Грозовий перевал
Chapter 1
Iwouldhavemadeafewcomments,andrequestedashorthistoryoftheplacefromthesurlyowner; buthisattitudeatthedoorappearedtodemandmyspeedyentrance,orcompletedeparture,andIhadnodesiretoaggravatehisimpatienceprevioustoinspectingthepenetralium.
Onestepbroughtusintothefamilysitting-room,withoutanyintroductorylobbyorpassage: theycallithere"thehouse"preeminently. Itincludeskitchenandparlour,generally; butIbelieveatWutheringHeightsthekitchenisforcedtoretreataltogetherintoanotherquarter:atleastIdistinguishedachatteroftongues,andaclatterofculinaryutensils,deepwithin; andIobservednosignsofroasting,boiling,orbaking,aboutthehugefire-place; noranyglitterofcoppersaucepansandtincullendersonthewalls. Oneend,indeed,reflectedsplendidlybothlightandheatfromranksofimmensepewterdishes,interspersedwithsilverjugsandtankards,toweringrowafterrow,onavastoakdresser,totheveryroof. Thelatterhadneverbeenunderdrawn: itsentireanatomylaybaretoanenquiringeye,exceptwhereaframeofwoodladenwithoatcakesandclustersoflegsofbeef,mutton,andham,concealedit. Abovethechimneyweresundryvillainousoldguns,andacoupleofhorsepistols: and,bywayofornament,threegaudily-paintedcanistersdisposedalongitsledge. Thefloorwasofsmoothwhitestone; thechairs,high-backed,primitivestructures,paintedgreen: oneortwoheavyblackoneslurkingintheshade. Inanarchunderthedresser,reposedahuge,liver-colouredbitchpointer,surroundedbyaswarmofsquealingpuppies; andotherdogshauntedotherrecesses.
Theapartmentandfurniturewouldhavebeennothingextraordinaryasbelongingtoahomely,northernfarmer,withastubborncountenance,andstalwartlimbssetouttoadvantageinknee-breechesandgaiters.
