第8章

Cathy stayed at Thrushcross Grange five weeks: till Christmas. By that time her ankle was thoroughly cured, and her manners much improved. The mistress visited her often in the interval, and commenced her plan of reform by trying to raise her self-respect with fine clothes and flattery, which she took readily; so that, instead of a wild, hatless little savage jumping into the house, and rushing to squeeze us all breathless, there‘lighted from a handsome black pony a very dignified person, with brown ringlets falling from the cover of a feathered beaver, and a long cloth habit, which she was obliged to hold up with both hands that she might sail in. Hindley lifted her from her horse, exclaiming delightedly,‘Why, Cathy, you are quite a beauty! I should scarcely have known you: you look like a lady now. Isabella Linton is not to be compared with her, is she, Frances?’‘Isabella has not her natural advantages,’replied his wife:‘but she must mind and not grow wild again here. Ellen, help Miss Catherine off with her things-Stay, dear, you will disarrange your curls-let me untie your hat.’

I removed the habit, and there shone forth beneath a grand plaid silk frock, white trousers, and burnished shoes; and, while her eyes sparkled joyfully when the dogs came bounding up to welcome her, she dared hardly touch them lest they should fawn upon her splendid garments. She kissed me gently: I was all flour making the Christmas cake, and it would not have done to give me a hug; and then she looked round for Heathcliff. Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw watched anxiously their meeting; thinking it would enable them to judge, in some measure, what grounds they had for hoping to succeed in separating the two friends.

Heathcliff was hard to discover, at first. If he were careless, and uncared for, before Catherine's absence, he had been ten times more so since. Nobody but I even did him the kindness to call him a dirty boy, and bid him wash himself, once a week; and children of his age seldom have a natural pleasure in soap and water. Therefore, not to mention his clothes, which had seen three months’service in mire and dust, and his thick uncombed hair, the surface of his face and hands was dismally beclouded. He might well skulk behind the settle, on beholding such a bright, graceful damsel enter the house, instead of a rough-headed counterpart of himself, as he expected.‘Is Heathcliff not here?’she demanded, pulling off her gloves, and displaying fingers wonderfully whitened with doing nothing and staying indoors.

‘Heathcliff, you may come forward,’cried Mr. Hindley, enjoying his discomfiture, and gratified to see what a forbidding young blackguard he would be compelled to present himself.‘You may come and wish Miss Catherine welcome, like the other servants.’

Cathy, catching a glimpse of her friend in his concealment, flew to embrace him; she bestowed seven or eight kisses on his cheek within the second, and then stopped, and drawing back, burst into a laugh, exclaiming,‘Why, how very black and cross you look! and how-how funny and grim! But that's because I'm used to Edgar and Isabella Linton. Well, Heathcliff, have you forgotten me?’

She had some reason to put the question, for shame and pride threw double gloom over his countenance, and kept him immovable.

‘Shake hands, Heathcliff,’said Mr. Earnshaw, condescendingly;‘once in a way that is permitted.’

‘I shall not,’replied the boy, finding his tongue at last;‘I shall not stand to be laughed at. I shall not bear it!’And he would have broken from the circle, but Miss Cathy seized him again.

‘I did not mean to laugh at you,’she said;‘I could not hinder myself: Heathcliff, shake hands at least! What are you sulky for? It was only that you looked odd. If you wash your face and brush your hair, it will be all right: but you are so dirty!’

She gazed concernedly at the dusky fingers she held in her own, and also at her dress; which she feared had gained no embellishment from its contact with his.

‘You needn't have touched me!’he answered, following her eye and snatching away his hand.‘I shall be as dirty as I please: and I like to be dirty, and I will be dirty.’

With that he dashed headforemost out of the room, amid the merriment of the master and mistress, and to the serious disturbance of Catherine; who could not comprehend how her remarks should have produced such an exhibition of bad temper.

After playing lady's-maid to the new-comer, and putting my cakes in the oven, and making the house and kitchen cheerful with great fires, befitting Christmas-eve, I prepared to sit down and amuse myself by singing carols, all alone; regardless of Joseph's affirmations that he considered the merry tunes I chose as next door to songs. He had retired to private prayer in his chamber, and Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw were engaging Missy's attention by sundry gay trifles bought for her to present to the little Lintons, as an acknowledgment of their kindness. They had invited them to spend the morrow at Wuthering Heights, and the invitation had been accepted, on one condition: Mrs. Linton begged that her darlings might be kept carefully apart from that‘naughty swearing boy.’

Under these circumstances I remained solitary. I smelt the rich scent of the heating spices;and admired the shining kitchen utensils, the polished clock, decked in holly, the silver mugs ranged on a tray ready to be filled with mulled ale for supper; and above all, the speckless purity of my particular care-the scoured and well-swept floor. I gave due inward applause to every object, and then I remembered how old Earnshaw used to come in when all was tidied, and call me a cant lass, and slip a shilling into my hand as a Christmas-box; and from that I went on to think of his fondness for Heathcliff, and his dread lest he should suffer neglect after death had removed him: and that naturally led me to consider the poor lad's situation now, and from singing I changed my mind to crying. It struck me soon, however, there would be more sense in endeavouring to repair some of his wrongs than shedding tears over them: I got up and walked into the court to seek him. He was not far; I found him smoothing the glossy coat of the new pony in the stable, and feeding the other beasts, according to custom.

‘Make haste, Heathcliff!’I said,‘the kitchen is so comfortable; and Joseph is up-stairs: make haste, and let me dress you smart before Miss Cathy comes out, and then you can sit together, with the whole hearth to yourselves, and have a long chatter till bedtime.’

He proceeded with his task, and never turned his head towards me.

‘Come-are you coming?’I continued.‘There's a little cake for each of you, nearly enough;and you'll need half-an-hour's donning.’

I waited five minutes, but getting no answer left him. Catherine supped with her brother and sister-in-law: Joseph and I joined at an unsociable meal, seasoned with reproofs on one side and sauciness on the other. His cake and cheese remained on the table all night for the fairies. He managed to continue work till nine o'clock, and then marched dumb and dour to his chamber. Cathy sat up late, having a world of things to order for the reception of her new friends: she came into the kitchen once to speak to her old one; but he was gone, and she only stayed to ask what was the matter with him, and then went back. In the morning he rose early; and, as it was a holiday, carried his ill-humour on to the moors; not re-appearing till the family were departed for church. Fasting and reflection seemed to have brought him to a better spirit. He hung about me for a while, and having screwed up his courage, exclaimed abruptly—‘Nelly, make me decent, I'm going to be good.’

‘High time, Heathcliff,’I said;‘you have grieved Catherine: she's sorry she ever came home, I daresay! It looks as if you envied her, because she is more thought of than you.’

The notion of envying Catherine was incomprehensible to him, but the notion of grieving her he understood clearly enough.

‘Did she say she was grieved?’he inquired, looking very serious.

‘She cried when I told her you were off again this morning.’

‘Well, I cried last night,’he returned,‘and I had more reason to cry than she.’

‘Yes: you had the reason of going to bed with a proud heart and an empty stomach,’said I.‘Proud people breed sad sorrows for themselves. But, if you be ashamed of your touchiness, you must ask pardon, mind, when she comes in. You must go up and offer to kiss her, and say-you know best what to say; only do it heartily, and not as if you thought her converted into a stranger by her grand dress. And now, though I have dinner to get ready, I'll steal time to arrange you so that Edgar Linton shall look quite a doll beside you: and that he does. You are younger, and yet, I'll be bound, you are taller and twice as broad across the shoulders; you could knock him down in a twinkling; don't you feel that you could?’

Heathcliff's face brightened a moment; then it was overcast afresh, and he sighed.

‘But, Nelly, if I knocked him down twenty times, that wouldn't make him less handsome or me more so. I wish I had light hair and a fair skin, and was dressed and behaved as well, and had a chance of being as rich as he will be!’

‘And cried for mamma at every turn,’I added,‘and trembled if a country lad heaved his fist against you, and sat at home all day for a shower of rain. Oh, Heathcliff, you are showing a poor spirit! Come to the glass, and I'll let you see what you should wish. Do you mark those two lines between your eyes; and those thick brows, that, instead of rising arched, sink in the middle; and that couple of black fiends, so deeply buried, who never open their windows boldly, but lurk glinting under them, like devil's spies? Wish and learn to smooth away the surly wrinkles, to raise your lids frankly, and change the fiends to confident, innocent angels, suspecting and doubting nothing, and always seeing friends where they are not sure of foes. Don't get the expression of a vicious cur that appears to know the kicks it gets are its desert, and yet hates all the world, as well as the kicker, for what it suffers.’

‘In other words, I must wish for Edgar Linton's great blue eyes and even forehead,’he replied.‘I do-and that won't help me to them.’

‘A good heart will help you to a bonny face, my lad,’I continued,‘if you were a regular black; and a bad one will turn the bonniest into something worse than ugly. And now that we've done washing, and combing, and sulking-tell me whether you don't think yourself rather handsome? I'll tell you, I do. You're fit for a prince in disguise. Who knows but your father was Emperor of China, and your mother an Indian queen, each of them able to buy up, with one week's income, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange together? And you were kidnapped by wicked sailors and brought to England. Were I in your place, I would frame high notions of my birth; and the thoughts of what I was should give me courage and dignity to support the oppressions of a little farmer!’

So I chattered on; and Heathcliff gradually lost his frown and began to look quite pleasant, when all at once our conversation was interrupted by a rumbling sound moving up the road and entering the court. He ran to the window and I to the door, just in time to behold the two Lintons descend from the family carriage, smothered in cloaks and furs, and the Earnshaws dismount from their horses: they often rode to church in winter. Catherine took a hand of each of the children, and brought them into the house and set them before the fire, which quickly put colour into their white faces.

I urged my companion to hasten now and show his amiable humour, and he willingly obeyed; but ill luck would have it that, as he opened the door leading from the kitchen on one side, Hindley opened it on the other. They met, and the master, irritated at seeing him clean and cheerful, or, perhaps, eager to keep his promise to Mrs. Linton, shoved him back with a sudden thrust, and angrily bade Joseph‘keep the fellow out of the room-send him into the garret till dinner is over. He'll be cramming his fingers in the tarts and stealing the fruit, if left alone with them a minute.’

‘Nay, sir,’I could not avoid answering,‘he'll touch nothing, not he: and I suppose he must have his share of the dainties as well as we.’

‘He shall have his share of my hand, if I catch him downstairs till dark,’cried Hindley.‘Begone, you vagabond! What! you are attempting the coxcomb, are you? Wait till I get hold of those elegant locks-see if I won't pull them a bit longer!’

‘They are long enough already,’observed Master Linton, peeping from the doorway;‘I wonder they don't make his head ache. It's like a colt's mane over his eyes!’

He ventured this remark without any intention to insult; but Heathcliff's violent nature was not prepared to endure the appearance of impertinence from one whom he seemed to hate, even then, as a rival. He seized a tureen of hot apple sauce (the first thing that came under his gripe) and dashed it full against the speaker's face and neck; who instantly commenced a lament that brought Isabella and Catherine hurrying to the place. Mr. Earnshaw snatched up the culprit directly and conveyed him to his chamber; where, doubtless, he administered a rough remedy to cool the fit of passion, for he appeared red and breathless. I got the dishcloth, and rather spitefully scrubbed Edgar's nose and mouth, affirming it served him right for meddling. His sister began weeping to go home, and Cathy stood by confounded, blushing for all.

‘You should not have spoken to him!’she expostulated with Master Linton.‘He was in a bad temper, and now you've spoilt your visit; and he'll be flogged: I hate him to be flogged! I can't eat my dinner. Why did you speak to him, Edgar?’

‘I didn't,’sobbed the youth, escaping from my hands, and finishing the remainder of the purification with his cambric pocket-handkerchief.‘I promised mamma that I wouldn't say one word to him, and I didn't.’

‘Well, don't cry,’replied Catherine, contemptuously;‘you're not killed. Don't make more mischief; my brother is coming: be quiet! Hush, Isabella! Has anybody hurt you?’

‘There, there, children-to your seats!’cried Hindley, bustling in.‘That brute of a lad has warmed me nicely. Next time, Master Edgar, take the law into your own fists-it will give you an appetite!’

The little party recovered its equanimity at sight of the fragrant feast. They were hungry after their ride, and easily consoled, since no real harm had befallen them. Mr. Earnshaw carved bountiful platefuls, and the mistress made them merry with lively talk. I waited behind her chair, and was pained to behold Catherine, with dry eyes and an indifferent air, commence cutting up the wing of a goose before her.‘An unfeeling child,’I thought to myself;‘how lightly she dismisses her old playmate's troubles. I could not have imagined her to be so selfish.’She lifted a mouthful to her lips: then she set it down again: her cheeks flushed, and the tears gushed over them. She slipped her fork to the floor, and hastily dived under the cloth to conceal her emotion. I did not call her unfeeling long; for I perceived she was in purgatory throughout the day, and wearying to find an opportunity of getting by herself, or paying a visit to Heathcliff, who had been locked up by the master: as I discovered, on endeavouring to introduce to him a private mess of victuals.

In the evening we had a dance. Cathy begged that he might be liberated then, as Isabella Linton had no partner: her entreaties were vain, and I was appointed to supply the deficiency. We got rid of all gloom in the excitement of the exercise, and our pleasure was increased by the arrival of the Gimmerton band, mustering fifteen strong: a trumpet, a trombone, clarionets, bassoons, French horns, and a bass viol, besides singers. They go the rounds of all the respectable houses, and receive contributions every Christmas, and we esteemed it a first-rate treat to hear them. After the usual carols had been sung, we set them to songs and glees. Mrs. Earnshaw loved the music, and so they gave us plenty.

Catherine loved it too: but she said it sounded sweetest at the top of the steps, and she went up in the dark: I followed. They shut the house door below, never noting our absence, it was so full of people. She made no stay at the stairs'-head, but mounted farther, to the garret where Heathcliff was confined, and called him. He stubbornly declined answering for a while: she persevered, and finally persuaded him to hold communion with her through the boards. I let the poor things converse unmolested, till I supposed the songs were going to cease, and the singers to get some refreshment: then I clambered up the ladder to warn her. Instead of finding her outside, I heard her voice within. The little monkey had crept by the skylight of one garret, along the roof, into the skylight of the other, and it was with the utmost difficulty I could coax her out again. When she did come, Heathcliff came with her, and she insisted that I should take him into the kitchen, as my fellow-servant had gone to a neighbour's, to be removed from the sound of our‘devil's psalmody,’as it pleased him to call it. I told them I intended by no means to encourage their tricks: but as the prisoner had never broken his fast since yesterday's dinner, I would wink at his cheating Mr. Hindley that once. He went down: I set him a stool by the fire, and offered him a quantity of good things: but he was sick and could eat little, and my attempts to entertain him were thrown away. He leant his two elbows on his knees, and his chin on his hands and remained rapt in dumb meditation. On my inquiring the subject of his thoughts, he answered gravely—‘I'm trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back. I don't care how long I wait, if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do!’

‘For shame, Heathcliff!’said I.‘It is for God to punish wicked people; we should learn to forgive.’

‘No, God won't have the satisfaction that I shall,’he returned.‘I only wish I knew the best way! Let me alone, and I'll plan it out: while I'm thinking of that I don't feel pain.’

‘But, Mr. Lockwood, I forget these tales cannot divert you. I'm annoyed how I should dream of chattering on at such a rate; and your gruel cold, and you nodding for bed! I could have told Heathcliff's history, all that you need hear, in half a dozen words.’

Thus interrupting herself, the housekeeper rose, and proceeded to lay aside her sewing; but I felt incapable of moving from the hearth, and I was very far from nodding.‘Sit still, Mrs. Dean,’I cried;‘do sit still another half-hour. You've done just right to tell the story leisurely. That is the method I like; and you must finish it in the same style. I am interested in every character you have mentioned, more or less.’

‘The clock is on the stroke of eleven, sir.’

‘No matter—I'm not accustomed to go to bed in the long hours. One or two is early enough for a person who lies till ten.’

‘You shouldn't lie till ten. There's the very prime of the morning gone long before that time. A person who has not done one-half his day's work by ten o'clock, runs a chance of leaving the other half undone.’

‘Nevertheless, Mrs. Dean, resume your chair; because to-morrow I intend lengthening the night till afternoon. I prognosticate for myself an obstinate cold, at least.’

‘I hope not, sir. Well, you must allow me to leap over some three years; during that space Mrs. Earnshaw-’

‘No, no, I'll allow nothing of the sort! Are you acquainted with the mood of mind in which, if you were seated alone, and the cat licking its kitten on the rug before you, you would watch the operation so intently that puss's neglect of one ear would put you seriously out of temper?’

‘A terribly lazy mood, I should say.’

‘On the contrary, a tiresomely active one. It is mine, at present; and, therefore, continue minutely. I perceive that people in these regions acquire over people in towns the value that a spider in a dungeon does over a spider in a cottage, to their various occupants; and yet the deepened attraction is not entirely owing to the situation of the looker-on. They do live more in earnest, more in themselves, and less in surface, change, and frivolous external things. I could fancy a love for life here almost possible; and I was a fixed unbeliever in any love of a year's standing. One state resembles setting a hungry man down to a single dish, on which he may concentrate his entire appetite and do it justice; the other, introducing him to a table laid out by French cooks: he can perhaps extract as much enjoyment from the whole; but each part is a mere atom in his regard and remembrance.’

‘Oh! here we are the same as anywhere else, when you get to know us,’observed Mrs. Dean, somewhat puzzled at my speech.

‘Excuse me,’I responded;‘you, my good friend, are a striking evidence against that assertion. Excepting a few provincialisms of slight consequence, you have no marks of the manners which I am habituated to consider as peculiar to your class. I am sure you have thought a great deal more than the generality of servants think. You have been compelled to cultivate your reflective faculties for want of occasions for frittering your life away in silly trifles.’

Mrs. Dean laughed.

‘I certainly esteem myself a steady, reasonable kind of body,’she said;‘not exactly from living among the hills and seeing one set of faces, and one series of actions, from year's end to year's end; but I have undergone sharp discipline, which has taught me wisdom; and then, I have read more than you would fancy, Mr. Lockwood. You could not open a book in this library that I have not looked into, and got something out of also: unless it be that range of Greek and Latin, and that of French; and those I know one from another: it is as much as you can expect of a poor man's daughter. However, if I am to follow my story in true gossip's fashion, I had better go on; and instead of leaping three years, I will be content to pass to the next summer-the summer of 1778, that is nearly twenty-three years ago.’

凯茜在画眉田庄暂住了五个礼拜，一直到圣诞节。此时，她的脚踝完全治好了，举止也改进了好多。女主人经常隔一段时间就去看望她，而且通过用漂亮衣服和恭维话来提高她的自尊，开始实行改良计划，凯瑟琳欣然接受；因此，她不再是一个不戴帽子的小野人，蹦蹦跳跳地跑进屋里，奔过来搂得我们喘不过气来，而是从一匹漂亮的小黑马上跳下一个非常端庄的人儿，一缕缕棕色鬈发从装饰有羽毛的海狸皮帽下垂落下来，她身穿修长的棉布骑马装，得用双手提起，才能款款进来。欣德利扶她下马时，兴高采烈地大声叫道：“啊，凯茜，你真是一个大美人！我都快认不出你来了：你现在看起来像一位淑女。伊莎贝拉·林顿可比不上她，是吗，弗朗西斯？”“伊莎贝拉没有她的天生丽质，”他的太太答道，“不过，她必须注意，不要又在这里跑野了。埃伦，帮凯瑟琳小姐脱掉外衣——别动，亲爱的，你会弄乱卷发的——让我给你解开帽子。”

我脱下她的骑马装，里面亮闪闪地露出了华丽的格子花呢丝袍、白色长裤和擦得锃亮的皮鞋。狗儿们蹦跳着跑来迎接凯瑟琳时，她的眼睛闪射出了快乐的光芒；她却不敢抚摸它们，生怕它们扑到她漂亮的衣服上撒欢。她轻轻地吻了我。我浑身面粉，正在做圣诞蛋糕，所以她无法拥抱我；然后，她环顾四周，寻找希斯克利夫。恩肖夫妇焦急地注视着他们的会面，心里想着这多多少少能使他们判断出来，他们希望把这两个朋友分开，到底有多大胜算。

起初，希斯克利夫难以发现。如果他在凯瑟琳离家之前就粗心大意、无人照顾，后来就会糟糕十倍。除了我之外，没有人对他行好，一礼拜骂他一次脏孩子，吩咐他洗一次澡；他这个年龄的孩子很少有天生喜欢肥皂和水的。因此，就是不提他那身在泥土里折腾了三个月的衣服和他那头从不梳理的浓发，就是他的脸和双手也黑乎乎的。一看到走进屋里的是这样一个光鲜优雅的少女，而不是像他料想的跟他一样蓬头垢面的同伴，就有可能悄悄地躲到高背椅后面。“希斯克利夫不在这里吗？”她一边问，一边脱下手套，露出了一双守在室内无所事事养得雪白的手指。

“希斯克利夫，你可以到前面来，”欣德利先生喊道，喜欢看到希斯克利夫的狼狈相，看到希斯克利夫不得不以令人反感的小流氓形象出现，也很高兴，“你可以像其他佣人那样过来给凯瑟琳小姐问安。”

凯茜瞥见朋友的藏身之处，就飞奔过去，抱住了他；眨眼间，她就在他的脸颊上亲吻了七、八下，这才停下来，抽回身体，突然一笑，高声嚷道：“啊，你怎么满脸不高兴！这是多么——多么可笑和正经！不过，那是因为我看惯了埃德加和伊莎贝拉·林顿。啊，希斯克利夫，你已经把我忘了吗？”

她有理由提出这个问题，因为羞愧和傲慢在他的脸上投下了双重阴影，使他动弹不得。

“握握手，希斯克利夫，”恩肖先生屈尊地说，“偶尔为之，那是允许的。”

“我才不会，”这小子终于开口答道，“我才受不了让人耻笑呢。我受不了！”希斯克利夫本来要冲出人群，但凯茜小姐又拽住了他。

“我并不是有意笑话你，”她说，“我是忍不住。希斯克利夫，至少握握手吧！你为什么沉着脸？你这样才显得古怪。你要是洗洗脸、梳梳头，就没事了：你可真脏！”

她忧心忡忡地盯着握在自己手里的那几根黑手指，又盯着自己的衣裙，担心碰上他的衣服，也沾不了什么光。

“你不必碰我！”他一边回答，一边顺着她的目光，抽回了手，“我想脏就脏，我喜欢脏，我就是要脏。”

说完，在男女主人的一阵嬉笑中，他一头冲出了房间，这让凯瑟琳惶恐不安。她想不通她的话怎么会招来了这么大的怒气。

我担当侍女，招呼这位新来的人之后，把我做的蛋糕放进炉子里，炉火生得旺旺的，使整个屋子和厨房都暖融融的，符合圣诞前夜的气氛。我准备坐下来，独自唱几首圣歌，自得其乐；约瑟夫认定我选的几首欢乐圣歌跟流行曲差不多，我也毫不在意。约瑟夫已经回到自己的房间祷告去了；恩肖夫妇正在用各式各样的漂亮小玩意逗引凯瑟琳小姐，这都是他们为她买的，以便送给林顿兄妹，答谢他们的盛情。他们已经邀请小林顿兄妹第二天到呼啸山庄来，对方接受了邀请，但有一个条件：林顿太太请求能小心谨慎，把她的宝贝们跟那个“淘气骂人的孩子”隔离开来。

在这种情况下，我独自呆着，闻到了加热香料发出的浓郁香味，欣赏着闪闪发亮的厨具、冬青叶装饰的锃亮的钟表、那些摆在盘子里准备晚饭时用来倒加麦芽酒的银杯，尤其是我特别喜爱的地板，被擦洗打扫得一尘不染。我对每件东西都暗自称赞，随后便想起了往日的情景：等一切都收拾整齐之后，恩肖先生总是要走进来，称我是一个勤快的姑娘，把一先令塞进我的手里，作为圣诞礼物；从这件事，我又想到了他疼爱希斯克利夫，害怕他死后希斯克利夫无人照管，这自然使我考虑到这个可怜孩子现在的处境。我唱着唱着，就改变了主意，哭了起来。然而，我马上又意识到，对他受的委屈，与其掉眼泪，不如尽力做些弥补，更有意义。我站起来，走进院子，去寻找希斯克利夫。他在不远处；我发现他正在马厩里给那匹新买的小马捋顺皮毛，照例喂着其他牲口。

“赶快，希斯克利夫！”我说，“厨屋里舒服极了；约瑟夫在楼上——赶快，在凯茜小姐出来之前，让我给你打扮得漂漂亮亮的，这样你们就可以坐在一起，独自享用壁炉，长谈到就寝时间。”

他继续干着活儿，从来没有回头看我。

“来啊——你要来吗？”我接着说道，“还为你们留了点儿蛋糕，一人一份差不多够了，给你穿戴好得用半个小时呢。”

我等了五分钟，但没有等到任何答复，就离开了他。凯瑟琳跟哥嫂一起吃饭，我和约瑟夫共进了一次很不和气的晚饭，一方不断斥责，另一方鲁莽傲慢。希斯克利夫的蛋糕和奶酪留在桌子上，让仙人们享用。他又努力接着干活，一直干到了九点钟，然后就沉默不语，走进了自己的房间。凯茜呆到很晚才睡。为了接待新朋友，她有一大堆事儿要吩咐。凯瑟琳走进厨房一次，想对老朋友说说话，他却不在，她只是问他是怎么回事，就回去了。第二天早晨，他起得很早；那天正是假日，他闷闷不乐地跑到了荒野上，直到家里人都去了教堂，他才又出现。禁食和沉思仿佛使他情绪好了些。他在我的身边转悠了一会儿，鼓起勇气，突然大声说道——“奈丽，把我打扮得体面些，我要学好。”

“早该这样了，希斯克利夫，”我说，“你已经伤了凯瑟琳的心：我猜，她后悔跑回家来了！好像她比你得宠，你就嫉妒她似的。”

这嫉妒凯瑟琳的念头，他难以理解，但使她伤心这个念头，他却心知肚明。

“她说过她伤心了吗？”他问，神情非常严肃。

“今天早晨我一告诉她你又走掉了，她就哭了起来。”

“啊，我昨晚也哭了，”他回答说，“我比她更有理由哭。”

“是的，你有理由带着一颗骄傲的心和一个空肚子上床睡觉，”我说，“骄傲的人会自增悲哀。不过，要是你对自己脾气暴躁感到羞愧的话，记住，她进来时，你就一定要请求原谅。你必须走上前，主动吻她，然后说——你最清楚该说什么；只是要说得诚心诚意，你不要认为她穿上华丽的衣裙就变成了陌生人。现在，尽管我要准备午饭，但我还是会抽空给你打扮一下，好让埃德加·林顿站在你身边像一个玩具娃娃：他就是像。你年龄虽小，但我敢保证，你个子高，肩膀也比他宽一倍；你眨眼间就能把他击倒，难道你觉得不行吗？”

希斯克利夫脸色亮了一会儿，随后又沉了下来，叹了口气。

“可是，奈丽，就算我击倒他二十次，也不会让他变丑或让我变俊。我想要浅色的头发和白皙的皮肤，穿着得体，举止优雅，也有机会像他一样富有！”

“你动不动就哭着要妈妈，”我补充说，“而且要是一个乡下孩子对你举起拳头，你就浑身颤抖；天一下雨，你就整天坐在家里。噢，希斯克利夫，你表现得真可怜！到镜子前面来，我要让你看看你应该渴望什么。你注意到你两眼之间的那两条线了吗？还有那两道浓眉，中间不是拱起来，而是凹下去；还有那对黑魔，埋得是那么深，从来没有大胆地打开自己的窗户，而是闪着微光，躲藏在下面，就像魔鬼的密探一样。你要希望和学会舒展这些乖戾的皱纹，真诚地抬起眼皮，把那对恶魔变成自信天真的天使，对什么都不要疑神疑鬼，要始终把不能确定为对手的人看作朋友。不要露出一副恶狗样，好像知道自己活该挨踢，但因为吃了苦头，就又仇恨那个踢它的人，仇恨世界上所有的人。”

“换句话说，我一定要希望能有埃德加·林顿那样蓝蓝的大眼睛和平平的额头，”他回答说，“我希望——而希望对我有什么用呢。”

“我的孩子，好心肠会帮你变得英俊，”我接着说道，“哪怕你是一个地地道道的黑人；坏心肠会把最俊的变得最丑的。那既然我们洗过了，梳过了，也生过气了——告诉我，你是不是觉得自己相当英俊啊？我告诉你，我是这么认为的。你适合化装成一个王子。说不定你的父亲是中国的皇帝，你的母亲是印度的皇后，他们各自用一周的收入就能把呼啸山庄和画眉田庄一块统统买下。你被邪恶的水手拐骗，带到了英国。我要是处在你的位置，就会设想自己的出身有多么高贵；而一想到我曾是何人，我就有了勇气的尊严，顶住一个农场主的压迫！”

我就这样喋喋不休地说个不停，希斯克利夫眉头渐渐舒展，逐渐开心起来，这时我们的谈话被碾过马路进入院子的一阵辘辘声打断了。他跑到窗边，我跑到门口，正好看到林顿兄妹俩从家用马车上下来，斗篷和毛皮裹得他们透不过气来，恩肖夫妇也下了马：他们冬季经常骑马去教堂。凯瑟琳一手拉着一个孩子，领他们进屋，安顿在壁炉前，炉火顿时让他们惨白的小脸红润了起来。

我催同伴现在立刻行动，表示一下他的友好态度，他也乖乖听话；可真倒霉，希斯克利夫刚从这边打开厨房门，欣德利也正从那边打开了门。他们迎头撞上，东家瞅见他干净愉快的样子，就恼火起来，也许是一心想要遵守自己对林顿太太的承诺，他猛地一把将希斯克利夫推了回去，怒气冲冲地吩咐约瑟夫：“看住这小子，别让他进屋——把他弄到阁楼上，晚饭结束才准许下来。要是他单独守着餐点一分钟，他就会把手指摸进馅饼，还会偷吃水果。”

“不会的，先生，”我忍不住答道，“他什么都不会碰，他不会的。我想着他一定会像我们一样也有一份好吃的。”

“天黑前，要是让我看到他，就叫他尝尝我那份巴掌，”欣德利喊道，“滚开，你这流氓！怎么回事？你还想当阔少爷，是不是？看我揪住那些漂亮的发卷，不把它们拽长了才怪呢！”

“它们已经够长了，”林顿少爷从门口窥视着说，“我都奇怪头发怎么没有让他头疼，都跟小马鬃一样耷拉在眼上了！’

他冒出这一句，并不是故意侮辱；但是，希斯克利夫的暴虐本性怎能容下自己厌恶的人露出半句傲慢无礼的话，况且当时他已视其为对手。他一把抓起一碗滚烫的苹果酱（这是他顺手可得的最近的物件），朝说话人的脸上和脖子上猛泼了过去。那位随即开始嚎叫起来，引得伊莎贝拉和凯瑟琳连忙赶到现场。恩肖先生马上拎起这个罪魁祸首，把他带进了卧室。恩肖面红耳赤，气喘吁吁，肯定是在里面给了希斯克利夫一剂镇热消气的猛药。我拿起抹布，气冲冲地擦拭着埃德加的鼻子和嘴，说他是多管闲事罪有应得。埃德加的妹妹哭着要回家，凯茜站在一旁不知所措，这一切让她羞愧。

“你不该对他说话！”她规劝起了林顿少爷，“他脾气不好，这下你把做客的事儿搞砸了；他还要挨鞭子，我可不愿他挨鞭子！我吃不下饭。埃德加，你干嘛对他说话呢？”“我没有，”这个少年一边哭泣，一边从我手里挣脱出来，掏出他那块装在口袋里的细麻布手绢，擦净了剩下的脏物，“我答应妈妈一句话都不对他说，我没说。”

“好了，别哭了，”凯瑟琳轻蔑地回答说，“你又没死。别再挑拨是非了；我的哥哥来了，安静！嘘，伊莎贝拉！谁伤害你了吗？”

“好了，好了，孩子们——都到你们的座位上去！”欣德利风风火火地跑进来喊道，“那个小畜生倒让我浑身暖和。埃德加少爷，下次你要用自己的拳头讨回公道——这会让你胃口大开！”

一看到这香味四溢的筵席，这一小伙人便又恢复了平静。兜过风后，他们都饿了，那点气也容易消，因为他们并没有受到真正的伤害。恩肖先生切好了一盘盘的肉；女主人谈笑风生，逗得大家都很开心。我站在凯瑟琳的椅子后面伺候着，难过地看着她，只见她的眼里没有泪水，神情漠然，开始切她面前的鹅翅。“无情无义的孩子，”我暗自想道，“她是多么轻易地抛下了老伙伴的麻烦。我没想到她居然这样自私。”她把一口吃的递到唇边，然后又放了下来——她脸颊通红，泪水顺着脸颊滚滚而下。凯瑟琳把叉子滑落在地，匆匆地钻到桌布下面掩饰自己的感情。没过多久，我就不说她无情无义了，因为我看出她那天受尽折磨，无缘脱身独处，也无法去看希斯克利夫——他被东家关了起来——我发现，凯瑟琳千方百计背地里给他送点吃的。

晚上我们有一个舞会。凯茜恳求说这下可以把希斯克利夫放出来，因为伊莎贝拉·林顿没有舞伴。她的恳求无济于事，我奉命过来补缺。舞会达到高潮时，我们都摆脱了一切忧郁；吉默屯乐队的到来更增加了我们的快乐。这个乐队多达十五人，除了几位歌手之外，还有一个吹小号的、一个吹长号的、几个吹单簧管的、几个吹大管的、几个吹法国号的和一个拉古提琴的。每到圣诞节，他们都轮流到所有的体面人家演奏，接受一些捐助；我们把听他们演奏当成一流享受。按照惯例，唱完圣歌后，我们就请他们演唱歌曲和重唱曲。恩肖太太热爱音乐，因此他们给我们演奏了好多曲子。

凯瑟琳也热爱音乐，但她说在楼上最悦耳动听。于是，她就摸黑上楼：我尾随其后。他们在楼下关上了屋门，到处都是人，根本没有人注意到我们缺席。她没有在楼梯口停留，而是继续往上爬，爬到阁楼上。那里禁闭着希斯克利夫，她喊希斯克利夫。有一阵子，他固执地拒绝回答；她坚持叫下去，最终说服希斯克利夫隔着木板跟她说话。我让这两个可怜的小家伙说话，没有干扰，直到我估摸着乐曲将要停止，乐手们要稍事休息，我才爬上梯子去提醒她。我在外面没有找到她，却听到她的声音从里面传了出来。这个小猴子已经顺着一个阁楼的天窗爬了出去，沿着屋顶又从另一个阁楼的天窗爬了进去，我费尽口舌才又哄她出来。当凯瑟琳果真出来时，希斯克利夫也跟着出来了，凯瑟琳坚持让我把他领进厨房。因为我那位仆人同事为了避开他所谓的“魔鬼圣歌”，早已去了邻居家。我告诉他们说，我绝不想怂恿他们玩这种把戏，但想着这个被拘禁的孩子从昨天晚饭起就没有进过食，我就对他愚弄欣德利先生的事儿睁一只眼闭一只眼。希斯克利夫下了楼。我搬了一只凳子，让他坐在炉边，拿给他一堆好吃的。但是，他不舒服，没有胃口，吃不下多少。我就放弃了好好款待他的想法。希斯克利夫双肘支在膝盖上，两手托着下巴，默默沉思。我问他在想什么，他一本正经地答道——“我正在想法报复欣德利。只要最终能报仇雪恨，等多久我都不在乎。我希望他不要死在我报复之前！”

“真可耻，希斯克利夫！”我说，“惩罚坏人是上帝的职责；我们应该学会宽恕。”

“不，上帝是不会得到我那种满足感的，”他答道，“我只希望自己能想到最好的方法！别管我，我会想出来的。想到这一点，我就感觉不到疼了。”

“可是，洛克伍德先生，我忘记了这些故事是不能让你解闷的。我很生气自己怎么会这样喋喋不休；你的粥冷了，你也要瞌睡了！你要是听希斯克利夫的身世，我本来三言两语就可以讲完的。”

女管家这样打断了自己的话，站起来，接着放下针线活。但是，我觉得离不开壁炉，也根本不打瞌睡。“坐着别动，迪安太太，”我大声说道，“请再坐半个小时。你这样悠然自得地讲故事正合适。这正是我喜欢的方式；你必须以同样的方式讲完。我对你提的每个人物或多或少都感兴趣。”

“钟表敲响十一点了，先生。”

“不要紧——我不习惯十二点钟以前上床睡觉。对一个睡到上午十点钟的人来说，凌晨一两点钟睡觉就够早了。”

“你不应该睡到十点钟。早上的最好时光在那之前早就过去了。一个人到十点钟还没有干完一天的一半工作，就有可能留下另一半干不完。”

“不管怎样，迪安太太，你还是坐下来吧，因为我打算这一觉睡到明天下午。我预感到自己至少要得一次重感冒。”

“我希望不会，先生。好吧，你必须允许我跳过三年不讲；在这期间，恩肖太太——”

“不，不，我绝不允许这样！假如你独坐着，有一只母猫在你面前的地毯上舔它的小猫，你会聚精会神地盯着看；你不由看得入神，会为猫儿落下一只耳朵没有舔而大为生气，你了解这种心情吗？”

“我应该说，这是一种懒得可怕的心情。”

“恰恰相反，这是一种活跃得让人厌烦的心情。我此刻的心情就是这样；因此，请继续详述。我感觉，在许多外地房客看来，这一带的人跟城里人相比有一个好处，就像地窖里的蜘蛛见到茅舍里的蜘蛛受益多多一样。我之所以对这里的人更感兴趣，并不完全是因为我是一个旁观者。他们的确生活得更认真，更注重自我，而不是追求表面的变化和琐碎的外在事物。我可以想见，这里几乎可能存在一种终生的爱；而我过去笃信，不会有什么能维持一年的爱。一种情况就像一个饥肠辘辘的人面前放一盘菜，他可能会把全部食欲都倾注在这盘菜上，饱餐一顿；另一种情况就像把他领到法国厨师摆的一桌大餐上，他也许会从全部大餐中获得同样的享受，而每道菜不过是他所思所忆中微不足道的一部分。”

“噢！等你渐渐了解我们之后，你就会发现，我们在这一点上跟别人是一样的。”迪安太太说，对我这番话多少有些迷惑不解。

“对不起，”我回答说，“我的好朋友，你就是你那句断言的一个非常鲜明的反证。我习惯认为，你们这个阶级特有的习气，你身上没有留下任何痕迹，你只是有点儿我不知道的乡土气。我敢肯定，你想得要比一般仆人多得多。你不得不培养自己的思考能力，因为你没有机会把生命耗费在无聊的小事上。”

迪安太太笑出了声。

“我的确认为自己是一个稳重讲理的人，”她说，“这并不是完全因为我一年到头都住在山里，只看到清一色的面孔和老一套的行动。我见过严格的训练，这使我学到了智慧。此外，洛克伍德先生，你也许想象不到我读了好多书。这个书房里的书，你随便打开哪一本，我哪一本都看过，而且从每本书都学到了一点东西，除了那些希腊文、拉丁文和法文书之外——这些书我也能分辨出是什么文。对一个穷人的女儿，你也只能期望这么多了。不管怎么说，我要是真以闲话的方式讲故事，还不如跳到第二年夏天——1778年的夏天，也就是将近二十三年前。”