Грозовой перевал / Wuthering Heights

Heathcliff got up very early that morning and went out walking on the moors, and when he came back, all the family was away at church. He hung around the kitchen in awkward silence for a while and then he finally spoke.

«Nelly, make me decent. I’m going to be good.»

«And about time too, Heathcliff,» I replied. «You’ve really upset Miss Cathy. I bet she’s sorry she ever came home! She must think you envy her because the Lintons are her friends.»

В«Did she say she was upset?В» he asked, looking serious.

В«She cried when I told her you were off on the moors this morning.В»

В«Well, I cried last night,В» he replied, В«and I had more reason to be sad.В»

«Perhaps you deserve it, for being so proud and stubborn. But I’ll see what I can do to make you look good. And by the time I’ve finished with you, you’ll be so handsome that Edgar Linton will seem like a doll beside you.»

I made Heathcliff wash his grimy face and combed his great mane of hair. And when he was dressed in his clean clothes, he looked as handsome as a prince.

«Now, if only you’d try smiling, instead of scowling like thunder, you’d be worth ten of young Edgar. Although you’re younger than him, you’re taller and broader, and you don’t go crying for your mama all the time!»

So I chattered on, and Heathcliff gradually lost his frown and began to look quite pleasant. Then, all at once, we heard the rumble of wheels outside. Heathcliff ran to the window, just in time to see the Lintons climbing down from their carriage, smothered in cloaks and furs.

Cathy raced out to meet her two young friends and brought them into the house. Then she settled them down by the fire, which quickly put some warmth into their pale, dolllike faces.

I urged Heathcliff to hurry down and show them how he had changed, and he willingly obeyed. But, as luck would have it, he met Hindley in the corridor. The master was far from pleased to see Heathcliff looking so clean and cheerful, and he called out quickly to Joseph, «Keep this fellow out of the room – and lock him in the attic until dinner is over.

He’ll be cramming his fingers into the pies[25 - He’ll be cramming his fingers into the pies – Он будет хватать руками пироги], and stealing the fruit, if he’s left alone for a minute.»

«No sir,» I couldn’t stop myself from answering, «he won’t touch anything – and I think he should have his share of the treats as well.