Грозовой перевал
Chapter 2
Onewasaboutforty:aperiodofmentalvigouratwhichmenseldomcherishthedelusionofbeingmarriedforlovebygirls:thatdreamisreservedforthesolaceofourdecliningyears.Theotherdidnotlookseventeen.
Thenitflasheduponme—"Theclownatmyelbow,whoisdrinkinghisteaoutofabasinandeatinghisbreadwithunwashedhands,maybeherhusband:Heathcliff,junior,ofcourse.Hereistheconsequenceofbeingburiedalive:shehasthrownherselfawayuponthatboorfromsheerignorancethatbetterindividualsexisted!Asadpity—ImustbewarehowIcausehertoregretherchoice."Thelastreflectionmayseemconceited;itwasnot.Myneighbourstruckmeasborderingonrepulsive;Iknew,throughexperience,thatIwastolerablyattractive.
"Mrs.Heathcliffismydaughter-in-law,"saidHeathcliff,corroboratingmysurmise.Heturned,ashespoke,apeculiarlookinherdirection:alookofhatred;unlesshehasamostperversesetoffacialmusclesthatwillnot,likethoseofotherpeople,interpretthelanguageofhissoul.
"Ah,certainly—Iseenow:youarethefavouredpossessorofthebeneficentfairy,"Iremarked,turningtomyneighbour.
Thiswasworsethanbefore:theyouthgrewcrimson,andclinchedhisfist,witheveryappearanceofameditatedassault.Butheseemedtorecollecthimselfpresently,andsmotheredthestorminabrutalcurse,mutteredonmybehalf.which,however,Itookcarenottonotice.
"Unhappyinyourconjectures,sir,"observedmyhost;"weneitherofushavetheprivilegeofowningyourgoodfairy;hermateisdead.Isaidshewasmydaughter-in-law,therefore,shemusthavemarriedmyson."
