| 1 |
1801.
-- I have just returned from a visit to my landlord -- the solitary
neighbour that I shall be troubled with.
This is certainly, a beautiful country!
In all England, I do not believe that I could have fixed on
a situation so completely removed from the stir of society.
A perfect misanthropist's Heaven -- and Mr Heathcliff and I are
such a suitable pair to divide the desolation between us.
A capital fellow!
He little imagined how my heart warmed towards him when I beheld
his black eyes withdraw so suspiciously under their brows, as I
rode up, and when his fingers sheltered themselves, with a jealous
resolution, still further in his waistcoat, as I announced my name.
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| 2 |
"Mr Heathcliff?" I said.
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| 3 |
A nod was the answer.
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| 4 |
"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 -- -- "
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| 5 |
"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!"
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| 6 |
The "walk in" was uttered with closed teeth and expressed the
sentiment, "Go to the deuce!" even the gate over which he leant
think that circumstance determined me to accept the invitation: I
felt interested in a man who seemed more exaggeratedly reserved
than myself.
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| 7 |
When he saw my horse's breast fairly pushing the barrier, he did
pull out his hand to unchain it, and then sullenly preceded me up
the causeway, calling, as we entered the court:
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| 8 |
"Joseph, take Mr Lockwood's horse; and bring up some wine."
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| 9 |
"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."
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| 10 |
Joseph was an elderly, nay, an old man, very old, perhaps, though
hale and sinewy.
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| 11 |
"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.
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| 12 |
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.
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| 13 |
Before passing the threshold, I paused to admire a quantity of
grotesque carving lavished over the front, and especially about the
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.
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| 14 |
One step brought us into the family sitting-room, without any
introductory lobby, or passage: they call it here "the house"
preeminently.
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
fire-place; 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, in a vast oak dresser, to the
very roof.
The latter had never been underdrawn, 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.
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| 15 |
The apartment, and furniture would have been nothing extraordinary
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.
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| 16 |
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,
and, overwhelmed with confusion at her supposed mistake, persuaded
her mamma to decamp.
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| 17 |
By this curious turn of disposition I have gained the reputation of
deliberate heartlessness, how undeserved, I alone can appreciate.
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| 18 |
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.
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| 19 |
My caress provoked a long, guttural gnarl.
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| 20 |
"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."
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| 21 |
Then, striding to a side door, he shouted again.
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| 22 |
"Joseph!"
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| 23 |
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-à-vis the ruffianly bitch, and a pair
of grim, shaggy sheep-dogs, who shared with her a jealous
guardianship over all my movements.
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| 24 |
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 roused 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,
could, with the poker, I was constrained to demand, aloud,
assistance from some of the household, in re-establishing peace.
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| 25 |
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.
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| 26 |
Happily, an inhabitant of the kitchen made more dispatch; a lusty
dame, with tucked up gown, bare arms, and fire-flushed cheeks,
rushed into the midst of us flourishing a fryingpan; 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.
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| 27 |
"What the devil is the matter?" he asked, eyeing me in a manner
that I could ill endure after this inhospitable treatment.
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| 28 |
"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!"
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| 29 |
"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?"
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| 30 |
"No, thank you."
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| 31 |
"Not bitten, are you?"
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| 32 |
"If I had been, I would have set my signet on the biter."
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| 33 |
Heathcliff's countenance relaxed into a grin.
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| 34 |
"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!"
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| 35 |
I bowed and returned the pledge; beginning to perceive
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 considerations 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.
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| 36 |
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.
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| 37 |
He evidently wished no repetition of my intrusion.
I shall go, notwithstanding.
It is astonishing how sociable I feel myself compared with him.
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