The stranger camecomeearly in February , one wintry day , through a biting windwindand a driving snowsnow, the last snowfallsnowfallof the year , over the down , walkingwalkfrom Bramblehurst railway station , and carrying a little black portmanteau in his thickly gloved hand .
My mother was sitting by the firefire, but poorly in health , and very low in spirits , lookinglookat it through her tearstear, and despondingdespondheavily about herself and the fatherless little stranger , who was already welcomedwelcomeby some grosses of prophetic pins , in a drawer upstairs , to a world not at all excited on the subject of his arrivalarrival; my mother , I say , was sitting by the firefire, that bright , windy March afternoon , very timid and sad , and very doubtful of ever coming alive out of the trial that was before her , when , liftinglifther eyes as she drieddrythem , to the window opposite , she sawseea strange lady comingcomeup the garden .
She carriedcarryout the second part of her programme without either interference or sympathy , except from Mrs Marjoribanks 's maid , who had some hopeshopefrom the moment of her arrivalarrival.
I do myself the honour of callingcallas soon as possible after my arrivalarrival, to expressexpressthe hope that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in soliciting the occupation of Thrushcross Grange : I heardhearyesterday you had had some thoughts -- ' ' Thrushcross Grange is my own , sir , ' he interruptedinterrupt, wincingwince. '