Грозовой перевал
Chapter 34
StillIinvoluntarilyobeyedhim,asifIwasnotquitesure.Withasweepofhishandheclearedavacantspaceinfrontamongthebreakfastthings,andleantforwardtogazemoreathisease.
Now,Iperceivedhewasnotlookingatthewall;forwhenIregardedhimalone,itseemedexactlythathegazedatsomethingwithintwoyards’distance.Andwhateveritwas,itcommunicated,apparently,bothpleasureandpaininexquisiteextremes:atleasttheanguished,yetraptured,expressionofhiscountenancesuggestedthatidea.Thefanciedobjectwasnotfixed,either;hiseyespursueditwithunwearieddiligence,and,eveninspeakingtome,wereneverweanedaway.Ivainlyremindedhimofhisprotractedabstinencefromfood:ifhestirredtotouchanythingincompliancewithmyentreaties,ifhestretchedhishandouttogetapieceofbread,hisfingersclenchedbeforetheyreachedit,andremainedonthetable,forgetfuloftheiraim.
Isat,amodelofpatience,tryingtoattracthisabsorbedattentionfromitsengrossingspeculation;tillhegrewirritable,andgotup,askingwhyIwouldnotallowhimtohavehisowntimeintakinghismeals?andsayingthatonthenextoccasion,Ineedn’twait:Imightsetthethingsdownandgo.Havingutteredthesewordsheleftthehouse,slowlysauntereddownthegardenpath,anddisappearedthroughthegate.
Thehourscreptanxiouslyby:anothereveningcame.Ididnotretiretoresttilllate,andwhenIdid,Icouldnotsleep.Hereturnedaftermidnight,and,insteadofgoingtobed,shuthimselfintotheroombeneath.
