English
THERAINYNIGHThadusheredinacold,mistymorning—half-frost,half-drizzle—andtemporarybrookscrossedourpath,gurglingfromtheuplands.
Myfeetwerethoroughlywetted;Iwascrossandlow;exactlythehumoursuitedformakingthemostofthesedisagreeablethings.
Weenteredthefarmhousebythekitchenway,toascertainwhetherMr.Heathcliffwerereallyabsent;becauseIputslightfaithinhisownaffirmation.
Josephseemedsittinginasortofelysiumalone,besidearoaringfire;aquartofaleonthetablenearhim,bristlingwithlargepiecesoftoastedoat-cake;andhisblack,shortpipeinhismouth.
CatherinerantothehearthtowarmherselfIaskedifthemasterwasin?
Myquestionremainedsolongunanswered,thatIthoughttheoldmanhadgrowndeaf,andrepeateditlouder.
“Na-ay!”hesnarled,orratherscreamedthroughhisnose.“Na-ay!yahmuhgoabackwhearyahcoomfrough.”
“Joseph!”criedapeevishvoice,simultaneouslywithme,fromtheinnerroom.“HowoftenamItocallyou?Thereareonlyafewredashesnow.Joseph!comethismoment.”
Vigorouspuffs,andaresolutestareintothegratedeclaredhehadnoearforthisappeal.
ThehousekeeperandHaretonwereinvisible;onegoneonanerrand,andtheotherathiswork,probably.WeknewLinton’stones,andentered.
“Oh,Ihopeyou’lldieinagarret!starvedtodeath,”saidtheboy,mistakingourapproachforthatofhisnegligentattendant.
Hestopped,onobservinghiserror;hiscousinflewtohim.
“Isthatyou,MissLinton?”hesaid,raisinghisheadfromthearmofthegreatchair,inwhichhereclined.“No—don’tkissme:ittakesmybreath.Dearme!
papasaidyouwouldcall,”continuedhe,afterrecoveringalittlefromCatherine’sembrace;whileshestoodbylookingverycontrite.“Willyoushutthedoor,ifyouplease?
youleftitopen;andthose—thosedetestablecreatureswon’tbringcoalstothefire.It’ssocold!”
Istirredupthecinders,andfetchedascuttlefulmyself.Theinvalidcomplainedofbeingcoveredwithashes;buthehadatiresomecough,andlookedfeverishandill,soIdidnotrebukehistemper.
“Well,Linton,”murmuredCatherine,whenhiscorrugatedbrowrelaxed.“Areyougladtoseeme?CanIdoyouanygood?”
“Whydidn’tyoucomebefore?”heasked.
“Youshouldhavecome,insteadofwriting.
Ittiredmedreadfully,writingthoselongletters.I’dfarratherhavetalkedtoyou.
Now,Icanneitherbeartotalk,noranythingelse.IwonderwhereZillahis!
Willyou(lookingatme)stepintothekitchenandsee?”
Ihadreceivednothanksformyotherservice;andbeingunwillingtoruntoandfroathisbehest,Ireplied:“NobodyisouttherebutJoseph.”
“Iwanttodrink,”heexclaimedfretfully,turningaway.
“ZillahisconstantlygaddingofftoGimmertonsincepapawent:it’smiserable!
AndI’mobligedtocomedownhere—theyresolvednevertohearmeupstairs.”
“Isyourfatherattentivetoyou,MasterHeathcliff?”Iasked,perceivingCatherinetobecheckedinherfriendlyadvances.
“Attentive?Hemakesthemalittlemoreattentiveatleast,”hecried.“Thewretches!
Doyouknow,MissLinton,thatbruteHaretonlaughsatme!Ihatehim!
indeed,Ihatethemall:theyareodiousbeings.”
Cathybegansearchingforsomewater;shelightedonapitcherinthedresser,filledatumbler,andbroughtit.
Hebidheraddaspoonfulofwinefromabottleonthetable;andhavingswallowedasmallportion,appearedmoretranquil,andsaidshewasverykind.
“Andareyougladtoseeme?”askedshe,reiteratingherformerquestion,andpleasedtodetectthefaintdawnofasmile.
“Yes,Iam.It’ssomethingnewtohearavoicelikeyours!”hereplied.
“ButIhavebeenvexed,becauseyouwouldn’tcome.
Andpapasworeitwasowingtome:hecalledmeapitiful,shuffling,worthlessthing;andsaidyoudespisedme;andifhehadbeeninmyplace,hewouldbemorethemasteroftheGrangethanyourfather,bythistime.Butyoudon’tdespisemedoyou,Miss-”
“IwishyouwouldsayCatherine,orCathy,”interruptedmyyounglady.“Despiseyou?No!
NexttopapaandEllen,Iloveyoubetterthananybodyliving.
Idon’tloveMr.Heathcliff,though;andIdarenotcomewhenhereturns;willhestayawaymanydays?”
“Notmany,”answeredLinton;“buthegoesontothemoorsfrequently,sincetheshootingseasoncommenced;andyoumightspendanhourortwowithmeinhisabsence.Dosayyouwill.
IthinkIshouldnotbepeevishwithyou:you’dnotprovokeme,andyou’dalwaysbereadytohelpme,wouldn’tyou?”
“Yes,”saidCatherine,strokinghislongsofthair;“ifIcouldonlygetpapa’sconsent,I’dspendhalfmytimewithyou.PrettyLinton!Iwishyouweremybrother.”
“Andthenyouwouldlikemeaswellasyourfather?”observedhe,morecheerfully.
“Butpapasaysyouwouldlovemebetterthanhimandalltheworld,ifyouweremywife;soI’dratheryouwerethat.”
“NoIshouldneverloveanybodybetterthanpapa,”shereturnedgravely.
“Andpeoplehatetheirwives,sometimes;butnottheirsistersandbrothers:andifyouwerethelatteryouwouldlivewithus,andpapawouldbeasfondofyouasheisofme.”
Lintondeniedthatpeopleeverhatedtheirwives;butCathyaffirmedtheydid,and,inherwisdom,instancedhisownfather’saversiontoheraunt.
Iendeavouredtostopherthoughtlesstongue.
Icouldn’tsucceedtilleverythingsheknewwasout.
MasterHeathcliff,muchirritated,assertedherrelationwasfalse.
“Papatoldme;andpapadoesnottellfalsehoods,”sheansweredpertly:
“Mypapascornsyours!”criedLinton.“Hecallshimasneakingfool.”
“Yoursisawickedman,”retortedCatherine;“andyouareverynaughtytodaretorepeatwhathesays.HemustbewickedtohavemadeAuntIsabellaleavehimasshedid.”
“Shedidn’tleavehim,”saidtheboy;“youshan’tcontradictme.”
“Shedid,”criedmyyounglady.
“Well,I’lltellyousomething!”saidLinton.“Yourmotherhatedyourfather:nowthen.”
“Oh!”exclaimedCatherine,tooenragedtocontinue.
“Andshelovedmine,”addedhe.
“Youlittleliar!Ihateyounow!”shepanted,andherfacegrewredwithpassion.
“Shedid!shedid!”sangLinton,sinkingintotherecessofhischair,andleaningbackhisheadtoenjoytheagitationoftheotherdisputant,whostoodbehind.
“Hush,MasterHeathcliff!”Isaid;“that’syourfather’stale,too,Isuppose.”
“Itisn’t:youholdyourtongue!”heanswered.“Shedid,shedid,Catherine!shedid,shedid!”
Cathy,besideherself,gavethechairaviolentpush,andcausedhimtofallagainstonearm.
Hewasimmediatelyseizedbyasuffocatingcoughthatsoonendedhistriumph.
Itlastedsolongthatitfrightenedevenme.
Astohiscousin,shewept,withallhermight;aghastatthemischiefshehaddone:thoughshesaidnothing.
Iheldhimtillthefitexhausteditself.
Thenhethrustmeaway,andleanthisheaddownsilently.
Catherinequelledherlamentationsalso,tookaseatopposite,andlookedsolemnlyintothefire.
“Howdoyoufeelnow,MasterHeathcliff?”Ienquired,afterwaitingtenminutes.
“IwishshefeltasIdo,”hereplied:“spiteful,cruelthing!Haretonnevertouchesme:heneverstruckmeinhislife.AndIwasbettertoday:andthere-”hisvoicediedinawhimper.
“Ididn’tstrikeyou!”mutteredCathy,chewingherliptopreventanotherburstofemotion.
Hesighedandmoanedlikeoneundergreatsuffering,andkeptitupforaquarterofanhour;onpurposetodistresshiscousinapparently,forwheneverhecaughtastifledsobfromherheputrenewedpainandpathosintotheinflectionsofhisvoice.
“I’msorryIhurtyou,Linton,”shesaidatlengthrackedbeyondendurance.
“ButIcouldn’thavebeenhurtbythatlittlepush,andIhadnoideathatyoucould,either:you’renotmuch,areyou,Linton?
Don’tletmegohomethinkingI’vedoneyouharm.Answer!speaktome.”
“Ican’tspeaktoyou,”hemurmured;“you’vehurtmeso,thatIshalllieawakeallnightchokingwiththiscough.
Ifyouhadityou’dknowwhatitwas;butyou’llbecomfortablyasleepwhileI’minagony,andnobodynearme.
Iwonderhowyouwouldliketopassthosefearfulnights!”
Andhebegantowallaloud,forverypityofhimself.
“Sinceyouareinthehabitofpassingdreadfulnights,”Isaid,“itwon’tbemisswhospoilsyourease:you’dbethesamehadshenevercome.
However,sheshallnotdisturbyouagain;andperhapsyou’llgetquieterwhenweleaveyou.”
“MustIgo?”askedCatherinedolefully,bendingoverhim.“Doyouwantmetogo,Linton?”
“Youcan’talterwhatyou’vedone,”herepliedpettishly,shrinkingfromher,“unlessyoualteritfortheworsebyteasingmeintoafever.”
“Well,then,Imustgo?”sherepeated.
“Letmealone,atleast,”saidhe;“Ican’tbearyourtalking.”
Shelingered,andresistedmypersuasionstodepartureatiresomewhile;butasheneitherlookedupnorspoke,shefinallymadeamovementtothedoorandIfollowed.Wewererecalledbyascream.
Lintonhadslidfromhisseatontothehearthstone,andlaywrithinginthemereperversenessofanindulgedplagueofachild,determinedtobeasgrievousandharassingasitcan.
Ithoroughlygaugedhisdispositionfromhisbehaviour,andsawatonceitwouldbefollytoattempthumouringhim.
Notsomycompanion:sheranbackinterror,kneltdown,andcried,andsoothed,andentreated,tillhegrewquietfromlackofbreath:bynomeansfromcompunctionatdistressngher.
“Ishalllifthimonthesettle,”Isaid,“andhemayrollaboutashepleases:wecan’tstoptowatchhim.
Ihopeyouaresatisfied,MissCathy,thatyouarenotthepersontobenefithim;andthathisconditionofhealthisnotoccasionedbyattachmenttoyou.Now,then,thereheis!
Comeaway:assoonasheknowsthereisnobodybytocareforhisnonsense,he’llbegladtoliestill.”
Sheplacedacushionunderhishead,andofferedhimsomewater;herejectedthelatter,andtosseduneasilyontheformer,asifitwereastoneorablockofwood.Shetriedtoputitmorecomfortably.
“Ican’tdowiththat,”hesaid;“it’snothighenough.”Catherinebroughtanothertolayaboveit.
“That’stoohigh,”murmuredtheprovokingthing.
“HowmustIarrangeit,then?”sheaskeddespairingly.
Hetwinedhimselfuptoher,asshehalfkneltbythesettle,andconvertedhershoulderintoasupport.
“No,thatwon’tdo,”Isaid.“You’llbecontentwiththecushion,MasterHeathcliff.Misshaswastedtoomuchtimeonyoualready:wecannotremainfiveminuteslonger.”
“Yes,yes,wecan!”repliedCathy.“He’sgoodandpatientnow.
He’sbeginningtothinkIshallhavefargreatermiserythanhewilltonight,ifIbelievedheistheworseformyvisit;andthenIdarenotcomeagain.
Tellthetruthaboutit,Linton;forImustn’tcome,ifIhavehurtyou.”
“Youmustcome,tocureme,”heanswered.“Yououghttocome,becauseyouhavehurtme:youknowyouhaveextremely!IwasnotasillwhenyouenteredasIamatpresent—wasI?”
“Butyou’vemadeyourselfillbycryingandbeinginapassion.”
“Ididn’tdoitatall,”saidhiscousin.“However,we’llbefriendsnow.Andyouwantme:youwouldwishtoseemesometimes,really?”
“ItoldyouIdid,”herepliedimpatiently.
“Sitonthesettleandletmeleanonyourknee.
That’sasmammausedtodo,wholeafternoonstogether.
Sitquitestillanddon’ttalk:butyoumaysingasong,ifyoucansing;oryoumaysayanicelonginterestingballad—oneofthoseyoupromisedtoteachme:orastory.
I’dratherhaveaballad,though:begin.”
Catherinerepeatedthelongestshecouldremember.Theemploymentpleasedbothmightily.
Lintonwouldhaveanother;andafterthatanother,notwithstandingmystrenuousobjections;andsotheywentonuntiltheclockstrucktwelve,andweheardHaretoninthecourt,returningforhisdinner.
“Andto-morrow,Catherine,willyoubehereto-morrow?”askedyoungHeathcliff,holdingherfrockassherosereluctantly.
“No,”Ianswered,“northenextday.”She,however,gaveadifferentresponseevidently,forhisforeheadclearedasshestoopedandwhisperedinhisear.
“Youwon’tgoto-morrow,recollect,miss!”Icommenced,whenwewereoutofthehouse.“Youarenotdreamingofit,areyou?”
Shesmiled.
“Oh,I’lltakegoodcare,”Icontinued:“I’llhavethatlockmended,andyoucanescapebynowayelse”.
“Icangetoverthewall,”shesaid,laughing.
“TheGrangeisnotaprison,Ellen,andyouarenotmygaoler.
Andbesides,I’malmostseventeen:I’mawoman.
AndI’mcertainLintonwouldrecoverquicklyifhehadmetolookafterhim.
I’molderthanheis,youknow,andwiser:lesschildish,amInot?
Andhe’llsoondoasIdirecthim,withsomeslightcoaxing.
He’saprettylittledarlingwhenhe’sgood.
I’dmakesuchapetofhim,ifheweremine.
Weshouldneverquarrel,shouldwe,afterwewereusedtoeachother?Don’tyoulikehim,Ellen?”
“Likehim!”Iexclaimed.
“Theworst-temperedbitofasicklyslipthateverstruggledintoitsteens.
Happily,asMr.Heathcliffconjectured,he’llnotwintwenty.
Idoubtwhetherhe’llseespring,indeed.
Andsmalllosstohisfamilywheneverhedropsoff.
Andluckyitisforusthathisfathertookhim:thekinderhewastreated,themoretediousandselfishhe’dbe.
I’mgladyouhavenochanceofhavinghimforahusband,MissCatherine.”
Mycompanionwaxedseriousathearingthisspeech.Tospeakofhisdeathsoregardlessly,woundedherfeelings.
“He’syoungerthanI,”sheanswered,afteraprotractedpauseofmeditation,“andheoughttolivethelongest:hewill—hemustliveaslongasIdo.
He’sasstrongnowaswhenhefirstcameintothenorth;I’mpositiveofthat.
It’sonlyacoldthatailshim,thesameaspapahas.
Yousaypapawillgetbetter,andwhyshouldn’the?”
“Well,well,”Icried,“afterall,weneedn’ttroubleourselves;forlisten,miss,andmind,I’llkeepmyword,—ifyouattemptgoingtoWutheringHeightsagain,withorwithoutme,IshallinformMr.Linton,and,unlessheallowit,intimacywithyourcousinmustnotberevived.”
“Ithasbeenrevived,”mutteredCathysulkily.
“Mustnotbecontinued,then,”Isaid.
“We’llsee,”washerreply,andshesetoffatagallop,leavingmetotoilintherear.
Webothreachedhomebeforeourdinner-time;mymastersupposedwehadbeenwanderingthroughthepark,andthereforehedemandednoexplanationofourabsence.
AssoonasIentered,Ihastenedtochangemysoakedshoesandstockings;butsittingsuchawhileattheHeightshaddonethemischiefOnthesucceedingmorningIwaslaidup,andduringthreeweeksIremainedincapacitatedforattendingtomyduties:acalamityneverexperiencedpriortothatperiod,andnever,Iamthankfultosay,since.
Mylittlemistressbehavedlikeanangel,incomingtowaitonme,andcheermysolitude:theconfinementbroughtmeexceedinglylow.
Itiswearisome,toastirringactivebody:butfewhaveslighterreasonsforcomplaintthanIhad.
ThemomentCatherineleftMr.Linton’sroom,sheappearedatmybedside.
Herdaywasdividedbetweenus;noamusementusurpedaminute:sheneglectedhermeals,herstudies,andherplay;andshewasthefondestnursethateverwatched.
Shemusthavehadawarmheart,whenshelovedherfatherso,togivesomuchtome.
Isaidherdaysweredividedbetweenus;butthemasterretiredearly,andIgenerallyneedednothingaftersixo’clock;thustheeveningwasherown.Poorthing!
Ineverconsideredwhatshedidwithherselfaftertea.
Andthoughfrequently,whenshelookedintobidmegood-night,Iremarkedafreshcolourinhercheeksandapinknessoverherslenderfingers;insteadoffancyingthehueborrowedfromacoldrideacrossthemoors,Ilaidittothechargeofahotfireinthelibrary.
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