Шрифт:
I cheered up greatly when I saw a large fire burning in the grate, and I was delighted to see the «missus», sitting next to a table laid for supper. I bowed and waited, thinking that she would offer me a seat, but she stayed completely silent, staring up at me from her chair. She was about eighteen years old and very slim, with fair, curling hair. She also had the most exquisite face I had ever seen, with small features and eyes which would have been irresistible, if only they had a less disagreeable expression.
«Rough weather!» I remarked to the beautiful young lady.
She stared at me without smiling.
«Sit down,» said the young man, gruffly. «He’ll be in soon.»
I obeyed, and began to fondle the wretched dog that had caused me so much trouble on my last visit.
«A beautiful animal!» I started again. «Do you plan to keep her puppies, madam?»
«They’re not mine,» my charming hostess replied in a voice even more chilling than Heathcliff would have used.
«Ah, so these are your pets then?» I said, turning to a cushion full of something like cats.
«A strange choice of pets», she observed scornfully.
Unfortunately, the pets turned out to be a heap of dead rabbits! I cleared my throat again and tried repeating my comments on the weather.
«Well you shouldn’t have come out,» was all the rude young woman could say as she reached up for a canister of tea.
«Were you asked for tea?» she demanded.
«I would very much like a cup.»
«But were you asked?»
«No,» I said, half smiling. «But surely it’s up to you, madam, to ask me that.»
This reply seemed to make her even angrier, and she flung the teaspoon back into the canister and slumped into her chair, her lower lip pushed out, ready to cry.
All this time, the young man was standing in front of the fire, glaring at me as if I were his deadly enemy. I had thought at first that he must be a servant, but now I began to wonder – he seemed so proud, and made no effort at all to look after the lady of the house. I decided it would be best to ignore him, and after five minutes of awkward silence I was greatly relieved when Heathcliff arrived.
«You see sir, I have come to visit you again,» I announced cheerfully, «but I’ll need to stay for another half an hour until the snow has died down again [4] .»
«Half an hour?» said Heathcliff, shaking the snowflakes from his clothes. «I can tell you there’s no chance of this snow stopping now. Whatever made you come out in weather like this?»
«Well perhaps one of your servants could guide me back across the moors? Could you spare me one for the night?»
4
until the snow has died down again – пока снег не прекратится
«No, I could not.»
Then Heathcliff turned to the young lady, «Are you going to make the tea?» he demanded.
«Is he having any?» she asked in disgust.
«Just get it ready,» was all he said, in a voice so savage I drew back in shock. Was this the man I wanted to have as my friend?
As soon as the tea was ready, the four of us sat down to eat. I decided it was up to me to put everyone in a better mood [5] .
«It’s strange,» I began, «how different people are. Some folks would feel very lonely up here, cut off from the rest of the world. But I’m sure, Mr. Heathcliff, you are perfectly happy, with your charming lady by your side…»
5
to put everyone in a better mood – приподнять всем настроение
«My charming lady!» he interrupted, with a sneer on his face. «Where is she – my charming lady?»
«Mrs. Heathcliff, your wife, I mean.»
«Oh – my wife! So you reckon she’s become an angel and hovers around us here, even though she’s dead and buried? Is that what you mean, sir?»
I realized I had made a terrible mistake. But then a new thought struck me – the rough young man who was sitting beside me must be Heathcliff’s son and the lady’s husband.
«Mrs. Heathcliff is my daughter-in-law,» said Heathcliff, confirming my guess.
«Ah, now I see,» I said, turning to the lad who was busy slurping his tea, «so you, sir, are the fortunate husband of this good fairy.»
But this was worse than before. The young man turned crimson and clenched his fist, as though he wanted to punch me in the face.
«Wrong again, sir,» said Heathcliff. «We neither of us have the privilege of owning this ‘good fairy’ as you call her. Her husband is dead. I said she was my daughter-in-law, so she must have married my son.»
«And this young man is —»