Грозовой перевал / Wuthering Heights

«Yes, it’s Heathcliff,» he replied, impatiently, glancing up at the windows of the house. «Are they at home, Nelly? And where is your mistress? You needn’t be so disturbed. I just want to have one word with her. Go and say that a person from Gimmerton is here and wishes to see her.»

«But how will she take it?» I cried out. «What will she do? The shock of seeing you will send her out of her mind!»

«Go and carry my message,» he interrupted. «I’m in torment until you do!»

Then he lifted the door latch for me and I entered the house.

When I reached the sitting room, I almost turned away. Edgar and Cathy were sitting by the fire, looking wonderfully peaceful in the evening light. I was about to leave them undisturbed, when something made me mutter, «A person from Gimmerton wishes to see you, madam.»

«What does he want?» asked Cathy.

«I didn’t question him.»

«Well, close the curtains, Nelly, and bring us up some tea. I’ll be back very soon.»

After Cathy had left the room, Mr. Edgar asked carelessly who the visitor was.

«Someone the mistress doesn’t expect,» I replied. «It’s that Heathcliff, you remember, who used to live at the Heights.»

«What… the gypsy, the farm boy!» cried Edgar. «Why didn’t you say so to Catherine?»

«Please sir, don’t ever call him those names,» I said. «My mistress will be so angry to hear them. You know she was heartbroken when Heathcliff ran off, and she’ll be overjoyed to see him now.»

Before long, I heard the click of the latch and Cathy flew into the room, breathless and wild, «Oh Edgar, Edgar darling,» she panted, flinging her arms around his neck[48], «Heathcliff’s come back!» And she tightened her hold to a squeeze.

«Well, well,» said her husband, crossly, «don’t strangle me for that! He never struck me as such a great treasure. There’s no need to be so frantic.»

«I know you didn’t like him,» she answered, trying to be calm, «but, for my sake, you must be friends now. Shall I ask him to come up?»

«Here?» he asked. «Into the sitting room?»

«Where else?»

«I would have thought the kitchen was more suitable for him.»

Cathy gave him a strange look – half-laughing and half-cross.

«No,» she said firmly. «I can’t sit in the kitchen. Please set two tables here, Nelly – one for the grand folks – your master and Miss Isabella – and one for the commoners[49] – Heathcliff and me. Oh, I must go and find him now!»

She was about to run off, when Edgar stopped her.

«Nelly will ask him to come in,» he said. «And Catherine, try to be glad without being ridiculous. We don’t want all the servants to see you welcoming a runaway farm boy as if he were your brother.»

I went down to the porch and found Heathcliff waiting to be let in. He followed me in silence up the stairs and, as I showed him into the room, I managed to have a proper look at him. I was amazed to see just how much he had changed. He was now a tall, athletic man with a handsome, intelligent face. Beside him, my master Edgar looked like a pretty boy. He was very upright, which made me wonder if he had spent some time in the army. But whatever he’d been doing, this new Heathcliff dressed and acted like a gentleman – there were no signs of the ruffian he used to be. Only his eyes, I noticed, were still full of fire.

My master was also surprised to see how the farm boy had changed, and at first he didn’t seem to know how to treat his guest. But Heathcliff just stood staring at Edgar, waiting coolly for him to speak.

«Sit down, sir,» Edgar said, at last. «My wife wishes to welcome you into our home, and of course I am delighted when anything pleases her.»

«And so am I,» answered Heathcliff. «I shall gladly stay for an hour or two.»

Then he took a seat opposite Cathy, who kept her eyes fixed on him all the time, as if she was afraid he would vanish any minute. Heathcliff didn’t raise his eyes very often, but each time he did, I noticed his delight at seeing Cathy again.

The two of them were much too absorbed in each other to notice anyone else, but Edgar was pale with annoyance. This rapidly turned to anger when Cathy jumped up and seized both of Heathcliff’s hands.

«Tomorrow, I shall think that this was all a dream!» she cried. «I shan’t be able to believe that I’ve seen you and touched you again! And yet, cruel Heathcliff, you don’t deserve this welcome… when you’ve been away for three whole years, and never thought of me!»

«A little more than you have thought of me!» he murmured. «Promise me you’ll never drive me away again, Cathy. I’ve fought through a bitter life since I last saw you, and all my struggles have been only for you!

«Catherine,» interrupted Edgar, trying hard to stay calm, «please come to the table – we don’t all want our tea to go cold. I’m sure Mr. Heathcliff has a long walk ahead of him and I, for one, am becoming thirsty.»