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ASSOONasIhadperusedthisepistle,Iwenttothemaster,andinformedhimthathissisterhadarrivedattheHeights,andsentmealetterexpressinghersorrowforMrs.Linton’ssituation,andherardentdesiretoseehim;withawishthathewouldtransmittoher,asearlyaspossible,sometokenofforgivenessbyme.
“Forgiveness!”saidLinton.“Ihavenothingtoforgiveher,Ellen.
YoumaycallatWutheringHeightsthisafternoon,ifyoulike,andsaythatIamnotangry,butI’msorrytohavelosther;especiallyasIcanneverthinkshe’llbehappy.
Itisoutofthequestionmygoingtoseeher,however:weareeternallydivided;andshouldshereallywishtoobligeme,letherpersuadethevillainshehasmarriedtoleavethecountry.”
“Andyouwon’twriteheralittlenote,sir?”Iaskedimploringly.
“No,”heanswered.“Itisneedless.MycommunicationwithHeathcliff’sfamilyshallbeassparingashiswithmine.Itshallnotexist!”
Mr.Edgar’scoldnessdepressedmeexceedingly;andallthewayfromtheGrangeIpuzzledmybrainshowtoputmoreheartintowhathesaid,whenIrepeatedit;andhowtosoftenhisrefusalofevenafewlinestoconsoleIsabella.
Idaresayshehadbeenonthewatchformesincemorning:Isawherlookingthroughthelattice,asIcameupthegardencauseway,andInoddedtoher;butshedrewback,asifafraidofbeingobserved.Ienteredwithoutknocking.
Thereneverwassuchadreary,dismalsceneastheformerlycheerfulhousepresented!
Imustconfess,thatifIhadbeenintheyounglady’splace,Iwould,atleast,havesweptthehearth,andwipedthetableswithaduster.
Butshealreadypartookofthepervadingspiritofneglectwhichencompassedher.
Herprettyfacewaswanandlistless;herhairuncurled:somelockshanginglanklydown,andsomecarelesslytwistedroundherhead.
Probablyshehadnottouchedherdresssinceyesterevening.Hindleywasnotthere.
Mr.Heathcliffsatatatable,turningoversomepapersinhispocket-book;butherosewhenIappeared,askedmehowIdid,quitefriendly,andofferedmeachair.
Hewastheonlythingtherethatseemeddecent:andIthoughtheneverlookedbetter.
Somuchhadcircumstancesalteredtheirpositions,thathewouldcertainlyhavestruckastrangerasabornandbredgentleman;andhiswifeasathoroughlittleslattern!
Shecameforwardeagerlytogreetme;andheldoutonehandtotaketheexpectedletter.Ishookmyhead.
Shewouldn’tunderstandthehint,butfollowedmetoasideboard,whereIwenttolaymybonnet,andimportunedmeinawhispertogiveherdirectlywhatIhadbrought.
Heathcliffguessedthemeaningofhermanoeuvres,andsaid:
“IfyouhavegotanythingforIsabella(asnodoubtyouhave,Nelly),giveittoher.Youneedn’tmakeasecretofit!wehavenosecretsbetweenus.”
“Oh,Ihavenothing,”Ireplied,thinkingitbesttospeakthetruthatonce.
“Mymasterbidmetellhissisterthatshemustnotexpecteitheraletteroravisitfromhimatpresent.
Hesendshislove,ma’am,andhiswishesforyourhappiness,andhispardonforthegriefyouhaveoccasioned;buthethinksthatafterthistime,hishouseholdandthehouseholdhereshoulddropintercommunication,asnothingcouldcomeofkeepingitup.”
Mrs.Heathcliff’slipquiveredslightly,andshereturnedtoherseatinthewindow.
Herhusbandtookhisstandonthehearthstone,nearme,andbegantoputquestionsconcerningCatherine.
ItoldhimasmuchasIthoughtproperofherillness,andheextortedfromme,bycross-examination,mostofthefactsconnectedwithitsorigin.
Iblamedher,asshedeserved,forbringingitallonherself;andendedbyhopingthathewouldfollowMr.Linton’sexampleandavoidfutureinterferencewithhisfamily,forgoodorevil.
“Mrs.Lintonisnowjustrecovering,”Isaid;“she’llneverbelikeshewas,butherlifeisspared;andifyoureallyhavearegardforher,you’llshuncrossingherwayagain:nay,you’llmoveoutofthiscountryentirely;andthatyoumaynotregretit,I’llinformyouCatherineLintonisasdifferentnowfromyouroldfriendCatherineEarnshaw,asthatyoungladyisdifferentfromme.
Herappearanceischangedgreatly,hercharactermuchmoreso;andthepersonwhoiscompelled,ofnecessity,tobehercompanion,willonlysustainhisaffectionhereafterbytheremembranceofwhatsheoncewas,bycommonhumanity,andasenseofduty!”
“Thatisquitepossible,”remarkedHeathcliff,forcinghimselftoseemcalm:“quitepossiblethatyourmastershouldhavenothingbutcommonhumanityandasenseofdutytofallbackupon.
ButdoyouimaginethatIshallleaveCatherinetohisdutyandhumanity?
andcanyoucomparemyfeelingsrespectingCatherinetohis?
Beforeyouleavethishouse,Imustexactapromisefromyou,thatyou’llgetmeaninterviewwithher:consentorrefuse,Iwillseeher!Whatdoyousay?”
“Isay,Mr.Heathcliff,”Ireplied,“youmustnot:younevershall,throughmymeans.Anotherencounterbetweenyouandthemasterwouldkillheraltogether.”
“Withyouraid,thatmaybeavoided,”hecontinued;“andshouldtherebedangerofsuchanevent—shouldhebethecauseofaddingasingletroublemoretoherexistence—why,IthinkIshallbejustifiedingoingtoextremes!
IwishyouhadsincerityenoughtotellmewhetherCatherinewouldsuffergreatlyfromhisloss:thefearthatshewouldrestrainsme.
Andthereyouseethedistinctionsbetweenourfeelings:hadhebeeninmyplace,andIinhis,thoughIhatedhimwithahatredthatturnedmylifetogall,Ineverwouldhaveraisedahandagainsthim.
Youmaylookincredulous,ifyouplease!
Ineverwouldhavebanishedhimfromhersocietyaslongasshedesiredhis.
Themomentherregardceased,Iwouldhavetornhisheartout,anddrunkhisblood!
But,tillthen—ifyoudon’tbelieveme,youdon’tknowme—tillthen,IwouldhavediedbyinchesbeforeItouchedasinglehairofhishead!”
“Andyet,”Iinterrupted,“youhavenoscruplesincompletelyruiningallhopesofherperfectrestoration,bythrustingyourselfintoherremembrancenow,whenshehasnearlyforgottenyou,andinvolvingherinanewtumultofdiscordanddistress.”
“Yousupposeshehasmerelyforgottenme?”hesaid.“Oh,Nelly!youknowshehasnot!
YouknowaswellasIdo,thatforeverythoughtshespendsonLinton,shespendsathousandonme!
Atamostmiserableperiodofmylife,Ihadanotionofthekind:ithauntedmeonmyreturntotheneighborhoodlastsummer;butonlyherownassurancecouldmakemeadmitthehorribleideaagain.
Andthen,Lintonwouldbenothing,norHindley,norallthedreamsthateverIdreamt.
Twowordswouldcomprehendmyfuture—deathandhell:existence,afterlosingher,wouldbehell.
YetIwasafooltofancyforamomentthatshevaluedEdgarLinton’sattachmentmorethanmine.
Ifhelovedwithallthepowersofhispunybeing,hecouldn’tloveasmuchineightyyearsasIcouldinaday.
AndCatherinehasaheartasdeepasIhave:theseacouldbeasreadilycontainedinthathorse-trough,asherwholeaffectionbemonopolisedbyhim!Tush!
Heisscarcelyadegreedearertoherthanherdog,orherhorse.
Itisnotinhimtobelovedlikeme:howcansheloveinhimwhathehasnot?”
“CatherineandEdgarareasfondofeachotherasanytwopeoplecanbe,”criedIsabella,withsuddenvivacity.
“Noonehasarighttotalkinthatmanner,andIwon’thearmybrotherdepreciatedinsilence!”
“Yourbrotheriswondrousfondofyoutoo,isn’the?”observedHeathcliffscornfully.“Heturnsyouadriftontheworldwithsurprisingalacrity.”
“HeisnotawareofwhatIsuffer,”shereplied.“Ididn’ttellhimthat.”
“Youhavebeentellinghimsomething,then:youhavewritten,haveyou?”
“TosaythatIwasmarried,Ididwrite—yousawthenote.”
“Andnothingsince?”
“No.”
“Myyoungladyislookingsadlytheworseforherchangeofcondition,”Iremarked.“Somebody’slovecomesshortinhercase,obviously:whose,Imayguess;but,perhaps,Ishouldn’tsay.”
“Ishouldguessitwasherown,”saidHeathcliff.“Shedegeneratesintoamereslut!
Sheistiredoftryingtopleasemeuncommonlyearly.
You’dhardlycreditit,buttheverymorrowofourwedding,shewasweepingtogohome.
However,she’llsuitthishousesomuchthebetterfornotbeingovernice,andI’lltakecareshedoesnotdisgracemebyramblingabroad.”
“Well,sir,”returnedI,“Ihopeyou’llconsiderthatMrs.Heathcliffisaccustomedtobelookedafterandwaitedon;andthatshehasbeenbroughtuplikeanonlydaughter,whomeveryonewasreadytoserve.
Youmustletherhaveamaidtokeepthingstidyabouther,andyoumusttreatherkindly.
WhateverbeyournotionofMr.Edgar,youcannotdoubtthatshehasacapacityforstrongattachments,orshewouldn’thaveabandonedtheelegances,andcomforts,andfriendsofherformerhome,tofixcontentedly,insuchawildernessasthis,withyou.”
“Sheabandonedthemunderadelusion,”heanswered;“picturinginmeaheroofromance,andexpectingunlimitedindulgencesfrommychivalrousdevotion.
Icanhardlyregardherinthelightofarationalcreature,soobstinatelyhasshepersistedinformingafabulousnotionofmycharacterandactingonthefalseimpressionsshecherished.
But,atlast,Ithinkshebeginstoknowme:Idon’tperceivethesillysmilesandgrimacesthatprovokedmeatfirst;andthesenselessincapabilityofdiscerningthatIwasinearnestwhenIgavehermyopinionofherinfatuationandherself.
ItwasamarvellouseffortofperspicacitytodiscoverthatIdidnotloveher.
Ibelieved,atonetime,nolessonscouldteachherthat!
Andyetitispoorlylearnt;forthismorningsheannounced,asapieceofappallingintelligence,thatIhadactuallysucceededinmakingherhateme!
ApositivelabourofHercules,Iassureyou!
Ifitbeachieved,Ihavecausetoreturnthanks.CanItrustyourassertion,Isabella?Areyousureyouhateme?
IfIletyoualoneforhalfaday,won’tyoucomesighingandwheedlingtomeagain?
IdaresayshewouldratherIhadseemedalltendernessbeforeyou:itwoundshervanitytohavethetruthexposed.
ButIdon’tcarewhoknowsthatthepassionwaswhollyononeside;andInevertoldheralieaboutit.
Shecannotaccusemeofshowingonebitofdeceitfulsoftness.
Thefirstthingshesawmedo,oncomingoutoftheGrange,wastohangupherlittledog;andwhenshepleadedforit,thefirstwordsIutteredwereawishthatIhadthehangingofeverybeingbelongingtoher,exceptone:possiblyshetookthatexceptionforherself.
Butnobrutalitydisgustedher:Isupposeshehasaninnateadmirationofit,ifonlyherpreciouspersonweresecurefrominjury!
Now,wasitnotthedepthofabsurdity—ofgenuineidiocy,forthatpitiful,slavish,mean-mindedbrachtodreamthatIcouldloveher?
Tellyourmaster,Nelly,thatInever,inallmylife,metwithsuchanabjectthingassheis.
SheevendisgracesthenameofLinton;andI’vesometimesrelented,frompurelackofinvention,inmyexperimentsonwhatshecouldendure,andstillcreepshamefullycringingback!
Buttellhim,also,tosethisfraternalandmagisterialheartatease:thatIkeepstrictlywithinthelimitsofthelaw.
Ihaveavoided,uptothisperiod,givinghertheslightestrighttoclaimaseparation;and,what’smore,she’dthanknobodyfordividingus.
Ifshedesiredtogo,shemight:thenuisanceofherpresenceoutweighsthegratificationtobederivedfromtormentingher!”
“Mr.Heathcliff,”saidI,“thisisthetalkofamadman;yourwife,mostlikely,isconvincedyouaremad;and,forthatreason,shehasbornewithyouhitherto:butnowthatyousayshemaygo,she’lldoubtlessavailherselfofthepermission.
Youarenotsobewitchedma’am,areyou,astoremainwithhimofyourownaccord?”
“Takecare,Ellen!”answeredIsabella,hereyessparklingirefully;therewasnomisdoubtingbytheirexpressionthefullsuccessofherpartner’sendeavourstomakehimselfdetested.
“Don’tputfaithinasinglewordhespeaks.He’salyingfiend!amonster,andnotahumanbeing!
I’vebeentoldImightleavehimbefore;andI’vemadetheattempt,butIdarenotrepeatit!
Only,Ellen,promiseyou’llnotmentionasyllableofhisinfamousconversationtomybrotherorCatherine.
Whateverhemaypretend,hewishestoprovokeEdgartodesperation:hesayshehasmarriedmeonpurposetoobtainpoweroverhim;andheshan’tobtainit—I’lldiefirst!
Ijusthope,Ipray,thathemayforgethisdiabolicalprudenceandkillme!
ThesinglepleasureIcanimagineistodieorseehimdead!”
“There—thatwilldoforthepresent!”saidHeathcliff“Ifyouarecalleduponinacourtoflaw,you’llrememberherlanguage,Nelly!
Andtakeagoodlookatthatcountenance:she’snearthepointwhichwouldsuitme.
No;you’renotfittobeyourownguardian,Isabella,now;andI,beingyourlegalprotector,mustdetainyouinmycustody,howeverdistastefultheobligationmaybe.
Goupstairs;IhavesomethingtosaytoEllenDeaninprivate.
That’snottheway:upstairs,Itellyou!Why,thisistheroadupstairs,child!”
Heseized,andthrustherfromtheroom:andreturnedmuttering:
“Ihavenopity!Ihavenopity!
Themorethewormswrithe,themoreIyearntocrushouttheirentrails!
Itisamoralteething;andIgrindwithgreaterenergy,inproportiontotheincreaseofpain.”
“Doyouunderstandwhatthewordpitymeans?”Isaid,hasteningtoresumemybonnet.“Didyoueverfeelatouchofitinyourlife?”
“Putthatdown!”heinterrupted,perceivingmyintentiontodepart.“Youarenotgoingyet.
Comeherenow,Nelly;ImusteitherpersuadeorcompelyoutoaidmeinfulfillingmydeterminationtoseeCatherine,andthatwithoutdelay.
IswearthatImeditatenoharm:Idon’tdesiretocauseanydisturbance,ortoexasperateorinsultMr.Linton;Ionlywishtohearfromherselfhowsheis,andwhyshehasbeenill;andtoaskifanythingthatIcoulddowouldbeofusetoher.
Lastnight,IwasintheGrangegardensixhours,andI’llreturntheretonight;andeverynightI’llhaunttheplace,andeveryday,tillIfindanopportunityofentering.
IfEdgarLintonmeetsme,Ishallnothesitatetoknockhimdown,andgivehimenoughtoinsurehisquiescencewhileIstay.
Ifhisservantsopposeme,Ishallthreatenthemoffwiththesepistols.
Butwouldn’titbebettertopreventmycomingincontactwiththem,ortheirmaster?Andyoucoulddoitsoeasily.
I’dwarnyouwhenIcame,andthenyoumightletmeinunobserved,assoonasshewasalone,andwatchtillIdeparted,yourconsciencequitecalm:youwouldbehinderingmischief.”
Iprotestedagainstplayingthattreacherouspartinmyemployer’shouse:and,besides,IurgedthecrueltyandselfishnessofhisdestroyingMrs.Linton’stranquilityforhissatisfaction.
“Thecommonestoccurrencestartlesherpainfully,”Isaid.
“She’sallnerves,andshecouldn’tbearthesurprise,I’mpositive.Don’tpersist,sir!
orelse,Ishallbeobligedtoinformmymasterofyourdesigns;andhe’lltakemeasurestosecurehishouseanditsinmatesfromanysuchunwarrantableintrusions!”
“Inthatcase,I’lltakemeasurestosecureyou,woman!”
exclaimedHeathcliff;“youshallnotleaveWutheringHeightstillto-morrowmorning.
ItisafoolishstorytoassertthatCatherinecouldnotbeartoseeme;andastosuprisingher,Idon’tdesireit:youmustprepareher—askherifImaycome.
Yousayshenevermentionedmyname,andthatIamnevermentionedtoher.
TowhomshouldshementionmeifIamaforbiddentopicinthehouse?
Shethinksyouareallspiesforherhusband.
Oh,I’venodoubtshe’sinhellamongyou!
Iguessbyhersilence,asmuchasanything,whatshefeels.
Yousaysheisoftenrestless,andanxious-looking;isthataproofoftranquillity?Youtalkofhermindbeingunsettled.
Howthedevilcoulditbeotherwiseinherfrightfulisolation?
Andthatinsipid,paltrycreatureattendingherfromdutyandhumanity!Frompityandcharity!
Hemightaswellplantanoakinaflowerpot,andexpectittothrive,asimaginehecanrestorehertovigourinthesoilofhisshallowcares!
Letussettleitatonce:willyoustayhere,andamItofightmywaytoCatherineoverLintonandhisfootman?
Orwillyoubemyfriend,asyouhavebeenhitherto,anddowhatIrequest?Decide!
becausethereisnoreasonformylingeringanotherminute,ifyoupersistinyourstubbornill-nature!”
Well,Mr.Lockwood,Iarguedandcomplained,andflatlyrefusedhimfiftytimes;butinthelongrunheforcedmetoanagreement.
Iengagedtocarryaletterfromhimtomymistress;andshouldsheconsent,IpromisedtolethimhaveintelligenceofLinton’snextabsencefromhome,whenhemightcome,andgetinashewasable:Iwouldn’tbethere,andmyfellow-servantsshouldbeequallyoutoftheway.Wasitrightorwrong?Ifearitwaswrong,thoughexpedient.
IthoughtIpreventedanotherexplosionbymycompliance;andIthought,too,itmightcreateafavourablecrisisinCatherine’smentalillness:andthenIrememberedMr.Edgar’ssternrebukeofmycarryingtales;andItriedtosmoothawayalldisquietudeonthesubject,byaffirming,withfrequentiteration,thatthatbetrayaloftrust,ifitmeritedsoharshanappellation,shouldbethelast.
Notwithstanding,myjourneyhomewardwassadderthanmyjourneythither;andmanymisgivingsIhad,ereIcouldprevailonmyselftoputthemissiveintoMrs.Linton’shand.
ButhereisKenneth;I’llgodown,andtellhimhowmuchbetteryouare.Myhistoryisdree,aswesay,andwillservetowhileawayanothermorning.
Dree,anddreary!Ireflectedasthegoodwomandescendedtoreceivethedoctor;andnotexactlyofthekindwhichIshouldhavechosentoamuseme.Butnevermind!
I’llextractwholesomemedicinesfromMrs.Dean’sbitterherbs;andfirstly,letmebewareofthefascinationthatlurksinCatherineHeathcliff’sbrillianteyes.
IshouldbeinacurioustakingifIsurrenderedmyhearttothatyoungperson,andthedaughterturnedoutasecondeditionofthemother!
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