Грозовой перевал
Chapter 2
Whenthepreparationswerefinished,heinvitedmewith—"Now,sir,bringforwardyourchair."Andweall,includingtherusticyouth,drewroundthetable:anausteresilenceprevailingwhilewediscussedourmeal.
Ithought,ifIhadcausedthecloud,itwasmydutytomakeanefforttodispelit.Theycouldnoteverydaysitsogrimandtaciturn;anditwasimpossible,howeverill-temperedtheymightbe,thattheuniversalscowltheyworewastheireverydaycountenance.
"Itisstrange,"Ibegan,intheintervalofswallowingonecupofteaandreceivinganother—"Itisstrangehowcustomcanmouldourtastesandideas:manycouldnotimaginetheexistenceofhappinessinalifeofsuchcompleteexilefromtheworldasyouspend,Mr.Heathcliff;yetI’llventuretosay,that,surroundedbyyourfamily,andwithyouramiableladyasthepresidinggeniusoveryourhomeandheart-"
"Myamiablelady!"heinterrupted,withanalmostdiabolicalsneeronhisface."Whereisshe—myamiablelady?"
"Mrs.Heathcliff,yourwife,Imean."
"Well,yes—Oh,youwouldintimatethatherspirithastakenthepostofministeringangel,andguardsthefortunesofWutheringHeightsevenwhenherbodyisgone.Isthatit?"
Perceivingmyselfinablunder,Iattemptedtocorrectit.Imighthaveseentherewastoogreatadisparitybetweentheagesofthepartiestomakeitlikelythattheyweremanandwife.