CHAPTER I

hlegm:Idon’tthinktheymovedonesecondfasterthanusual,thoughthehearthwasanabsolutetempestofworryingandyelping.Happily,aninhabitantofthekitchenmademoredispatchalustydame,withtucked-upgown,barearms,andfire-flushedcheeks,rushedintothemidstofusflourishingafrying-pan:andusedthatweapon,andhertongue,tosuchpurpose,thatthestormsubsidedmagically,andsheonlyremained,heavinglikeaseaafterahighwind,whenhermasterenteredonthescene. “Whatthedevilisthematter?”heasked,eyeingmeinamannerthatIcouldillendureafterthisinhospitabletreatment. “Whatthedevil,indeed!”Imuttered.“Theherdofpossessedswinecouldhavehadnoworsespiritsinthemthanthoseanimalsofyours,sir.Youmightaswellleaveastrangerwithabroodoftigers!” “Theywon’tmeddlewithpersonswhotouchnothing,”heremarked,puttingthebottlebeforeme,andrestoringthedisplacedtable.“Thedogsdorighttobevigilant.Takeaglassofwine?” “No,thankyou.” “Notbitten,areyou?” “IfIhadbeen,Iwouldhavesetmysignetonthebiter.”Heathcliff’scountenancerelaxedintoagrin. “Come,come,”hesaid,“youareflurried,Mr.Lockwood.Here,takealittlewine.GuestsaresoexceedinglyrareinthishousethatIandmydogs,Iamwillingtoown,hardlyknowhowtoreceivethem.Yourhealth,sir?” Ibowedandreturnedthepledgebeginningtoperceivethatitwouldbefoolishtositsulkingforthemisbehaviourofapackofcursbesides,Ifeltlothtoyieldthefellowfurtheramusementatmyexpensesincehishumourtookthatturn.He—probablyswayedbyprudentialconsiderationofthefollyofoffendingagoodtenant—relaxedalittleinthelaconicstyleofchippingoffhispronounsandauxiliaryverbs,andintroducedwhathesupposedwouldbeasubjectofinteresttome,—adiscourseontheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofmypresentplaceofretirement.IfoundhimveryintelligentonthetopicswetouchedandbeforeIwenthome,Iwasencouragedsofarastovolunteeranothervisitto-morrow.Heevidentlywishednorepetitionofmyintrusion.Ishallgo,notwithstanding.ItisastonishinghowsociableIfeelmyselfcomparedwithhim.