CHAPTER II

ldnothavecomeout,”shesaid,risingandreachingfromthechimney-piecetwoofthepaintedcanisters. Herpositionbeforewasshelteredfromthelightnow,Ihadadistinctviewofherwholefigureandcountenance.Shewasslender,andapparentlyscarcelypastgirlhood:anadmirableform,andthemostexquisitelittlefacethatIhaveeverhadthepleasureofbeholdingsmallfeatures,veryfairflaxenringlets,orrathergolden,hanginglooseonherdelicateneckandeyes,hadtheybeenagreeableinexpression,thatwouldhavebeenirresistible:fortunatelyformysusceptibleheart,theonlysentimenttheyevincedhoveredbetweenscornandakindofdesperation,singularlyunnaturaltobedetectedthere.ThecanisterswerealmostoutofherreachImadeamotiontoaidhersheturneduponmeasamisermightturnifanyoneattemptedtoassisthimincountinghisgold. “Idon’twantyourhelp,”shesnapped“Icangetthemformyself.” “Ibegyourpardon!”Ihastenedtoreply. “Wereyouaskedtotea?”shedemanded,tyinganapronoverherneatblackfrock,andstandingwithaspoonfuloftheleafpoisedoverthepot. “Ishallbegladtohaveacup,”Ianswered. “Wereyouasked?”sherepeated. “No,”Isaid,halfsmiling.“Youaretheproperpersontoaskme.” Sheflungtheteaback,spoonandall,andresumedherchairinapetherforeheadcorrugated,andherredunder-lippushedout,likeachild’sreadytocry. Meanwhile,theyoungmanhadslungontohispersonadecidedlyshabbyuppergarment,and,erectinghimselfbeforetheblaze,lookeddownonmefromthecornerofhiseyes,foralltheworldasifthereweresomemortalfeudunavengedbetweenus.Ibegantodoubtwhetherhewereaservantornot:hisdressandspeechwerebothrude,entirelydevoidofthesuperiorityobservableinMr.andMrs.Heathcliffhisthickbrowncurlswereroughanduncultivated,hiswhiskersencroachedbearishlyoverhischeeks,andhishandswereembrownedlikethoseofacommonlabourer:stillhisbearingwasfree,almosthaughty,andheshowednoneofadomestic’sassiduityinattendingontheladyofthehouse.Intheabsenceofclearproofsofhiscondition,Ideemeditbesttoabstainfromnoticinghiscuriousconductand,fiveminutesafterwards,theentranceofHeathcliffrelievedme,insomemeasure,frommyuncomfortablestate. “Yousee,sir,Iamcome,accordingtopromise!”Iexclaimed,assumingthecheerful“andIfearIshallbeweather-boundforhalfanhour,ifyoucanaffordmeshelterduringthatspace.” “Halfanhour?”hesaid,shakingthewhiteflakesfromhisclothes“Iwonderyoushouldselectthethickofasnow-stormtorambleaboutin.Doyouknowthatyourunariskofbeinglostinthemarshes?PeoplefamiliarwiththesemoorsoftenmisstheirroadonsucheveningsandIcantellyouthereisnochanceofachangeatpresent.” “PerhapsIcangetaguideamongyourlads,andhemightstayattheGrangetillmorning—couldyousparemeone?” “No,Icouldnot.” “Oh,indeed!Well,then,Imusttrusttomyownsagacity.” “Umph!” “Areyougoingtomak’thetea?”demandedheoftheshabbycoat,shiftinghisferociousgazefrommetotheyounglady. “Ishetohaveany?”sheasked,appealingtoHeathcliff. “Getitready,willyou?”wastheanswer,utteredsosavagelythatIstarted.Thetoneinwhichthewordsweresaidrevealedagenuinebadnature.InolongerfeltinclinedtocallHeathcliffacapitalfellow.Whenthepreparationswerefinished,heinvitedmewith—“Now,sir,bringforwardyourchair.”Andweall,includingtherusticyouth,drewroundthetable:anausteresilenceprevailingwhilewediscussedourmeal. Ithought,ifIhadcausedthecloud,itwasmydutytomakeaneffortto