Chapter 31

           Yesterdaywasbright,calm,andfrosty.IwenttotheHeightsasIproposed;myhousekeeperentreatedmetobearalittlenotefromhertoheryounglady,andIdidnotrefuse,fortheworthywomanwasnotconsciousofanythingoddinherrequest.Thefrontdoorstoodopen,butthejealousgatewasfastened,asatmylastvisit;Iknocked,andinvokedEarnshawfromamongthegardenbeds;heunchainedit,andIentered.Thefellowisashandsomearusticasneedbeseen.Itookparticularnoticeofhimthistime;butthenhedoeshisbest,apparently,tomaketheleastofhisadvantages.IaskedifMr.Heathcliffwereathome?Heanswered,No;buthewouldbeinatdinner-time.Itwaseleveno’clock,andIannouncedmyintentionofgoinginandwaitingforhim,atwhichheimmediatelyflungdownhistoolsandaccompaniedme,intheofficeofwatchdog,notasasubstituteforthehost.

           Weenteredtogether;Catherinewasthere,makingherselfusefulinpreparingsomevegetablesfortheapproachingmeal;shelookedmoresulkyandlessspiritedthenwhenIhadseenherfirst.Shehardlyraisedhereyestonoticeme,andcontinuedheremploymentwiththesamedisregardtocommonformsofpolitenessasbefore;neverreturningmybowandgood-morningbytheslightestacknowledgment.

           "Shedoesnotseemsoamiable,"Ithought,"asMrs.Deanwouldpersuademetobelieve.She’sabeauty,itistrue;butnotanangel."

           Earnshawsurlilybidherremoveherthingstothekitchen.