CHAPTER I

weresundryvillainousoldguns,andacoupleofhorse-pistols:and,bywayofornament,threegaudilypaintedcanistersdisposedalongitsledge.Thefloorwasofsmooth,whitestonethechairs,high-backed,primitivestructures,paintedgreen:oneortwoheavyblackoneslurkingintheshade.Inanarchunderthedresserreposedahuge,liver-colouredbitchpointer,surroundedbyaswarmofsquealingpuppiesandotherdogshauntedotherrecesses. Theapartmentandfurniturewouldhavebeennothingextraordinaryasbelongingtoahomely,northernfarmer,withastubborncountenance,andstalwartlimbssetouttoadvantageinknee-breechesandgaiters.Suchanindividualseatedinhisarm-chair,hismugofalefrothingontheroundtablebeforehim,istobeseeninanycircuitoffiveorsixmilesamongthesehills,ifyougoattherighttimeafterdinner.ButMr.Heathcliffformsasingularcontrasttohisabodeandstyleofliving.Heisadark-skinnedgipsyinaspect,indressandmannersagentleman:thatis,asmuchagentlemanasmanyacountrysquire:ratherslovenly,perhaps,yetnotlookingamisswithhisnegligence,becausehehasanerectandhandsomefigureandrathermorose.Possibly,somepeoplemightsuspecthimofadegreeofunder-bredprideIhaveasympatheticchordwithinthattellsmeitisnothingofthesort:Iknow,byinstinct,hisreservespringsfromanaversiontoshowydisplaysoffeeling—tomanifestationsofmutualkindliness.He’llloveandhateequallyundercover,andesteemitaspeciesofimpertinencetobelovedorhatedagain.No,I’mrunningontoofast:Ibestowmyownattributesover-liberallyonhim.Mr.Heathcliffmayhaveentirelydissimilarreasonsforkeepinghishandoutofthewaywhenhemeetsawould-beacquaintance,tothosewhichactuateme.Letmehopemyconstitutionisalmostpeculiar:mydearmotherusedtosayIshouldneverhaveacomfortablehomeandonlylastsummerIprovedmyselfperfectlyunworthyofone. Whileenjoyingamonthoffineweatheratthesea-coast,Iwasthrownintothecompanyofamostfascinatingcreature:arealgoddessinmyeyes,aslongasshetooknonoticeofme.I“nevertoldmylove”vocallystill,iflookshavelanguage,themerestidi