Wuthering Heights

beautiful country! In all England, I do not believe that I could have fixed on a situation so completely removed from the stir of

eyes withdraw so suspiciously under their brows, as I rode up, and when his fingers sheltered

thcliff?

as the

ter my arrival, to express the hope that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in

pted, wincing. 'I should not allow any one to i

ver which he leant manifested no sympathising movement to the words; and I think that circumstance determine

nd to unchain it, and then sullenly preceded me up the causeway, calling, as we

the reflection suggested by this compound order. 'No wonder the gras

dertone of peevish displeasure, while relieving me of my horse: looking, meantime, in my face so sourly that I charitably conje

ilation 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 a

ing 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 s

y 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. Abo

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

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

l of silence by attempting to caress the canine mother, who had left her nursery, and was sneaking wolfishly to the ba

rcer demonstrations with a punch of his foot. 'She's not accustomed to be spoile

agining 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

elping. 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

eyeing me in a manner that I could ill e

could have had no worse spirits in them than those animals of you

d, putting the bottle before me, and restoring the displaced t

thank

tten, a

y signet on the biter.' Heathcliff

le wine. Guests are so exceedingly rare in this house that I and my dogs,

ion 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.