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11801--I have just returned from a visit to my landlord--the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with. This is
2certainly a beautiful country! In all England, I do not believe that I could have fixed on a situation so completely
3removed from the stir of society. A perfect misanthropist's Heaven--and Mr. Heathcliff and I are such a suitable pair to
4divide the desolation between us. A capital fellow! He little imagined how my heart warmed towards him when I beheld his
5black eyes withdraw so suspiciously under their brows, as I rode up, and when his fingers sheltered themselves, with a
6jealous resolution, still further in his waistcoat, as I announced my name. "Mr. Heathcliff?" I said. A nod was the
7answer. "Mr. Lockwood, your new tenant, sir. I do myself the honour of calling as soon as possible after my arrival, to
8express the hope that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in soliciting the occupation of Thrushcross
9Grange: I heard yesterday you had had some thoughts--" "Thrushcross Grange is my own, sir," he interrupted, wincing. "I
10should not allow any one to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it--walk in!" The "walk in" was uttered with closed
11teeth, and expressed the sentiment, "Go to the Deuce!" even the gate over which he leant manifested no sympathising
12movement to the words; and I think that circumstance determined me to accept the invitation: I felt interested in a man
13who seemed more exaggeratedly reserved than myself. When he saw my horse's breast fairly pushing the barrier, he did put
14out his hand to unchain it, and then sullenly preceded me up the causeway, calling, as we entered the court,--"Joseph,
15take Mr. Lockwood's horse; and bring up some wine." "Here we have the whole establishment of domestics, I suppose," was
16the reflection suggested by this compound order. "No wonder the grass grows up between the flags, and cattle are the
17only hedge-cutters." Joseph was an elderly, nay, an old man, very old, perhaps, though hale and sinewy. "The Lord help
18us!" he soliloquised in an undertone of peevish displeasure, while relieving me of my horse: looking, meantime, in my
19face so sourly that I charitably conjectured he must have need of divine aid to digest his dinner, and his pious
20ejaculation had no reference to my unexpected advent. Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. Heathcliff's dwelling.
21"Wuthering" being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is
22exposed in stormy weather. Pure, bracing ventilation they must have up there at all times, indeed: one may guess the
23power of the north wind, blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house;
24and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun. Happily, the architect
25had foresight to build it strong: the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall, and the corners defended with large
26jutting stones. Before passing the threshold, I paused to admire a quantity of grotesque carving lavished over the
27front, and especially about the principal door; above which, among a wilderness of crumbling griffins and shameless
28little boys, I detected the date "1500," and the name "Hareton Earnshaw." I would have made a few comments, and
29requested a short history of the place from the surly owner; but his attitude at the door appeared to demand my speedy
30entrance, or complete departure, and I had no desire to aggravate his impatience previous to inspecting the penetralium.
31One step brought us into the family sitting-room, without any introductory lobby or passage: they call it here "the
32house" pre-eminently. It includes kitchen and parlour, generally; but I believe at Wuthering Heights the kitchen is
33forced to retreat altogether into another quarter: at least I distinguished a chatter of tongues, and a clatter of
34culinary utensils, deep within; and I observed no signs of roasting, boiling, or baking, about the huge fireplace; nor
35any glitter of copper saucepans and tin cullenders on the walls. One end, indeed, reflected splendidly both light and
36heat from ranks of immense pewter dishes, interspersed with silver jugs and tankards, towering row after row, on a vast
37oak dresser, to the very roof. The latter had never been under-drawn: its entire anatomy lay bare to an inquiring eye,
38except where a frame of wood laden with oatcakes and clusters of legs of beef, mutton, and ham, concealed it. Above the
39chimney were sundry villainous old guns, and a couple of horse-pistols: and, by way of ornament, three gaudily painted
40canisters disposed along its ledge. The floor was of smooth, white stone; the chairs, high-backed, primitive structures,
41painted green: one or two heavy black ones lurking in the shade. In an arch under the dresser reposed a huge,
42liver-coloured bitch pointer, surrounded by a swarm of squealing puppies; and other dogs haunted other recesses. The
43apartment and furniture would have been nothing extraordinary as belonging to a homely, northern farmer, with a stubborn
44countenance, and stalwart limbs set out to advantage in knee-breeches and gaiters. Such an individual seated in his
45arm-chair, his mug of ale frothing on the round table before him, is to be seen in any circuit of five or six miles
46among these hills, if you go at the right time after dinner. But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode
47and style of living. He is a dark-skinned gipsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman: that is, as much a
48gentleman as many a country squire: rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss with his negligence, because he has
49an erect and handsome figure; and rather morose. Possibly, some people might suspect him of a degree of under-bred
50pride; I have a sympathetic chord within that tells me it is nothing of the sort: I know, by instinct, his reserve
51springs from an aversion to showy displays of feeling--to manifestations of mutual kindliness. He'll love and hate
52equally under cover, and esteem it a species of impertinence to be loved or hated again. No, I'm running on too fast: I
53bestow my own attributes over-liberally on him. Mr. Heathcliff may have entirely dissimilar reasons for keeping his hand
54out of the way when he meets a would-be acquaintance, to those which actuate me. Let me hope my constitution is almost
55peculiar: my dear mother used to say I should never have a comfortable home; and only last summer I proved myself
56perfectly unworthy of one. While enjoying a month of fine weather at the sea-coast, I was thrown into the company of a
57most fascinating creature: a real goddess in my eyes, as long as she took no notice of me. I "never told my love"
58vocally; still, if looks have language, the merest idiot might have guessed I was over head and ears: she understood me
59at last, and looked a return--the sweetest of all imaginable looks. And what did I do? I confess it with shame--shrunk
60icily into myself, like a snail; at every glance retired colder and farther; till finally the poor innocent was led to
61doubt her own senses, and, overwhelmed with confusion at her supposed mistake, persuaded her mamma to decamp. By this
62curious turn of disposition I have gained the reputation of deliberate heartlessness; how undeserved, I alone can
63appreciate. I took a seat at the end of the hearthstone opposite that towards which my landlord advanced, and filled up
64an interval of silence by attempting to caress the canine mother, who had left her nursery, and was sneaking wolfishly
65to the back of my legs, her lip curled up, and her white teeth watering for a snatch. My caress provoked a long,
66guttural gnarl. "You'd better let the dog alone," growled Mr. Heathcliff in unison, checking fiercer demonstrations with
67a punch of his foot. "She's not accustomed to be spoiled--not kept for a pet." Then, striding to a side door, he shouted
68again, "Joseph!"
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