathcliff's stern voice from the kitchen entrance. 'As to staying here, I don't keep accommodations for visitors: you must share a bed with Hareton or Joseph, if you do.'
'I can sleep on a chair in this room,' I replied.
'No, no! A stranger is a stranger, be he rich or poor: it will not suit me to permit any one the range of the place while I am off guard!' said the unmannerly wretch.
With this insult my patience was at an end. I uttered an expression of disgust, and pushed past him into the yard, running against Earnshaw in my haste. It was so dark that I could not see the means of exit; and, as I wandered round, I heard another specimen of their civil behaviour amongst each other. At first the young man appeared about to befriend me.
'I'll go with him as far as the park,' he said.
'You'll go with him to hell!' exclaimed his master, or whatever relation he bore. 'And who is to look after the horses, eh?'
'A man's life is of more consequence than one evening's neglect of the horses: somebody must go,' murmured Mrs. Heathcliff, more kindly than I expected.
'Not at your command!' retorted Hareton. 'If you set store on him, you'd better be quiet.'
'Then I hope his ghost will haunt you; and I hope Mr. Heathcliff will never get another tenant till the Grange is a ruin,' she answered, sharply.
'Hearken, hearken, shoo's cursing on 'em!' muttered Joseph, towards whom I had been steering.
He sat within earshot, milking the cows by the light of a lantern, which I seized unceremoniously, and, calling out that I would send it back on the morrow, rushed to the nearest postern.
'Maister, maister, he's staling t' lanthern!' shouted the ancient, pursuing my retreat. 'Hey, Gnasher! Hey, dog! Hey Wolf, holld him, holld him!'
On opening the little door, two hairy monsters flew at my throat, bearing me down, and extinguishing the light; while a mingled guffaw from Heathcliff and Hareton put the copestone on my rage and humiliation. Fortunately, the beasts 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, hatless and trembling with wrath, I ordered the miscreants to let me out - on their peril to keep me one minute longer - with several incoherent threats of retaliation that, in their indefinite depth of virulency, smacked of King Lear.
The vehemence of my agitation brought on a copious bleeding at the nose, and still Heathcliff laughed, and still I scolded. I don't know what would have concluded the scene, had there not 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 nature of the uproar. She thought that some of them had been laying violent hands on me; and, not daring to attack her master, she turned her vocal artillery against the younger scoundrel.
'Well, Mr. Earnshaw,' she cried, 'I wonder what you'll have agait next? Are we going to murder folk on our very door-stones? I see this house will never do for me - look at t' poor lad, he's fair choking! Wisht, wisht; you mun'n't go on so. Come in, and I'll cure that: there now, hold ye still.'
With these words she suddenly splashed a pint of icy water down my neck, and pulled me into the kitchen. Mr. Heathcliff followed, his accidental merriment expiring quickly in his habitual moroseness.
I was sick exceedingly, and dizzy, and faint; and thus compelled perforce to accept lodgings under his roof. He told Zillah to give me a glass of brandy, and then passed on to the inner room; while she condoled with me on my sorry predicament, and having obeyed his orders, whereby I was somewhat revived, ushered me to bed.
dàn shì， chī guò wǔ fàn（ zhù yì héng héng wǒ zài shí 'èr diǎn yǔ yī diǎn zhōng zhī jiān chī wǔ fàn， ér kě yǐ dāng zuò zhè suǒ fáng zǐ de fù shǔ wù de guǎn jiā pó， yī wèi cí xiáng de tài tài què bù néng， huò zhě bìng bù yuàn lǐ jiě wǒ qǐng qiú zài wǔ diǎn zhōng kāi fàn de yòng yì）， zài wǒ huái zhe zhè gè lǎn duò de xiǎng fǎ shàng liǎo lóu， mài jìn wū zǐ de shí hòu， kàn jiàn yī gè nǚ pú guì zài dì shàng， shēn biān shì sǎo zhǒu hé méi dǒu。 tā zhèng zài yòng yī duī duī méi zhā fēng huǒ， gǎo qǐ yī piàn mí màn de huī chén。 zhè jǐng xiàng lì kè bǎ wǒ gǎn huí tóu liǎo。 wǒ ná liǎo mào zǐ， zǒu liǎo sì lǐ lù， dào dá liǎo xī cì kè lì fū de huā yuán kǒu kǒu， gāng hǎo duǒ guò liǎo yīcháng jīn nián chū jiàng de 'é máo dà xuě。
zài nà huāng liáng de shān dǐng shàng， tǔ dì yóu yú jié liǎo yī céng hēi bīng 'ér dòng dé jiān yìng， lěng kōng qì shǐ wǒ sì zhī fā dǒu。 wǒ nòng bù kāi mén liàn， jiù tiào jìn qù， shùn zhe liǎng biān zhǒng zhe màn yán de cù lì shù cóng de shí lù páo qù。 wǒ bái bái dì qiāo liǎo bàn tiān mén， yī zhí qiāo dào wǒ de shǒu zhǐ gǔ dū tòng liǎo， gǒu yě kuáng fèi qǐ lái。
“ dǎo méi de rén jiā！” wǒ xīn lǐ zhí jiào，“ zhǐ wéi nǐ zhè yàng wú lǐ dài kè， jiù gāi yī bèi zǐ gēn rén qún gé lí。 wǒ zhì shǎo hái bù huì zài bái tiān bǎ mén shuān zhù。 wǒ cái bù guǎn ní héng héng wǒ yào jìn qù！” rú cǐ jué dìng liǎo。 wǒ jiù zhuā zhù mén shuān， shǐ jìn yáo tā。 kǔ liǎn de yuē sè fū cóng gǔ cāng de yī gè yuán chuāng lǐ tàn chū tóu lái。
“ nǐ gànmá？” tā dà jiào。“ zhù rén zài niú lán lǐ， nǐ yào shì zhǎo tā shuō huà， jiù cóng zhè tiáo lù kǒu rào guò qù。”
“ wū lǐ méi rén kāi mén má？” wǒ yě jiào qǐ lái。
“ chú liǎo tài tài méi yòu bié rén。 nǐ jiù shì nào téng dào yè lǐ， tā yě bù huì kāi。”
“ wèishénme？ nǐ jiù bù néng gào sù tā wǒ shì shuí má， e， yuē sè fū？”
“ bié zhǎo wǒ！ wǒ cái bù guǎn zhè xiē xián shì ní，” zhè gè nǎo dài gū lū zhe， yòu bù jiàn liǎo。
xuě kāi shǐ xià dà liǎo。 wǒ wò zhù mén bǐng yòu shì yī huí。 zhè shí yī gè méi chuān wài yī de nián qīng rén， káng zhe yī gēn cǎo pá， zài hòu miàn yuàn zǐ lǐ chū xiàn liǎo。 tā zhāo hū wǒ gēn zhe tā zǒu， chuān guò liǎo yī gè xǐ yī fáng hé yī piàn pū píng de dì， nà 'ér yòu méi péng、 chōu shuǐ jī hé gē lóng， wǒ men zhōng yú dào liǎo wǒ shàng cì bèi jiē dài guò de nà jiān wēn nuǎn de、 rè nào de dà wū zǐ。 méi、 tàn hé mù cái hùn hé zài yī qǐ rán qǐ de xióng xióng lú huǒ， shǐ zhè wū zǐ fàng zhe guāng cǎi。 zài zhǔn bèi bǎi shàng fēng shèng wǎn cān de zhuō bàng， wǒ hěn gāo xīng dì kàn dào liǎo nà wèi“ tài tài”， yǐ qián wǒ cóng wèi liào xiǎng dào huì yòu zhè me yī gè rén cún zài de。 wǒ jū gōng děng hòu， yǐ wéi tā huì jiào wǒ zuò xià。 tā wàng wàng wǒ， wǎng tā de yǐ bèi yī kào， bù dòng， yě bù chū shēng。
“ tiān qì zhēn huài！” wǒ shuō，“ xī cì kè lì fū tài tài， kǒng pà dà mén yīn wéi nín de pú rén tōu lǎn 'ér dà chī kǔ tóu， wǒ fèi liǎo hǎo dà jìn cái shǐ tā men tīng jiàn wǒ qiāo mén！”
tā sǐ bù kāi kǒu。 wǒ dèng yǎn héng héng tā yě dèng yǎn。 fǎn zhèng tā zǒng shì yǐ yī zhǒng lěng lěng de、 mò bù guān xīn de shén qì dīng zhù wǒ， shǐ rén shí fēn jiǒng， ér qiě bù yú kuài。
“ zuò xià bā，” nà nián qīng rén cū shēng cū qì dì shuō，“ tā jiù yào lái liǎo。”
wǒ fú cóng liǎo； qīng qīng ké liǎo yī xià， jiào huàn nà 'è gǒu zhū nuò。 lín dào dì 'èr cì huì miàn， tā zǒng suàn shǎng liǎn， yáo qǐ wěi bā jiān， biǎo shì rèn wǒ shì shú rén liǎo。
“ hǎo piào liàng de gǒu！” wǒ yòu kāi shǐ shuō huà。“ nín shì bù shì dǎ suàn bù yào zhè xiē xiǎo de ní， fū rén？”
“ nà xiē bù shì wǒ de，” zhè kě 'ài kě qīn de nǚ zhù rén shuō， bǐ xī cì kè lì fū běn rén suǒ néng huí dá de qiāng diào hái yào gèng lěng dàn xiē。
“ ā， nín suǒ xīn 'ài de shì zài zhè yī duī lǐ lā！” wǒ zhuǎn shēn zhǐ zhe yī gè kàn bù qīng chǔ de kào diàn shàng nà yī duī xiàng māo shìde dōng xī， jiē zhe shuō xià qù。
“ shuí huì 'ài zhè xiē dōng xī nà cái guài ní！” tā qīng miè dì shuō。
dǎo méi， yuán lái nà shì duī sǐ tù zǐ。 wǒ yòu qīng ké yī shēng， xiàng huǒ lú còu jìn xiē， yòu bǎ jīn wǎn tiān qì bù hǎo de huà píng lùn yī tōng。
“ nǐ běn lái jiù bù gāi chū lái。” tā shuō， zhàn qǐ lái qù ná bì lú tái shàng de liǎng gè cǎi sè chá yè guàn。
tā yuán xiān zuò zài guāng xiàn bèi zhē zhù de dì fāng， xiàn zài wǒ bǎ tā de quán shēn huómiàn mào dū kàn dé qīng qīng chǔ chǔ。 tā miáo tiáo， xiǎn rán hái méi yòu guò qīng chūn qī。 tǐng hǎo kàn de tǐ tài， hái yòu yī zhāng wǒ shēng píng cóng wèi yòu xìng jiàn guò de jué miào de xiǎo liǎn dàn。 wǔ guān xiān lì， fēi cháng piào liàng。 dàn huáng sè de juǎnfà， huò zhě bù rú shuō shì jīn huáng sè de， sōng sōng dì chuí zài tā nà xì nèn de jǐng shàng。 zhì yú yǎn jīng， yào shì yǎn shén néng xiǎn dé hé yuè xiē， jiù yào shǐ rén wú fǎ kàng jù liǎo。 duì wǒ zhè róng yì dòng qíng de xīn shuō lái dǎo shì cháng shì， yīn wéi tā men suǒ biǎo xiàn de zhǐ shì zài qīng miè yǔ jìn sì jué wàng zhī jiān de yī zhǒng qíng xù， ér zài nà zhāng liǎn shàng kàn jiàn nà yàng de yǎn shén shì tè bié bù zì rán de。
tā jiǎn zhí gòu bù dào chá yè guàn。 wǒ dòng liǎo yī dòng， xiǎng bāng tā yī xià。 tā měng dì niǔ zhuǎn shēn xiàng wǒ， xiàng shǒu cái nú kàn jiàn bié rén dǎ suàn bāng tā shù tā de jīn zǐ yī yàng。
“ wǒ bù yào nǐ bāng máng，” tā nù qì chōng chōng dì shuō，“ wǒ zì jǐ ná dé dào。”
“ duì bù qǐ！” wǒ lián máng huí dá。
“ shì qǐng nǐ lái chī chá de má？” tā wèn， bǎ yī tiáo wéi qún xì zài tā nà gān jìng de hēi yī fú shàng， jiù zhè yàng zhàn zhe， ná yī chí chá yè zhèng yào wǎng chá hú lǐ dǎo。
“ wǒ hěn xiǎng hē bēi chá。” wǒ huí dá。
“ shì qǐng nǐ lái de má？” tā yòu wèn。
“ méi yòu，” wǒ shuō， miǎnqiǎng xiào yī xiào。“ nín zhèng hǎo qǐng wǒ hē chá。”
tā bǎ chá yè diū huí qù， lián chí dài chá yè， yī qǐ shōu qǐ lái， shǐ xìng dì yòu zuò zài yǐ zǐ shàng。 tā de qián 'é cù qǐ， hóng hóng de xià zuǐ chún juē qǐ， xiàng yī gè xiǎo hái yào kū shìde。
tóng shí， nà nián qīng rén yǐ jīng chuān shàng liǎo yī jiàn xiāng dāng pò jiù de shàng yī， zhàn zài lú huǒ qián miàn， yòng yǎn jiǎo chǒu zhe wǒ， jiǎn zhí hǎo xiàng wǒ men zhī jiān yòu shénme wèi liǎo de sǐ chóu shìde。 wǒ kāi shǐ huái yí tā dào dǐ shì bù shì yī gè pú rén liǎo。 tā de yī zhe hé yán yǔ dū xiǎn dé méi yòu jiào yǎng， wán quán méi yòu zài xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng hé tā tài tài shēn shàng suǒ néng kàn dào de nà zhǒng yōu yuè gǎn。 tā nà hòu hòu de zōng sè juǎnfà luàn qī bā zāo， tā de hú zǐ xiàng tóu xióng shìde bù mǎn miàn jiá， ér tā de shǒu jiù xiàng pǔ tōng gōng rén de shǒu nà yàng biàn chéng hè sè； kě shì， tā de tài dù hěn suí biàn， jīhū yòu diǎn 'ào màn， ér qiě yī diǎn méi yòu jiā pú cìhou nǚ zhù rén nà jǐn shèn yīn qín de yàng zǐ。 jì rán quē fá guān yú tā de dì wèi de míng bái zhèng jù， wǒ rèn wéi zuì hǎo hái shì bù qù zhù yì tā nà gǔ guài de jǔ zhǐ。 wǔ fēn zhōng yǐ hòu， xī cì kè lì fū jìn lái liǎo， duō shǎo suàn shì bǎ wǒ cóng nà bù shū fú de jìng kuàng zhōng jiě jiù chū lái liǎo。
“ nín qiáo， xiān shēng， shuō huà suàn shù， wǒ shì lái lā！” wǒ jiào dào， zhuāng zhe gāo xīng de yàng zǐ，“ wǒ dān xīn yào gěi zhè tiān qì kùn zhù bàn gè zhōng tóu ní， nín néng bù néng ràng wǒ zài zhè huì 'ér bì yī xià。”
“ bàn gè zhōng tóu？” tā shuō， dǒu luò tā yī fú shàng de xuě piàn，“ wǒ qí guài nǐ wèishénme yào tiǎo zhè me gè dà xuě tiān chū lái guàng dàng。 nǐ zhī dào nǐ shì zài mào zhe mí lù hé diào zài zhǎo zé dì lǐ de wēi xiǎn má？ shú xī zhè xiē huāng yě de rén， wǎng wǎng hái huì zài zhè yàng de wǎn shàng mí lù de。 ér qiě wǒ kě yǐ gào sù nǐ， mù qián tiān qì shì bù huì zhuǎn hǎo de。”
“ huò xǔ wǒ kě yǐ zài nín de pú rén zhōng jiān zhǎo yī wèi dài lù rén bā， tā kě yǐ zài tián zhuāng zhù dào míng tiān zǎo shàng héng héng nín néng gěi wǒ yī wèi má？”
“ bù， wǒ bù néng。”
“ ā yā！ zhēn de！ nà wǒ zhǐ dé kào wǒ zì jǐ de běn shì lā。”
“ hēng！”
“ nǐ shì bù shì gāi zhǔn bèi chá lā？” chuānzhuó pò yī fú de rén wèn， tā nà 'è hěn hěn de yǎn guāng cóng wǒ shēn shàng zhuǎn dào nà nián qīng de tài tài nà biān。
“ qǐng tā hē má？” tā wèn xī cì kè lì fū。
“ zhǔn bèi hǎo， xíng má？” zhè jiù shì huí dá， tā shuō dé zhè me mánhèng， jìng bǎ wǒ xià liǎo yī tiào。 zhè jù huà de qiāng diào lù chū tā zhēn zhèng de huài xìng zǐ。 wǒ zài yě bù xiǎng chēng xī cì kè lì fū wéi yī gè jué miào de rén liǎo。 chá yù bèi hǎo liǎo zhī hòu， tā jiù zhè yàng qǐng wǒ，“ xiàn zài， xiān shēng， bǎ nǐ de yǐ zǐ nuó guò lái。” yú shì wǒ men quán tǐ， bāo kuò nà cū yě de nián qīng rén zài nèi， dū lā guò yǐ zǐ lái wéi zhuō 'ér zuò。 zài wǒ men pǐn cháng shí wù shí， sì xià lǐ yī piàn yán jùn de chén mò。
wǒ xiǎng， rú guǒ shì wǒ yǐn qǐ liǎo zhè kuài wū yún， nà wǒ jiù gāi fù zé nǔ lì qū sàn tā。 tā men bù néng měi tiān dū zhè me yīn chén jiān mò dì zuò zhe bā。 wú lùn tā men yòu duō huài de pí qì， yě bù kě néng měi tiān liǎn shàng dū dài zhe nù róng bā。
“ qí guài de shì，” wǒ zài hē wán yī bēi chá， jiē guò dì 'èr bēi de dāng 'ér kāi shǐ shuō，“ qí guài de shì xí guàn rú hé xíng chéng wǒ men de qù wèi hé sī xiǎng， hěn duō rén jiù bù néng xiǎng xiàng， xiàng nín， xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng， suǒ guò de zhè me yī zhǒng yǔ shì wán quán gé jué de shēng huó lǐ yě huì yòu xìng fú cún zài。 kě shì wǒ gǎn shuō， yòu nín yī jiā rén wéi zhe nín， hái yòu nín kě 'ài de fū rén zuò wéi nín de jiā tíng yǔ nín de xīn líng shàng de zhù zǎi héng héng”
“ wǒ kě 'ài de fū rén！” tā chā zuǐ， liǎn shàng dài zhe jīhū shì 'è mó shìde jī xiào。“ tā zài nǎ 'ér héng héng wǒ kě 'ài de fū rén？”
“ wǒ de yì sī shì shuō xī cì kè lì fū fū rén， nín de tài tài。”
“ ò， shì lā héng héng 'ā！ nǐ shì shuō shèn zhì zài tā de ròu tǐ sǐ qù liǎo yǐ hòu， tā de líng hún hái zhàn zài jiā shén de gǎng wèi shàng， ér qiě shǒu hù zhe hū xiào shān zhuāng de chǎn yè。
shì bù shì zhè yàng？”
wǒ chá jué wǒ gǎo cuò liǎo， biàn qǐ tú gǎi zhèng tā。 wǒ běn lái gāi kàn chū shuāng fāng de nián líng xiāngchà tài dà， bù xiàng shì fū qī。 yī gè dà gài sì shí liǎo， zhèng shì jīng lì jiàn zhuàng de shí qī， nán rén zài zhè shí qī hěn shǎo huì huái zhe nǚ hái zǐ men shì yóu yú 'ài qíng 'ér jià gěi tā de wàng xiǎng。 nà zhǒng mèng shì liú gěi wǒ men dào lǎo nián liáo yǐ de。 lìng yī gè rén ní， wàng shàng qù què hái bù dào shí qī suì。
yú shì yī gè niàn tóu zài wǒ xīn shàng yī shǎn，“ zài wǒ gēbei zhǒu bàng biān de nà gè shǎ guā， yòng pén hē chá， yòng méi xǐ guò de shǒu ná miàn bāo chī， yě xǔ jiù shì tā de zhàng fū： xī cì kè lì fū shàoye， dāng rán shì luó。 zhè jiù shì hé lǐ de hòu guǒ： zhǐ yīn wéi tā quán rán bù zhī dào tiān xià hái yòu gèng hǎo de rén， tā jiù jià gěi liǎo nà gè xiāng xià lǎo！ hàn shì héng héng wǒ bì xū dāng xīn， wǒ kě bié yǐn qǐ tā huǐ hèn tā de xuǎn zé。” zuì hòu de niàn tóu fǎng fó yòu diǎn zì fù， qí shí dǎo yě bù shì。 wǒ bàng biān de rén zài wǒ kàn lái jìn hū lìng rén shēng yàn。 gēn jù jīng yàn， wǒ zhī dào wǒ duō shǎo hái yòu diǎn xī yǐn lì。
“ xī cì kè lì fū tài tài shì wǒ de 'ér xí fù，” xī cì kè lì fū shuō， zhèng shí liǎo wǒ de cāi cè。 tā shuō zhe， diào guò tóu yǐ yī zhǒng tè bié de yǎn guāng xiàng tā wàng zhe： yī zhǒng zēng hèn de yǎn guāng， chú fēi shì tā liǎn shàng de jī ròu shēng dé jí fǎn cháng， bù huì xiàng bié rén yī yàng dì biǎo xiàn chū tā xīn líng de yǔ yán。
“ ā， dāng rán héng héng wǒ xiàn zài kàn chū lái lā： nín cái shì zhè cí shàn de tiān xiān de yòu fú qì de zhàn yòu zhě li。” wǒ zhuǎn guò tóu lái duì wǒ bàng biān nà gè rén shuō。
bǐ gāng cái gèng zāo： zhè nián qīng rén liǎn shàng tōng hóng， wò jǐn quán tóu， jiǎn zhí xiǎng yào bǎi chū dòng wǔ de jià shì。 kě shì tā fǎng fó mǎ shàng yòu zhèn dìng liǎo， zhǐ chòngzhe wǒ gū lū liǎo yī jù cū yě de mà rén de huà， yā xià liǎo zhè chǎng fēng bō， zhè jù huà， wǒ jiǎ zhuāng méi zhù yì。
“ bù xìng nǐ cāi dé bù duì， xiān shēng！” wǒ de zhù rén shuō，“ wǒ men liǎng gèdōu méi nà zhǒng fú fēn zhàn yòu nǐ de hǎo tiān xiān， tā de nán rén sǐ lā。 wǒ shuō guò tā shì wǒ de 'ér xí fù， yīn cǐ， tā dāng rán shì jià gěi wǒ de 'ér zǐ de liǎo。”
“ zhè wèi nián qīng rén shì héng héng”
“ dāng rán bù shì wǒ de 'ér zǐ！”
xī cì kè lì fū yòu wēi xiào liǎo， hǎo xiàng bǎ nà gè cū rén suàn zuò tā de 'ér zǐ， jiǎn zhí shì bǎ wán xiào kāi dé tài mǎng zhuàng liǎo。
“ wǒ de xìng míng shì hā lǐ dùn · ēn xiāo，” lìng yī gè rén hǒu zhe，“ ér qiě wǒ quàn nǐ zūn jìng tā！”
“ wǒ méi yòu biǎo shì bù zūn jìng yā。” zhè shì wǒ de huí dá， xīn lǐ 'àn xiào tā bào chū zì jǐ de xìng míng shí de zhuāng yán shén qì。
tā sǐ dīng zhe wǒ， dīng dé wǒdōu bù yuàn yì zài huí dèng tā liǎo， wéi kǒng wǒ huì nài bù zhù gěi tā gè 'ěr guāng huò shì xiào chū shēng lái。 wǒ kāi shǐ gǎn dào zài zhè gè yú kuài de yī jiā rén zhōng jiān， wǒ de què shì 'ài shì。 nà zhǒng jīng shén shàng de yīn yù qì fēn bù zhǐ shì dǐ xiāo， ér qiě shì yā dǎo liǎo wǒ sì zhōu míng liàng de wù zhì shàng de shū shì。 wǒ jué xīn zài dì sān cì gǎn yú zài lái dào zhè wū lǐ shí kě yào xiǎo xīn jǐn shèn。
chī hē wán bì， shuí yě méi shuō jù yìng chóu huà， wǒ jiù zǒu dào yī shàn chuāng zǐ gēn qián qù kàn kàn tiān qì。 wǒ jiàn dào yī piàn bēi cǎn de jǐng xiàng： hēi yè tí qián jiàng lín， tiān kōng hé qún shān hùn zá zài yī tuán hán liè de xuán fēng hé shǐ rén zhì xī de dà xuě zhōng。
“ xiàn zài méi yòu dài lù rén， wǒ kǒng pà bù kě néng huí jiā liǎo，” wǒ bù jìn jiào qǐ lái。
“ dào lù yǐ jīng mái shàng liǎo， jiù shì hái lù chū lái de huà， wǒ yě kàn bù qīng wǎng nǎ 'ér mài bù lā。”
“ hā lǐ dùn， bǎ nà shí jǐ zhǐ yáng gǎn dào gǔ cāng de zǒu láng shàng qù， yào shì zhěng yè liú zài yáng juàn jiù dé gěi tā men gài diǎn dōng xī， qián miàn yě yào dǎng kuài mù bǎn。” xī cì kè lì fū shuō。
“ wǒ gāi zěn me bàn ní？” wǒ yòu shuō， gèng jiāo jí liǎo。
méi yòu rén dā lǐ wǒ。 wǒ huí tóu wàng wàng， zhǐ jiàn yuē sè fū gěi gǒu sòng jìn yī tǒng yù， xī cì kè lì fū tài tài fǔ shēn xiàng zhe huǒ， shāo zhe huǒ chái wán； zhè duī huǒ chái shì tā gāng cái bǎ chá yè guàn fàng huí lú tái shí pèng xià lái de。 yuē sè fū fàng xià liǎo tā de yù tǒng zhī hòu， zhǎo chá sì dì bǎ zhè wū zǐ liú lǎn yī tōng， chě zhe shā yǎ de hóu lóng hǎn qǐ lái：
“ wǒ zhēn qí guài bié réndōu chū qù liǎo， nǐ zěn me néng jiù xián zài nà 'ér zhàn zhe！ kě nǐ jiù shì méi chū xī， shuō yě méi yòng héng héng nǐ yī bèi zǐ yě gǎi bù liǎo， jiù děng sǐ hòu jiàn mó guǐ， gēn nǐ mā yī yàng！”
wǒ yī shí hái yǐ wéi zhè yī fān tāo tāo bù jué shì duì wǒ 'ér fā de。 wǒ dà wéi fèn nù， biàn xiàng zhe zhè lǎo liú máng zǒu qù， dǎ suàn bǎ tā tī chū mén wài。 dàn shì， xī cì kè lì fū fū rén de huí dá zhǐ zhù liǎo wǒ。
“ nǐ zhè hú chě bā dào de jiǎ zhèng jīng de lǎo dōng xī！” tā huí dá，“ nǐ tí dào mó guǐ de míng zì shí， nǐ jiù bù pà gěi huó zhuō má？ wǒ jǐng gào nǐ bù yào rě wǒ， bù rán wǒ jiù yào tè bié qǐng tā bǎ nǐ gòu qù。 zhàn zhù！ qiáo qiáo zhè 'ér， yuē sè fū，” tā jiē zhe shuō， bìng cóng shū jià shàng ná chū yī běn dà hēi shū，“ wǒ yào gěi nǐ kàn kàn wǒ xué mó shù yǐ jīng jìn bù liǎo duō shǎo， bù jiǔ wǒ jiù kě yǐ wán quán jīng tōng。 nà tiáo hóng niú bù shì 'ǒu rán sǐ diào de， ér nǐ de fēng shī bìng hái bù néng suàn zuò tiān cì de chéng fá！”
“ ā， è dú， è dú！” lǎo tóu chuǎn xī zhe，“ qiú zhù zhěng jiù wǒ men tuō lí bā！”
“ bù， húndàn！ nǐ shì gè shàng dì pāo qì de rén héng héng gǔn kāi， bù rán wǒ yào hěn hěn dì shāng hài nǐ lā！ wǒ yào bǎ nǐ men quán yòng là huóní niē chéng mó xíng； shuí xiān yuè guò wǒ dìng de jiè xiàn， wǒ jiù yào héng héng wǒ bù shuō tā yào dǎo shénme yàng de méi héng héng kě shì， qiáo zhe bā！ qù， wǒ kě zài chǒu zhe nǐ ní。”
zhè gè xiǎo nǚ wū nà shuāng měi lì de yǎn jīng lǐ tiān shàng yī zhǒng cháo nòng de 'è dú shén qì。 yuē sè fū zhēn de xià dé zhí dǒu， gǎn jǐn páo chū qù， yī biān páo yī biān dǎo gào， hái rǎng zhe“ è dú！” wǒ xiǎng tā de xíng wéi yī dìng shì yóu yú wú liáo nào zhe wán wán de。 xiàn zài zhǐ yòu wǒ men liǎ liǎo， wǒ xiǎng duì tā sù sù kǔ。
“ xī cì kè lì fū tài tài，” wǒ kěnqiè dì shuō，“ nín yī dìng dé yuán liàng wǒ má fán nín。 wǒ gǎn yú zhè yàng shì yīn wéi， nín jì yòu zhè me yī zhāng liǎn， wǒ gǎn shuō nín yī dìng yě xīn hǎo。 qǐng zhǐ chū jǐ gè lù biāo， wǒ yě hǎo zhī dào huí jiā de lù。 wǒ yī diǎn yě bù zhī dào gāi zěn me zǒu， jiù gēn nín bù zhī dào zěn me qù lún dūn yī yàng！”
“ shùn nǐ lái de lù zǒu huí qù hǎo lā，” tā huí dá， réng rán 'ān zuò zài yǐ zǐ shàng， miàn qián yī zhī là zhú， hái yòu nà běn tān kāi de dà shū。“ hěn jiǎn dān de bàn fǎ， kě yě shì wǒ suǒ néng tí de dǐng wěn dāng de bàn fǎ。”
“ nà me， yào shì nín yǐ hòu tīng shuō wǒ gěi rén fā xiàn yǐ jīng sǐ zài ní zhǎo huò xuě kēng lǐ， nín de liáng xīn jiù bù huì dī shēng shuō nín yě yòu bù fēn de guò cuò má？”
“ zěn me huì ní？ wǒ yòu bù néng sòng nǐ zǒu。 tā men bù xǔ wǒ zǒu dào huā yuán qiáng nà tóu de。”
“ nín sòng wǒ！ zài zhè yàng yī gè wǎn shàng， wèile wǒ de fāng biàn jiù shì qǐng nín mài chū zhè gè mén jiàn， nà wǒ yě yú xīn bù rěn 'ā！” wǒ jiào dào，“ wǒ yào nín gào sù wǒ zěn me zǒu， bù shì lǐng wǒ zǒu。 yào bù rán jiù quàn quàn xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng gěi wǒ pài yī wèi dài lù rén bā。”
“ pài shuí ní？ zhǐ yòu tā zì jǐ， ēn xiāo， qí lā， yuē sè fū， wǒ。 nǐ yào nǎ yī gè ní？”
“ zhuāng shàng méi yòu nán hái zǐ má？”
“ méi yòu， jiù zhè xiē rén。”
“ nà jiù shì shuō wǒ bù dé bù zhù zài zhè 'ér lā！”
“ nà nǐ kě yǐ gēn nǐ de zhù rén shāng liàng。 wǒ bù guǎn。”
“ wǒ xī wàng zhè shì duì nǐ de yī gè jiào xùn， yǐ hòu bié zài zài zhè shān jiān xiā guàng dàng。” cóng chú fáng mén kǒu chuán lái xī cì kè lì fū de yán lì de hǎn shēng：“ zhì yú zhù zài zhè 'ér， wǒ kě méi yòu zhāo dài kè rén de shè bèi。 nǐ yào zhù， jiù gēn hā lǐ dùn huò zhě yuē sè fū shuì yī zhāng chuáng bā！”
“ wǒ kě yǐ shuì zài zhè jiān wū zǐ lǐ de yī bǎ yǐ zǐ shàng。” wǒ huí dá。
“ bù xíng， bù xíng！ shēng rén zǒng shì shēng rén， bù lùn tā shì qióng shì fù。 wǒ bù xí guàn yǔn xǔ rèn hé rén jìn rù wǒ fáng bù dào de dì fāng！” zhè méi yòu lǐ mào de huài dàn shuō。
shòu liǎo zhè gè wǔ rǔ， wǒ de rěn nài dào tóu liǎo。 wǒ shí fēn fèn kǎi dì mà liǎo yī shēng， zài tā de shēn biān cā guò， chōng dào yuàn zǐ lǐ， cōng máng zhōng zhèng zhuàng zhe 'ēn xiāo。 nà shí shì zhè me qī hēi， yǐ zhì wǒ jìng zhǎo bù dào chū kǒu； wǒ zhèng zài luàn zhuǎn， yòu tīng jiàn tā men zhī jiān yòu jiào yǎng de jǔ zhǐ de lìng yī lì zhèng： qǐ chū nà nián qīng rén hǎo xiàng duì wǒ hái yǒu hǎo。
“ wǒ péi tā zǒu dào gōng yuán nà 'ér qù bā，” tā shuō。
“ nǐ péi tā xià dì yù hǎo liǎo！” tā de zhù rén huò shì tā de shénme qīn shǔ jiào dào。
“ nà me shuí kàn mǎ ní， e？”
“ yī gè rén de xìng mìng zǒng bǐ yī wǎn shàng méi yòu rén zhào yìng mǎ zhòng yào xiē。 zǒng dé yòu gè rén qù de。” xī cì kè lì fū fū rén qīng qīng dì shuō， bǐ wǒ suǒ xiǎng de hé shàn duō liǎo。
“ bù yào nǐ mìng lìng wǒ！” hā lǐ dùn liǎo。“ nǐ yào shì zhòng shì tā， dǐng hǎo bié kēng shēng。”
“ nà me wǒ xī wàng tā de guǐ hún chán zhù nǐ， wǒ yě xī wàng xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng zài yě zhǎo bù dào yī gè fáng kè， zhí děng tián zhuāng quán huǐ diào！” tā jiān kè dì huí dá。
“ tīng bā， tīng bā， tā zài zhòu tā men lā！” yuē sè fū gū lū zhe， wǒ zhèng xiàng tā zǒu qù。
tā zuò zài shuō huà tīng dé jiàn de jìn chù， jiè zhe yī zhǎn tí dēng de guāng zài jǐ niú nǎi， wǒ jiù háo wú lǐ mào dì bǎ tí dēng qiǎng guò lái， dà hǎn zhe wǒ míng tiān bǎ tā sòng huí lái， biàn bēn xiàng zuì jìn de yī gè biān mén。
“ zhù rén， zhù rén， tā bǎ tí dēng tōu páo lā！” zhè lǎo tóu yī miàn dà hǎn， yī miàn zhuī wǒ。“ wèi， yǎo rén de！ wèi， gǒu！ wèi， láng！ dài zhù tā， dài zhù tā！”
yī kāi xiǎo mén， liǎng gè yī shēn máo de yāo guài biàn pū dào wǒ de hóu tóu shàng， bǎ wǒ nòng dǎo liǎo， bǎ dēng yě nòng miè liǎo。 tóng shí xī cì kè lì fū yǔ hā lǐ dùn yī qǐ fàng shēng dà xiào， zhè dà dà dì jī nù zhe wǒ， yě shǐ wǒ gǎn dào xiū rǔ。 xìng 'ér， zhè xiē chù shēng dǎo hǎo xiàng zhǐ xiǎng shēn shēn zhuǎzǐ， dǎ hē qiàn， yáo wěi bā， bìng bù xiǎng bǎ wǒ huó huó tūn xià qù。 dàn shì tā men yě bù róng wǒ zài qǐ lái， wǒ jiù bù dé bù tǎng zhe děng tā men de 'è dú de zhù rén gāo xīng zài shénme shí hòu lái jiě jiù wǒ。 wǒ mào zǐ yě diū liǎo， qì dé zhí dǒu。 wǒ mìng lìng zhè xiē tǔ fěi fàng wǒ chū qù héng héng zài duō liú wǒ yī fēn zhōng， jiù yào ràng tā men zāo yāng héng héng wǒ shuō liǎo hǎo duō bù lián guàn de、 kǒnghè de、 yào bào fù de huà， cuò cí zhī 'è dú， pō yòu lǐ 'ěr wáng① zhī fēng。
① lǐ 'ěr wáng héng héng“ Kinglear” suō shì bǐ yà de míng jù zhī yī， jù míng jí yǐ zhù rén gōng lǐ 'ěr wáng wéi míng。
wǒ zhè jù liè de jī dòng shǐ wǒ liú liǎo dà liàng de bí xuè， kě shì xī cì kè lì fū hái zài xiào， wǒ yě hái zài mà， yào bù shì bàng biān yòu gè rén bǐ wǒ yòu lǐ xìng xiē， bǐ wǒ de kuǎn dài zhě rén cí xiē， wǒ zhēn bù zhī dào zěn me xià tái。 zhè rén shì qí lā， jiàn zhuàng de guǎn jiā pó。 tā zhōng yú tǐng shēn 'ér chū tàn wèn zhè chǎng zhàn dǒu de。 tā yǐ wéi tā men dāng zhōng bì shì yòu rén duì wǒ xià liǎo dú shǒu。 tā bù gǎn gōng jī tā de zhù rén， jiù xiàng nà nián qīng de 'è gùn kāi huǒ liǎo。
“ hǎo 'ā， ēn xiāo xiān shēng，” tā jiào dào，“ wǒ bù zhī dào nǐ xià cì hái yào gān chū shénme hǎo shì！ wǒ men shì yào zài wǒ men jiā mén kǒu móu hài rén má？ wǒ qiáo zài zhè jiā lǐ wǒ kě zài yě zhù bù xià qù lā héng héng qiáo qiáo zhè kě lián de xiǎo zǐ， tādōu yào shā sǐ lā！ wèi， wèi！ nǐ kě bù néng zhè yàng zǒu。 jìn lái， wǒ gěi nǐ zhì zhì。 hǎo lā， bié dòng。”
tā shuō zhe zhè xiē huà， jiù měng rán bǎ yī tǒng bīng lěng de shuǐ shùn zhe wǒ de bó zǐ shàng yī dǎo， yòu bǎ wǒ lā jìn chú fáng lǐ。 xī cì kè lì fū xiān shēng gēn zài hòu miàn， tā de 'ǒu 'ěr de huān lè hěn kuài dì xiāo sàn， yòu huī fù tā de xí guàn de yīn yù liǎo。
wǒ nán guò jí liǎo， ér qiě tóu hūn nǎo zhàng， yīn cǐ bù dé bù zài tā de jiā lǐ jiè sù yī xiāo。 tā jiào qí lā gěi wǒ yī bēi bái lán dì， suí hòu jiù jìn wū qù liǎo。 tā ní， duì wǒ bù xìng de zāo yù 'ān wèi yī fān， ér qiě zūn zhù rén zhī mìng， gěi liǎo wǒ yī bēi bái lán dì， kàn jiàn wǒ lüè lüè huī fù liǎo yī xiē， biàn yǐn wǒ qù shuì liǎo。
On that bleak hill-top the earth was hard with a black frost, and the air made me shiver through every limb. Being unable to remove the chain, I jumped over, and, running up the flagged causeway bordered with straggling gooseberry-bushes, knocked vainly for admittance, till my knuckles tingled and the dogs howled.
'Wretched inmates!' I ejaculated, mentally, 'you deserve perpetual isolation from your species for your churlish inhospitality. At least, I would not keep my doors barred in the day-time. I don't care - I will get in!' So resolved, I grasped the latch and shook it vehemently. Vinegar-faced Joseph projected his head from a round window of the barn.
'What are ye for?' he shouted. 'T' maister's down i' t' fowld. Go round by th' end o' t' laith, if ye went to spake to him.'
'Is there nobody inside to open the door?' I hallooed, responsively.
'There's nobbut t' missis; and shoo'll not oppen 't an ye mak' yer flaysome dins till neeght.'
'Why? Cannot you tell her whom I am, eh, Joseph?'
'Nor-ne me! I'll hae no hend wi't,' muttered the head, vanishing.
The snow began to drive thickly. I seized the handle to essay another trial; when a young man without coat, and shouldering a pitchfork, appeared in the yard behind. He hailed me to follow him, and, after marching through a wash-house, and a paved area containing 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 plentiful evening meal, I was pleased to observe the 'missis,' an individual whose existence I had never previously suspected. I bowed and waited, thinking she would bid me take a seat. She looked at me, leaning back in her chair, and remained motionless and mute.
'Rough weather!' I remarked. 'I'm afraid, Mrs. Heathcliff, the door must bear the consequence of your servants' leisure attendance: I had hard work to make them hear me.'
She never opened her mouth. I stared - she stared also: at any rate, she kept her eyes on me in a cool, regardless manner, exceedingly embarrassing and disagreeable.
'Sit down,' said the young man, gruffly. 'He'll be in soon.'
I obeyed; and hemmed, and called the villain Juno, who deigned, at this second interview, to move the extreme tip of her tail, in token of owning my acquaintance.
'A beautiful animal!' I commenced again. 'Do you intend parting with the little ones, madam?'
'They are not mine,' said the amiable hostess, more repellingly than Heathcliff himself could have replied.
'Ah, your favourites are among these?' I continued, turning to an obscure cushion full of something like cats.
'A strange choice of favourites!' she observed scornfully.
Unluckily, it was a heap of dead rabbits. I hemmed once more, and drew closer to the hearth, repeating my comment on the wildness of the evening.
'You should not have come out,' she said, rising and reaching from the chimney-piece two of the painted canisters.
Her position before was sheltered from the light; now, I had a distinct view of her whole figure and countenance. She was slender, and apparently scarcely past girlhood: an admirable form, and the most exquisite little face that I have ever had the pleasure of 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 evinced hovered between scorn and a kind of desperation, singularly unnatural to be detected there. The canisters were almost out of her reach; I made a motion to aid her; she turned upon me as a miser might turn if any one attempted to assist him in counting his gold.
'I don't want your help,' she snapped; 'I can get them for myself.'
'I beg your pardon!' I hastened to reply.
'Were you asked to tea?' she demanded, tying an apron over her neat black frock, and standing with a spoonful of the leaf poised over the pot.
'I shall be glad to have a cup,' I answered.
'Were you asked?' she repeated.
'No,' I said, half smiling. 'You are the proper person to ask me.'
She flung the tea back, spoon and all, and resumed her chair in a pet; her forehead corrugated, and her red under-lip pushed out, like a child's ready to cry.
Meanwhile, the young man had slung on to his person a decidedly shabby upper garment, and, erecting himself before the blaze, looked down on me from the corner of his eyes, for all the world as if there were some mortal feud unavenged between us. I began to doubt whether he were a servant or not: his dress and 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, and he showed none of a domestic's assiduity in attending on the lady of the house. In the absence of clear proofs of his condition, I deemed it best to abstain from noticing his curious conduct; and, five minutes afterwards, the entrance of Heathcliff relieved me, in some measure, from my uncomfortable state.
'You see, sir, I am come, according to promise!' I exclaimed, assuming the cheerful; 'and I fear I shall be weather-bound for half an hour, if you can afford me shelter during that space.'
'Half an hour?' he said, shaking the white flakes from his clothes; 'I wonder you should select the thick of a snow-storm to ramble about in. Do you know that you run a risk of being lost in the marshes? People familiar with these moors often miss their road on such evenings; and I can tell you there is no chance of a change at present.'
'Perhaps I can get a guide among your lads, and he might stay at the Grange till morning - could you spare me one?'
'No, I could not.'
'Oh, indeed! Well, then, I must trust to my own sagacity.'
'Umph!'
'Are you going to mak' the tea?' demanded he of the shabby coat, shifting his ferocious gaze from me to the young lady.
'Is HE to have any?' she asked, appealing to Heathcliff.
'Get it ready, will you?' was the answer, uttered so savagely that I started. The tone in which the words were said revealed a genuine bad nature. I no longer felt inclined to call Heathcliff a capital fellow. When the preparations were finished, he invited me with - 'Now, sir, bring forward your chair.' And we all, including the rustic youth, drew round the table: an austere silence prevailing while we discussed our meal.
I thought, if I had caused the cloud, it was my duty to make an effort to dispel it. They could not every day sit so grim and taciturn; and it was impossible, however ill-tempered they might be, that the universal scowl they wore was their every-day countenance.
'It is strange,' I began, in the interval of swallowing one cup of tea and receiving another - 'it is strange how custom can mould our tastes and ideas: many could not imagine the existence of happiness in a life of such complete exile from the world as you spend, Mr. Heathcliff; yet, I'll venture to say, that, surrounded by your family, and with your amiable lady as the presiding genius over your home and heart - '
'My amiable lady!' he interrupted, with an almost diabolical sneer on his face. 'Where is she - my amiable lady?'
'Mrs. Heathcliff, your wife, I mean.'
'Well, yes - oh, you would intimate that her spirit has taken the post of ministering angel, and guards the fortunes of Wuthering Heights, even when her body is gone. Is that it?'
Perceiving myself in a blunder, I attempted to correct it. I might have seen there was too great a disparity between the ages of the parties 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 delusion of being married for love by girls: that dream is reserved for the solace of our declining years. The other did not look seventeen.
Then it flashed on me - 'The clown at my elbow, who is drinking his tea out of a basin and eating his broad with unwashed hands, may be her husband: Heathcliff junior, of course. Here 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 regret her choice.' The last reflection may seem conceited; it was not. My neighbour struck me as bordering on repulsive; I knew, through experience, that I was tolerably attractive.
'Mrs. Heathcliff is my daughter-in-law,' said Heathcliff, corroborating my surmise. He turned, as he spoke, a peculiar look in her direction: a look of hatred; unless he has a most perverse set of facial muscles that will not, like those of other people, interpret the language of his soul.
'Ah, certainly - I see now: you are the favoured possessor of the beneficent fairy,' I remarked, turning to my neighbour.
This was worse than before: the youth grew crimson, and clenched his fist, with every appearance of a meditated assault. But he seemed to recollect himself presently, and smothered the storm in a brutal curse, muttered on my behalf: which, however, I took care not to notice.
'Unhappy in your conjectures, sir,' observed my host; 'we neither of us have the privilege of owning your good fairy; her mate is dead. I said she was my daughter-in-law: therefore, she must have married my son.'
'And this young man is - '
'Not my son, assuredly.'
Heathcliff smiled again, as if it were rather too bold a jest to attribute the paternity of that bear to him.
'My name is Hareton Earnshaw,' growled the other; 'and I'd counsel you to respect it!'
'I've shown no disrespect,' was my reply, laughing internally at the dignity with which he announced himself.
He fixed his eye on me longer than I cared to return the stare, for fear I might be tempted either to box his ears or render my hilarity audible. I began to feel unmistakably out of place in that pleasant family circle. The dismal spiritual atmosphere overcame, and more than neutralised, the glowing physical comforts round me; and I resolved to be cautious how I ventured under those rafters a third time.
The business of eating being concluded, and no one uttering a word of sociable conversation, I approached a window to examine the weather. A sorrowful sight I saw: dark night coming down prematurely, and sky and hills mingled in one bitter whirl of wind and suffocating snow.
'I don't think it possible for me to get home now without a guide,' I could not help exclaiming. 'The roads will be buried already; and, if they were bare, I could scarcely distinguish a foot in advance.'
'Hareton, drive those dozen sheep into the barn porch. They'll be covered if left in the fold all night: and put a plank before them,' said Heathcliff.
'How must I do?' I continued, with rising irritation.
There was no reply to my question; and on looking round I saw only Joseph bringing in a pail of porridge for the dogs, and Mrs. Heathcliff leaning over the fire, diverting herself with burning a bundle of matches 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 how yah can faishion to stand thear i' idleness un war, when all on 'ems goan out! Bud yah're a nowt, and it's no use talking - yah'll niver mend o'yer ill ways, but goa raight to t' divil, like yer mother afore ye!'
I imagined, for a moment, that this piece of eloquence was addressed to me; and, sufficiently enraged, stepped towards the aged rascal with an intention of kicking him out of the door. Mrs. Heathcliff, however, checked me by her answer.
'You scandalous old hypocrite!' she replied. 'Are you not afraid of being carried away bodily, whenever you mention the devil's name? I warn you to refrain from provoking me, 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 Black Art: I shall soon be competent to make a clear house of it. The red cow didn't die by chance; and your rheumatism can hardly be reckoned among providential visitations!'
'Oh, wicked, wicked!' gasped the elder; 'may the Lord deliver us from evil!'
'No, reprobate! you are a castaway - be off, or I'll hurt you seriously! I'll have you all modelled in wax and clay! and the first who passes the limits I fix shall - I'll not say what he shall be done to - but, you'll see! Go, I'm looking at you!'
The little witch put a mock malignity into her beautiful eyes, and Joseph, trembling with sincere horror, hurried out, praying, and ejaculating 'wicked' as he went. I thought her conduct must be prompted by a species of dreary fun; and, now that we were alone, I endeavoured to interest her in my distress.
'Mrs. Heathcliff,' I said earnestly, 'you must excuse me for troubling you. I presume, because, with that face, I'm sure you cannot help being good-hearted. Do point out some landmarks by which I may know my way home: I have no more idea how to get there than you would have how to get to London!'
'Take the road you came,' she answered, ensconcing herself in a chair, with a candle, and the long book open before her. 'It is brief advice, but as sound as I can give.'
'Then, if you hear of me being discovered dead in a bog or a pit full of snow, your conscience won't whisper that it is partly your fault?'
'How so? I cannot escort you. They wouldn't let me go to the end of the garden wall.'
'YOU! I should be sorry to ask you to cross the threshold, for my convenience, on such a night,' I cried. 'I want you to tell me my way, not to SHOW it: or else to persuade Mr. Heathcliff to give me a guide.'
'Who? There is himself, Earnshaw, Zillah, Joseph and I. Which would you have?'
'Are there no boys at the farm?'
'No; those are all.'
'Then, it follows that I am compelled to stay.'
'That you may settle with your host. I have nothing to do with it.'
'I hope it will be a lesson to you to make no more rash journeys on these hills,' cried Heathcliff's stern voice from the kitchen entrance. 'As to staying here, I don't keep accommodations for visitors: you must share a bed with Hareton or Joseph, if you do.'
'I can sleep on a chair in this room,' I replied.
'No, no! A stranger is a stranger, be he rich or poor: it will not suit me to permit any one the range of the place while I am off guard!' said the unmannerly wretch.
With this insult my patience was at an end. I uttered an expression of disgust, and pushed past him into the yard, running against Earnshaw in my haste. It was so dark that I could not see the means of exit; and, as I wandered round, I heard another specimen of their civil behaviour amongst each other. At first the young man appeared about to befriend me.
'I'll go with him as far as the park,' he said.
'You'll go with him to hell!' exclaimed his master, or whatever relation he bore. 'And who is to look after the horses, eh?'
'A man's life is of more consequence than one evening's neglect of the horses: somebody must go,' murmured Mrs. Heathcliff, more kindly than I expected.
'Not at your command!' retorted Hareton. 'If you set store on him, you'd better be quiet.'
'Then I hope his ghost will haunt you; and I hope Mr. Heathcliff will never get another tenant till the Grange is a ruin,' she answered, sharply.
'Hearken, hearken, shoo's cursing on 'em!' muttered Joseph, towards whom I had been steering.
He sat within earshot, milking the cows by the light of a lantern, which I seized unceremoniously, and, calling out that I would send it back on the morrow, rushed to the nearest postern.
'Maister, maister, he's staling t' lanthern!' shouted the ancient, pursuing my retreat. 'Hey, Gnasher! Hey, dog! Hey Wolf, holld him, holld him!'
On opening the little door, two hairy monsters flew at my throat, bearing me down, and extinguishing the light; while a mingled guffaw from Heathcliff and Hareton put the copestone on my rage and humiliation. Fortunately, the beasts 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, hatless and trembling with wrath, I ordered the miscreants to let me out - on their peril to keep me one minute longer - with several incoherent threats of retaliation that, in their indefinite depth of virulency, smacked of King Lear.
The vehemence of my agitation brought on a copious bleeding at the nose, and still Heathcliff laughed, and still I scolded. I don't know what would have concluded the scene, had there not 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 nature of the uproar. She thought that some of them had been laying violent hands on me; and, not daring to attack her master, she turned her vocal artillery against the younger scoundrel.
'Well, Mr. Earnshaw,' she cried, 'I wonder what you'll have agait next? Are we going to murder folk on our very door-stones? I see this house will never do for me - look at t' poor lad, he's fair choking! Wisht, wisht; you mun'n't go on so. Come in, and I'll cure that: there now, hold ye still.'
With these words she suddenly splashed a pint of icy water down my neck, and pulled me into the kitchen. Mr. Heathcliff followed, his accidental merriment expiring quickly in his habitual moroseness.
I was sick exceedingly, and dizzy, and faint; and thus compelled perforce to accept lodgings under his roof. He told Zillah to give me a glass of brandy, and then passed on to the inner room; while she condoled with me on my sorry predicament, and having obeyed his orders, whereby I was somewhat revived, ushered me to bed.