: thewindshiftedfromsouthtonorth-east, andbroughtrainfirst, : theprimrosesandcrocuseswerehiddenunderwintrydrifts; thelarksweresilent, , andchill, anddismal, thatmorrowdidcreepover! Mymasterkepthisroom; Itookpossessionofthelonelyparlour, convertingitintoanursery: andthereIwas, sittingwiththemoaningdollofachildlaidonmyknee; rockingittoandfro, andwatching, meanwhile, thestilldrivingflakesbuilduptheuncurtainedwindow, whenthedooropened, andsomepersonentered, outofbreathandlaughing! , andIcried—‘Havedone! Howdareyoushowyourgiddinesshere; ?’
‘Excuseme!’ answeredafamiliarvoice; ‘butIknowEdgarisinbed, andIcannotstopmyself.’
Withthatthespeakercameforwardtothefire, pantingandholdingherhandtoherside.
‘IhaverunthewholewayfromWutheringHeights!’shecontinued, afterapause; ‘exceptwhereI’’tcountthenumberoffallsI’, I’machingallover! Don’tbealarmed! ThereshallbeanexplanationassoonasIcangiveit; onlyjusthavethegoodnesstostepoutandorderthecarriagetotakemeontoGimmerton, andtellaservanttoseekupafewclothesinmywardrobe.’
: herhairstreamedonhershoulders, drippingwithsnowandwater; shewasdressedinthegirlishdressshecommonlywore, befittingheragemorethanherposition: alowfrockwithshortsleeves, , andclungtoherwithwet, andherfeetwereprotectedmerelybythinslippers; addtothisadeepcutunderoneear, whichonlythecoldpreventedfrombleedingprofusely, awhitefacescratchedandbruised, andaframehardlyabletosupportitselfthroughfatigue; andyoumayfancymyfirstfrightwasnotmuchallayedwhenIhadhadleisuretoexamineher.
