Грозовой перевал / Wuthering Heights

The weather was frosty but bright when I rode up to Wuthering Heights, carrying a note from Nelly for young Mrs. Heathcliff. Hareton Earnshaw opened the door and I had a good look at him – he was certainly the most handsome farm worker I’d ever seen. I thought he looked intelligent and kind, in spite of the way that Heathcliff had treated him.

Hareton led me into the kitchen, where Catherine was busy chopping up vegetables. She didn’t even bother to look up when I came in.

«Well,» I thought to myself, «she may be beautiful, but she’s certainly no angel.»

As I passed Catherine’s chair, I dropped Nelly’s note in front of her, but Hareton had noticed it and grabbed it up quickly.

«Mr. Heathcliff will want to look at this,» he said, stuffing it into his pocket[88]. But then Catherine started to cry. As soon as he saw her tears, Hareton weakened and passed the letter over to her. It was obvious he couldn’t bear to make her sad.

Catherine read through the letter several times, and asked me many questions about life at the Grange. «Please tell Nelly,» she said, «that I would love to answer her letter, but I have no paper and pencils. Heathcliff has taken everything away from me – even my books.»

«No books!» I exclaimed. «How do you manage to live here without anything to read?»

«I used to read all the time but, when Heathcliff realized my books made me happy, he took them away from me. I’ve searched all over the house for them but they’ve gone – all except a few in Hareton’s room. But I can’t see why he needs them because he’s such a dunce he can’t even read!»

Hareton blushed crimson[89] and I decided to come to his rescue.

«Perhaps he is learning to read?» I suggested.

«Well, he has a lot to learn,» said Catherine scornfully. «You should hear the stupid mistakes he makes – they make me want to laugh out loud!»

Hareton took a deep breath and left the room. In a few minutes he was back again with a pile of books, which he threw on the floor. «Why don’t you take them now?» he said, pale with rage. «I never want to see them again!»

«Well I don’t want them either,» Catherine replied spitefully. «I hate them now because they make me think of you.»

Hareton gathered up the books and threw them into the fire. Then he stormed out of the room[90].

As Hareton left the kitchen, Heathcliff arrived. He seemed moody and restless, and he was much thinner than the last time I had seen him.

«I’ve come to tell you that I’m leaving the Grange,» I announced. «I’ll pay the rest of my rent, but I’ll be gone within a few days.»

«So, Mr. Lockwood, you’re tired of the moors already,» Heathcliff replied. «But stay and have lunch with us before you go. A guest who is not in danger of coming again, is always welcome here.»

So Heathcliff, Hareton and I sat down to lunch in the sitting room, while Catherine was banished to the kitchen[91] to eat with the servants. It was not a cheerful meal. Heathcliff was grim and surly, and Hareton was completely silent. As soon as it was over I set out for the Grange. I was happy to think I would never see Wuthering Heights again.

I had been away from Thrushcross Grange for six months when I happened to be passing through Yorkshire once more. I wasn’t in a hurry so I decided to stay the night at Gimmerton, and visit my old housekeeper and friend, Nelly Dean. But when I arrived at the Grange, a strange woman opened the door. She told me Nelly had moved up to the Heights, so I set off once more on the familiar path across the moors.

As I approached the Heights, I was surprised to see flowers growing in the garden. The doors and windows were wide open and I could see two young people inside, sitting at a table.

«Now read it again,» said a voice as sweet as a bell, «and this time get it right, or I’ll pull your hair!»

«I’ll try one more time,» answered a deep voice, «but you must kiss me if I get it right.»

Then the young man began to read. His handsome features glowed with pleasure, and his eyes kept wandering from the page to a small white hand resting on his knee. I watched while he finished the passage and claimed his reward from his beautiful teacher. Then I left them and went to find Nelly.

I soon found my old friend sewing in the kitchen. She was delighted to see me.

«But why have you moved to Wuthering Heights, Nelly?» I asked. «And where is your master, Mr. Heathcliff?»

«Oh, he’s dead, sir,» she replied. «He died three months ago.»

«Heathcliff dead!» I couldn’t believe it. «But tell me, Nelly, how did it happen?»

The good woman fetched me a drink and then settled down to her story…