轻松背单词新浪微博 轻松背单词腾讯微博
轻松背单词微信服务号
当前位置:首页 -> 10级英语阅读 - > 英国经典名著:呼啸山庄(30)
英国经典名著:呼啸山庄(30)
添加时间:2024-09-14 08:37:52 浏览次数: 作者:未知
Tip:点击数字可快速查看单词解释  
  • CHAPTER 30

    I have paid a visit to the Heights, but I have not seen her since she left: Joseph held the door in his hand when I called to ask after her, and wouldn’t let me pass. He said Mrs. Linton was “thrang,” and the master was not in. Zillah has told me something of the way they go on, otherwise I should hardly know who was dead and who living. She thinks Catherine haughty1, and does not like her, I can guess by her talk. My young lady asked some aid of her when she first came; but Mr. Heathcliff told her to follow her own business, and let his daughter-in-law look after herself; and Zillah willingly acquiesced2, being a narrow-minded, selfish woman. Catherine evinced a child’s annoyance3 at this neglect; repaid it with contempt, and thus enlisted4 my informant among her enemies, as securely as if she had done her some great wrong. I had a long talk with Zillah about six weeks ago, a little before you came, one day when we foregathered on the moor5; and this is what she told me.

    “The first thing Mrs. Linton did,” she said, “on her arrival at the Heights, was to run upstairs, without even wishing good-evening to me and Joseph; she shut herself into Linton’s room, and remained till morning. Then, while the master and Earnshaw were at breakfast, she entered the house, and asked all in a quiver if the doctor might be sent for? her cousin was very ill.

    “‘We know that!’ answered Heathcliff; ‘but his life is not worth a farthing, and I won’t spend a farthing on him.’

    “‘But I cannot tell how to do,’ she said; ‘and if nobody will help me, he’ll die!’

    “‘Walk out of the room,’ cried the master, ‘and let me never hear a word more about him! None here care what becomes of him; if you do, act the nurse; if you do not, lock him up and leave him.’

    “Then she began to bother me, and I said I’d had enough plague with the tiresome6 thing; we each had our tasks, and hers was to wait on Linton: Mr. Heathcliff bid me leave that labour to her.

    “How they managed together, I can’t tell. I fancy he fretted7 a great deal, and moaned hisseln night and day; and she had precious little rest: one could guess by her white face and heavy eyes. She sometimes came into the kitchen all wildered like, and looked as if she would fain beg assistance; but I was not going to disobey the master: I never dare disobey him, Mrs. Dean; and, though I thought it wrong that Kenneth should not be sent for, it was no concern of mine either to advise or complain, and I always refused to meddle8. Once or twice, after we had gone to bed, I’ve happened to open my door again and seen her sitting crying on the stairs’-top; and then I’ve shut myself in quick, for fear of being moved to interfere9. I did pity her then, I’m sure: still I didn’t wish to lose my place, you know.

    “At last, one night she came boldly into my chamber10, and frightened me out of my wits, by saying, ‘Tell Mr. Heathcliff that his son is dying—I’m sure he is, this time. Get up, instantly, and tell him.’

    “Having uttered this speech, she vanished again. I lay a quarter of an hour listening and trembling. Nothing stirred—the house was quiet.

    “She’s mistaken, I said to myself. He’s got over it. I needn’t disturb them; and I began to doze11. But my sleep was marred12 a second time by a sharp ringing of the bell—the only bell we have, put up on purpose for Linton; and the master called to me to see what was the matter, and inform them that he wouldn’t have that noise repeated.

    “I delivered Catherine’s message. He cursed to himself, and in a few minutes came out with a lighted candle, and proceeded to their room. I followed. Mrs. Heathcliff was seated by the bedside, with her hands folded on her knees. Her father-in-law went up, held the light to Linton’s face, looked at him, and touched him; afterwards he turned to her.

    “‘Now—Catherine,’ he said, ‘how do you feel?’

    “She was dumb.

    “‘How do you feel, Catherine?’ he repeated.

    “‘He’s safe, and I’m free,’ she answered: ‘I should feel well—but,’ she continued, with a bitterness she couldn’t conceal13, ‘you have left me so long to struggle against death alone, that I feel and see only death! I feel like death!’

    “And she looked like it, too! I gave her a little wine. Hareton and Joseph, who had been wakened by the ringing and the sound of feet, and heard our talk from outside, now entered. Joseph was fain, I believe, of the lad’s removal; Hareton seemed a thought bothered: though he was more taken up with staring at Catherine than thinking of Linton. But the master bid him get off to bed again: we didn’t want his help. He afterwards made Joseph remove the body to his chamber, and told me to return to mine, and Mrs. Heathcliff remained by herself.

    “In the morning, he sent me to tell her she must come down to breakfast: she had undressed, and appeared going to sleep, and said she was ill; at which I hardly wondered. I informed Mr. Heathcliff, and he replied,—‘Well, let her be till after the funeral; and go up now and then to get her what is needful; and, as soon as she seems better, tell me.’”

    Cathy stayed upstairs a fortnight, according to Zillah; who visited her twice a day, and would have been rather more friendly, but her attempts at increasing kindness were proudly and promptly14 repelled15.

    Heathcliff went up once, to show her Linton’s will. He had bequeathed the whole of his, and what had been her, moveable property, to his father: the poor creature was threatened, or coaxed16, into that act during her week’s absence, when his uncle died. The lands, being a minor17, he could not meddle with. However, Mr. Heathcliff has claimed and kept them in his wife’s right and his also: I suppose legally; at any rate, Catherine, destitute18 of cash and friends, cannot disturb his possession.

    “Nobody,” said Zillah, “ever approached her door, except that once, but I; and nobody asked anything about her. The first occasion of her coming down into the house was on a Sunday afternoon. She had cried out, when I carried up her dinner, that she couldn’t bear any longer being in the cold; and I told her the master was going to Thrushcross Grange, and Earnshaw and I needn’t hinder her from descending19; so, as soon as she heard Heathcliff’s horse trot20 off, she made her appearance, donned in black, and her yellow curls combed back behind her ears as plain as a Quaker: she couldn’t comb them out.

    “Joseph and I generally go to chapel21 on Sundays:” the kirk, (you know, has no minister now, explained Mrs. Dean; and they call the Methodists’ or Baptists’ place, I can’t say which it is, at Gimmerton, a chapel.) “Joseph had gone,” she continued, “but I thought proper to bide22 at home. Young folks are always the better for an elder’s over-looking; and Hareton, with all his bashfulness, isn’t a model of nice behaviour. I let him know that his cousin would very likely sit with us, and she had been always used to see the Sabbath respected; so he had as good leave his guns and bits of indoor work alone, while she stayed. He coloured up at the news, and cast his eyes over his hands and clothes. The train-oil and gunpowder23 were shoved out of sight in a minute. I saw he meant to give her his company; and I guessed, by his way, he wanted to be presentable; so, laughing, as I durst not laugh when the master is by, I offered to help him, if he would, and joked at his confusion. He grew sullen24, and began to swear.

    “Now, Mrs. Dean,” Zillah went on, seeing me not pleased by her manner, “you happen think your young lady too fine for Mr. Hareton; and happen you’re right: but I own I should love well to bring her pride a peg25 lower. And what will all her learning and her daintiness do for her, now? She’s as poor as you or I: poorer, I’ll be bound: you’re saving, and I’m doing my little all that road.”

    Hareton allowed Zillah to give him her aid; and she flattered him into a good humour; so, when Catherine came, half forgetting her former insults, he tried to make himself agreeable, by the housekeeper’s account.

    “Missis walked in,” she said, “as chill as an icicle, and as high as a princess. I got up and offered her my seat in the arm-chair. No, she turned up her nose at my civility. Earnshaw rose, too, and bid her come to the settle, and sit close by the fire: he was sure she was starved.

    “‘I’ve been starved a month and more,’ she answered, resting on the word as scornful as she could.

    “And she got a chair for herself, and placed it at a distance from both of us. Having sat till she was warm, she began to look round, and discovered a number of books on the dresser; she was instantly upon her feet again, stretching to reach them: but they were too high up. Her cousin, after watching her endeavours a while, at last summoned courage to help her; she held her frock26, and he filled it with the first that came to hand.

    “That was a great advance for the lad. She didn’t thank him; still, he felt gratified that she had accepted his assistance, and ventured to stand behind as she examined them, and even to stoop and point out what struck his fancy in certain old pictures which they contained; nor was he daunted27 by the saucy28 style in which she jerked the page from his finger: he contented29 himself with going a bit farther back and looking at her instead of the book. She continued reading, or seeking for something to read. His attention became, by degrees, quite centred in the study of her thick silky curls: her face he couldn’t see, and she couldn’t see him. And, perhaps, not quite awake to what he did, but attracted like a child to a candle, at last he proceeded from staring to touching; he put out his hand and stroked one curl, as gently as if it were a bird. He might have stuck a knife into her neck, she started round in such a taking.

    “‘Get away this moment! How dare you touch me? Why are you stopping there?’ she cried, in a tone of disgust. ‘I can’t endure you! I’ll go upstairs again, if you come near me.’

    “Mr. Hareton recoiled30, looking as foolish as he could do: he sat down in the settle very quiet, and she continued turning over her volumes another half hour; finally, Earnshaw crossed over, and whispered to me.

    “‘Will you ask her to read to us, Zillah? I’m stalled of doing naught31; and I do like—I could like to hear her! Dunnot say I wanted it, but ask of yourseln.’

    “‘Mr. Hareton wishes you would read to us, ma’am,’ I said, immediately. ‘He’d take it very kind—he’d be much obliged.’

    “She frowned; and looking up, answered—

    “‘Mr. Hareton, and the whole set of you, will be good enough to understand that I reject any pretence32 at kindness you have the hypocrisy33 to offer! I despise you, and will have nothing to say to any of you! When I would have given my life for one kind word, even to see one of your faces, you all kept off. But I won’t complain to you! I’m driven down here by the cold; not either to amuse you or enjoy your society.’

    “‘What could I ha’ done?’ began Earnshaw. ‘How was I to blame?’

    “‘Oh! you are an exception,’ answered Mrs. Heathcliff. ‘I never missed such a concern as you.’

    “‘But I offered more than once, and asked,’ he said, kindling34 up at her pertness, ‘I asked Mr. Heathcliff to let me wake for you—’

    “‘Be silent! I’ll go out of doors, or anywhere, rather than have your disagreeable voice in my ear!’ said my lady.

    “Hareton muttered she might go to hell, for him! and unslinging his gun, restrained himself from his Sunday occupations no longer. He talked now, freely enough; and she presently saw fit to retreat to her solitude35: but the frost had set in, and, in spite of her pride, she was forced to condescend36 to our company, more and more. However, I took care there should be no further scorning at my good nature: ever since, I’ve been as stiff as herself; and she has no lover or liker among us: and she does not deserve one; for, let them say the least word to her, and she’ll curl back without respect of any one. She’ll snap at the master himself, and as good as dares him to thrash her; and the more hurt she gets, the more venomous she grows.”

    At first, on hearing this account from Zillah, I determined37 to leave my situation, take a cottage, and get Catherine to come and live with me: but Mr. Heathcliff would as soon permit that as he would set up Hareton in an independent house; and I can see no remedy, at present, unless she could marry again; and that scheme it does not come within my province to arrange.

    Thus ended Mrs. Dean’s story. Notwithstanding the doctor’s prophecy, I am rapidly recovering strength; and though it be only the second week in January, I propose getting out on horseback in a day or two, and riding over to Wuthering Heights, to inform my landlord that I shall spend the next six months in London; and, if he likes, he may look out for another tenant38 to take the place after October. I would not pass another winter here for much.



    点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

    1 haughty [ˈhɔ:ti] 4dKzq   第9级
    adj.傲慢的,高傲的
    参考例句:
    • He gave me a haughty look and walked away. 他向我摆出傲慢的表情后走开。
    • They were displeased with her haughty airs. 他们讨厌她高傲的派头。
    2 acquiesced [ˌækwi:ˈest] 03acb9bc789f7d2955424223e0a45f1b   第10级
    v.默认,默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up. 政府高级官员必然已经默许掩盖真相。
    • After a lot of persuasion,he finally acquiesced. 经过多次劝说,他最终默许了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    3 annoyance [əˈnɔɪəns] Bw4zE   第8级
    n.恼怒,生气,烦恼
    参考例句:
    • Why do you always take your annoyance out on me? 为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气?
    • I felt annoyance at being teased. 我恼恨别人取笑我。
    4 enlisted [ɪnˈlɪstɪd] 2d04964099d0ec430db1d422c56be9e2   第9级
    adj.应募入伍的v.(使)入伍, (使)参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 );获得(帮助或支持)
    参考例句:
    • enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵
    • He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    5 moor [mɔ:(r)] T6yzd   第9级
    n.荒野,沼泽;vt.(使)停泊;vi.停泊
    参考例句:
    • I decided to moor near some tourist boats. 我决定在一些观光船附近停泊。
    • There were hundreds of the old huts on the moor. 沼地上有成百上千的古老的石屋。
    6 tiresome [ˈtaɪəsəm] Kgty9   第7级
    adj.令人疲劳的,令人厌倦的
    参考例句:
    • His doubts and hesitations were tiresome. 他的疑惑和犹豫令人厌烦。
    • He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors. 他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜,令人生厌。
    7 fretted [ˈfretɪd] 82ebd7663e04782d30d15d67e7c45965   第9级
    焦躁的,附有弦马的,腐蚀的
    参考例句:
    • The wind whistled through the twigs and fretted the occasional, dirty-looking crocuses. 寒风穿过枯枝,有时把发脏的藏红花吹刮跑了。 来自英汉文学
    • The lady's fame for hitting the mark fretted him. 这位太太看问题深刻的名声在折磨着他。
    8 meddle [ˈmedl] d7Xzb   第8级
    vi.干预,干涉,插手
    参考例句:
    • I hope he doesn't try to meddle in my affairs. 我希望他不来干预我的事情。
    • Do not meddle in things that do not concern you. 别参与和自己无关的事。
    9 interfere [ˌɪntəˈfɪə(r)] b5lx0   第7级
    vi.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰;vt.冲突;介入
    参考例句:
    • If we interfere, it may do more harm than good. 如果我们干预的话,可能弊多利少。
    • When others interfere in the affair, it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件,棘手的事情就来了。
    10 chamber [ˈtʃeɪmbə(r)] wnky9   第7级
    n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
    参考例句:
    • For many, the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber. 对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
    • The chamber was ablaze with light. 会议厅里灯火辉煌。
    11 doze [dəʊz] IsoxV   第8级
    vi. 打瞌睡;假寐 vt. 打瞌睡度过 n. 瞌睡
    参考例句:
    • He likes to have a doze after lunch. 他喜欢午饭后打个盹。
    • While the adults doze, the young play. 大人们在打瞌睡,而孩子们在玩耍。
    12 marred ['mɑ:d] 5fc2896f7cb5af68d251672a8d30b5b5   第10级
    adj. 被损毁, 污损的
    参考例句:
    • The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨,把比赛给搅了。
    • Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。
    13 conceal [kənˈsi:l] DpYzt   第7级
    vt.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽
    参考例句:
    • He had to conceal his identity to escape the police. 为了躲避警方,他只好隐瞒身份。
    • He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure. 他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。
    14 promptly [ˈprɒmptli] LRMxm   第8级
    adv.及时地,敏捷地
    参考例句:
    • He paid the money back promptly. 他立即还了钱。
    • She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her. 她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
    15 repelled [rɪ'peld] 1f6f5c5c87abe7bd26a5c5deddd88c92   第7级
    v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 );使厌恶;排斥;推开
    参考例句:
    • They repelled the enemy. 他们击退了敌军。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • The minister tremulously, but decidedly, repelled the old man's arm. 而丁梅斯代尔牧师却哆里哆嗦地断然推开了那老人的胳臂。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
    16 coaxed [kəukst] dc0a6eeb597861b0ed72e34e52490cd1   第8级
    v.哄,用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 );巧言骗取;哄劝,劝诱
    参考例句:
    • She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. 她哄着那匹马让它再靠近了一点。
    • I coaxed my sister into taking me to the theatre. 我用好话哄姐姐带我去看戏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    17 minor [ˈmaɪnə(r)] e7fzR   第7级
    adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修
    参考例句:
    • The young actor was given a minor part in the new play. 年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
    • I gave him a minor share of my wealth. 我把小部分财产给了他。
    18 destitute [ˈdestɪtju:t] 4vOxu   第9级
    adj.缺乏的;穷困的
    参考例句:
    • They were destitute of necessaries of life. 他们缺少生活必需品。
    • They are destitute of common sense. 他们缺乏常识。
    19 descending [dɪ'sendɪŋ] descending   第7级
    n. 下行 adj. 下降的
    参考例句:
    • The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。
    • The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置,然后再下山。
    20 trot [trɒt] aKBzt   第9级
    n.疾走,慢跑;n.老太婆;现成译本;(复数)trots:腹泻(与the 连用);v.小跑,快步走,赶紧
    参考例句:
    • They passed me at a trot. 他们从我身边快步走过。
    • The horse broke into a brisk trot. 马突然快步小跑起来。
    21 chapel [ˈtʃæpl] UXNzg   第9级
    n.小教堂,殡仪馆
    参考例句:
    • The nimble hero, skipped into a chapel that stood near. 敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
    • She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel. 那个星期天的下午,她在小教堂的演出,可以说是登峰造极。
    22 bide [baɪd] VWTzo   第12级
    vt. 等待;面临;禁得起 vi. 等待;居住
    参考例句:
    • We'll have to bide our time until the rain stops. 我们必须等到雨停。
    • Bide here for a while. 请在这儿等一会儿。
    23 gunpowder [ˈgʌnpaʊdə(r)] oerxm   第7级
    n.火药
    参考例句:
    • Gunpowder was introduced into Europe during the first half of the 14th century. 在14世纪上半叶,火药传入欧洲。
    • This statement has a strong smell of gunpowder. 这是一篇充满火药味的声明。
    24 sullen [ˈsʌlən] kHGzl   第9级
    adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的
    参考例句:
    • He looked up at the sullen sky. 他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
    • Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well. 苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐, 因为昨晚没睡好。
    25 peg [peg] p3Fzi   第8级
    n.木栓,木钉;vt.用木钉钉,用短桩固定
    参考例句:
    • Hang your overcoat on the peg in the hall. 把你的大衣挂在门厅的挂衣钩上。
    • He hit the peg mightily on the top with a mallet. 他用木槌猛敲木栓顶。
    26 frock [frɒk] 4fuzh   第10级
    n.连衣裙;v.使穿长工作服
    参考例句:
    • That frock shows your petticoat.那件上衣太短,让你的衬裙露出来了。
    • Few Englishmen wear frock coats now.They went out years ago.现在,英国人很少穿大礼服了,大礼服在多年以前就不时兴了。
    27 daunted [dɔ:ntid] 7ffb5e5ffb0aa17a7b2333d90b452257   第8级
    使(某人)气馁,威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • She was a brave woman but she felt daunted by the task ahead. 她是一个勇敢的女人,但对面前的任务却感到信心不足。
    • He was daunted by the high quality of work they expected. 他被他们对工作的高品质的要求吓倒了。
    28 saucy [ˈsɔ:si] wDMyK   第12级
    adj.无礼的;俊俏的;活泼的
    参考例句:
    • He was saucy and mischievous when he was working. 他工作时总爱调皮捣蛋。
    • It was saucy of you to contradict your father. 你顶撞父亲,真是无礼。
    29 contented [kənˈtentɪd] Gvxzof   第8级
    adj.满意的,安心的,知足的
    参考例句:
    • He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office. 不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
    • The people are making a good living and are contented, each in his station. 人民安居乐业。
    30 recoiled [rɪˈkɔɪld] 8282f6b353b1fa6f91b917c46152c025   第8级
    v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 );退缩;报应;返回
    参考例句:
    • She recoiled from his touch. 她躲开他的触摸。
    • Howard recoiled a little at the sharpness in my voice. 听到我的尖声,霍华德往后缩了一下。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    31 naught [nɔ:t] wGLxx   第9级
    n.无,零 [=nought]
    参考例句:
    • He sets at naught every convention of society. 他轻视所有的社会习俗。
    • I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught. 我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。
    32 pretence [prɪˈtens] pretence   第12级
    n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰
    参考例句:
    • The government abandoned any pretence of reform. 政府不再装模作样地进行改革。
    • He made a pretence of being happy at the party. 晚会上他假装很高兴。
    33 hypocrisy [hɪˈpɒkrəsi] g4qyt   第7级
    n.伪善,虚伪
    参考例句:
    • He railed against hypocrisy and greed. 他痛斥伪善和贪婪的行为。
    • He accused newspapers of hypocrisy in their treatment of the story. 他指责了报纸在报道该新闻时的虚伪。
    34 kindling [ˈkɪndlɪŋ] kindling   第9级
    n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式
    参考例句:
    • There were neat piles of kindling wood against the wall. 墙边整齐地放着几堆引火柴。
    • "Coal and kindling all in the shed in the backyard." “煤,劈柴,都在后院小屋里。” 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
    35 solitude [ˈsɒlɪtju:d] xF9yw   第7级
    n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方
    参考例句:
    • People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
    • They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。
    36 condescend [ˌkɒndɪˈsend] np7zo   第9级
    vi.俯就,屈尊;堕落,丢丑
    参考例句:
    • Would you condescend to accompany me? 你肯屈尊陪我吗?
    • He did not condescend to answer. He turned his back on me. 他不愿屈尊回答我的问题。他不理睬我。
    37 determined [dɪˈtɜ:mɪnd] duszmP   第7级
    adj.坚定的;有决心的;v.决定;断定(determine的过去分词)
    参考例句:
    • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation. 我已决定毕业后去西藏。
    • He determined to view the rooms behind the office. 他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
    38 tenant [ˈtenənt] 0pbwd   第7级
    n.承租人;房客;佃户;vt.租借,租用
    参考例句:
    • The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent. 那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
    • The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building. 租户负责对房屋的所有修理。

    文章评论 共有评论 0查看全部

      会员登陆
    我的单词印象
    我的理解: