Грозовой перевал

           Suchanindividualseatedinhisarm-chair,hismugofalefrothingontheroundtablebeforehim,istobeseeninanycircuitoffiveorsixmilesamongthesehills,ifyougoattherighttimeafterdinner. ButMr.Heathcliffformsasingularcontrasttohisabodeandstyleofliving. Heisadark-skinnedgipsyinaspect,indressandmannersagentleman:thatis,asmuchagentlemanasmanyacountrysquire: ratherslovenly,perhaps,yetnotlookingamisswithhisnegligence,becausehehasanerectandhandsomefigure; andrathermorose. Possibly,somepeoplemightsuspecthimofadegreeofunderbredpride; Ihaveasympatheticchordwithinthattellsmeitisnothingofthesort: Iknow,byinstinct,hisreservespringsfromanaversiontoshowydisplaysoffeeling—tomanifestationsofmutualkindliness. He’llloveandhateequallyundercover,andesteemitaspeciesofimpertinencetobelovedorhatedagain. No,I’mrunningontoofast: Ibestowmyownattributesoverliberallyonhim. Mr.Heathcliffmayhaveentirelydissimilarreasonsforkeepinghishandoutofthewaywhenhemeetsawouldbeacquaintance,tothosewhichactuateme. Letmehopemyconstitutionisalmostpeculiar: mydearmotherusedtosayIshouldneverhaveacomfortablehome; andonlylastsummerIprovedmyselfperfectlyunworthyofone. 

           Whileenjoyingamonthoffineweatherattheseacoast,Iwasthrownintothecompanyofamostfascinatingcreature:arealgoddessinmyeyes,aslongasshetooknonoticeofme. I"nevertoldmylove"vocally; still,iflookshavelanguage,themerestidiotmighthaveguessedIwasoverheadandears: sheunderstoodmeatlast,andlookedareturn—thesweetestofallimaginablelooks. AndwhatdidIdo? Iconfessitwithshame—shrunkicilyintomyself,likeasnail; ateveryglanceretiredcolderandfarther; tillfinallythepoorinnocentwasledtodoubtherownsenses,and,overwhelmedwithconfusionathersupposedmistake,persuadedhermammatodecamp.