Wuthering Heights

thear, meeterly clane; if yah're feared uh muckying yer grand silk cloes, spread yer hankerchir ut t' top on't.«
    The ›rahm‹ was a kind of lumber-hole smelling strong of malt and grain; various sacks of which articles were piled around, leaving a wide, bare space in the middle.
    »Why, man!« I exclaimed, facing him angrily, »this is not a place to sleep in. I wish to see my bed-room.«
    »
Bed-rume!
« he repeated, in a tone of mockery. »Yah's see all t'
bed-rumes
thear is – yon's mine.«
    He pointed into the second garret, only differing from the first in being more naked about the walls, and having a large, low, curtainless bed, with an indigo-coloured quilt, at one end.
    »What do I want with yours?« I retorted. »I suppose Mr. Heathcliff does not lodge at the top of the house, does he?«
    »Oh! it's Maister
Hathecliff's
yah're wenting?« cried he, as if making a new discovery. »Couldn't ye uh said soa, at onst? un' then, aw mud ha' telled ye, baht all this wark, ut that's just one yah cannut sea – he allas keeps it locked, un' nob'dy iver mells on't but hisseln.«
    »You've a nice house, Joseph,« I could not refrain from observing, »and pleasant inmates; and I think the concentrated essence of all the madness in the world took up its abode in my brain the day I linked my fate with theirs! However, that is not to the present purpose – there are other rooms. For Heaven's sake, be quick, and let me settle somewhere!«
    He made no reply to this adjuration; only plodding doggedly down the wooden steps, and halting before an apartment which, from that halt, and the superior quality of its furniture, I conjectured to be the best one.
    There was a carpet, a good one; but the pattern was obliterated by dust; a fire-place hung with cut paper dropping to pieces; a handsome oak-bedstead with ample crimson curtains of rather expensive material, and modern make. But they had evidently experienced rough usage, the valances hung in festoons, wrenched from their rings; and the iron rod supporting them was bent in an arc, on one side, causing the drapery to trail upon the floor. The chairs were also damaged, many of them severely; and deep indentations deformed the panels of the walls.
    I was endeavouring to gather resolution for entering, and taking possession, when my fool of a guide announced –
    »This here is t' maister's.«
    My supper by this time was cold, my appetite gone, and my patience exhausted. I insisted on being provided instantly with a place of refuge, and means of repose.
    »Whear the divil,« began the religious elder. »The Lord bless us! The Lord forgie us! Whear the
hell,
wold ye gang? ye marred, wearisome nowt! Yah seen all bud Hareton's bit uf a cham'er. There's nut another hoile tuh lig dahn in i' th' hahse!«
    I was so vexed, I flung my tray and its contents on the ground; and then seated myself at the stairs-head, hid my face in my hands, and cried.
    »Ech! ech!« exclaimed Joseph. »Weel done, Miss Cathy! weel done, Miss Cathy! Hahsiver, t' maister sall just tum'le o'er them brocken pots; un' then we's hear summut; we's hear hah it's tuh be. Gooid-fur-nowt madling! yah desarve pining froo this tuh Churstmas, flinging t' precious gifts uh God under fooit i' yer flaysome rages! Bud, aw'm mista'en if yah shew yer sperrit long. Will Hathecliff bide sich bonny ways, think ye? Aw nobbut wish he muh cotch ye i' that plisky. Aw nobbut wish he may.«
    And so he went scolding to his den beneath, taking the candle with him, and I remained in the dark.
    The period of reflection succeeding this silly action, compelled me to admit the necessity of smothering my pride, and choking my wrath, and bestirring myself to remove its effects.
    An unexpected aid presently appeared in the shape of Throttler, whom I now recognized as a son of our old Skulker; it had spent its whelphood at the Grange, and was given by my father to Mr. Hindley. I fancy it knew me – it pushed its nose against mine by way of salute, and then hastened to devour the porridge, while I groped from step to step, collecting the shattered earthenware, and drying the splatters of milk from the bannisters with my pocket-handkerchief.
    Our labours were scarcely over when I heard Earnshaw's tread in the passage; my assistant tucked in his tail, and pressed to the wall; I stole into the nearest doorway. The dog's endeavour to avoid him was unsuccessful; as I guessed by a scutter down stairs, and a prolonged, piteous yelping. I had better