Thatseemedrathertoofavourableanarrangementtobehopedfor:andyetIdidhope,andbegantocheerupundertheprospectofretainingmyhomeandmyemployment,and,aboveall,mybelovedyoungmistress;whenaservant——oneofthediscardedones,notyetdeparted——rushedhastilyin,andsaid`thatdevilHeathcliff\'wascomingthroughthecourt:shouldhefastenthedoorinhisface?
Ifwehadbeenmadenoughtoorderthatproceeding,wehadnottime。Hemadenoceremonyofknockingorannouncinghisname:hewasmaster,andavailedhimselfofthemaster\'sprivilegetowalkstraightin,withoutsayingaword。Thesoundofourinformant\'svoicedirectedhimtothelibrary:
heentered,andmotioninghimout,shutthedoor。
Itwasthesameroomintowhichhehadbeenushered,asaguest,eighteenyearsbefore:thesamemoonshonethroughthewindow;andthesameautumnlandscapelayoutside。Wehadnotyetlightedacandle,butalltheapartmentwasvisible,eventotheportraitsonthewall:thesplendidheadofMrsLinton,andthegracefuloneofherhusband。Heathcliffadvancedtothehearth。Timehadlittlealteredhispersoneither。Therewasthesameman:hisdarkfacerathersallowerandmorecomposed,hisframeastoneortwoheavier,perhaps,andnootherdifference。Catherinehadrisen,withanimpulsetodashout,whenshesawhim。
`Stop!\'hesaid,arrestingherbythearm。`Nomorerunningsaway!
Wherewouldyougo?I\'mcometofetchyouhome;andIhopeyou\'llbeadutifuldaughter,andnotencouragemysontofurtherdisobedience。IwasembarrassedhowtopunishhimwhenIdiscoveredhispartinthebusiness:
he\'ssuchacobweb,apinchwouldannihilatehim;butyou\'llseebyhislookthathehasreceivedhisdue!Ibroughthimdownoneevening,thedaybeforeyesterday,andjustsethiminachair,andnevertouchedhimafterwards。IsentHaretonout,andwehadtheroomtoourselves。Intwohours,IcalledJosephtocarryhimupagain;andsincethenmypresenceisaspotentonhisnervesasaghost;andIfancyheseesmeoften,thoughIamnotnear。Haretonsayshewakesandshrieksinthenightbythehourtogether,andcallsyoutoprotecthimfromme;and,whetheryoulikeyourpreciousmateornot,youmustcome:he\'syourconcernnow;Iyieldallmyinterestinhimtoyou。
`WhynotletCatherinecontinuehere?\'Ipleaded,`andsendMasterLintontoher。Asyouhatethemboth,you\'dnotmissthem:theycanonlybeadailyplaguetoyourunnaturalheart。
`I\'mseekingatenantfortheGrange,\'heanswered;`andIwantmychildrenaboutme,tobesure。Besides,thatlassowesmeherservicesforherbread。I\'mnotgoingtonurtureherinluxuryandidlenessafterLintonhasgone。Makehasteandgetready,now;anddon\'tobligemetocompelyou。\'
`Ishall,\'saidCatherine。`LintonisallIhavetoloveintheworld,andthoughyouhavedonewhatyoucouldtomakehimhatefultome,andmetohim,youcannotmakeushateeachother。AndIdefyyoutohurthimwhenIamby,andIdefyyoutofrightenme!\'
Youareaboastfulchampion,\'repliedHeathcliff;`butIdon\'tlikeyouwellenoughtohurthim:youshallgetthefullbenefitofthetorment,aslongasitlasts。ItisnotIwhowillmakehimhatefultoyou——itishisownsweetspirit。He\'sasbitterasgallatyourdesertionanditsconsequences:don\'texpectthanksforthisnobledevotion。IheardhimdrawapleasantpicturetoZillahofwhathewoulddoifhewereasstrongasI:theinclinationisthere,andhisveryweaknesswillsharpenhiswitstofindasubstituteforstrength。\'
`Iknowhehasabadnature,\'saidCatherine:`he\'syourson。
ButI\'mgladI\'veabetter,toforgiveit;andIknowhelovesme,andforthatreasonIlovehim。MrHeathcliff,youhavenobodytoloveyou;and,howevermiserableyoumakeus,weshallstillhavetherevengeofthinkingthatyourcrueltyarisesfromyourgreatermisery。Youaremiserable,areyounot?Lonely,likethedevil,andenviouslikehim?Nobodylovesyou——nobodywillcryforyouwhenyoudie!Iwouldn\'tbeyou!\'
Catherinespokewithakindofdrearytriumph:sheseemedtohavemadeuphermindtoenterintothespiritofherfuturefamily,anddrawpleasurefromthegriefsofherenemies。
`Youshallbesorrytobeyourselfpresently\',saidherfather-in-law,`ifyoustandthereanotherminute。Begone,witch,andgetyourthings!\'
Shescornfullywithdrew。Inherabsence,IbegantobegforZillah\'splaceattheHeights,offeringtoresignminetoher;buthewouldsufferitonnoaccount。Hebidmebesilent;andthen,forthefirsttime,allowedhimselfaglanceroundtheroomandalookatthepictures。HavingstudiedMrsLinton,hesaid:
`Ishallhavethathome。NotbecauseIneedit,but——\'Heturnedabruptlytothefire,andcontinued,withwhat,forlackofabetterword,Imustcallasmile——`I\'IltellyouwhatIdidyesterday!Igotthesexton,whowasdiggingLinton\'sgrave,toremovetheearthoffhercoffin-lid,andIopenedit。Ithought,once,Iwouldhavestayedthere:whenIsawherfaceagain——it。ishersyet!——hehad~hardworktostirme;buthesaiditwouldchangeiftheairblewonit,andsoIstruckonesideofthecoffinloose,andcovereditup:notLinton\'sside,damnhim!Iwishhe\'dbeensolderedinlead。AndIbribedthesextontopullitawaywhenI\'mlaidthere,andslidemineouttoo;I\'llhaveitmadeso:andthen,bythetimeLintongetstoushe\'llnotknowwhichiswhich!\'
`Youwereverywicked,MrHeathcliff!\'Iexclaimed,`wereyounotashamedtodisturbthedead?\'
`Idisturbednobody,Nelly,\'hereplied;`andIgavesomeeasetomyself。Ishallbeagreatdealmorecomfortablenow;andyou\'llhaveabetterchanceofkeepingmeunderground,whenIgetthere。Disturbedher?No!shehasdisturbedme,nightandday,througheighteenyears——incessantly——remorselessly——tillyesternight;andyesternightIwastranquil。IdreamtIwassleepingthelastsleepbythatsleeper,withmyheartstoppedandmycheekfrozenagainsthers。\'
`Andifshehadbeendissolvedintoearth,orworse,whatwouldyouhavedreamtofthen?\'Isaid。
`Ofdissolvingwithher,andbeingmorehappystill!\'heanswered。
`DoyousupposeIdreadanychangeofthatsort?Iexpectedsuchatransformationonraisingthelid:butI\'mbetterpleasedthatitshouldnotcommencetillIshareit。Besides,unlessIhadreceivedadistinctimpressionofherpassionlessfeatures,thatstrangefeelingwouldhardlyhavebeenremoved。
Itbeganoddly。YouknowIwaswildaftershedied;andeternally,fromdawntodawn,prayinghertoreturntomeherspirit!Ihaveastrongfaithinghosts:Ihaveaconvictionthattheycan,anddo,existamongus!Thedayshewasburiedtherecameafallofsnow。IntheeveningIwenttothechurchyard。Itblewbleakaswinter——allroundwassolitary。Ididn\'tfearthatherfoolofahusbandwouldwanderupthedensolate;andnooneelsehadbusinesstobringthemthere。Beingalone,andconscioustwoyardsoflooseearthwasthesolebarrierbetweenus,Isaidtomyself——\"I\'llhaveherinmyarmsagain!Ifshebecold,I\'llthinkitisthisnorthwindthatchillsme;andifshebemotionless,itissleep。\"Igotaspadefromthetoolhouse,andbegantodelvewithallmymight——itscrapedthecoffin;Ifelltoworkwithmyhands;thewoodcommencedcrackingaboutthescrews;Iwasonthepointofattainingmyobject,whenitseemedthatIheardasighfromsomeoneabove,closeattheedgeofthegrave,andbendingdown。\"IfIcanonlygetthisoff,\"Imuttered,\"Iwishtheymayshovelintheearthoverusboth!\"andIwrenchedatitmoredesperatelystill。Therewasanothersigh,closeatmyear。Iappearedtofeelthewarmbreathofitdisplacingthesleet-ladenwind。Iknewnolivingthinginfleshandbloodwasby;but,ascertainlyasyouperceivetheapproachtosomesubstantialbodyinthedark,thoughitcannotbediscerned,socertainlyIfeltthatCathywasthere:notunderme,butontheearth。
Asuddensenseofreliefflowedfrommyheartthrougheverylimb。Irelinquishedmylabourofagony,andturnedconsoledatonce:unspeakablyconsoled。
Herpresencewaswithme:itremainedwhileIrefilledthegrave,andledmehome。Youmaylaugh,ifyouwill;butIwassureIshouldseeherthere。
Iwassureshewaswithme,andIcouldnothelptalkingtoher。HavingreachedtheHeights,Irushedeagerlytothedoor。Itwasfastened;and,Iremember,thataccursedEarnshawandmywifeopposedmyentrance。Irememberstoppingtokickthebreathoutofhim,andthenhurryingupstairs,tomyroomandhers。Ilookedroundimpatiently——Ifeltherbyme——Icouldalmostseeher,andyetIcouldnot!Ioughttohavesweatbloodthen,fromtheanguishofmyyearning——fromthefervourofmysupplicationstohavebutoneglimpse!Ihadnotone。Sheshowedherself,assheoftenwasinlife,adeviltome!And,sincethen,sometimesmoreandsometimesless,I\'vebeenthesportofthatintolerabletorture!Infernal!keepingmynervesatsuchastretch,that,iftheyhadnotresembledcatgut,theywouldlongagohaverelaxedtothefeeblenessofLinton\'s。WhenIsatinthehousewithHareton,itseemedthatongoingout,Ishouldmeether;
whenIwalkedonthemoorsIshouldmeethercomingin。WhenIwentfromhome,Ihastenedtoreturn:shemustbesomewhereattheHeights,Iwascertain!AndwhenIsleptinherchamber——Iwasbeatenoutofthat。
Icouldn\'tliethere;forthemomentIclosedmyeyes,shewaseitheroutsidethewindow,orslidingbackthepanels,orenteringtheroom,orevenrestingherdarlingheadonthesamepillowasshedidwhenachild;andImustopenmylidstosee。AndsoIopenedandclosedthemahundredtimesanight——tobealwaysdisappointed!Itrackedme!I\'veoftengroanedaloud,tillthatoldrascalJosephnodoubtbelievedthatmyconsciencewasplayingthefiendinsideofme。Now,sinceI\'veseenher,I\'mpacified——alittle。
It~sastrangewayofkilling!notbyinches,butbyfractionsandhairbreadths,tobeguilemewiththespectreofahope,througheighteenyears!\'
MrHeathcliffpausedandwipedhisforehead;hishairclungtoit,wetwithperspiration;hiseyeswerefixedontheredembersofthefire,thebrowsnotcontracted,butraisednextthetemples;diminishingthegrimaspectofhiscountenance,butimpartingapeculiarlookoftrouble,andapainfulappearanceofmentaltensiontowardsoneabsorbingsubject。
Heonlyhalfaddressedme,andImaintainedsilence。Ididn\'tliketohearhimtalk!Afterashortperiodheresumedhismeditationonthepicture,tookitdownandleantitagainstthesofatocontemplateitatbetteradvantage;andwhilesooccupiedCatherineentered,announcingthatshewasready,whenherponyshouldbesaddled。
`Sendthatovertomorrow,\'saidHeathclifftome;thenturningtoher,headded——`Youmaydowithoutyourpony:itisafineevening,andyou\'llneednoponiesatWutheringHeights;forwhatjourneysyoutake,yourownfeetwillserveyou。Comealong。\'
`Goodbye,Ellen!\'whisperedmydearlittlemistress。Asshekissedme,herlipsfeltlikeice。`Comeandseeme,Ellen;don\'tforget。\'
`Takecareyoudonosuchthing,MrsDean!\'saidhernewfather。
`WhenIwishtospeaktoyouI\'llcomehere。Iwantnoneofyourpryingatmyhouse!\'
Hesignedhertoprecedehim;andcastingbackalookthatcutmyheart,sheobeyed。Iwatchedthemfromthewindow,walkdownthegarden。
HeathclifffixedCatherine\'sarmunderhis:thoughshedisputedtheactatfirstevidently;andwithrapidstrideshehurriedherintothealley,whosetreesconcealedthem。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]
WutheringHeights[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter30IhavepaidavisittotheHeights,butIhavenotseenhersincesheleft:
JosephheldthedoorinhishandwhenIcalledtoaskafterher,andwouldn\'tletmepass。HesaidMrsLintonwas`thrang\',andthemasterwasnotin。
Zillahhastoldmesomethingofthewaytheygoon,otherwiseIshouldhardlyknowwhowasdeadandwholiving。ShethinksCatherinehaughty,anddoesnotlikeher,Icanguessbyhertalk。Myyoungladyaskedsomeaidofherwhenshefirstcame;butMrHeathclifftoldhertofollowherownbusiness,andlethisdaughter-in-lawlookafterherself;andZillahwillinglyacquiesced,beinganarrow-minded,selfishwoman。Catherineevincedachild\'sannoyanceatthisneglect;repaiditwithcontempt,andthusenlistedmyinformantamongherenemies,assecurelyasifshehaddonehersomegreatwrong。IhadalongtalkwithZillahaboutsixweeksago,alittlebeforeyoucame,onedaywhenweforegatheredonthemoor;andthisiswhatshetoldme。
`ThefirstthingMrsLintondid\',shesaid,`onherarrivalattheHeights,wastorunupstairs,withoutevenwishinggoodeveningtomeandJoseph;sheshutherselfintoLinton\'sroom,andremainedtillmorning。
Then,whilethemasterandEarnshawwereatbreakfast,sheenteredthehouse,andaskedallinaquiverifthedoctormightbesentfor?hercousinwasveryill。
`\"Weknowthat!\"answeredHeathcliff;\"buthislifeisnotworthafarthing,andIwon\'tspendafarthingonhim。\"
`\"ButIcannottellhowtodo,\"shesaid;\"andifnobodywillhelpme,he\'lldie!\"
`\"Walkoutoftheroom,\"criedthemaster,\"andletmeneverhearawordmoreabouthim!Noneherecarewhatbecomesofhim;ifyoudo,actthenurse;ifyoudonot,lockhimupandleavehim。\"
`Thenshebegantobotherme,andIsaidI\'dhadenoughplaguewiththetiresomething;weeachhadourtasks,andherswastowaitonLinton,MrHeathcliffbidmeleavethatlabourtoher。
`Howtheymanagedtogether,Ican\'ttell。Ifancyhefrettedagreatdeal,andmoanedhisselnnightandday;andshehadpreciouslittlerest:onecouldguessbyherwhitefaceandheavyeyes。Shesometimescameintothekitchenallwilderedlike,andlookedasifshewouldfainbegassistance;butIwasnotgoingtodisobeythemaster:Ineverdaredisobeyhim,MrsDean;and,thoughIthoughtitwrongthatKennethshouldnotbesentfor,itwasnoconcernofmineeithertoadviseorcomplain,andI
alwaysrefusedtomeddle。Onceortwice,afterwehadgonetobed,I\'vehappenedtoopenmydooragainandseenhersittingcryingonthestairs\'
top;andthenI\'veshutmyselfinquick,forfearofbeingmovedtointerfere。
Ididpityherthen,I\'msure:stillIdidn\'twishtolosemyplace,youknow。
`Atlast,onenightshecameboldlyintomychamber,andfrightenedmeoutofmywits,bysaying:
`\"TellMrHeathcliffthathissonisdying——I\'msureheis,thistime。Getup,instantly,andtellhim。\"
`Havingutteredthisspeech,shevanishedagain。Ilayaquarterofanhourlisteningandtrembling。Nothingstirred——thehousewasquiet。
`She\'smistaken,Isaidtomyself。He\'sgotoverit。Ineedn\'tdisturbthem;andIbegantodoze。Butmysleepwasmarredasecondtimebyasharpringingofthebell——theonlybellwehave,putuponpurposeforLinton;andthemastercalledtometoseewhatwasthematter,andinformthemthathewouldn\'thavethatnoiserepeated。
`IdeliveredCatherine\'smessage。Hecursedtohimself,andinafewminutescameoutwithalightedcandle,andproceededtotheirroom。
Ifollowed。MrsHeathcliffwasseatedbythebedside,withherhandsfoldedonherknees。Herfather-in-lawwentup,heldthelighttoLinton\'sface,lookedathim,andtouchedhim;afterwardsheturnedtoher。
`\"Now——Catherine,\"hesaid,\"howdoyoufeel?\"`Shewasdumb。
`\"Howdoyoufeel,Catherine?\"herepeated。
`\"He\'ssafe,andI\'mfree,\"sheanswered:\"Ishouldfeelwell——but\",shecontinued,withabitternessshecouldn\'tconceal,\"youhaveleftmesolongtostruggleagainstdeathalone,thatIfeelandseeonlydeath!
Ifeellikedeath!\"
`Andshelookedlikeit,too!Igaveheralittlewine。HaretonandJoseph,whohadbeenwakenedbytheringingandthesoundoffeet,andheardourtalkfromoutside,nowentered。Josephwasfain,Ibelieve,ofthelad\'sremoval;Haretonseemedathoughtbothered:thoughhewasmoretakenupwithstaringatCatherinethanthinkingofLinton。Butthemasterbidhimgetofftobedagain:wedidn\'twanthishelp。HeafterwardsmadeJosephremovethebodytohischamber,andtoldmetoreturntomine,andMrsHeathcliffremainedbyherself。
`Inthemorning,hesentmetotellhershemustcomedowntobreakfast:shehadundressed,andappearedgoingtosleep,andsaidshewasill;atwhichIhardlywondered。IinformedMrHeathcliff,andhereplied:
`\"Well,letherbetillafterthefuneral;andgoupnowandthentogetherwhatisneedful;and,assoonassheseemsbetter,tellme。\"\'
Cathystayedupstairsafortnight,accordingtoZillah;whovisitedhertwiceaday,andwouldhavebeenrathermorefriendly,butherattemptsatincreasingkindnesswereproudlyandpromptlyrepelled。
Heathcliffwentuponce,toshowherLinton\'swill。Hehadbequeathedthewholeofhis,andwhathadbeenher,movablepropertytohisfather:
thepoorcreaturewasthreatened,orcoaxed,intothatactduringherweek\'sabsence,whenhisuncledied。Thelands,beingaminor,hecouldnotmeddlewith。However,MrHeathcliffhasclaimedandkepttheminhiswife\'srightandhisalso:Isupposelegally:atanyrate,Catherine,destituteofcashandfriends,cannotdisturbhispossession。
`Nobody\',saidZillah,`everapproachedherdoor,exceptthatonce,butI;andnobodyaskedanythingabouther。ThefirstoccasionofhercomingdownintothehousewasonaSundayafternoon。Shehadcriedout,whenIcarriedupherdinner,thatshecouldn\'tbearanylongerbeinginthecold:andItoldherthemasterwasgoingtoThrushcrossGrange,andEarnshawandIneedn\'thinderherfromdescending;so,assoonassheheardHeathcliff\'shorsetrotoff,shemadeherappearancedonnedinblack,andheryellowcurlscombedbackbehindherearsasplainasaQuaker:
shecouldn\'tcombthemout。
`JosephandIgenerallygotochapelonSundays\';thekirk,youknow,hasnoministernow,explainedMrsDean;andtheycalltheMethodists\'
orBaptists\'placeIcan\'tsaywhichitis,atGimmerton,achapel。`Josephhadgone,\'shecontinued,`butIthoughtpropertobideathome。Youngfolksarealwaysthebetterforanelder\'soverlooking;andHareton,withallhisbashfulness,isn\'tamodelofnicebehaviour。Ilethimknowthathiscousinwouldverylikelysitwithus,andshehadbeenalwaysusedtoseetheSabbathrespected;sohehadasgoodleavehisgunsandbitsofindoorworkalone,whileshestayed。Hecolouredupatthenews,andcasthiseyesoverhishandsandclothes。Thetrain-oilandgunpowderwereshovedoutofsightinaminute。Isawhemeanttogiveherhiscompany;
andIguessed,byhisway,hewantedtobepresentable;so,laughing,asIdurstnotlaughwhenthemasterisby,Iofferedtohelphim,ifhewould,andjokedathisconfusion。Hegrewsullen,andbegantoswear。
`Now,MrsDean,\'Zillahwenton,seeingmenotpleasedbyhermanner,`youhappenthinkyouryoungladytoofineforMrHareton;andhappenyou\'reright:butIownIshouldlovewelltobringherprideapeglower。Andwhatwillallherlearningandherdaintinessdoforher,now?She\'saspoorasyouorI:poorerI\'llbebound:you\'resaving,andI\'mdoingmylittleallthatroad。\'?HaretonallowedZillahtogivehimheraid;andsheflatteredhimintoagoodhumour:so,whenCatherinecame,halfforgettingherformerinsults,hetriedtomakehimselfagreeable,bythehousekeeper\'saccount。
`Missiswalkedin\',shesaid,`aschillasanicicle,andashighasaprincess。Igotupandofferedhermyseatinthearmchair。No,sheturneduphernoseatmycivility。Earnshawrose,too,andbidhercometothesettle,andsitclosebythefire:hewassureshewasstarved。
`\"I\'vebeenstarvedamonthandmore,\"sheanswered,restingonthewordasscornfulasshecould。
`Andshegotachairforherself,andplaceditatadistancefrombothofus。Havingsattillshewaswarm,shebegantolookround,anddiscoveredanumberofbooksinthedresser;shewasinstantlyuponherfeetagain,stretchingtoreachthem:buttheyweretoohighup。Hercousin,afterwatchingherendeavoursawhile,atlastsummonedcouragetohelpher;sheheldherfrock,andhefilleditwiththefirstthatcametohand。
`Thatwasagreatadvanceforthelad。Shedidn\'tthankhim;still,hefeltgratifiedthatshehadacceptedhisassistance,andventuredtostandbehindassheexaminedthem,andeventostoopandpointoutwhatstruckhisfancyincertainoldpictureswhichtheycontained;norwashedauntedbythesaucystyleinwhichshejerkedthepagefromhisfinger:
hecontentedhimselfwithgoingabitfartherback,andlookingatherinsteadofthebook。Shecontinuedreading,orseekingforsomethingtoread。Hisattentionbecame,bydegrees,quitecentredinthestudyofherthick,silkycurls:herfacehecouldn\'tsee,andshecouldn\'tseehim。
And,perhaps,notquiteawaketowhathedid,butattractedlikeachildtoacandle,atlastheproceededfromstaringtotouching;heputouthishandandstrokedonecurl,asgentlyasifitwereabird。Hemighthavestuckaknifeintoherneck,shestartedroundinsuchataking。
`\"Getaway,thismoment!Howdareyoutouchme?Whyareyoustoppingthere?\"shecried,inatoneofdisgust。\"Ican\'tendureyou!I\'llgoupstairsagain,ifyoucomenearme。\"
`MrHaretonrecoiled,lookingasfoolishashecoulddo:hesatdowninthesettleveryquiet,andshecontinuedturningoverhervolumesanotherhalf-hour;finally,Earnshawcrossedover,andwhisperedtome:
`\"Willyouaskhertoreadtous,Zillah?I\'mstalledofdoingnaught;andIdolike——Icouldliketohearher!DunnotsayIwantedit,butaskofyourseln。\"
`\"MrHaretonwishesyouwouldreadtous,ma\'am,\"Isaidimmediately。
\"He\'dtakeitverykind——he\'dbemuchobliged。\"
`Shefrowned;andlookingup,answered:
`\"MrHareton,andthewholesetofyou,willbegoodenoughtounderstandthatIrejectanypretenceatkindnessyouhavethehypocrisytooffer!Idespiseyou,andwillhavenothingtosaytoanyofyou!WhenIwouldhavegivenmylifeforonekindword,eventoseeoneofyourfaces,youallkeptoff。ButIwon\'tcomplaintoyou!I\'mdrivendownherebythecold;noteithertoamuseyouorenjoyyoursociety。\"
`\"WhatcouldIha\'done?\"beganEarnshaw。\"HowwasItoblame?\"
`\"Oh!youareanexception,\"answeredMrsHeathcliff。\"Inevermissedsuchaconcernasyou。\"
`\"ButIofferedmorethanonce,andasked,\"hesaid,kindlingupatherpertness,\"IaskedMrHeathclifftoletmewakeforyou宍\"Besilent!I\'llgooutofdoors,oranywhere,ratherthanhaveyourdisagreeablevoiceinmyear!\"saidmylady。
`Haretonmutteredshemightgotohell,forhim!andunslinginghisgun,restrainedhimselffromhisSundayoccupationsnolonger。Hetalkednow,freelyenough;andshepresentlysawfittoretreattohersolitude:
butthefrosthadsetin,and,inspiteofherpride,shewasforcedtocondescendtoourcompany,moreandmore。However,Itookcarethereshouldbenofurtherscorningatmygoodnature:eversince,I\'vebeenasstiffasherself;andshehasnoloverorlikeramongus:andshedoesnotdeserveone;for,letthemsaytheleastwordtoher,andshe\'llcurlbackwithoutrespectofanyone!She\'llsnapatthemasterhimself,andasgoodasdareshimtothrashher;andthemorehurtshegets,themorevenomousshegrows。\'
Atfirst,onhearingthisaccountfromZillah,Ideterminedtoleavemysituation,takeacottage,andgetCatherinetocomeandlivewithme:butMrHeathcliffwouldassoonpermitthatashewouldsetupHaretoninanindependenthouse;andIcanseenoremedy,atpresent,unlessshecouldmarryagain:andthatschemeitdoesnotcomewithinmyprovincetoarrange。
ThusendedMrsDean\'sstory。Notwithstandingthedoctor\'sprophecy,Iamrapidlyrecoveringstrength;andthoughitbeonlythesecondweekinJanuary,Iproposegettingoutonhorsebackinadayortwo,andridingovertoWutheringHeights,toinformmylandlordthatIshallspendthenextsixmonthsinLondon;and,ifhelikes,hemaylookoutforanothertenanttotaketheplaceafterOctober。Iwouldnotpassanotherwinterhereformuch。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]WutheringHeights[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter31Yesterdaywasbright,calm,andfrosty。IwenttotheHeightsasIproposed;
myhousekeeperentreatedmetobearalittlenotefromhertoheryounglady,andIdidnotrefuse,fortheworthywomanwasnotconsciousofanythingoddinherrequest。Thefrontdoorstoodopen,butthejealousgatewasfastened,asatmylastvisit;Iknocked,andinvokedEarnshawfromamongthegardenbeds;heunchainedit,andIentered。Thefellowisashandsomearusticasneedbeseen。Itookparticularnoticeofhimthistime;butthenhedoeshisbest,apparently,tomaketheleastofhisadvantages。
IaskedifMrHeathcliffwereathome?Heanswered,No;buthewouldbeinatdinnertime。Itwaseleveno\'clock,andIannouncedmyintentionofgoinginandwaitingforhim,atwhichheimmediatelyflungdownhistoolsandaccompaniedme,intheofficeofwatchdog,notasasubstituteforthehost。
Weenteredtogether;Catherinewasthere,makingherselfusefulinpreparingsomevegetablesfortheapproachingmeal;shelookedmoresulkyandlessspiritedthanwhenIhadseenherfirst。Shehardlyraisedhereyestonoticeme,andcontinuedheremploymentwiththesamedisregardtocommonformsofpolitenessasbefore;neverreturningmybowandgoodmorningbytheslightestacknowledgment。
`Shedoesnotseemsoamiable\',Ithought,`asMrsDeanwouldpersuademetobelieve。She\'sabeauty,itistrue;butnotanangel。\'
Earnshawsurlilybidherremoveherthingstothekitchen。`Removethemyourself,\'shesaid,pushingthemfromherassoonasshehaddone;
andretiringtoastoolbythewindow,whereshebegantocarvefiguresofbirdsandbeastsoutoftheturnipparingsinherlap。Iapproachedher,pretendingtodesireaviewofthegarden;and,asIfancied,adroitlydroppedMrsDean\'snoteontoherknee,unnoticedbyHareton——butsheaskedaloud,`Whatisthat?\'andchuckeditoff。
`Aletterfromyouroldacquaintance,thehousekeeperattheGrange,\'
Ianswered;annoyedatherexposingmykinddeed,andfearfullestitshouldbeimaginedamissiveofmyown。Shewouldgladlyhavegathereditupatthisinformation,butHaretonbeather;heseizedandputitinhiswaistcoat,sayingMrHeathcliffshouldlookatitfirst。Thereat,Catherinesilentlyturnedherfacefromus,and,verystealthily,drewoutherpockethandkerchiefandappliedittohereyes;andhercousin,afterstrugglingawhiletokeepdownhissofterfeelings,pulledouttheletterandflungitonthefloorbesideher,asungraciouslyashecould。Catherinecaughtandperusediteagerly;thenshebutafewquestionstomeconcerningtheinmates,rationalandirrational,ofherformerhome;andgazingtowardsthehills,murmuredinsoliloquy:
`IshouldliketoberidingMinnydownthere!Ishouldliketobeclimbingupthere!Oh!I\'mtired——I\'mstalled,Hareton!\'Andsheleantherprettyheadbackagainstthesill,withhalfayawnandhalfasigh,andlapsedintoanaspectofabstractedsadness:neithercaringnorknowingwhetherweremarkedher。
`MrsHeathcliff,\'Isaid,aftersittingsometimemute,`youarenotawarethatIamanacquaintanceofyours?sointimatethatIthinkitstrangeyouwon\'tcomeandspeaktome。Myhousekeeperneverweariesoftalkingaboutandpraisingyou;andshe\'llbegreatlydisappointedifIreturnwithnonewsoforfromyou,exceptthatyoureceivedherletterandsaidnothing!\'
Sheappearedtowonderatthisspeech,andasked:
`DoesEllenlikeyou?\'
`Yes,verywell,\'Irepliedunhesitatingly。
`Youmusttellher,\'shecontinued,`thatIwouldanswerherletter,butlhavenomaterialsforwriting:notevenabookfromwhichImighttearaleaf。\'
`Nobooks!\'Iexclaimed。`Howdoyoucontrivetoliveherewithoutthem?iflmaytakethelibertytoinquire。Thoughprovidedwithalargelibrary,I\'mfrequentlyverydullattheGrange;takemybooksaway,andIshouldbedesperate!\'
`Iwasalwaysreading,whenIhadthem,\'saidCatherine;`andMrHeathcliffneverreads;sohetookitintohisheadtodestroymybooks。
Ihavenothadaglimpseofoneforweeks。Onlyonce,IsearchedthroughJoseph\'sstoreoftheology,tohisgreatirritation;andonce,Hareton,Icameuponasecretstockinyourroom——someLatinandGreek,andsometalesandpoetry:alloldfriends。Ibroughtthelasthere——andyougatheredthem,asamagpiegatherssilverspoons,forthemereloveofstealing!
Theyareofnousetoyou;orelseyouconcealedtheminthebadspiritthatasyoucannotenjoythemnobodyelseshall。PerhapsyourenvycounselledMrHeathclifftorobmeofmytreasures?ButI\'vemostofthemwrittenonmybrainandprintedinmyheart,andyoucannotdeprivemeofthose!\'
Earnshawblushedcrimsonwhenhiscousinmadethisrevelationofhisprivateliteraryaccumulations,andstammeredanindignantdenialofheraccusations。\'
`MrHaretonisdesirousofincreasinghisamountofknowledge,\'
Isaid,comingtohisrescue。`Heisnotenviousbutemulousofyourattainments。He\'llbeacleverscholarinafewyears。\'
`Andhewantsmetosinkintoadunce,meantime,\'answeredCatherine。`Yes,Ihearhimtryingtospellandreadtohimself,andprettyblundershemakes!IwishyouwouldrepeatChevyChaseasyoudidyesterday:
itwasextremelyfunny。Iheardyou;andIheardyouturningoverthedictionarytoseekoutthehardwords,andthencursingbecauseyoucouldn\'treadtheirexplanations!\'
Theyoungmanevidentlythoughtittoobadthatheshouldbelaughedatforhisignorance,andthenlaughedatfortryingtoremoveit。Ihadasimilarnotion;and,rememberingMrsDean\'sanecdoteofhisfirstattemptatenlighteningthedarknessinwhichhehadbeenreared,Iobserved:
`But,MrsHeathcliff,wehaveeachhadacommencement,andeachstumbledandtotteredonthethreshold;hadourteachersscornedinsteadofaidingus,weshouldstumbleandtotteryet。\'
`Oh!\'shereplied,`Idon\'twishtolimithisacquirements:still,hehasnorighttoappropriatewhatismine,andmakeitridiculoustomewithhisvilemistakesandmispronunciations!Thosebooks,bothproseandverse,wereconsecratedtomebyotherassociations;andIhatetohavethemdebasedandprofanedinhismouth!Besides,ofall,hehasselectedmyfavouritepiecesthatIlovethemosttorepeat,asifoutofdeliberatemalice。\'
Hareton\'schestheavedinsilenceaminute:helabouredunderaseveresenseofmortificationandwrath,whichitwasnoeasytasktosuppress。Irose,and,fromagentlemanlyideaofrelievinghisembarrassment,tookupmystationinthedoorway,surveyingtheexternalprospectasI
stood。Hefollowedmyexample,andlefttheroom;butpresentlyreappeared,bearinghalfadozenvolumesinhishands,whichhethrewintoCatherine\'slap,exclaiming:
`Takethem!Ineverwanttohear,orread,orthinkofthemagain!\'
`Iwon\'thavethemnow,\'sheanswered。`Ishallconnectthemwithyou,andhatethem。\'
Sheopenedonethathadobviouslybeenoftenturnedover,andreadaportioninthedrawlingtoneofabeginner;thenlaughed,andthrewitfromher。`Andlisten,\'shecontinuedprovokingly,commencingaverseofanoldballadinthesamefashion。
Buthisself-lovewouldendurenofurthertorment:Iheard,andnotaltogetherdisapprovingly,amanualcheckgiventohersaucytongue。
Thelittlewretchhaddoneherutmosttohurthercousinssensitivethoughuncultivatedfeelings,andaphysicalargumentwastheonlymodehehadofbalancingtheaccount,andrepayingitseffectsontheinflicter。Heafterwardsgatheredthebooksandhurledthemonthefire。Ireadinhiscountenancewhatanguishitwastoofferthatsacrificetospleen。Ifanciedthatastheyconsumed,herecalledthepleasuretheyhadalreadyimparted,andthetriumphandever-increasingpleasurehehadanticipatedfromthem;
andIfanciedIguessedtheincitementtohissecretstudiesalso。Hehadbeencontentwithdailylabourandroughanimalenjoyments,tillCatherinecrossedhispath。Shameatherscorn,andhopeofherapproval,werehisfirstprompterstohigherpursuits;and,insteadofguardinghimfromoneandwinninghimtotheother,hisendeavourstorisehimselfhadproducedjustthecontraryresult。
`Yes;that\'sallthegoodthatsuchabruteasyoucangetfromthem!\'criedCatherine,suckingherdamagedlip,andwatchingtheconflagrationwithindignanteyes。
`You\'dbetterholdyourtongue,now,\'heansweredfiercely。
Andhisagitationprecludingfurtherspeech,headvancedhastilytotheentrance,whereImadewayforhimtopass。Buterehehadcrossedthedoorstones,MrHeathcliff,comingupthecauseway,encounteredhim,andlayingholdofhisshoulder,asked:
\"What\'stodonow,mylad?\'
`Naught,naught,\'hesaid,andbrokeawaytoenjoyhisgriefandangerinsolitude。
Heathcliffgazedafterhim,andsighed。
`ItwillbeoddifIthwartmyself,\'hemuttered,unconsciousthatIwasbehindhim。`ButwhenIlookforhisfatherinhisface,Ifindhereverydaymore。Howthedevilishesolike?Icanhardlybeartoseehim。\'
Hebenthiseyestotheground,andwalkedmoodilyin。Therewasarestless,anxiousexpressioninhiscountenanceIhadneverremarkedtherebefore;andhelookedsparerinperson。Hisdaughter-in-law,onperceivinghimthroughthewindow,immediatelyescapedtothekitchen,sothatIremainedalone。
`I\'mgladtoseeyououtofdoorsagain,MrLockwood,\'hesaid,inreplytomygreeting;`fromselfishmotivespartly:Idon\'tthinkI
couldreadilysupplyyourlossinthisdesolation。I\'vewonderedmorethanoncewhatbroughtyouhere。
`Anidlewhim,Ifear,sir,\'wasmyanswer;`orelseanidlewhimisgoingtospiritmeaway。IshallsetoutforLondon,nextweek;andImustgiveyouwarningthatIfeelnodispositiontoretainThrushcrossGrangebeyondthetwelvemonthsIagreedtorentit。1believeIshallnotlivethereanymore。\'
`Oh,indeed;you\'retiredofbeingbanishedfromtheworld,areyou?\'hesaid。`Butifyoubecomingtopleadoffpayingforaplaceyouwon\'toccupy,yourjourneyisuseless:Ineverrelentinexactingmyduefromanyone。\'
`I\'mcomingtopleadoffnothingaboutit,\'Iexclaimed,considerablyirritated。`Shouldyouwishit,I\'llsettlewithyounow,\'andIdrewmynotebookfrommypocket。
`No,no,\'herepliedcoolly;`you\'llleavesufficientbehindtocoveryourdebts,ifyoufailtoreturn:I\'mnotinsuchahurry。Sitdownandtakeyourdinnerwithus;aguestthatissafefromrepeatinghisvisitcangenerallybemadewelcome。Catherine,bringthethingsin:whereareyou?\'
Catherinereappeared,bearingatrayofknivesandforks。
`YoumaygetyourdinnerwithJoseph,\'mutteredHeathcliffaside,`andremaininthekitchentillheisgone。\'
Sheobeyedhisdirectionsverypunctually:perhapsshehadnotemptationtotransgress。Livingamongclownsandmisanthropists,sheprobablycannotappreciateabetterclassofpeoplewhenshemeetsthem。
WithMrHeathcliff,grimandsaturnine,ontheonehand,andHareton,absolutelydumb,ontheother,Imadeasomewhatcheerlessmeal,andbidadieuearly。Iwouldhavedepartedbythebackway,togetalastglimpseofCatherineandannoyoldJoseph;butHaretonreceivedorderstoleadupmyhorse,andmyhosthimselfescortedmetothedoor,soIcouldnotfulfilmywish。
`Howdrearylifegetsoverinthathouse!\'lreflected,whileridingdowntheroad。`WhatarealizationofsomethingmoreromanticthanafairytaleitwouldhavebeenforMrsLintonHeathcliff,hadsheandIstruckupanattachment,ashergoodnursedesired,andmigratedtogetherintothestirringatmosphereofthetown!\'
[NextChapter][TableofContents]WutheringHeights[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter321802——
ThisSeptemberIwasinvitedtodevastatethemoorsofafriendinthenorth,andonmyjourneytohisabode,IunexpectedlycamewithinfifteenmilesofGimmerton。Theostlerataroadsidepublichousewasholdingapailofwatertorefreshmyhorses,whenacartofverygreenoats,newlyreaped,passedby,andheremarked:
`Yon\'sfroughGimmerton,nah!They\'reallasthreewickafterotherfolkwi\'therharvest。\'
`Gimmerton?`Irepeated——myresidenceinthatlocalityhadalreadygrowndimanddreamy。`Ah!Iknow。Howfarisitfromthis?\'
`Happenfourteenmileo\'erth\'hills;andaroughroad,\'heanswered。
AsuddenimpulseseizedmetovisitThrushcrossGrange。Itwasscarcelynoon,andIconceivedthatImightaswellpassthenightundermyownroofasinaninn。Besides,Icouldspareadayeasilytoarrangematterswithmylandlord,andthussavemyselfthetroubleofinvadingtheneighbourhoodagain。Havingrestedawhile,Idirectedmyservanttoinquirethewaytothevillage;and,withgreatfatiguetoourbeasts,wemanagedthedistanceinsomethreehours。
Ilefthimthere,andproceededdownthevalleyalone。Thegreychurchlookedgreyer,andthelonelychurchyardlonelier。Idistinguishedamoorsheepcroppingtheshortturfonthegraves。Itwassweet,warmweather——toowarmfortravelling;buttheheatdidnothindermefromenjoyingthedelightfulsceneryaboveandbelow:hadIseenitnearerAugust,I\'msureitwouldhavetemptedmetowasteamonthamongitssolitudes。Inwinternothingmoredreary,insummernothingmoredivine,thanthoseglensshutinbyhills,andthosebluff,boldswellsofheath。
IreachedtheGrangebeforesunset,andknockedforadmittance;
butthefamilyhadretreated\'intothebackpremises,Ijudged,byonethin,bluewreathcurlingfromthekitchenchimney,andtheydidnothear。
Irodeintothecourt。Undertheporch,agirlofnineortensatknitting,andanoldwomanreclinedonthehousesteps,smokingameditativepipe。
`IsMrsDeanwithin?\'Idemandedofthedame。
`MistressDean?Nay!\'sheanswered,`shoodoesn\'tbidehere:shoo\'supatth\'Heights。\'
`Areyouthehousekeeper,then?\'Icontinued。
`Ea,Awkeepth\'house,\'shereplied。
`Well,I\'mMrLockwood,themaster。Arethereanyroomstolodgemein,Iwonder?Iwishtostayhereallnight。\'
`T\'maister!\'shecriedinastonishment。`Whet,whoiverknewyahwurcoming?Yahsudha\'sendword。They\'snowtnortherdrynormensfulabahtt\'place:nowtthereisn\'t!\'
Shethrewdownherpipeandbustledin,thegirlfollowed,andIenteredtoo;soonperceivingthatherreportwastrue,and,moreover,thatIhadalmostupsetherwitsbymyunwelcomeapparition,Ibidherbecomposed。Iwouldgooutforawalk;and,meantime,shemusttrytoprepareacornerofasitting-roomformetosupin,andabedroomtosleepin。Nosweepinganddusting,onlygoodfireanddrysheetswerenecessary。
Sheseemedwillingtodoherbest;thoughshethrustthehearth-brushintothegratesinmistakeforthepoker,andmalappropriatedseveralotherarticlesofhercraft:butIretired,confidinginherenergyforaresting-placeagainstmyreturn。WutheringHeightswasthegoalofmyproposedexcursion。
Anafterthoughtbroughtmeback,whenIhadquittedthecourt。
`AllwellattheHeights?\'Iinquiredofthewoman。
`Eea,f\'rowtEeknaw,\'sheanswered,skurryingawaywithapanofhotcinders。
IwouldhaveaskedwhyMrsDeanhaddesertedtheGrange,butitwasimpossibletodelayheratsuchacrisis,soIturnedawayandmademyexit,ramblingleisurelyalongwiththeglowofasinkingsunbehind,andthemildgloryofarisingmooninfront——onefading,andtheotherbrightening——asIquittedthepark,andclimbedthestonyby-roadbranchingofftoMrHeathcliff\'sdwelling。BeforeIarrivedinsightofit,allthatremainedofdaywasabeamlessamberlightalongthewest:butIcouldseeeverypebbleonthepath,andeverybladeofgrass,bythatsplendidmoon。Ihadneithertoclimbthegatenortoknock——ityieldedtomyhand。
Thatisanimprovement,Ithought。AndInoticedanother,bytheaidofmynostrils;afragranceofstocksandwallflowerswaftedontheairfromamongstthehomelyfruittrees。
Bothdoorsandlatticeswereopen;andyet,asisusuallythecaseinacoaldistrict,afine,redfireilluminedthechimney:thecomfortwhichtheeyederivesfromitrenderstheextraheatendurable。ButthehouseofWutheringHeightsissolarge,thattheinmateshaveplentyofspaceforwithdrawingoutofitsinfluence;andaccordingly,whatinmatestherewerehadstationedthemselvesnotfarfromoneofthewindows。I
couldbothseethemandhearthemtalkbeforeIentered,andlookedandlistenedinconsequence;beingmovedtheretobyamingledsenseofcuriosityandenvy,thatgrewasIlingered。
`Con-trary!\'saidavoiceassweetasasilverbell——`Thatforthethirdtime,youdunce!I\'mnotgoingtotellyouagain。Recollect,orI\'llpullyourhair!\'
`Contrary,then,\'answeredanother,indeepbutsoftenedtones。
`Andnow,kissme,formindingsowell。\'
`No,readitoverfirstcorrectly,withoutasinglemistake。\'
Themalespeakerbegantoread:hewasayoungman,respectablydressedandseatedatatable,havingabookbeforehim。Hishandsomefeaturesglowedwithpleasure,andhiseyeskeptimpatientlywanderingfromthepagetoasmallwhitehandoverhisshoulder,whichrecalledhimbyasmartslaponthecheek,wheneveritsownerdetectedsuchsignsofinattention。
Itsownerstoodbehind;herlight,shiningringletsblending,atintervals,withhisbrownlocks,asshebenttosuperintendhisstudies;andherface——itwasluckyhecouldnotseeherface,orhewouldneverhavebeensosteady。
Icould:andIbitmylipinspite,athavingthrownawaythechanceI
mighthavehadofdoingsomethingbesidesstaringatitssmilingbeauty。
Thetaskwasdone,notfreefromfurtherblunders;butthepupilclaimedareward,andreceivedatleastfivekisses:which,