CHAPTER II

Yesterdayafternoonsetinmistyandcold.Ihadhalfamindtospenditbymystudyfire,insteadofwadingthroughheathandmudtoWutheringHeights.Oncomingupfromdinner,however,(N.B.—Idinebetweentwelveandoneo’clockthehousekeeper,amatronlylady,takenasafixturealongwiththehouse,couldnot,orwouldnot,comprehendmyrequestthatImightbeservedatfive)—onmountingthestairswiththislazyintention,andsteppingintotheroom,Isawaservant-girlonherkneessurroundedbybrushesandcoal-scuttles,andraisinganinfernaldustassheextinguishedtheflameswithheapsofcinders.ThisspectacledrovemebackimmediatelyItookmyhat,and,afterafour-miles’walk,arrivedatHeathcliff’sgarden-gatejustintimetoescapethefirstfeatheryflakesofasnowshower. Onthatbleakhilltoptheearthwashardwithablackfrost,andtheairmademeshiverthrougheverylimb.Beingunabletoremovethechain,Ijumpedover,and,runninguptheflaggedcausewayborderedwithstragglinggooseberry-bushes,knockedvainlyforadmittance,tillmyknucklestingledandthedogshowled. “Wretchedinmates!”Iejaculated,mentally,“youdeserveperpetualisolationfromyourspeciesforyourchurlishinhospitality.Atleast,Iwouldnotkeepmydoorsbarredintheday-time.Idon’tcare—Iwillgetin!”Soresolved,Igraspedthelatchandshookitvehemently.Vinegar-facedJosephprojectedhisheadfromaroundwindowofthebarn. “Whatareyefor?”heshouted.“T’maister’sdowni’t’fowld.Goroundbyth’endo’t’laith,ifyewenttospaketohim.” “Istherenobodyinsidetoopenthedoor?”Ihallooed,responsively. “There’snobbutt’missisandshoo’llnotoppen’tanyemak’yerflaysomedinstillneeght.” “Why?CannotyoutellherwhomIam,eh,Joseph?” “Nor-neme!I’llhaenohendwi’t,”mutteredthehead,vanishing. Thesnowbegantodrivethickly.Iseizedthehandletoessayanothertrialwhenayoungmanwithoutcoat,andshoulderingapitchfork,appearedintheyardbehind.Hehailedmetofollowhim,and,aftermarchingthroughawash-house,andapavedareacontainingacoal-shed,pump,andpigeon-cot,weatlengtharrivedinthehuge,warm,cheerfulapartmentwhereIwasformerlyreceived.Itgloweddelightfullyintheradianceofanimmensefire,compoundedofcoal,peat,andwoodandnearthetable,laidforaplentifuleveningmeal,Iwaspleasedtoobservethe“missis,”anindividualwhoseexistenceIhadneverpreviouslysuspected.Ibowedandwaited,thinkingshewouldbidmetakeaseat.Shelookedatme,leaningbackinherchair,andremainedmotionlessandmute. “Roughweather!”Iremarked.“I’mafraid,Mrs.Heathcliff,thedoormustbeartheconsequenceofyourservants’leisureattendance:Ihadhardworktomakethemhearme.” Sheneveropenedhermouth.Istared—shestaredalso:atanyrate,shekepthereyesonmeinacool,regardlessmanner,exceedinglyembarrassinganddisagreeable. “Sitdown,”saidtheyoungman,gruffly.“He’llbeinsoon.” Iobeyedandhemmed,andcalledthevillainJuno,whodeigned,atthissecondinterview,tomovetheextremetipofhertail,intokenofowningmyacquaintance. “Abeautifulanimal!”Icommencedagain.“Doyouintendpartingwiththelittleones,madam?” “Theyarenotmine,”saidtheamiablehostess,morerepellinglythanHeathcliffhimselfcouldhavereplied. “Ah,yourfavouritesareamongthese?”Icontinued,turningtoanobscurecushionfullofsomethinglikecats. “Astrangechoiceoffavourites!”sheobservedscornfully. Unluckily,itwasaheapofdeadrabbits.Ihemmedoncemore,anddrewclosertothehearth,repeatingmycommentonthewildnessoftheevening. “Youshou