A sorrowful sight I saw: dark night coming down prematurely, and sky and hills mingled in one bitter whirl of wind and suffocating snow.
`I don't think it possible for me to get home now without a guide,'
I could not help exclaiming.`The roads will be buried already; and, if they were bare, I could scarcely distinguish a foot in advance.
`Hareton, drive those dozen sheep into the barn porch.They'll be covered if left in the fold all night: and put a plank before them,'
said Heathcliff.
`How must I do?' I continued, with rising irritation.
There was no reply to my question; and on looking round I saw only Joseph bringing in a pail of porridge for the dogs, and Mrs Heathcliff leaning over the fire, diverting herself with burning a bundle of matches which had fallen from the chimney-piece as she restored the tea canister to its place.The former, when he had deposited his burden, took a critical survey of the room, and in cracked tones, grated out:
`Aw woonder hagh yah can faishion tuh stand thear i' idleness un war, when all on 'em's goan aght! Bud yah're a nowt, and it's noa use talking --yah'll niver mend uh yer ill ways, bud goa raight tuh t' divil, like yer mother afore ye!'
I imagined, for a moment, that this piece of eloquence was addressed to me; and, sufficiently enraged, stepped towards the aged rascal with an intention of kicking him out of the door.Mrs Heathcliff, however, checked me by her answer.
`You scandalous old hypocrite!' she replied.`Are you not afraid of being carried away bodily, whenever you mention the devil's name? Iwarn you to refrain from provoking me, or I'll ask your abduction as a special favour.Stop! look here, Joseph,' she continued, taking a long, dark book from a shelf; `I'll show you how far I've progressed in the Black Art: I shall soon be competent to make a clear house of it.The red cow didn't die by chance; and your rheumatism can hardly be reckoned among providential visitations!'
`Oh, wicked, wicked!' gasped the elder; `may the Lord deliver us from evil!'
`No, reprobate! you are a castaway--be off, or I'll hurt you seriously!
I'll have you all modelled in wax and clay; and the first who passes the limits I fix, shall--I'll not say what he shall be done to--but, you'll see! Go, I'm looking at you!'
The little witch put a mock malignity into her beautiful eyes, and Joseph, trembling with sincere horror, hurried out praying and ejaculating `wicked' as he went.I thought her conduct must be prompted by a species of dreary fun; and, now that we were alone, I endeavoured to interest her in my distress.
`Mrs Heathcliff,' I said earnestly, `you must excuse me for troubling you.I presume, because, with that face, I'm sure you cannot help being good-hearted.Do point out some landmarks by which I may know my way home:
I have no more idea how to get there than you would have how to get to London!'
`Take the road you came,' she answered, ensconcing herself in a chair, with a candle, and the long book open before her.`It is brief advice, but as sound as I can give.'
`Then, if you hear of me being discovered dead in a bog or a pit full of snow, your conscience won't whisper that it is partly your fault?'
`How so? I cannot escort you.They wouldn't let me go to the end of the garden wall.'
`You! I should be sorry to ask you to cross the threshold, for my convenience, on such a night,' I cried.`I want you to tell me my way, net to show it; or else to persuade Mr Heathcliff to give me a guide.'
`Who? There is himself, Earnshaw, Zillah, Joseph, and I.Which would you have?'
`Are there no boys at the farm?'
`No, those are all.'
`Then, it follows that I am compelled to stay.'
`That you may settle with your host.I have nothing to do with it.'
