Грозовой перевал

           CanItrustyourassertion,Isabella?Areyousureyouhateme?IfIletyoualoneforhalfaday,won’tyoucomesighingandwheedlingtomeagain?IdaresayshewouldratherIhadseemedalltendernessbeforeyou:itwoundshervanitytohavethetruthexposed.ButIdon’tcarewhoknowsthatthepassionwaswhollyononeside;andInevertoldheralieaboutit.Shecannotaccusemeofshowingonebitofdeceitfulsoftness.Thefirstthingshesawmedo,oncomingoutoftheGrange,wastohangupherlittledog;andwhenshepleadedforit,thefirstwordsIutteredwereawishthatIhadthehangingofeverybeingbelongingtoher,exceptone:possiblyshetookthatexceptionforherself.Butnobrutalitydisgustedher:Isupposeshehasaninnateadmirationofit,ifonlyherpreciouspersonweresecurefrominjury!Now,wasitnotthedepthofabsurdity—ofgenuineidiocy,forthatpitiful,slavish,mean-mindedbrachtodreamthatIcouldloveher?Tellyourmaster,Nelly,thatInever,inallmylife,metwithsuchanabjectthingassheis.SheevendisgracesthenameofLinton;andI’vesometimesrelented,frompurelackofinvention,inmyexperimentsonwhatshecouldendure,andstillcreepshamefullycringingback!Buttellhim,also,tosethisfraternalandmagisterialheartatease:thatIkeepstrictlywithinthelimitsofthelaw.Ihaveavoided,uptothisperiod,givinghertheslightestrighttoclaimaseparation;and,what’smore,she’dthanknobodyfordividingus.