English
MR.HINDLEYcamehometothefuneral;and—athingthatamazedus,andsettheneighboursgossipingrightandleft—hebroughtawifewithhim.
Whatshewas,andwhereshewasborn,heneverinformedus:probablyshehadneithermoneynornametorecommendher,orhewouldscarcelyhavekepttheunionfromhisfather.
Shewasnotonethatwouldhavedisturbedthehousemuchonherownaccount.
Everyobjectshesaw,themomentshecrossedthethreshold,appearedtodelighther;andeverycircumstancethattookplaceabouther:exceptthepreparingfortheburial,andthepresenceofthemourners.
Ithoughtshewashalfsilly,fromherbehaviourwhilethatwenton:sheranintoherchamber,andmademecomewithher,thoughIshouldhavebeendressingthechildren;andthereshesatshiveringandclaspingherhands,andaskingrepeatedly:“Aretheygoneyet?”
Thenshebegandescribingwithhystericalemotiontheeffectitproducedonhertoseeblackandstarted,andtrembled,and,atlast,fellaweeping—andwhenIaskedwhatwasthematter?
answered,shedidn’tknow;butshefeltsoafraidofdying!
Iimaginedheraslittlelikelytodieasmyself.
Shewasratherthin,butyoung,andfresh-complexioned,andhereyessparkledasbrightasdiamonds.
Ididremark,tobesure,thatmountingthestairsmadeherbreatheveryquick:thattheleastsuddennoisesetherallinaquiver,andthatshecoughedtroublesomelysometimes:butIknewnothingofwhatthesesymptomsportended,andhadnoimpulsetosympathizewithher.
Wedon’tingeneraltaketoforeignershere,Mr.Lockwood,unlesstheytaketousfirst.
YoungEarnshawwasalteredconsiderablyinthethreeyearsofhisabsence.
Hehadgrownsparer,andlosthiscolour,andspokeanddressedquitedifferently;and,ontheverydayofhisreturn,hetoldJosephandmewemustthenceforthquarterourselvesintheback-kitchen,andleavethehouseforhim.
Indeed,hewouldhavecarpetedandpaperedasmallspareroomforaparlour;buthiswifeexpressedsuchpleasureatthewhitefloorandhugeglowingfire-place,atthepewterdishesanddelftcase,anddog-kennel,andthewidespacetherewastomoveaboutinwheretheyusuallysat,thathethoughtitunnecessarytohercomfort,andsodroppedtheintention.
Sheexpressedpleasure,too,atfindingasisteramonghernewacquaintances;andsheprattledtoCatherine,andkissedher,andranaboutwithher,andgaveherquantitiesofpresents,atthebeginning.
Heraffectiontiredverysoon,however,andwhenshegrewpeevish,Hindleybecametyrannical.
Afewwordsfromher,evincingadisliketoHeathcliff,wereenoughtorouseinhimallhisoldhatredoftheboy.
Hedrovehimfromtheircompanytotheservants,deprivedhimoftheinstructionsofthecurate,andinsistedthatheshouldlabouroutofdoorsinstead;compellinghimtodosoashardasanyotherhandonthefarm.
Heathcliffborehisdegradationprettywellatfirst,becauseCathytaughthimwhatshelearnt,andworkedorplayedwithhiminthefields.
Theybothpromisedfairtogrowupasrudeassavages;theyoungmasterbeingentirelynegligenthowtheybehaved,andwhattheydid,sotheykeptclearofhim.
HewouldnotevenhaveseenaftertheirgoingtochurchonSundays,onlyjosephandthecuratereprimandedhiscarelessnesswhentheyabsentedthemselves;andthatremindedhimtoorderHeathcliffaflogging,andCatherineafastfromdinnerorsupper.
Butitwasoneoftheirchiefamusementstorunawaytothemoorsinthemorningandremainthereallday,andtheafterpunishmentgrewamerethingtolaughat.
ThecuratemightsetasmanychaptersashepleasedforCatherinetogetbyheart,andJosephmightthrashHeathclifftillhisarmached;theyforgoteverythingtheminutetheyweretogetheragain:atleasttheminutetheyhadcontrivedsomenaughtyplanofrevenge;andmanyatimeI’vecriedtomyselftowatchthemgrowingmorerecklessdaily,andInotdaringtospeakasyllable,forfearoflosingthesmallpowerIstillretainedovertheunfriendedcreatures.
OneSundayevening,itchancedthattheywerebanishedfromthesittingroom,formakinganoise,oralightoffenceofthekind;andwhenIwenttocallthemtosupper,Icoulddiscoverthemnowhere.
Wesearchedthehouse,aboveandbelow,andtheyardandstables;theywereinvisible:andatlast,Hindleyinapassiontoldustoboltthedoors,andsworenobodyshouldlettheminthatnight.
Thehouseholdwenttobed;andI,tooanxioustoliedown,openedmylatticeandputmyheadouttohearken,thoughitrained:determinedtoadmittheminspiteoftheprohibition,shouldtheyreturn.
Inawhile,Idistinguishedstepscominguptheroad,andthelightofalanternglimmeredthroughthegate.
IthrewashawlovermyheadandrantopreventthemfromwakingMr.Earnshawbyknocking.
TherewasHeathcliffbyhimself:itgavemeastarttoseehimalone.
“WhereisMissCatherine?”Icriedhurriedly.“Noaccident,Ihope?”
“AtThrushcrossGrange,”heanswered;“andIwouldhavebeentheretoo,buttheyhadnotthemannerstoaskmetostay.”“Well,youwillcatchit!”
Isaid:“you’llneverbecontenttillyou’resentaboutyourbusiness.
WhatintheworldledyouwanderingtoThrushcrossGrange?”
“Letmegetoffmywetclothes,andI’lltellyouallaboutit,Nelly,”hereplied.
Ibidhimbewareofrousingthemaster,andwhileheundressedandIwaitedtoputoutthecandle,hecontinued—“CathyandIescapedfromthewash-housetohavearambleatliberty,andgettingaglimpseoftheGrangelights,wethoughtwewouldjustgoandseewhethertheLintonspassedtheirSundayeveningsstandingshiveringincorners,whiletheirfatherandmothersateatinganddrinking,andsingingandlaughing,andburningtheireyesoutbeforethefire.
Doyouthinktheydo?
Orreadingsermons,andbeingcatechisedbytheirman-servant,andsettolearnacolumnofScripturenames,iftheydon’tanswerproperly?”“Probablynot,”Iresponded.
“Theyaregoodchildren,nodoubt,anddon’tdeservethetreatmentyoureceive,foryourbadconduct.”“Don’tcant,Nelly,”hesaid:nonsense!
WeranfromthetopoftheHeightstothepark,withoutstopping—Catherinecompletelybeatenintherace;becauseshewasbarefoot.
You’llhavetoseekforhershoesinthebogtomorrow.
Wecreptthroughabrokenhedge,gropedourwayupthepath,andplantedourselvesonaflower-plotunderthedrawing-roomwindow.
Thelightcamefromthence;theyhadnotputuptheshutters,andthecurtainswereonlyhalfclosed.
Bothofuswereabletolookinbystandingonthebasement,andclingingtotheledge,andwesaw—ah!
itwasbeautiful—asplendidplacecarpetedwithcrimson,andcrimson-coveredchairsandtables,andapurewhiteceilingborderedbygold,ashowerofglassdropshanginginsilverchainsfromthecentre,andshimmeringwithlittlesofttapers.
OldMr.andMrs.Lintonwerenotthere;Edgarandhissisterhaditentirelytothemselves.Shouldn’ttheyhavebeenhappy?
Weshouldhavethoughtourselvesinheaven!
Andnow,guesswhatyourgoodchildrenweredoing?
Isabella—Ibelievesheiseleven,ayearyoungerthanCathy—layscreamingatthefartherendoftheroom,shriekingasifwitcheswererunningred-hotneedlesintoher.
Edgarstoodonthehearthweepingsilently,andinthemiddleofthetablesatalittledog,shakingitspawandyelping;which,fromtheirmutualaccusation,weunderstoodtheyhadnearlypulledintwobetweenthem.Theidiots!Thatwastheirpleasure!
toquarrelwhoshouldholdaheapofwarmhair,andeachbegintocrybecauseboth,afterstrugglingtogetit,refusedtotakeit.
Welaughedoutrightatthepettedthings;wediddespisethem!
WhenwouldyoucatchmewishingtohavewhatCatherinewanted?
tofindusbyourselves,seeingentertainmentinyelling,andsobbing,androllingontheground,dividedbythewholeroom?
I’dnotexchange,forathousandlives,myconditionhere,forEdgarLinton’satThrushcrossGrange—notifImighthavetheprivilegeofflingingjosephoffthehighestgable,andpaintingthehousefrontwithHindley’sblood!”
“Hush,hush!”Iinterrupted.“Stillyouhavenottoldme,Heathcliff,howCatherineisleftbehind?”
“Itoldyouwelaughed,”heanswered.“TheLintonsheardus,andwithoneaccord,theyshotlikearrowstothedoor;therewassilence,andthenacry,‘Oh,mamma,mamma!Oh,papa!Oh,mamma,comehere.Oh,papa,oh!’
Theyreallydidhowloutsomethinginthatway.
Wemadefrightfulnoisestoterrifythemstillmore,andthenwedroppedofftheledge,becausesomebodywasdrawingthebars,andwefeltwehadbetterflee.
IhadCathybythehand,andwasurgingheron,whenallatonceshefelldown.‘Run,Heathcliff,run!’shewhispered.
‘Theyhaveleftthebull-dogloose,andheholdsme!’
Thedevilhadseizedherankle,Nelly:Iheardhisabominablesnorting.Shedidnotyellout—no!
shewouldhavescornedtodoit,ifshehadbeenspittedonthehornsofamadcow.Idid,though!
IvociferatedcursesenoughtoannihilateanyfiendinChristendom;andIgotastoneandthrustitbetweenhisjaws,andtriedwithallmymighttocramitdownhisthroat.
Abeastofaservantcameupwithalantern,atlast,shouting—‘Keepfast,Skulker,keepfast!’
Hechangedhisnote,however,whenhesawSkulker’sgame.
Thedogwasthrottledoff;hishuge,purpletonguehanginghalfafootoutofhismouth,andhispendentlipsstreamingwithbloodyslaver.
ThemantookCathyup:shewassick:notfromfear,I’mcertain,butfrompain.
Hecarriedherin;Ifollowed,grumblingexecrationsandvengeance.‘Whatprey,Robert?’hallooedLintonfromtheentrance.
‘Skulkerhascaughtalittlegirl,sir,’hereplied;‘andthere’saladhere,‘headded,makingaclutchatme,‘wholooksanout-and-outer!
Verylike,therobberswereputtingthemthroughthewindowtoopenthedoorstothegangafterallwereasleep,thattheymightmurderusattheirease.
Holdyourtongue,youfoul-mouthedthief,you!youshallgotothegallowsforthis.
Mr.Linton,sir,don’tlaybyyourgun.’‘No,no,Robert,’saidtheoldfool.
‘Therascalsknewthatyesterdaywasmyrentday:theythoughttohavemecleverly.Comein;I’llfurnishthemareception.There,John,fastenthechain.GiveSkulkersomewater,Jenny.
Tobeardamagistrateinhisstronghold,andontheSabbath,too!Wherewilltheirinsolencestop?Oh,mydearMary,lookhere!
Don’tbeafraid,itisbutaboy—yetthevillainscowlssoplainlyinhisface;woulditnotbeakindnesstothecountrytohanghimatonce,beforeheshowshisnatureinactsaswellasfeatures?’
Hepulledmeunderthechandelier,andMrs.Lintonplacedherspectaclesonhernoseandraisedherhandsinhorror.
Thecowardlychildrencreptneareralso,Isabellalisping—‘Frightfulthing!puthiminthecellar,papa.
He’sexactlylikethesonofthefortune-tellerthatstolemytamepheasant.Isn’the,Edgar?’
“Whiletheyexaminedme,Cathycameround;sheheardthelastspeech,andlaughed.
EdgarLinton,afteraninquisitivestare,collectedsufficientwittorecogniseher.
Theyseeusatchurch,youknow,thoughweseldommeetthemelsewhere.‘That’sMissEarnshaw!’
hewhisperedtohismother,‘andlookhowSkulkerhasbittenher—howherfootbleeds!’
“’MissEarnshaw?Nonsense!’criedthedame;‘MissEarnshawscouringthecountrywithagypsy!Andyet,mydear,thechildisinmourning—surelyitis—andshemaybemaimedforlife!’
“’Whatculpablecarelessnessinherbrother!’
exclaimedMr.Linton,turningfrommetoCatherine.
‘I’veunderstoodfromShielders’(thatwasthecurate,sir)thatheletshergrowupinabsoluteheathenism.Butwhoisthis?Wheredidshepickupthiscompanion?Oho!
Ideclareheisthatstrangeacquisitionmylateneighbourmade,inhisjourneytoLiverpool—alittleLascar,oranAmericanorSpanishcastaway.’
“’Awickedboy,atallevents,’remarkedtheoldlady,‘andquiteunfitforadecenthouse!Didyounoticehislanguage,Linton?I’mshockedthatmychildrenshouldhaveheardit.’
“Irecommencedcursing—don’tbeangry,Nelly—andsoRobertwasorderedtotakemeoff.
IrefusedtogowithoutCathy;hedraggedmeintothegarden,pushedthelanternintomyhand,assuredmethatMr.Earnshawshouldbeinformedofmybehaviour,and,biddingmemarchdirectly,securedthedooragain.
Thecurtainswerestillloopedupatonecorner,andIresumedmystationasspy;because,ifCatherinehadwishedtoreturn,Iintendedshatteringtheirgreatglasspanestoamillionoffragments,unlesstheyletherout.Shesatonthesofaquietly.
Mrs.Lintontookoffthegreycloakofthedairymaidwhichwehadborrowedforourexcursion,shakingherheadandexpostulatingwithher,Isuppose:shewasayounglady,andtheymadeadistinctionbetweenhertreatmentandmine.
Thenthewoman-servantbroughtabasinofwarmwater,andwashedherfeet;andMr.Lintonmixedatumblerofnegus,andIsabellaemptiedaplatefulofcakesintoherlap,andEdgarstoodgapingatadistance.
Afterwards,theydriedandcombedherbeautifulhair,andgaveherapairofenormousslippers,andwheeledhertothefire;andIlefther,asmerryasshecouldbe,dividingherfoodbetweenthelittledogandSkulker,whosenoseshepinchedasheate;andkindlingasparkofspiritinthevacantblueeyesoftheLintons—adimreflectionfromherownenchantingface.
Isawtheywerefullofstupidadmiration;sheissoimmeasurablysuperiortothem—toeverybodyonearth,isshenot,Nelly?”
“Therewillmorecomeofthisbusinessthanyoureckonon,”Ianswered,coveringhimupandextinguishingthelight.
“Youareincurable,Heathcliff;andMr.Hindleywillhavetoproceedtoextremities,seeifhewon’t!”MywordscametruerthanIdesired.
ThelucklessadventuremadeEarnshawfurious.
AndthenMr.Linton,tomendmatters,paidusavisithimselfonthemorrow;andreadtheyoungmastersuchalectureontheroadheguidedhisfamily,thathewasstirredtolookabouthim,inearnest.
Heathcliffreceivednoflogging,buthewastoldthatthefirstwordhespoketoMissCatherineshouldensureadismissal;andMrs.Earnshawundertooktokeephersister-in-lawinduerestraintwhenshereturnedhome;employingart,notforce:withforceshewouldhavefounditimpossible.
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