English
ANOTHERweekover—andIamsomanydaysnearerhealth,andspring!
Ihavenowheardallmyneighbour’shistory,atdifferentsittings,asthehousekeepercouldsparetimefrommoreimportantoccupations.
I’llcontinueitinherownwords,onlyalittlecondensed.
Sheis,onthewhole,averyfairnarrator,andIdon’tthinkIcouldimproveherstyle.
Intheevening,shesaid,theeveningofmyvisittotheHeights,Iknew,aswellasifIsawhim,thatMr.Heathcliffwasabouttheplace;andIshunnedgoingout,becauseIstillcarriedhisletterinmypocket,anddidn’twanttobethreatenedorteasedanymore.
Ihadmadeupmymindnottogiveittillmymasterwentsomewhere,asIcouldnotguesshowitsreceiptwouldaffectCatherine.
Theconsequencewas,thatitdidnotreachherbeforethelapseofthreedays.
ThefourthwasSunday,andIbroughtitintoherroomafterthefamilyweregonetochurch.
Therewasaman-servantlefttokeepthehousewithme,andwegenerallymadeapracticeoflockingthedoorsduringthehoursofservice;butonthatoccasiontheweatherwassowarmandpleasantthatIsetthemwideopen,and,tofulfilmyengagement,asIknewwhowouldbecoming,Itoldmycompanionthatthemistresswishedverymuchforsomeoranges,andhemustrunovertothevillageandgetafew,tobepaidforonthemorrow.
Hedeparted,andIwentupstairs.
Mrs.Lintonsatinaloose,whitedress,withalightshawloverhershoulders,intherecessoftheopenwindow,asusual.
Herthick,longhairhadbeenpartlyremovedatthebeginningofherillness,andnowsheworeitsimplycombedinitsnaturaltressesoverhertemplesandneck.
Herappearancewasaltered,asIhadtoldHeathcliff;butwhenshewascalm,thereseemedunearthlybeautyinthechange.
Theflashofhereyeshadbeensucceededbyadreamyandmelancholysoftness;theynolongergavetheimpressionoflookingattheobjectsaroundher:theyappearedalwaystogazebeyond,andfarbeyond—youwouldhavesaidoutofthisworld.
Thenthepalenessofherface—itshaggardaspecthavingvanishedassherecoveredflesh—andthepeculiarexpressionarisingfromhermentalstate,thoughpainfullysuggestiveoftheircauses,addedtothetouchinginterestwhichsheawakened;and—invariablytome,Iknow,andtoanypersonwhosawher,Ishouldthink—refutedmoretangibleproofsofconvalescence,andstampedherasonedoomedtodecay.
Abooklayspreadonthesillbeforeher,andthescarcelyperceptiblewindfluttereditsleavesatintervals.
IbelieveLintonhadlaiditthere:forsheneverendeavouredtodivertherselfwithreading,oroccupationofanykind,andhewouldspendmanyanhourintryingtoenticeherattentiontosomesubjectwhichhadformerlybeenheramusement.
Shewasconsciousofhisaim,andinherbettermoodsenduredhiseffortsplacidly,onlyshowingtheiruselessnessbynowandthensuppressingaweariedsigh,andcheckinghimatlastwiththesaddestofsmilesandkisses.
Atothertimes,shewouldturnpetulantlyaway,andhideherfaceinherhands,orevenpushhimoffangrily;andthenhetookcaretoletheralone,forhewascertainofdoingnogood.
Gimmertonchapelbellswerestillringing;andthefull,mellowflowofthebeckinthevalleycamesoothinglyontheear.
Itwasasweetsubstitutefortheyetabsentmurmurofthesummerfoliage,whichdrownedthatmusicabouttheGrangewhenthetreeswereinleaf.
AtWutheringHeightsitalwayssoundedonquietdaysfollowingagreatthaworaseasonofsteadyrain.
AndofWutheringHeightsCatherinewasthinkingasshelistened:thatis,ifshethoughtorlistenedatall;butshehadthevague,distantlookImentionedbefore,whichexpressednorecognitionofmaterialthingseitherbyearoreye.
“There’saletterforyou,Mrs.Linton,”Isaidgentlyinsertingitinonehandthatrestedonherknee.
“Youmustreaditimmediately,becauseitwantsananswer.ShallIbreaktheseal?”
“Yes,”sheanswered,withoutalteringthedirectionofhereyes.Iopenedit—itwasveryshort.“Now,”Icontinued,“readit.”
Shedrewawayherhand,andletitfall.
Ireplaceditinherlap,andstoodwaitingtillitshouldpleasehertoglancedown;butthatmovementwassolongdelayedthatatlastIresumed:
“MustIreadit,ma’am?ItisfromMr.Heathcliff.”
Therewasastartandatroubledgleamofrecollection,andastruggletoarrangeherideas.
Sheliftedtheletter,andseemedtoperuseit;andwhenshecametothesignatureshesighed;yetstillIfoundshehadnotgathereditsimport,for,uponmydesiringtohearherreply,shemerelypointedtothename,andgazedatmewithmournfulandquestioningeagerness.
“Well,hewishestoseeyou,”saidI,guessingherneedofaninterpreter.“He’sinthegardenbythistime,andimpatienttoknowwhatanswerIshallbring.”
AsIspoke,Iobservedalargedoglyingonthesunnygrassbeneathraiseitsearsasifabouttobark,andthensmoothingthemback,announce,byawagofthetail,thatsomeoneapproachedwhomitdidnotconsiderastranger.
Mrs.Lintonbentforward,andlistenedbreathlessly.
Theminuteafterasteptraversedthehall;theopenhousewastootemptingforHeathclifftoresistwalkingin:mostlikelyhesupposedthatIwasinclinedtoshirkmypromise,andsoresolvedtotrusttohisownaudacity.
WithstrainingeagernessCatherinegazedtowardstheentranceofherchamber.
Hedidnothittherightroomdirectly,shemotionedmetoadmithim,buthefounditoutereIcouldreachthedoor,andinastrideortwowasatherside,andhadhergraspedinhisarms.
Heneitherspokenorloosedhisholdforsomefiveminutes,duringwhichperiodhebestowedmorekissesthaneverhegaveinhislifebefore,Idaresay:butthenmymistresshadkissedhimfirst,andIplainlysawthathecouldhardlybear,fordownrightagony,tolookintoherface!
Thesameconvictionhadstrickenhimasme,fromtheinstanthebeheldher,thattherewasnoprospectofultimaterecoverythere—shewasfated,suretodie.
“Oh,Cathy!Oh,mylife!howcanIbearit?”
wasthefirstsentenceheuttered,inatonethatdidnotseektodisguisehisdespair.
AndnowhestaredathersoearnestlythatIthoughttheveryintensityofhisgazewouldbringtearsintohiseyes;buttheyburnedwithanguish:theydidnotmelt.
“Whatnow?”saidCatherine,leaningback,andreturninghislookwithasuddenlycloudedbrow:herhumourwasamerevaneforconstantlyvaryingcaprices.
“YouandEdgarhavebrokenmyheart,Heathcliff!
Andyoubothcametobewailthedeedtome,asifyouwerethepeopletobepitied!Ishallnotpityyou,notI.
Youhavekilledme—andthrivenonit,Ithink.Howstrongyouare!
HowmanyyearsdoyoumeantoliveafterIamgone?”
Heathcliffhadkneltononekneetoembraceher;heattemptedtorise,butsheseizedhishair,andkepthimdown.
“IwishIcouldholdyou,”shecontinuedbitterly,“tillwewerebothdead!Ishouldn’tcarewhatyousuffered.Icarenothingforyoursufferings.Whyshouldn’tyousuffer?Ido!Willyouforgetme?
WillyoubehappywhenIamintheearth?
Willyousaytwentyyearshence,‘That’sthegraveofCatherineEarnshaw.
Ilovedherlongago,andwaswretchedtoloseher;butitispast.
I’velovedmanyotherssince:mychildrenaredearertomethanshewas;andatdeath,IshallnotrejoicethatIamgoingtoher;IshallbesorrythatImustleavethem!Willyousayso,Heathcliff?”
“Don’ttorturemetillIamasmadasyourself,”criedhe,wrenchinghisheadfree,andgrindinghisteeth.
Thetwo,toacoolspectator,madeastrangeandfearfulpicture.
WellmightCatherinedeemthatheavenwouldbealandofexiletoher,unlesswithhermortalbodyshecastawayhermoralcharacteralso.
Herpresentcountenancehadawildvindictivenessinitswhitecheek,andabloodlesslipandscintillatingeye;andsheretainedinherclosedfingersaportionofthelocksshehadbeengrasping.
Astohercompanion,whileraisinghimselfwithonehand,hehadtakenherarmwiththeother;andsoinadequatewashisstockofgentlenesstotherequirementsofhercondition,thatonhislettinggoIsawfourdistinctimpressionsleftblueinthecolourlessskin.
“Areyoupossessedwithadevil,”hepursuedsavagely.
“totalkinthatmannertomewhenyouaredying?
Doyoureflectthatallthosewordswillbebrandedonmymemory,andeatingdeepereternallyafteryouhaveleftme?
YouknowyoulietosayIhavekilledyou:and,Catherine,youknowthatIcouldassoonforgetyouasmyexistence!
Isitnotsufficientforyourinfernalselfishness,thatwhileyouareatpeaceIshallwritheinthetormentsofhell?”
“Ishallnotbeatpeace,”moanedCatherine,recalledtoasenseofphysicalweaknessbytheviolent,unequalthrobbingofherheart,whichbeatvisiblyandaudiblyunderthisexcessofagitation.
Shesaidnothingfurthertilltheparoxysmwasover;thenshecontinued,morekindly—“I’mnotwishingyougreatertormentthanIhave,Heathcliff.
Ionlywishusnevertobeparted:andshouldawordofminedistressyouhereafter,thinkIfeelthesamedistressunderground,andformyownsake,forgiveme!Comehereandkneeldownagain!Youneverharmedmeinyourlife.
Nay,ifyounurseanger,thatwillbeworsetorememberthanmyharshwords!Won’tyoucomehereagain?Do!”
Heathcliffwenttothebackofherchair,andleantover,butnotsofarastoletherseehisface,whichwaslividwithemotion.
Shebentroundtolookathim;hewouldnotpermitit:turningabruptly,hewalkedtothefireplace,wherehestood,silent,withhisbacktowardsus.
Mrs.Linton’sglancefollowedhimsuspiciously:everymovementwokeanewsentimentinher.
Afterapauseandaprolongedgaze,sheresumed;addressingmeinaccentsofindignantdisappointment—
“Oh,yousee,Nelly,hewouldnotrelentamomenttokeepmeoutofthegrave.ThatishowI’mloved!Well,nevermind.ThatisnotmyHeathcliff.
Ishalllovemineyet;andtakehimwithme:he’sinmysoul.
And,”addedshe,musingly,“thethingthatirksmemostisthisshatteredprison,afterall.I’mtiredofbeingenclosedhere.
I’mwearyingtoescapeintothatgloriousworld,andtobealwaysthere:notseeingitdimlythroughtears,andyearningforitthroughthewallsofanachingheart;butreallywithit,andinit.
Nelly,youthinkyouarebetterandmorefortunatethanI;infullhealthandstrength:youaresorryforme—verysoonthatwillbealtered.Ishallbesorryforyou.
Ishallbeincomparablybeyondandaboveyouall.Iwonderhewon’tbenearme!”Shewentontoherself.“Ithoughthewishedit.Heathcliff,dear!youshouldnotbesullennow.Docometome,Heathcliff.”
Inhereagernesssheroseandsupportedherselfonthearmofthechair.
Atthatearnestappealheturnedtoher,lookingabsolutelydesperate.
Hiseyes,wideandwet,atlastflashedfiercelyonher;hisbreastheavedconvulsively.
Aninstanttheyheldasunder,andthenhowtheymetIhardlysaw,butCatherinemadeaspring,andhecaughther,andtheywerelockedinanembracefromwhichIthoughtmymistresswouldneverbereleasedalive:infact,tomyeyes,sheseemeddirectlyinsensible.
Heflunghimselfintothenearestseat,andonmyapproachinghurriedlytoascertainifshehadfainted,hegnashedatme,andfoamedlikeamaddog,andgatheredhertohimwithgreedyjealousy.
IdidnotfeelasifIwereinthecompanyofacreatureofmyownspecies:itappearedthathewouldnotunderstand,thoughIspoketohim;soIstoodoff,andheldmytongue,ingreatperplexity.
AmovementofCatherine’srelievedmealittlepresently:sheputupherhandtoclasphisneck,andbringhercheektohisasheheldher;whilehe,inreturn,coveringherwithfranticcaresses,saidwildly—
“Youteachmenowhowcruelyou’vebeen—cruelandfalse.Whydidyoudespiseme?
Whydidyoubetrayyourownheart,Cathy?Ihavenotonewordofcomfort.Youdeservethis.Youhavekilledyourself.
Yes,youmaykissme,andcry;andwringoutmykissesandtears:they’llblightyou—they’lldamnyou.
Youlovedme—thenwhatrighthadyoutoleaveme?
Whatright—answerme—forthepoorfancyyoufeltforLinton?
Becausemiseryanddegradation,anddeath,andnothingthatGodorSatancouldinflictwouldhavepartedus,you,ofyourownwill,didit.
Ihavenotbrokenyourheart—youhavebrokenit;andinbreakingit,youhavebrokenmine.
Somuchtheworseforme,thatIamstrong.DoIwanttolive?
Whatkindoflivingwillitbewhenyou—oh,God!
wouldyouliketolivewithyoursoulinthegrave?’:
“Letmealone.Letmealone,”sobbedCatherine.“IfIhavedonewrong,I’mdyingforit.Itisenough!Youleftmetoo:butIwon’tupbraidyou!Iforgiveyou,Forgiveme!”
“Itishardtoforgive,andtolookatthoseeyes,andfeelthosewastedhands,”heanswered.
“Kissmeagain;anddon’tletmeseeyoureyes!Iforgivewhatyouhavedonetome.Ilovemymurderer—butyours!HowcanI?”
Theyweresilent—theirfaceshidagainsteachother,andwashedbyeachother’stears.
Atleast,Isupposetheweepingwasonbothsides;asitseemedHeathcliffcouldweeponagreatoccasionlikethis.
Igrewveryuncomfortable,meanwhile;fortheafternoonworefastaway,themanwhomIhadsentoffreturnedfromhiserrand,andIcoulddistinguish,bytheshineofthewesternsunupthevalley,aconcoursethickeningoutsideGimmertonchapelporch.
“Serviceisover,”Iannounced.“Mymasterwillbehereinhalf-an-hour.”
Heathcliffgroanedacurse,andstrainedCatherinecloser;shenevermoved.
ErelongIperceivedagroupoftheservantspassinguptheroadtowardsthekitchenwing.
Mr.Lintonwasnotfarbehind;heopenedthegatehimselfandsaunteredslowlyup,probablyenjoyingthelovelyafternoonthatbreathedassoftassummer.
“Nowheishere,”Iexclaimed.“ForHeaven’ssake,hurrydown!You’llnotmeetanyoneonthefrontstairs.Dobequick;andstayamongthetreestillheisfairlyin.”
“Imustgo,Cathy,”saidHeathcliff,seekingtoextricatehimselffromhiscompanion’sarms.“ButifIlive,I’llseeyouagainbeforeyouareasleep.Iwon’tstrayfiveyardsfromyourwindow.”
“Youmustnotgo!”sheanswered,holdinghimasfirmlyasherstrengthallowed.“Youshallnot,Itellyou.”
“Foronehour,”hepleadedearnestly.
“Notforoneminute,”shereplied.
“Imust—Lintonwillbeupimmediately,”persistedthealarmedintruder.
Hewouldhaverisen,andunfixedherfingersbytheact—sheclungfast,grasping:therewasmadresolutioninherface.
“No!”sheshrieked.“Oh,don’t,don’tgo.Itisthelasttime!Edgarwillnothurtus.Heathcliff,Ishalldie!Ishalldie!”
“Damnthefool!Thereheis,”criedHeathcliff,sinkingbackintohisseat.“Hush,mydarling!Hush,hush,Catherine!I’llstay.Ifheshotmeso,I’dexpirewithablessingonmylips.”
Andtheretheywerefastagain.Iheardmymastermountingthestairs—thecoldsweatranfrommyforehead:Iwashorrified.
“Areyougoingtolistentoherravings?”Isaidpassionately.“Shedoesnotknowwhatshesays.
Willyouruinher,becauseshehasnotwittohelpherself?Getup!Youcouldbefreeinstantly.
Thatisthemostdiabolicaldeedthateveryoudid.
Wearealldonefor—master,mistress,andservant.”
Iwrungmyhands,andcriedout;andMr.Lintonhastenedhisstepatthenoise.
Inthemidstofmyagitation,IwassincerelygladtoobservethatCatherine’sarmshadfallenrelaxedandherheadhungdown.
“She’sfaintedordead,”Ithought:“somuchthebetter.Farbetterthatsheshouldbedead,thanlingeringaburdenandamisery-makertoallabouther.”
Edgarsprangtohisunbiddenguest,blanchedwithastonishmentandrage.
Whathemeanttodo,Icannottell;however,theotherstoppedalldemonstrations,atonce,byplacingthelifeless-lookingforminhisarms.
“Lookthere!”hesaid;“unlessyoubeafiend,helpherfirst—thenyoushallspeaktome!”
Hewalkedintotheparlour,andsatdown.
Mr.Lintonsummonedme,andwithgreatdifficulty,andafterresortingtomanymeans,wemanagedtorestorehertosensation;butshewasallbewildered;shesighed,andmoaned,andknewnobody.
Edgar,inhisanxietyforher,forgotherhatedfriend.Ididnot.
Iwent,attheearliestopportunity,andbesoughthimtodepart;affirmingthatCatherinewasbetter,andheshouldhearfrommeinthemorninghowshepassedthenight.
“Ishallnotrefusetogooutofdoors,”heanswered;“butIshallstayinthegarden:and,Nelly,mindyoukeepyourwordto-morrow.Ishallbeunderthoselarchtrees.Mind!
orIpayanothervisit,whetherLintonbeinornot.”
Hesentarapidglancethroughthehalf-opendoorofthechamber,andascertainingthatwhatIstatedwasapparentlytrue,deliveredthehouseofhislucklesspresence.
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