Wuthering Heights: "she would (not) say"

[Walt Whitman]

The following is a passage taken from Rachel Firth’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights”.

Context: Zillah, the housekeeper at Wuthering Heights, is leading Mr Lockwood upstairs to his bedroom.

She urged me to keep quiet, and hide the light of my candle. When asked why, all she would say was that the room was one its owner would never willingly put anyone in. And why this was so, she would not say. “There are enough peculiar things going on in this house to cure anyone of their curiosity,” were her parting words to me.

Two questions:

(1) What is the meaning of “would” in the underlined sentences?
(2) What is the meaning of “cure anyone of their curiosity”?

Thank you
WW

 

[emsr2d2]

1. All she was prepared/willing to say
2. ... satisfy their curiosity

 

[Barque]

(2) What is the meaning of “cure anyone of their curiosity”?

I'd say it means "There are so many peculiar things going on here that even a curious person would get tired of being curious". It's hyperbole and just means there were multiple peculiar things happening there.

 

[Tarheel]

1. She had so much to say and nothing else even though you might want to hear more.
2. After you had learned so much you wouldn't want to know anything more.

 

[Barque]

"Would" there is the past tense form of "will".

 

[5jj]

"Would" there is the past tense form of "will".

When isn't it?

 

[Barque]

Well there's the hypothetical use.
"If I had a million dollars, the first thing I would buy is a Ferrari."

And the polite use.
"Would you do me a favour?"

And the habitual use.
"When I lived in London, I would eat fish and chips every day."

 

[Barque]

There's also the Indian use - where they think it's a polished alternative to "will".

"I would be going to Dubai next week."

 

[5jj]

Well there's the hypothetical use.
"If I had a million dollars, the first thing I would buy is a Ferrari."

The more reality-distanced version of "If I have a million dollars, the first thing I will buy is a Ferrari."

And the polite use.
"Would you do me a favour?"

The more directness-distanced version of "Will you do me a favour?"

And the habitual use.
"When I lived in London, I would eat fish and chips every day."

The more temporarily distanced version of "now he lives in London, he will eat fish and chips every day."