English
WHILEMISSLINTONmopedabouttheparkandgarden,alwayssilent,andalmostalwaysintears;andherbrothershuthimselfupamongthebooksthatheneveropened—wearying,Iguessed,withacontinualvagueexpectationthatCatherine,repentingherconduct,wouldcomeofherownaccordtoaskpardon,andseekareconciliation—andshefastedpertinaciously,undertheidea,probably,thatateverymeal,Edgarwasreadytochokeforherabsence,andpridealoneheldhimfromrunningtocasthimselfatherfeet:Iwentaboutmyhouseholdduties,convincedthattheGrangehadbutonesensiblesoulinitswalls,andthatlodgedinmybody.
IwastednocondolencesonMiss,noranyexpostulationsonmymistress;nordidIpaymuchattentiontothesighsofmymaster,whoyearnedtohearhislady’sname,sincehemightnothearhervoice.
Ideterminedtheyshouldcomeaboutastheypleasedforme;andthoughitwasatiresomelyslowprocess,Ibegantorejoiceatlengthinafaintdawnofitsprogress:asIthoughtatfirst.
Mrs.Linton,onthethirdday,unbarredherdoor,andhavingfinishedthewaterinherpitcheranddecanter,desiredarenewedsupply,andabasinofgruel,forshebelievedshewasdying.
ThatIsetdownasaspeechmeantforEdgar’sears;Ibelievednosuchthing,soIkeptittomyselfandbroughthersometeaanddrytoast.
Sheateanddrankeagerly;andsankbackonherpillowagainclenchingherhandsandgroaning.
“Oh,Iwilldie,”sheexclaimed,“sincenoonecaresanythingaboutme.IwishIhadnottakenthat.”
ThenagoodwhileafterIheardhermurmur,“No,I’llnotdie—he’dbeglad—hedoesnotlovemeatall—hewouldnevermissme!”
“Didyouwantanything,ma’am?”Ienquired,stillpreservingmyexternalcomposure,inspiteofherghastlycountenanceandstrangeexaggeratedmanner.
“Whatisthatapatheticbeingdoing?”shedemanded,pushingherthickentangledlocksfromherwastedface.“Hashefallenintoalethargy,orishedead?”
“Neither,”repliedI;“ifyoumeanMr.Linton.
He’stolerablywell,Ithink,thoughhisstudiesoccupyhimrathermorethantheyought:heiscontinuallyamonghisbooks,sincehehasnoothersociety.”
Ishouldnothavespokenso,ifIhadknownhertruecondition,butIcouldnotgetridofthenotionthatsheactedapartofherdisorder.
“Amonghisbooks!”shecried,confounded.“AndIdying!Ionthebrinkofthegrave!MyGod!doesheknowhowI’maltered?”
continuedshe,staringatherreflectioninamirrorhangingagainsttheoppositewall.“IsthatCatherineLinton!
Heimaginesmeinapet—inplay,perhaps.
Cannotyouinformhimthatitisfrightfulearnest?
Nelly,ifitbenottoolate,assoonasIlearnhowhefeels,I’llchoosebetweenthesetwo;eithertostarveatonce—thatwouldbenopunishmentunlesshehadaheart—ortorecover,andleavethecountry.
Areyouspeakingthetruthabouthimnow?Takecare.
Isheactuallysoutterlyindifferentformylife?”
“Why,ma’am,”Ianswered,“themasterhasnoideaofyourbeingderanged;andofcoursehedoesnotfearthatyouwillletyourselfdieofhunger.”
“Youthinknot?CannotyoutellhimIwill?”shereturned.“Persuadehim!speakofyourownmind:sayyouarecertainIwill!”
“No,youforget,Mrs.Linton,”Isuggested,“thatyouhaveeatensomefoodwitharelishthisevening,andtomorrowyouwillperceiveitsgoodeffects.”
“IfIwereonlysureitwouldkillhim,”sheinterrupted.“I’dkillmyselfdirectly!
Thesethreeawfulnights,I’veneverclosedmylids—andoh,I’vebeentormented!I’vebeenhaunted,Nelly!ButIbegintofancyyoudon’tlikeme.Howstrange!
Ithought,thougheverybodyhatedanddespisedeachother,theycouldnotavoidlovingme.
Andtheyhaveallturnedtoenemiesinafewhours:theyhave,I’mpositive;thepeoplehere.
Howdrearytomeetdeath,surroundedbytheircoldfaces.
Isabellaterrifiedandrepelled,afraidtoentertheroom,itwouldbesodreadfultowatchCatherinego.
AndEdgarstandingsolemnlybytoseeitover;thenofferingprayersofthankstoGodforrestoringpeacetohishouse,andgoingbacktohisbooks!
Whatinthenameofallthatfeelshashetodowithbooks,whenIamdying?”
ShecouldnotbearthenotionwhichIhadputintoherheadofMr.Linton’sphilosophicalresignation.
Tossingabout,sheincreasedherfeverishbewildermenttomadness,andtorethepillowwithherteeth;thenraisingherselfupallburning,desiredthatIwouldopenthewindow.
Wewereinthemiddleofwinter,thewindblewstrongfromthenorth-east,andIobjected.
Boththeexpressionsflittingoverherface,andthechangesofhermoods,begantoalarmmeterribly;andbroughttomyrecollectionherformerillness,andthedoctor’sinjunctionthatsheshouldnotbecrossed.
Aminutepreviouslyshewasviolent;now,supportedononearm,andnotnoticingmyrefusaltoobeyher,sheseemedtofindchildishdiversioninpullingthefeathersfromtherentsshehadjustmade,andrangingthemonthesheetaccordingtotheirdifferentspecies:hermindhadstrayedtootherassociations.
“That’saturkey’s,”shemurmuredtoherself;“andthisisawildduck’s;andthisisapigeon’s.
Ah,theyputpigeons’feathersinthepillows—nowonderIcouldn’tdie!
LetmetakecaretothrowitonthefloorwhenIliedown!
Andhereisamoor-cock’s;andthis—Ishouldknowitamongathousand—it’salapwing’s.
Bonnybird;wheelingoverourheadsinthemiddleofthemoor.
Itwantedtogettoitsnest,forthecloudshadtouchedtheswells,anditfeltraincoming.
Thisfeatherwaspickedupfromtheheath,thebirdwasnotshot:wesawitsnestinthewinter,fulloflittleskeletons.
Heathcliffsetatrapoverit,andtheoldonesdarenotcome.
Imadehimpromisehe’dnevershootalapwingafterthat,andhedidn’t.Yes,herearemore!Didheshootmylapwings,Nelly?Aretheyred,anyofthem!Letmelook.”
“Giveoverwiththatbaby-work!”Iinterrupted,draggingthepillowaway,andturningtheholestowardsthemattress,forshewasremovingitscontentsbyhandfuls.
“Liedownandshutyoureyes:you’rewandering.There’samess!Thedownisflyingaboutlikesnow.”
Iwenthereandtherecollectingit.
“Iseeinyou,Nelly,”shecontinueddreamily,“anagedwoman:youhavegreyhairandbentshoulders.
ThisbedisthefairycaveunderPenistoneCrag,andyouaregatheringelf-boltstohurtourheifers;pretending,whileIamnear,thattheyareonlylocksofwool.
That’swhatyou’llcometofiftyyearshence:Iknowyouarenotsonow.
I’mnotwandering:you’remistaken,orelseIshouldbelieveyoureallywerethatwitheredhag,andIshouldthinkIwasunderPenistoneCrag;andI’mconsciousit’snight;andtherearetwocandlesonthetablemakingtheblackpressshinelikejet.”
“Theblackpress?whereisthat?”Iasked.“Youaretalkinginyoursleep!”
“It’sagainstthewall,asitalwaysis,”shereplied.“Itdoesappearodd—Iseeafaceinit!”
“There’snopressintheroom,andneverwas,”saidI,resumingmyseat,andloopingupthecurtainsthatImightwatchher.
“Don’tyouseethatface?”sheenquired,gazingearnestlyatthemirror.
AndsaywhatIcould,Iwasincapableofmakinghercomprehendittobeherown;soIroseandcovereditwithashawl.
“It’sbehindtherestill!”shepursuedanxiously.“Anditstirred.Whoisit?Ihopeitwillnotcomeoutwhenyouaregone!Oh!Nelly,theroomishaunted!I’mafraidofbeingalone!”
Itookherhandinmine,andbidherbecomposed:forasuccessionofshuddersconvulsedherframe,andshewouldkeepstraininghergazetowardstheglass.
“There’snobodyhere!”Iinsisted.“ItwasyourselfMrs.Linton:youknewitawhilesince.”
“Myself!”shegasped,“andtheclockisstrikingtwelve!It’strue,then!that’sdreadful!”
Herfingersclutchedtheclothes,andgatheredthemoverhereyes.
Iattemptedtostealtothedoorwithanintentionofcallingherhusband;butIwassummonedbackbyapiercingshriek—theshawlhaddroppedfromtheframe.
“Why,whatisthematter?”criedI.“Whoiscowardnow?Wakeup!Thatistheglass—themirror,Mrs.Linton;andyouseeyourselfinit,andthereamItoo,byyourside.”
Tremblingandbewildered,sheheldmefast,butthehorrorgraduallypassedfromhercountenance;itspalenessgaveplacetoaglowofshame.
“Oh,dear!IthoughtIwasathome,”shesighed.
“IthoughtIwaslyinginmychamberatWutheringHeights.
BecauseI’mweak,mybraingotconfused,andIscreamedunconsciously.Don’tsayanything;butstaywithme.Idreadsleeping:mydreamsappallme.”
“Asoundsleepwoulddoyougood,ma’am,”Ianswered;“andIhopethissufferingwillpreventyourtryingstarvingagain.”
“Oh,ifIwereputinmyownbedintheoldhouse!”
shewentonbitterly,wringingherhands,“Andthatwindsoundinginthefirsbythelattice.
Doletmefeelit—itcomesstraightdownthemoor—doletmehaveonebreath!”
Topacifyher,Iheldthecasementajarafewseconds.
Acoldblastrushedthrough;Iclosedit,andreturnedtomypost.
Shelaystillnow,herfacebathedintears.
Exhaustionofbodyhadentirelysubduedherspirit:ourfieryCatherinewasnobetterthanawailingchild.
“HowlongisitsinceIshutmyselfinhere?”sheasked,suddenlyreviving.
“ItwasMondayevening,”Ireplied,“andthisisThursdaynight,orratherFridaymorning,atpresent.”
“What!ofthesameweek?”sheexclaimed.“Onlythatbrieftime?”
“Longenoughtoliveonnothingbutcoldwaterandill-temper,”observedI.
“Well,itseemsawearynumberofhours,”shemuttereddoubtfully:“itmustbemore.
Irememberbeingintheparlouraftertheyhadquarrelled,andEdgarbeingcruellyprovoking,andmerunningintothisroomdesperate.
AssoonaseverIhadbarredthedoor,utterblacknessoverwhelmedme,andIfellonthefloor.
Icouldn’texplaintoEdgarhowcertainIfeltofhavingafit,orgoingragingmad,ifhepersistedinteasingme!
Ihadnocommandoftongue,orbrain,andhedidnotguessmyagony,perhaps:itbarelyleftmesensetotrytoescapefromhimandhisvoice.
BeforeIrecoveredsufficientlytoseeandhear,itbegantobedawn,and,Nelly,I’lltellyouwhatIthought,andwhathaskeptrecurringandrecurringtillIfearedformyreason.
IthoughtasIlaythere,withmyheadagainstthattableleg,andmyeyesdimlydiscerningthegreysquareofthewindow,thatIwasenclosedintheoak-panelledbedathome;andmyheartachedwithsomegreatgriefwhich,justwaking,Icouldnotrecollect.
Ipondered,andworriedmyselftodiscoverwhatitcouldbe,and,moststrangely,thewholelastsevenyearsofmylifegrewablank!
Ididnotrecallthattheyhadbeenatall.
Iwasachild;myfatherwasjustburied,andmymiseryarosefromtheseparationthatHindleyhadorderedbetweenmeandHeathcliff.
Iwaslaidalone,forthefirsttime;and,rousingfromadismaldozeafteranightofweeping,Iliftedmyhandtopushthepanelsaside:itstruckthetable-top!
Isweptitalongthecarpet,andthenmemoryburstin:mylateanguishwasswallowedinaparoxysmofdespair.
IcannotsaywhyIfeltsowildlywretched:itmusthavebeentemporaryderangement;forthereisscarcelycause.
But,supposingattwelveyearsoldIhadbeenwrenchedfromtheHeights,andeveryearlyassociation,andmyallinall,asHeathcliffwasatthattime,andbeenconvertedatastrokeintoMrs.Linton,theladyofThrushcrossGrange,andthewifeofastranger:anexile,andoutcast,thenceforth,fromwhathadbeenmyworld.
YoumayfancyaglimpseoftheabysswhereIgrovelled!
Shakeyourheadasyouwill,Nelly,youhavehelpedtounsettleme!
YoushouldhavespokentoEdgar,indeedyoushould,andcompelledhimtoleavemequiet!Oh,I’mburning!IwishIwereoutofdoors!
IwishIwereagirlagain,halfsavageandhardy,andfree;andlaughingatinjuries,notmaddeningunderthem!WhyamIsochanged?
whydoesmybloodrushintoahelloftumultatafewwords?
I’msureIshouldbemyselfwereIonceamongtheheatheronthosehills.
Openthewindowagainwide:fastenitopen!Quick,whydon’tyoumove?”
“BecauseIwon’tgiveyouyourdeathofcold,”Ianswered.
“Youwon’tgivemeachanceoflife,youmean,”shesaidsullenly.“However,I’mnothelpless,yet:I’llopenitmyself.”
AndslidingfromthebedbeforeIcouldhinderher,shecrossedtheroom,walkingveryuncertainly,threwitback,andbentout,carelessofthefrostyairthatcutabouthershouldersaskeenasaknife.
Ientreated,andfinallyattemptedtoforcehertoretire.
ButIsoonfoundherdeliriousstrengthmuchsurpassedmine(shewasdelirious,Ibecameconvincedbyhersubsequentactionsandravings).
Therewasnomoon,andeverythingbeneathlayinmistydarkness:notalightgleamedfromanyhouse,farornear—allhadbeenextinguishedlongago;andthoseatWutheringHeightswerenevervisible—stillsheassertedshecaughttheirshining.
“Look!”shecriedeagerly,“that’smyroomwiththecandleinit,andthetreesswayingbeforeit:andtheothercandleisinJoseph’sgarret.Josephsitsuplate,doesn’the?
He’swaitingtillIcomehomethathemaylockthegate.Well,he’llwaitawhileyet.
It’saroughjourney,andasadhearttotravelit;andwemustpassbyGimmertonKirk,togothatjourney!
We’vebraveditsghostsoftentogether,anddaredeachothertostandamongthegravesandaskthemtocome.
But,Heathcliff,ifIdareyounow,willyouventure?Ifyoudo,I’llkeepyou.
I’llnotlietherebymyself:theymayburymetwelvefeetdeep,andthrowthechurchdownoverme,butIwon’tresttillyouarewithme.Ineverwill!”
Shepaused,andresumedwithastrangesmile.“He’sconsidering—he’dratherI’dcometohim!Findaway,then!notthroughthatkirkyard.Youareslow!Becontent,youalwaysfollowedme!”
Perceivingitvaintoargueagainstherinsanity,IwasplanninghowIcouldreachsomethingtowrapabouther,withoutquittingmyholdofherself,forIcouldnottrustheralonebythegapinglattice),when,tomyconsternation,Iheardtherattleofthedoor-handle,andMr.Lintonentered.
Hehadonlythencomefromthelibrary;and,inpassingthroughthelobby,hadnoticedourtalkingandbeenattractedbycuriosity,orfear,toexaminewhatitsignified,atthatlatehour.
“Oh,sir!”Icried,checkingtheexclamationrisentohislipsatthesightwhichmethim,andthebleakatmosphereofthechamber.
“Mypoormistressisill,andshequitemastersme:Icannotmanageheratall;pray,comeandpersuadehertogotobed.
Forgetyouranger,forshe’shardtoguideanywaybutherown.”
“Catherineill?”hesaid,hasteningtous.“Shutthewindow,Ellen!Catherine!why-”
Hewassilent.ThehaggardnessofMrs.Linton’sappearancesmotehimspeechless,andhecouldonlyglancefromhertomeinhorrifiedastonishment.
“She’sbeenfrettinghere”Icontinued,“andeatingscarcelyanything,andnevercomplaining;shewouldadmitnoneofustillthisevening,andsowecouldn’tinformyouofherstateaswewerenotawareofitourselves;butitisnothing.”
IfeltIutteredmyexplanationsawkwardly;themasterfrowned.“Itisnothing,isit,EllenDean?”hesaidsternly.
“Youshallaccountmoreclearlyforkeepingmeignorantofthis!”
Andhetookhiswifeinhisarms,andlookedatherwithanguish.
Atfirstshegavehimnoglanceofrecognition;hewasinvisibletoherabstractedgaze.
Thedeliriumwasnotfixed,however;havingweanedhereyesfromcontemplatingtheouterdarkness,bydegreesshecenteredherattentiononhim,anddiscoveredwhoitwasthatheldher.
“Ah!youarecome,areyou,EdgarLinton?”shesaid,withangryanimation.
“Youareoneofthosethingsthatareeverfoundwhenleastwanted,andwhenyouarewanted,never!
Isupposeweshallhaveplentyoflamentationsnow—Iseeweshall—buttheycan’tkeepmefrommynarrowhomeoutyonder:myresting-place,whereI’mboundbeforespringisover!
Thereitis:notamongtheLintons,mind,underthechapel-roof,butintheopenair,withaheadstone;andyoumaypleaseyourself,whetheryougotothemorcometome!”
“Catherine,whathaveyoudone?”commencedthemaster.“AmInothingtoyouanymore?DoyoulovethatwretchHeath-”
“Hush!”criedMrs.Linton.“Hush,thismoment!
YoumentionthatnameandIendthematterinstantly,byaspringfromthewindow!
Whatyoutouchatpresentyoumayhave;butmysoulwillbeonthathill-topbeforeyoulayhandsonmeagain.Idon’twantyou.Edgar:I’mpastwantingyou.Returntoyourbooks.
I’mgladyoupossessaconsolation,forallyouhadinmeisgone.”
“Hermindwanders,sir,”Iinterposed.“Shehasbeentalkingnonsensethewholeevening;butletherhavequiet,andproperattendance,andshe’llrally.
Hereafter,wemustbecautioushowwevexher.”
“Idesirenofurtheradvicefromyou,”answeredMr.Linton.
“Youknowyourmistress’snature,andyouencouragedmetoharassher.
Andnottogivemeonehintofhowshehadbeenthesethreedays!Itwasheartless!
Monthsofsicknesscouldnotcausesuchachange!”
Ibegantodefendmyself,thinkingittoobadtobeblamedforanother’swickedwaywardness.
“IknewMrs.Linton’snaturetobeheadstronganddomineering,”criedI;“butIdidn’tknowthatyouwishedtofosterherfiercetemper!
Ididn’tknowthat,tohumourher,IshouldwinkatMr.Heathcliff.
Iperformedthedutyofafaithfulservantintellingyou,andIhavegotafaithfulservant’swages!
Well,itwillteachmetobecarefulnexttime.
Nexttimeyoumaygatherintelligenceforyourself!”
“Thenexttimeyoubringataletome,youshallquitmyservice,EllenDean,”hereplied.
“You’dratherhearnothingaboutit,Isuppose,then,Mr.Linton?”
saidI.“Heathcliffhasyourpermissiontocomeacourtingtomiss,andtodropinateveryopportunityyourabsenceoffers,onpurposetopoisonthemistressagainstyou?”
ConfusedasCatherinewas,herwitswerealertatapplyingourconversation.
“Ah!Nellyhasplayedtraitor,”sheexclaimedpassionately.“Nellyismyhiddenenemy.Youwitch!Soyoudoseekelfboltstohurtus!Letmego,I’llmakeherrue!I’llmakeherhowlarecantation!”
Amaniac’sfurykindledunderherbrows;shestruggleddesperatelytodisengageherselffromLinton’sarms.
Ifeltnoinclinationtotarrytheevent;and,resolvingtoseekmedicalaidonmyownresponsibility,Iquittedthechamber.
Inpassingthegardentoreachtheroad,ataplacewhereabridlehookisdrivenintothewall,Isawsomethingwhitemovedirregularly,evidentlybyanotheragentthanthewind.
Notwithstandingmyhurry,Istayedtoexamineit,lesteverafterIshouldhavetheconvictionimpressedonmyimaginationthatitwasacreatureoftheotherworld.
Mysurpriseandperplexityweregreatondiscovering,bytouchmorethanvision,MissIsabella’sspringer,Fanny,suspendedbyahandkerchief,andnearlyatitslastgasp.
Iquicklyreleasedtheanimal,andlifteditintothegarden.
Ihadseenitfollowitsmistressupstairswhenshewenttobed;andwonderedmuchhowitcouldhavegotoutthere,andwhatmischievouspersonhadtreateditso.
Whileuntyingtheknotroundthehook,itseemedtomethatIrepeatedlycaughtthebeatofhorses’feetgallopingatsomedistance;butthereweresuchanumberofthingstooccupymyreflectionsthatIhardlygavethecircumstanceathought:thoughitwasastrangesound,inthatplace,attwoo’clockinthemorning.
Mr.KennethwasfortunatelyjustissuingfromhishousetoseeapatientinthevillageasIcameupthestreet;andmyaccountofCatherineLinton’smaladyinducedhimtoaccompanymebackimmediately.
Hewasaplainroughman;andhemadenoscrupletospeakhisdoubtsofhersurvivingthissecondattack;unlesssheweremoresubmissivetohisdirectionsthanshehadshownherselfbefore.
“NellyDean,”saidhe,“Ican’thelpfancyingthere’sanextracauseforthis.
WhathastherebeentodoattheGrange?We’veoddreportsuphere.
Astout,heartylasslikeCatherine,doesnotfallillforatrifle;andthatsortofpeopleshouldnoteither.
It’shardworkbringingthemthroughfevers,andsuchthings.Howdiditbegin?”
“Themasterwillinformyou,”Ianswered;“butyouareacquaintedwiththeEarnshaws’violentdispositions,andMrs.Lintoncapsthemall.
Imaysaythis:itcommencedinaquarrel.
Shewasstruckduringatempestofpassionwithakindoffit.
That’sheraccount,atleast;forsheflewoffintheheightofit,andlockedherselfup.
Afterwards,sherefusedtoeat,andnowshealternatelyravesandremainsinahalfdream;knowingthoseabouther,buthavinghermindfilledwithallsortsofstrangeideasandillusions.”
“Mr.Lintonwillbesorry?”observedKenneth,interrogatively.
“Sorry?he’llbreakhisheartshouldanythinghappen!”Ireplied.“Don’talarmhimmorethannecessary.”
“Well,Itoldhimtobeware,”saidmycompanion;“andhemustbidetheconsequencesofneglectingmywarning!Hasn’thebeenintimatewithMr.Heathcliff,lately?”
“HeathclifffrequentlyvisitsattheGrange,”answeredI,“thoughmoreonthestrengthofthemistresshavingknownhimwhenaboy,thanbecausethemasterlikeshiscompany.
Atpresent,he’sdischargedfromthetroubleofcalling;owingtosomepresumptuousaspirationsafterMissLintonwhichhemanifested.
Ihardlythinkhe’llbetakeninagain.”
“AnddoesMissLintonturnacoldshoulderonhim?”wasthedoctor’snextquestion.
“I’mnotinherconfidence,”returnedI,reluctanttocontinuethesubject.
“No,she’saslyone,”heremarked,shakinghishead.“Shekeepsherowncounsel!Butshe’sareallittlefool.
Ihaveitfromgoodauthority,that,lastnight(andaprettynightitwas!)
sheandHeathcliffwerewalkingintheplantationatthebackofyourhouse,abovetwohours;andhepressedhernottogoinagain,butjustmounthishorseandawaywithhim!
Myinformantsaidshecouldonlyputhimoffbypledgingherwordofhonourtobepreparedontheirfirstmeetingafterthat:whenitwastobe,hedidn’thear;butyouurgeMr.Lintontolooksharp!”
Thisnewsfilledmewithfreshfears:IoutstrippedKenneth,andranmostofthewayback.
Thelittledogwasyelpinginthegardenyet.
Isparedaminutetoopenthegateforit,butinsteadofgoingtothehousedoor,itcoursedupanddownsnuffingthegrass,andwouldhaveescapedtotheroad,hadInotseizedandconveyeditinwithme.
OnascendingtoIsabella’sroom,mysuspicionswereconfirmed:itwasempty.
HadIbeenafewhourssooner,Mrs.Linton’sillnessmighthavearrestedherrashstep.Butwhatcouldbedonenow?
Therewasabarepossibilityofovertakingthemifpursuedinstantly.
Icouldnotpursuethem,however;andIdarenotrousethefamily,andfilltheplacewithconfusion;stilllessunfoldthebusinesstomymaster,absorbedashewasinhispresentcalamity,andhavingnohearttospareforasecondgrief!
Isawnothingforitbuttoholdmytongue,andsuffermatterstotaketheircourse;andKennethbeingarrived,Iwentwithabadlycomposedcountenancetoannouncehim.
Catherinelayinatroubledsleep:herhusbandhadsucceededinsoothingtheexcessoffrenzy:henowhungoverherpillow,watchingeveryshade,andeverychangeofherpainfullyexpressivefeatures.
Thedoctor,onexaminingthecaseforhimself,spokehopefullytohimofitshavingafavourabletermination,ifwecouldonlypreservearoundherperfectandconstanttranquillity.
Tome,hesignifiedthethreateningdangerwasnotsomuchdeath,aspermanentalienationofintellect.
Ididnotclosemyeyesthatnight,nordidMr.Linton:indeed,weneverwenttobed;andtheservantswerealluplongbeforetheusualhour,movingthroughthehousewithstealthytread,andexchangingwhispersastheyencounteredeachotherintheirvocations.
Everyonewasactive,butMissIsabella;andtheybegantoremarkhowsoundsheslept:herbrother,too,askedifshehadrisen,andseemedimpatientforherpresence,andhurtthatsheshowedsolittleanxietyforhersister-in-law.
Itrembledlestheshouldsendmetocallher;butIwassparedthepainofbeingthefirstproclamationofherflight.
Oneofthemaids,athoughtlessgirl,whohadbeenonanearlyerrandtoGimmerton,camepantingupstairs,openmouthed,anddashedintothechamber,crying:
“Oh,dear,dear!Whatmunwehavenext?Master,master,ouryounglady!”
“Holdyournoise!”criedIhastily,enragedatherclamorousmanner.
“Speaklower,Mary—Whatisthematter?”saidMr.Linton.“Whatailsyouryounglady?”
“She’sgone,she’sgone!Yon’Heathcliff’srunoffwi’her!”gaspedthegirl.
“Thatisnottrue!”exclaimedLinton,risinginagitation.“Itcannotbe:howhastheideaenteredyourhead?EllenDean,goandseekher.Itisincredible:itcannotbe.”
Ashespokehetooktheservanttothedoor,andthenrepeatedhisdemandtoknowherreasonsforsuchanassertion.
“Why,Imetontheroadaladthatfetchesmilkhere.”
shestammered,“andheaskedwhetherweweren’tintroubleattheGrange.
Ithoughthemeantformissis’ssickness,soIanswered,yes.
Thensayshe,‘There’ssomebodygoneafter‘em,Iguess!’Istared.
HesawIknewnoughtaboutit,andhetoldhowagentlemanandladyhadstoppedtohaveahorse’sshoefastenedatablacksmith’sshop,twomilesoutofGimmerton,notverylongaftermidnight!
andhowtheblacksmith’slasshadgotuptospywhotheywere:sheknewthembothdirectly.
Andshenoticedtheman—Heathcliffitwas,shefeltcertain:nob’dycouldmistakehimbesides—putasovereigninherfather’shandforpayment.
Theladyhadacloakaboutherface;buthavingdesiredasupofwater,whileshedrank,itfellback,andshesawherveryplain.
Heathcliffheldbothbridlesastheyrodeon,andtheysettheirfacesfromthevillage,andwentasfastastheroughroadswouldletthem.
Thelasssaidnothingtoherfather,butshetolditalloverGimmertonthismorning.”
Iranandpeeped,forform’ssake,intoIsabella’sroom;confirming,whenIreturned,theservant’sstatement.
Mr.Lintonhadresumedhisseatbythebed;onmyre-entrance,heraisedhiseyes,readthemeaningofmyblankaspect,anddroppedthemwithoutgivinganorder,orutteringaword.
“Arewetotryanymeasuresforovertakingandbringingherback?”Ienquired.“Howshouldwedo?”
“Shewentofherownaccord,”answeredthemaster;“shehadarighttogoifshepleased.Troublemenomoreabouther.
Hereaftersheisonlymysisterinname:notbecauseIdisownher,butbecauseshehasdisownedme.”
Andthatwasallhesaidonthesubject:hedidnotmakeasingleenquiryfurther,ormentionherinanyway,exceptdirectingmetosendwhatpropertyshehadinthehousetoherfreshhome,whereveritwas,whenIknewit.
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