Chapter 2

Less welcome still

01 Yesterday afternoon was misty and cold. I nearly decided to spend it by my sitting room fire, but on coming up from dinner I found the servant still trying to light it. I took my hat, and after a four miles' walk, arrived at Heathcliff's garden gate just in time to escape the first light feathers of a shower of snow.

02 On that cold hilltop, the earth was frozen hard, and the air made me shiver. I knocked in vain on the front door, and the dogs began to make a noise.

03 I knocked a second time. The head of unfriendly Joseph appeared out of a round window of the storehouse.

04 'What do you want?' he shouted. 'The master's down at the farm.'

05 'Is there nobody to open the door?' I called.

06 'There's only the mistress, and she won't open, if you shout till night time.'

07 'Why? Can't you tell her who I am?'

08 'It's not my business.' His head disappeared.

09 The snow began to fall thickly. I was about to knock a third time, when a young man without a coat and carrying a spade came from the yard behind. He called to me to follow him, and after marching through a wash-house, and an area containing a coal-house, a pump and a pigeon-house, we at last arrived in the huge, warm, cheerful room in which I was received before.

10 An immense fire was burning, and near the table, which was laid for a plentiful evening meal, I was pleased to see the 'mistress'.

11 I bowed and waited, thinking she would ask me to take a seat. She looked at me, leaning back in her chair, and remained silent and motionless.

12 'It's rough weather,' I remarked. 'I had hard work, Mrs Heathcliff, to make your servant hear me.'

13 She never opened her mouth, but kept her eyes on me in a cool manner, extremely disagreeable.

14 'Sit down,' said the young man roughly. 'He'll be in soon.'

15 I obeyed.

16 One of the dogs now came up in a more friendly manner than the first time.

17 'A beautiful animal,' I began again. 'Do you intend to keep the little ones, Mrs Heathcliff?'

18 'They are not mine,' said my hostess, more rudely than Heathcliff himself.

19 I repeated my remark on the wildness of the weather.

20 'You shouldn't have come out,' said the lady, rising and reaching two painted tea tins from the shelf above the fireplace.

21 Her position, before, had been sheltered from the light. Now, I had a clear view of her whole face and figure. She seemed little more than a girl, with an admirable form, and the most delicate little face that I had ever had the pleasure of seeing.

22 The tins were almost out of her reach. I made a movement to assist her. She turned on me.

23 'I don't want your help,' she said sharply.

24 I hastily begged her pardon.

25 'Were you asked to tea?' she demanded, standing with a spoonful of tea held over the pot.

26 'No,' I said, half smiling. 'You are the proper person to ask me.'

27 She threw the tea back, spoon and all, and returned to her chair. Her under-lip was pushed out, like a child's, ready to cry.

28 Meanwhile the young man had put on some sort of a jacket, and, standing before the fire, was looking down on me fiercely. I began to doubt his being a servant. Both his dress and his speech were rough, his hair uncut, and his hands as brown as a farm worker's; still, his manner was free, almost proud, and he showed no sign of waiting on the lady of the house.

29 Five minutes later, Heathcliff arrived.

30 'I wonder that you should choose the thick of a snowstorm to walk out in,' he said, shaking the white powder from his clothes. 'Do you know you run a risk of being lost? Even people familiar with these moors often miss their way on an evening like this.'

31 'Perhaps I can get a guide from among your boys? Could you spare me one?'

32 'No, I could not.'

33 'Are you going to make the tea?' asked the young man, looking at the lady.

34 'Is he to have any?' she asked, turning to Heathcliff.

35 'Get it ready, will you?' was the answer, so fiercely spoken that I moved in surprise.

36 When the preparations were completed, he invited me with:

37 'Now, sir, bring forward your chair.'

38 We all drew round the table, and the meal began without further speech.