Chapter 1

           Ihavejustreturnedfromavisittomylandlord—thesolitaryneighbourthatIshallbetroubledwith. Thisiscertainlyabeautifulcountry! InallEngland,IdonotbelievethatIcouldhavefixedonasituationsocompletelyremovedfromthestirofsociety. Aperfectmisanthropist’sheaven; andMr.HeathcliffandIaresuchasuitablepairtodividethedesolationbetweenus. Acapitalfellow! HelittleimaginedhowmyheartwarmedtowardshimwhenIbeheldhisblackeyeswithdrawsosuspiciouslyundertheirbrows,asIrodeup,andwhenhisfingersshelteredthemselves,withajealousresolution,stillfurtherinhiswaistcoat,asIannouncedmyname. 

           "Mr.Heathcliff!"Isaid. 

           Anodwastheanswer. 

           "Mr.Lockwood,yournewtenant,sir. Idomyselfthehonourofcallingassoonaspossibleaftermyarrival,toexpressthehopethatIhavenotinconveniencedyoubymyperseveranceinsolicitingtheoccupationofThrushcrossGrange: Iheardyesterdayyouhadhadsomethoughts-" 

           "ThrushcrossGrangeismyown,sir,"heinterruptedwincing. "Ishouldnotallowanyonetoinconvenienceme,ifIcouldhinderit—walkin!" 

           The"walkin"wasutteredwithclosedteeth,andexpressedthesentiment,"Gotothedeuce": eventhegateoverwhichheleantmanifestednosympathisingmovementtothewords; andIthinkthatcircumstancedeterminedmetoaccepttheinvitation: Ifeltinterestedinamanwhoseemedmoreexaggeratedlyreservedthanmyself.