English
ONTHEMORNINGofafineJuneday,myfirstbonnylittlenursling,andthelastoftheancientEarnshawstock,wasborn.
Wewerebusywiththehayinafarawayfield,whenthegirlthatusuallybroughtourbreakfasts,camerunninganhourtoosoon,acrossthemeadowandupthelane,callingmeassheran.
“Oh,suchagrandbairn!”shepantedout.“Thefinestladthateverbreathed!
Butthedoctorsaysmissismustgo:hesaysshe’sbeeninaconsumptionthesemanymonths.
IheardhimtellMr.Hindley:andnowshehasnothingtokeepher,andshe’llbedeadbeforewinter.Youmustcomehomedirectly.
You’retonurseit,Nelly:tofeeditwithsugarandmilk,andtakecareofitdayandnight.
IwishIwereyou,becauseitwillbeallyourswhenthereisnomissis!”
“Butissheveryill?”Iaskedflingingdownmyrake,andtyingmybonnet.
“Iguesssheis;yetshelooksbravely,”repliedthegirl,“andshetalksasifshethoughtoflivingtoseeitgrowaman.
She’soutofherheadforjoy,it’ssuchabeauty!
IfIwereher,I’mcertainIshouldnotdie:Ishouldgetbetteratthebaresightofit,inspiteofKenneth.Iwasfairlymadathim.
DameArcherbroughtthecherubdowntomaster,inthehouse,andhisfacejustbegantolightup,whentheoldcroakerstepsforward,andsayshe:‘Earnshaw,it’sablessingyourwifehasbeensparedtoleaveyouthisson.
Whenshecame,Ifeltconvincedweshouldn’tkeepherlong;andnow,Imusttellyou,thewinterwillprobablyfinishher.
Don’ttakeon,andfretaboutittoomuch!itcan’tbehelped.
Andbesides,youshouldhaveknownbetterthantochoosesucharushofalass!’”
“Andwhatdidthemasteranswer?”Ienquired.
“Ithinkheswore;butIdidn’tmindhim,Iwasstrainingtoseethebairn,”andshebeganagaintodescribeitrapturously.
I,aszealousasherself,hurriedeagerlyhometoadmire,onmypart;thoughIwasverysadforHindley’ssake.
Hehadroominhisheartonlyfortwoidols—hiswifeandhimself:hedotedonboth,andadoredone,andIcouldn’tconceivehowhewouldbeartheloss.
WhenwegottoWutheringHeights,therehestoodatthefrontdoor;and,asIpassedin,Iasked,“Howwasthebaby?”
“Nearlyreadytorunabout”;hereplied,puttingonacheerfulsmile.
“Andthemistress?”Iventuredtoenquire;“thedoctorsaysshe’s-”
“Damnthedoctor!”heinterrupted,reddening.
“Francesisquiteright;she’llbeperfectlywellbythistimenextweek.Areyougoingupstairs?
willyoutellherthatI’llcome,ifshe’llpromisenottotalk.
Ileftherbecauseshewouldnotholdhertongue;andshemust—tellherMr.Kennethsaysshemustbequiet.”
IdeliveredthismessagetoMrs.Earnshaw;sheseemedinflightyspirits,andrepliedmerrily:“Ihardlyspokeaword,Ellen,andtherehehasgoneouttwice,crying.
Well,sayIpromiseIwon’tspeak:butthatdoesnotbindmenottolaughathim!”
Poorsoul!Tillwithinaweekofherdeaththatgayheartneverfailedher,andherhusbandpersisteddoggedly,nay,furiously,inaffirmingherhealthimprovedeveryday.
WhenKennethwarnedhimthathismedicineswereuselessatthatstageofthemalady,andheneedn’tputhimtofurtherexpensebyattendingher,heretorted:
“Iknowyouneednot—she’swell—shedoesnotwantanymoreattendancefromyou!Sheneverwasinaconsumption.
Itwasafever;anditisgone:herpulseisasslowasminenow,andhercheekascool.”
Hetoldhiswifethesamestory,andsheseemedtobelievehim;butonenight,whileleaningonhisshoulder,intheactofsayingshethoughtsheshouldbeabletogetupto-morrow,afitofcoughingtookher—averyslightone—heraisedherinhisarms;sheputhertwohandsabouthisneck,herfacechanged,andshewasdead.
Asthegirlhadanticipated,thechildHaretonfellwhollyintomyhands.
Mr.Earnshaw,providedhesawhimhealthyandneverheardhimcry,wascontented,asfarasregardedhim.
Forhimself,hegrewdesperate:hissorrowwasofthatkindthatwillnotlament.
Heneitherweptnorprayed:hecursedanddefied;execratedGodandman,andgavehimselfuptorecklessdissipation.
Theservantscouldnotbearhistyrannicalandevilconductlong:JosephandIweretheonlytwothatwouldstay.
Ihadnotthehearttoleavemycharge;andbesides,youknowIhadbeenhisfoster-sister,andexcusedhisbehaviourmorereadilythanastrangerwould.
Josephremainedtohectorovertenantsandlabourers;andbecauseitwashisvocationtobewherehehadplentyofwickednesstoreprove.
Themaster’sbadwaysandbadcompanionsformedaprettyexampleforCatherineandHeathcliff.
Histreatmentofthelatterwasenoughtomakeafiendofasaint.
And,truly,itappearedasiftheladwerepossessedofsomethingdiabolicalatthatperiod.
HedelightedtowitnessHindleydegradinghimselfpastredemption;andbecamedailymorenotableforsavagesullennessandferocity.
Icouldnothalftellwhataninfernalhousewehad.
Thecuratedroppedcalling,andnobodydecentcamenearus,atlast;unlessEdgarLinton’svisitstoMissCathymightbeanexception.
Atfifteenshewasthequeenofthecountryside;shehadnopeer;andshedidturnoutahaughty,headstrongcreature!
IownIdidnotlikeher,afterherinfancywaspast;andIvexedherfrequentlybytryingtobringdownherarrogance:shenevertookanaversiontome,though.
Shehadawondrousconstancytooldattachments:evenHeathcliffkepthisholdonheraffectionsunalterably;andyoungLinton,withallhissuperiority,founditdifficulttomakeanequallydeepimpression.
Hewasmylatemaster:thatishisportraitoverthefireplace.
Itusedtohangononeside,andhiswife’sontheother;buthershasbeenremoved,orelseyoumightseesomethingofwhatshewas.Canyoumakethatout?
Mrs.Deanraisedthecandle,andIdiscernedasoftfeaturedface,exceedinglyresemblingtheyoungladyattheHeights,butmorepensiveandamiableinexpression.Itformedasweetpicture.
Thelonglighthaircurledslightlyonthetemples;theeyeswerelargeandserious;thefigurealmosttoograceful.
IdidnotmarvelhowCatherineEarnshawcouldforgetherfirstfriendforsuchanindividual.
Imarvelledmuchhowhe,withamindtocorrespondwithhisperson,couldfancymyideaofCatherineEarnshaw.
“Averyagreeableportrait,”Iobservedtothehousekeeper.“Isitlike?”
“Yes,”sheanswered;“buthelookedbetterwhenhewasanimated;thatishiseverydaycountenance:hewantedspiritingeneral.”
CatherinehadkeptupheracquaintancewiththeLintonssinceherfiveweeks’residenceamongthem;andasshehadnotemptationtoshowherroughsideintheircompany,andhadthesensetobeashamedofbeingrudewheresheexperiencedsuchinvariablecourtesy,sheimposedunwittinglyontheoldladyandgentleman,byheringenuouscordiality;gainedtheadmirationofIsabella,andtheheartandsoulofherbrother:acquisitionsthatflatteredherfromthefirst,forshewasfullofambition,andledhertoadoptadoublecharacterwithoutexactlyintendingtodeceiveanyone.
IntheplacewheresheheardHeathclifftermeda“vulgaryoungruffian,”and“worsethanabrute,”shetookcarenottoactlikehim;butathomeshehadsmallinclinationtopractisepolitenessthatwouldonlybelaughedat,andrestrainanunrulynaturewhenitwouldbringherneithercreditnorpraise.
Mr.EdgarseldommusteredcouragetovisitWutheringHeightsopenly.
HehadaterrorofEarnshaw’sreputation,andshrunkfromencounteringhim;andyethewasalwaysreceivedwithourbestattemptsatcivility:themasterhimselfavoidedoffendinghim,knowingwhyhecame;andifhecouldnotbegracious,keptoutoftheway.
IratherthinkhisappearancetherewasdistastefultoCatherine:shewasnotartful,neverplayedthecoquette,andhadevidentlyanobjectiontohertwofriendsmeetingatall;forwhenHeathcliffexpressedcontemptofLintoninhispresence,shecouldnothalfcoincide,asshedidinhisabsence;andwhenLintonevinceddisgustandantipathytoHeathcliff,shedarednottreathissentimentswithindifference,asifdepreciationofherplaymatewereofscarcelyanyconsequencetoher.
I’vehadmanyalaughatherperplexitiesanduntoldtroubles,whichshevainlystrovetohidefrommymockery.
Thatsoundsill-natured:butshewassoproud,itbecamereallyimpossibletopityherdistresses,tillsheshouldbechastenedintomorehumility.
Shedidbringherself,finally,toconfess,andtoconfideinme:therewasnotasoulelsethatshemightfashionintoanadviser.
Mr.Hindleyhadgonefromhomeoneafternoon,andHeathcliffpresumedtogivehimselfaholidayonthestrengthofit.
Hehadreachedtheageofsixteenthen,Ithink,andwithouthavingbadfeatures,orbeingdeficientinintellect,hecontrivedtoconveyanimpressionofinwardandoutwardrepulsivenessthathispresentaspectretainsnotracesof.
Inthefirstplace,hehadbythattimelostthebenefitofhisearlyeducation:continualhardwork,begunsoonandconcludedlate,hadextinguishedanycuriosityheoncepossessedinpursuitofknowledge,andanyloveforbooksorlearning.
Hischildhood’ssenseofsuperiority,instilledintohimbythefavoursofoldMr.Earnshaw,wasfadedaway.
HestruggledlongtokeepupanequalitywithCatherineinherstudies,andyieldedwithpoignantthoughsilentregret:butheyieldedcompletely;andtherewasnoprevailingonhimtotakeastepinthewayofmovingupward,whenhefoundhemust,necessarily,sinkbeneathhisformerlevel.
Thenpersonalappearancesympathisedwithmentaldeterioration:heacquiredaslouchinggait,andignoblelook;hisnaturallyreserveddispositionwasexaggeratedintoanalmostidioticexcessofunsociablemoroseness;andhetookagrimpleasure,apparently,inexcitingtheaversionratherthantheesteemofhisfewacquaintances.
Catherineandhewereconstantcompanionsstillathisseasonsofrespiteandlabour;buthehadceasedtoexpresshisfondnessforherinwords,andrecoiledwithangrysuspicionfromhergirlishcaresses,asifconscioustherecouldbenogratificationinlavishingsuchmarksofaffectiononhim.
Onthebefore-namedoccasionhecameintothehousetoannouncehisintentionofdoingnothing,whileIwasassistingMissCathytoarrangeherdress:shehadnotreckonedonhistakingitintohisheadtobeidle;andimaginingshewouldhavethewholeplacetoherself,shemanaged,bysomemeans,toinformMr.Edgarofherbrother’sabsence,andwasthenpreparingtoreceivehim.
“Cathy,areyoubusy,thisafternoon?”askedHeathcliff.“Areyougoinganywhere?”
“No,itisraining,”sheanswered.
“Whyhaveyouthatsilkfrockon,then?”hesaid.“Nobodycominghere,Ihope?”
“NotthatIknowof,”stammeredMiss:“butyoushouldbeinthefieldnow,Heathcliff.Itisanhourpastdinnertime:Ithoughtyouweregone.”
“Hindleydoesnotoftenfreeusfromhisaccursedpresence,”observedtheboy.“I’llnotworkanymoreto-day:I’llstaywithyou.”
“Oh,butJosephwilltell,”shesugested;“you’dbettergo!”
“JosephisloadinglimeonthefarthersideofPennistowCrag;itwilltakehimtilldark,andhe’llneverknow.”
Sosaying,heloungedtothefire,andsatdown.
Catherinereflectedaninstant,withknittedbrows—shefounditneedfultosmooththewayforanintrusion.
“IsabellaandEdgarLintontalkedofcallingthisafternoon,”shesaid,attheconclusionofaminute’ssilence.
“Asitrains,Ihardlyexpectthem;buttheymaycome,andiftheydo,youruntheriskofbeingscoldedfornogood.”
“OrderEllentosayyouareengaged,Cathy,”hepersisted;“don’tturnmeoutforthosepitiful,sillyfriendsofyours!I’monthepoint,sometimes,ofcomplainingthatthey—butI’llnot—”
“Thattheywhat?”criedCatherine,gazingathimwithatroubledcountenance.“Oh,Nelly!”
sheaddedpetulantly,jerkingherheadawayfrommyhands,“you’vecombedmyhairquiteoutofcurl!That’senough;letmealone.
Whatareyouonthepointofcomplainingabout,Heathcliff?”
“Nothing—onlylookatthealmanaconthatwall”;hepointedtoaframedsheethangingnearthewindow,andcontinued—“ThecrossesarefortheeveningsyouhavespentwiththeLintons,thedotsforthosespentwithme.Doyousee?I’vemarkedeveryday.”
“Yes—veryfoolish:asifItooknotice!”repliedCatherineinapeevishtone.“Andwhereisthesenseofthat?”
“ToshowthatIdotakenotice,”saidHeathcliff.
“AndshouldIalwaysbesittingwithyou?”shedemanded,growingmoreirritated.“WhatgooddoIget?Whatdoyoutalkabout?
Youmightmightbedumb,orababy,foranythingyousaytoamuseme,orforanythingyoudo,either!”
“YounevertoldmebeforethatItalkedtoolittle,orthatyoudislikedmycompany,Cathy!”exclaimedHeathcliff,inmuchagitation.
“It’snocompanyatall,whenpeopleknownothingandsaynothing,”shemuttered.
Hercompanionroseup,buthehadn’ttimetoexpresshisfeelingsfurther,forahorse’sfeetwereheardontheflags,andhavingknockedgently,youngLintonentered,hisfacebrilliantwithdelightattheunexpectedsummonshehadreceived.
DoubtlessCatherinemarkedthedifferencebetweenherfriends,asonecameinandtheotherwentout.
Thecontrastresembledwhatyouseeinexchangingableak,hilly,coalcountryforabeautifulfertilevalley;andhisvoiceandgreetingwereasoppositeashisaspect.
Hehadasweet,lowmannerofspeaking,andpronouncedhiswordsasyoudo:that’slessgruffthanwetalkhere,andsofter.
“I’mnotcometoosoon,amI?”hesaid,castingalookatme:Ihadbeguntowipetheplate,andtidysomedrawersatthefarendinthedresser.
“No,”answeredCatherine.“Whatareyoudoingthere,Nelly?”
“Mywork,miss,”Ireplied.(Mr.HindleyhadgivenmedirectionstomakeathirdpartyinanyprivatevisitsLintonchosetopay.)
Shesteppedbehindmeandwhisperedcrossly,“Takeyourselfandyourdustersoff;whencompanyareinthehouse,servantsdon’tcommencescouringandcleaningintheroomwheretheyare!”
“It’sagoodopportunity,nowthatthemasterisaway,”Iansweredaloud:“hehatesmetobefidgetingoverthesethingsinhispresence.I’msureMr.Edgarwillexcuseme.”
“Ihateyoutobefidgetinginmypresence,”exclaimedtheyoungladyimperiously,notallowingherguesttimetospeak:shehadfailedtorecoverherequanimitysincethelittledisputewithHeathcliff.
“I’msorryforit,MissCatherine,”wasmyresponse;andIproceededassiduouslywithmyoccupation.
She,supposingEdgarcouldnotseeher,snatchedtheclothfrommyhand,andpinchedme,withaprolongedwrench,veryspitefullyonthearm.
I’vesaidIdidnotloveher,andratherrelishedmortifyinghervanitynowandthen:besides,shehurtmeextremely;soIstartedupfrommyknees,andscreamedout,“Oh,miss,that’sanastytrick!
Youhavenorighttonipme,andI’mnotgoingtobearit.”
“Ididn’ttouchyou,youlyingcreature!”
criedshe,herfingerstinglingtorepeattheact,andherearsredwithrage.
Sheneverhadpowertoconcealherpassion,italwayssetherwholecomplexioninablaze.
“What’sthat,then?”Iretorted,showingadecidedpurplewitnesstorefuteher.
Shestampedherfoot,waveredamoment,andthenirresistiblyimpelledbythenaughtyspiritwithinher,slappedmeonthecheek:astingingblowthatfilledbotheyeswithwater.
“Catherine,love!Catherine!”interposedLinton,greatlyshockedatthedoublefaultoffalsehoodandviolencewhichhisidolhadcommitted.
“Leavetheroom,Ellen!”sherepeated,tremblingallover.
LittleHareton,whofollowedmeeverywhere,andwassittingnearmeonthefloor,atseeingmytearscommencedcryinghimself,andsobbedoutcomplaintsagainst“wickedAuntCathy,”whichdrewherfuryontohisunluckyhead:sheseizedhisshoulders,andshookhimtillthepoorchildwaxedlivid,andEdgarthoughtlesslylaidholdofherhandstodeliverhim.
Inaninstantonewaswrungfree,andtheastonishedyoungmanfeltitappliedoverhisownearinawaythatcouldnotbemistakenforjest.Hedrewbackinconsternation.
IliftedHaretoninmyarms,andwalkedofftothekitchenwithhim,leavingthedoorofcommunicationopen,forIwascurioustowatchhowtheywouldsettletheirdisagreement.
Theinsultedvisitormovedtothespotwherehehadlaidhishat,paleandwithaquiveringlip.
“That’sright!”Isaidtomyself“Takewarningandbegone!It’sakindnesstoletyouhaveaglimpseofhergenuinedisposition.”
“Whereareyougoing?”demandedCatherine,advancingtothedoor.
Heswervedaside,andtriedtopass.
“Youmustnotgo!”sheexclaimedenergetically.
“Imustandshall!”herepliedinasubduedvoice.
“No,”shepersisted,graspingthehandle:“notyet,EdgarLinton:sitdown;youshallnotleavemeinthattemper.Ishouldbemiserableallnight,andIwon’tbemiserableforyou!”
“CanIstayafteryouhavestruckme?”askedLinton.
Catherinewasmute.
“You’vemademeafraidandashamedofyou,”hecontinued;“I’llnotcomehereagain!”
Hereyesbegantoglisten,andherlidstotwinkle.
“Andyoutoldadeliberateuntruth!”hesaid.
“Ididn’t!”shecried,recoveringherspeech;“Ididnothingdeliberately.Well,go,ifyouplease—getaway!AndnowI’llcry—I’llcrymyselfsick!”
Shedroppeddownonherkneesbyachair,andsettoweepinginseriousearnest.Edgarperseveredinhisresolutionasfarasthecourt;therehelingered.Iresolvedtoencouragehim.
“Missisdreadfullywayward,sir,”Icalledout.“Asbadasanymarredchild:you’dbetterberidinghome,orelseshewillbesickonlytogrieveus.”
Thesoftthinglookedaskancethroughthewindow:hepossessedthepowertodepart,asmuchasacatpossessesthepowertoleaveamousehalfkilled,orabirdhalfeaten.
Ah,Ithought,therewillbenosavinghim:he’sdoomed,andfliestohisfate!
Andsoitwas:heturnedabruptly,hastenedintothehouseagain,shutthedoorbehindhim;andwhenIwentinawhileaftertoinformthemthatEarnshawhadcomehomerabiddrunk,readytopullthewholeplaceaboutourears(hisordinaryframeofmindinthatcondition),Isawthequarrelhadmerelyeffectedacloserintimacy—hadbrokentheoutworksofyouthfultimidity,andenabledthemtoforsakethedisguiseoffriendship,andconfessthemselveslovers.
IntelligenceofMr.Hindley’sarrivaldroveLintonspeedilytohishorse,andCatherinetoherchamber.
IwenttohidelittleHareton,andtotaketheshotoutofthemaster’sfowling-piece,whichhewasfondofplayingwithinhisinsaneexcitement,tothehazardofthelivesofanywhoprovoked,orevenattractedhisnoticetoomuch;andIhadhitupontheplanofremovingit,thathemightdolessmischiefifhedidgothelengthoffiringthegun.
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