Грозовий перевал
Chapter 24
Edgar’sdoor;allwassilence.Ireturnedtoherapartment,extinguishedmycandle,andseatedmyselfinthewindow.
Themoonshonebright;asprinklingofsnowcoveredtheground,andIreflectedthatshemight,possibly,havetakenitintoherheadtowalkaboutthegarden,forrefreshment.Ididdetectafigurecreepingalongtheinnerfenceofthepark;butitwasnotmyyoungmistress:onitsmergingintothelight,Irecognizedoneofthegrooms.Hestoodaconsiderableperiod,viewingthecarriage-roadthroughthegrounds;thenstartedoffatabriskpace,asifhehaddetectedsomething,andreappearedpresently,leadingMiss’spony;andthereshewas,justdismounted,andwalkingbyitsside.Themantookhischargestealthilyacrossthegrasstowardsthestable.Cathyenteredbythecasement-windowofthedrawingroom,andglidednoiselesslyuptowhereIawaitedher.Sheputthedoorgentlyto,slippedoffhersnowyshoes,untiedherhat,andwasproceeding,unconsciousofmyespionage,tolayasidehermantle,whenIsuddenlyroseandrevealedmyself.Thesurprisepetrifiedheraninstant:sheutteredaninarticulateexclamation,andstoodfixed.
"MydearMissCatherine,"Ibegan,toovividlyimpressedbyherrecentkindnesstobreakintoascold,"wherehaveyoubeenridingoutatthishour?Andwhyshouldyoutrytodeceiveme,bytellingatale?Wherehaveyoubeen?Speak."
"Tothebottomofthepark,"shestammered."Ididn’ttellatale."
"Andnowhereelse?"Idemanded.
"No,"wasthemutteredreply.
