Грозовий перевал

           Now,Mr.Earnshawdidnotunderstandjokesfromhischildren:hehadalwaysbeenstrictandgravewiththem;andCatherine,onherpart,hadnoideawhyherfathershouldbecrosserandlesspatientinhisailingcondition,thanhewasinhisprime.Hispeevishreproofsawakenedinheranaughtydelighttoprovokehim:shewasneversohappyaswhenwewereallscoldingheratonce,andshedefyinguswithherbold,saucylook,andherreadywords;turningJoseph’sreligiouscursesintoridicule,baitingme,anddoingjustwhatherfatherhatedmost—showinghowherpretendedinsolence,whichhethoughtreal,hadmorepoweroverHeathcliffthanhiskindness:howtheboywoulddoherbiddinginanything,andhisonlywhenitsuitedhisowninclination.Afterbehavingasbadlyaspossiblyallday,shesometimescamefondlingtomakeitupatnight."Nay,Cathy,"theoldmanwouldsay,"Icannotlovethee;thou’rtworsethanthybrother.Gosaythyprayers,child,andaskGod’spardon.IdoubtthymotherandImustruethatweeverrearedthee!"Thatmadehercry,atfirst:andthenbeingrepulsedcontinuallyhardenedher,andshelaughedifItoldhertosayshewassorryforherfaults,andbegtobeforgiven.

           Butthehourcame,atlast,thatendedMr.Earnshaw’stroublesonearth.HediedquietlyinhischaironeOctoberevening,seatedbythefireside.Ahighwindblusteredroundthehouse,androaredinthechimney:itsoundedwildandstormy,yetitwasnotcold,andwewerealltogether—I,alittleremovedfromthehearth,busyatmyknitting,andJosephreadinghisBiblenearthetable(fortheservantsgenerallysatinthehousethen,aftertheirworkwasdone).MissCathyhadbeensick,andthatmadeherstill;sheleantagainstherfather’sknee,andHeathcliffwaslyingonthefloorwithhisheadinherlap.