CHAPTER 1

1801．-I have just returned from a visit to my landlord-the
solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with． This iscenainly a
beautiful country！In a11 England，I d0 not believe that I could have
fixed on a situation SO completely removed from the stirof
society．A perfect misanthropist‘s heaven：and Mr．Heath cliff and I
are such a suitable pair to divide the desolation between US．A
capital fellow！He little imagined how my heart warmed towards him
when I beheld his black eyes withdraw SO suspiciously under their
brows，as I rode up，and when his fingers sheltered themselves，with a
jealous resolution，still further in his waistcoat，as I announced my
name．

“Mr．Heathcliff？”I said．

A nod was the answer．

“Mr．Lockwood，your new tenant，sir．I do myself the honour of
calling as soon as possible after my arrival，to express the hope
that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in
soliciting’the occupation of7hrushcross Grange：I heard yesterday
you had had some thoughts-”“Thrushcross Grange is my own，sir，”he
interrupted，wincing．“I should not allow any one to inconvenience
me．if I could hinder it-walk in！”

The“walk in”was uttered with closed teeth，and expressed the
sentiment．“Go to the Deuce：“even the gate over which he leant
manifested no sympathising movement to the words；and I think that
circumstance determined me to accept the invitation：I felt
interested in a man who seemed more exaggeratedly reserved than
myself When he saw my horse‘S breast fairly pushing the barrier，he
did put out his hand to unchain it，and then sullenly preceded me up
the causeway，calling，as we entered the court，-”Joseph，take
Mr．Lockwood’S horse；and bring up some wine．”

“Here we have the whole establishment of domestics，I suppose，”was
the reflection suggested by this compound order．“No wonder the
grass grows up between the flags，and cattle are the only
hedge-cutters．”

…