Читать книгу Wuthering Heights / Грозовой перевал. Уровень 3 - Эмили Бронте, Эмили Бронте - Страница 11

Mr. Heathcliff has just honoured me with a call. About seven days ago he sent me a brace of grouse – the last of the season. Scoundrel! He is not altogether guiltless in this illness of mine; and I wanted to tell him about it. But, alas! How can I offend a man who was charitable enough to sit at my bedside and talk on some other subject than treatment? This is quite an easy interval. I am too weak to read; yet I feel as if I can enjoy something interesting. Why not let Mrs. Dean finish her tale? I'll ring: she'll be delighted to find me capable of talking cheerfully.

* * *

I got Miss Catherine and myself to Thrushcross Grange, she continued; and, to my agreeable disappointment, she behaved infinitely better than I dared to expect. She seemed almost over-fond of Mr. Linton. Even to his sister she showed plenty of affection. They were both very attentive to her comfort, certainly.

On one mellow evening in September, I was coming from the garden with a heavy basket of apples which I was gathering. I set my burden on the house-steps by the kitchen door, when I heard a voice behind me say,

'Nelly, is that you?'

It was a deep voice, and foreign in tone; yet there was something in the manner which made it sound familiar. I turned around. I saw a man. A ray fell on his features; the cheeks were sallow, and half covered with black whiskers; the brows lowering, the eyes deep-set and singular.

I remembered the eyes. It was Heathcliff.

'Yes, it is me, Heathcliff,' he said, glancing from me up to the windows. 'Are they at home? Where is she? Nelly, you are not glad! You needn't be so disturbed. Is she here? Speak! I want to have one word with her – your mistress. Go, and say some person from Gimmerton desires to see her.'

'How will she take it?[9]' I exclaimed. 'What will she do? The surprise bewilders me – it will put her out of her head! And you are Heathcliff! But altered! I can't understand. Were you in the army?'

'Go and carry my message,' he interrupted, impatiently. 'I'm in hell till you do!'

That I did, and Miss Cathy went out to meet her visitor. Mr. Linton was shocked when I told him.

'Oh, Edgar, Edgar!' cried she, coming back into the room and flinging her arms round his neck. 'Oh, Edgar darling! Heathcliff's come back – he himself!' And she tightened her embrace. 'I know you didn't like him. Yet, for my sake, you must be friends now. Shall I tell him to come up?'

I descended and found Heathcliff. He was waiting under the porch, evidently anticipating an invitation to enter. He followed my guidance without waste of words, and I ushered him into the presence of the master and mistress. Their flushed cheeks betrayed signs of warm talking. But the lady's glowed with another feeling when her friend appeared at the door. She sprang forward, took both his hands, and led him to Linton. Then she seized Linton's reluctant fingers and crushed them into his.

Now I was amazed, more than ever, to behold the transformation of Heathcliff. He has become a tall, athletic, well-formed man. Beside him my master seemed quite slender and youth-like. A half-civilised ferocity lurked yet in the depressed brows and eyes full of black fire, but it was subdued. Heathcliff dropped his slight hand, and stood looking at him coolly till he chose to speak.