Грозовой перевал

           Aswetalked,wenearedadoorthatopenedontheroad;andmyyounglady,lighteningintosunshineagain,climbedupandseatedherselfonthetopofthewall,reachingovertogathersomehipsthatbloomedscarletonthesummitbranchesofthewildrosetrees,shadowingthehighwayside:thelowerfruithaddisappeared,butonlybirdscouldtouchtheupper,exceptfromCathy’spresentstation.Instretchingtopullthem,herhatfelloff;andasthedoorwaslocked,sheproposedscramblingdowntorecoverit.Ibidherbecautiouslestshegotafall,andshenimblydisappeared.Butthereturnwasnosucheasymatter:thestonesweresmoothandneatlycemented,andtherosebushesandblackberrystragglerscouldyieldnoassistanceinre-ascending.I,likeafool,didn’trecollectthat,tillIheardherlaughingandexclaiming:

           "Ellen,you’llhavetofetchthekey,orelseImustrunroundtotheporter’slodge.Ican’tscaletherampartsonthisside!"

           "Staywhereyouare,"Ianswered,"Ihavemybundleofkeysinmypocket:perhapsImaymanagetoopenit;ifnotI’llgo."

           Catherineamusedherselfwithdancingtoandfrobeforethedoor,whileItriedallthelargekeysinsuccession.Ihadappliedthelast,andfoundthatnonewoulddo;so,repeatingmydesirethatshewouldremainthere,IwasabouttohurryhomeasfastasIcould,whenanapproachingsoundarrestedme.Itwasthetrotofahorse;Cathy’sdancestoppedalso.

           "Whoisthat?"Iwhispered.