Episode 5

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.'