English
SEVENDAYSglidedaway,everyonemarkingitscoursebythehenceforthrapidalterationofEdgarLinton’sstate.
Thehavocthatmonthshadpreviouslywroughtwasnowemulatedbytheinroadsofhours.
Catherine,wewouldfainhavedeludedyet:butherownquickspiritrefusedtodeludeher:itdivinedinsecret,andbroodedonthedreadfulprobability,graduallyripeningintocertainty.
Shehadnotthehearttomentionherride,whenThursdaycameround;Imentioneditforher,andobtainedpermissiontoorderheroutofdoors:forthelibrary,whereherfatherstoppedashorttimedaily—thebriefperiodhecouldbeartositup—andhischamber,hadbecomeherwholeworld.
Shegrudgedeachmomentthatdidnotfindherbendingoverhispillow,orseatedbyhisside.
Hercountenancegrewwanwithwatchingandsorrow,andmymastergladlydismissedhertowhatheflatteredhimselfwouldbeahappychangeofsceneandsociety;drawingcomfortfromthehopethatshewouldnotnowbeleftentirelyaloneafterhisdeath.
Hehadafixedidea,Iguessedbyseveralobservationsheletfall,that,ashisnephewresembledhiminperson,hewouldresemblehiminmind;forLinton’slettersborefewornoindicationsofhisdefectivecharacter.
AndI,throughpardonableweakness,refrainedfromcorrectingtheerror;askingmyselfwhatgoodtherewouldbeindisturbinghislastmomentswithinformationthathehadneitherpowernoropportunitytoturntoaccount.
Wedeferredourexcursiontilltheafternoon;agoldenafternoonofAugust:everybreathfromthehillssofulloflife,thatitseemedwhoeverrespiredit,thoughdying,mightrevive.
Catherine’sfacewasjustlikethelandscape—shadowsandsunshineflittingoveritinrapidsuccession;buttheshadowsrestedlonger,andthesunshinewasmoretransient;andherpoorlittleheartreproacheditselfforeventhatpassingforgetfulnessofitscares.
WediscernedLintonwatchingatthesamespothehadselectedbefore.
Myyoungmistressalighted,andtoldmethat,asshewasresolvedtostayaverylittlewhile,Ihadbetterholdtheponyandremainonhorseback;butIdissented:Iwouldn’trisklosingsightofthechargecommittedtomeaminute;soweclimbedtheslopeofheathtogether.
MasterHeathcliffreceiveduswithgreateranimationonthisoccasion:nottheanimationofhighspiritsthough,noryetofjoy;itlookedmorelikefear.
“Itislate!”hesaid,speakingshortandwithdifficulty,“Isnotyourfatherveryill?Ithoughtyouwouldn’tcome.”
“Whywon’tyoubecandid?”criedCatherine,swallowinghergreeting.
“Whycannotyousayatonceyoudon’twantme?
Itisstrange,Linton,thatforthesecondtimeyouhavebroughtmehereonpurpose,apparently,todistressusboth,andfornoreasonbesides!”
Lintonshivered,andglancedather,halfsupplicating,halfashamed;buthiscousin’spatiencewasnotsufficienttoendurethisenigmaticalbehaviour.
“Myfatherisveryill,”shesaid;“andwhyamIcalledfromhisbedside?
Whydidn’tyousendtoabsolvemefrommypromise,whenyouwishedIwouldn’tkeepit?Come!
Idesireanexplanation:playingandtriflingarecompletelybanishedoutofmymind;andIcan’tdanceattendanceonyouraffectationsnow!”
“Myaffectations!”hemurmured;“whatarethey?
ForHeaven’ssake,Catherine,don’tlooksoangry!
Despisemeasmuchasyouplease;Iamaworthless,cowardlywretch:Ican’tbescornedenough;butI’mtoomeanforyouranger.
Hatemyfather,andsparemeforcontempt.”
“Nonsense!”criedCatherine,inapassion.“Foolish,sillyboy!Andthere!
hetrembles,asifIwerereallygoingtotouchhim!
Youneedn’tbespeakcontempt,Linton:anybodywillhaveitspontaneouslyatyourservice.Getoff!
Ishallreturnhome:itisfollydraggingyoufromthehearthstone,andpretending—whatdowepretend?Letgomyfrock!
IfIpitiedyouforcryingandlookingsoveryfrightened,youshouldspurnsuchpity.
Ellen,tellhimhowdisgracefulthisconductis.
Rise,anddon’tdegradeyourselfintoanabjectreptile—don’t!”
Withstreamingfaceandanexpressionofagony,Lintonhadthrownhisnervelessframealongtheground:heseemedconvulsedwithexquisiteterror.
“Oh!”hesobbed,“Icannotbearit!
Catherine,Catherine,I’matraitor,too,andIdarenottellyou!Butleaveme,andIshallbekilled!
DearCatherine,mylifeisinyourhands:andyouhavesaidyoulovedme,andifyoudid,itwouldn’tharmyou.You’llnotgo,then?kind,sweet,goodCatherine!
Andperhapsyouwillconsent—andhe’llletmediewithyou!”
Myyounglady,onwitnessinghisintenseanguish,stoopedtoraisehim.Theoldfeelingofindulgenttendernessovercamehervexation,andshegrewthoroughlymovedandalarmed.
“Consenttowhat?”sheasked.“Tostay?
Tellmethemeaningofthisstrangetalk,andIwill.
Youcontradictyourownwords,anddistractme!
Becalmandfrank,andconfessatonceallthatweighsonyourheart.
Youwouldn’tinjureme,Linton,wouldyou?
Youwouldn’tletanyenemyhurtme,ifyoucouldpreventit?
I’llbelieveyouareacowardforyourself,butnotacowardlybetrayerofyourbestfriend.”
“Butmyfatherthreatensme,”gaspedtheboy,claspinghisattenuatedfingers,“andIdreadhim—Idreadhim!Idarenottell!”
“Oh,well!”saidCatherine,withscornfulcompassion,“keepyoursecret:I’mnocoward.Saveyourself:I’mnotafraid.”
Hermagnanimityprovokedhistears:heweptwildly,kissinghersupportinghands,andyetcouldnotsummoncouragetospeakout.
Iwascogitatingwhatthemysterymightbe,anddeterminedCatherineshouldneversuffer,tobenefithimoranyoneelse,bymygoodwill;whenhearingarustleamongtheling,IlookedupandsawMr.Heathcliffalmostcloseuponus,descendingtheHeights.
Hedidn’tcastaglancetowardsmycompanions,thoughtheyweresufficientlynearforLinton’ssobstobeaudible;buthailingmeinthealmostheartytoneheassumedtononebesides,andthesincerityofwhichIcouldn’tavoiddoubting,hesaid:
“Itissomethingtoseeyousoneartomyhouse,Nelly.HowareyouattheGrange?Letushear.
Therumourgoes,”headdedinalowertone,“thatEdgarLintonisonhisdeathbed:perhapstheyexaggeratehisillness!”
“No;mymasterisdying,”Ireplied:“Itistrueenough.Asadthingitwillbeforusall,butablessingforhim!”
“Howlongwillhelast,doyouthink?”heasked.
“Idon’tknow,”Isaid.
“Because,”hecontinued,lookingatthetwoyoungpeople,whowerefixedunderhiseye—Lintonappearedasifhecouldnotventuretostirorraisehishead,andCatherinecouldnotmove,onhisaccount—“becausethatladyonderseemsdeterminedtobeatme;andI’dthankhisuncletobequick,andgobeforehim.Hallo!
hasthewhelpbeenplayingthatgamelong?
Ididgivehimsomelessonsaboutsnivelling.
IsheprettylivelywithMissLintongenerally?”
“Lively?no—hehasshownthegreatestdistress,”Ianswered.“Toseehim,Ishouldsay,thatinsteadoframblingwithhissweetheartonthehills,heoughttobeinbed,underthehandsofadoctor.”
“Heshallbeinadayortwo,”mutteredHeathcliff.“Butfirst—getup,Linton!Getup!”heshouted.“Don’tgrovelonthegroundthere:up,thismoment!”
Lintonhadsunkprostrateagaininanotherparoxysmofhelplessfear,causedbyhisfather’sglancetowardshim,Isuppose:therewasnothingelsetoproducesuchhumiliation.
Hemadeseveraleffortstoobey,buthislittlestrengthwasannihilatedforthetime,andhefellbackagainwithamoan.
Mr.Heathcliffadvanced,andliftedhimtoleanagainstaridgeofturf.
“Now,”saidhe,withcurbedferocity,“I’mgettingangry;andifyoudon’tcommandthatpaltryspiritofyours—Damnyou!getupdirectly!”
“Iwill,father,”hepanted.“Only,letmealone,orIshallfaint.I’vedoneasyouwished,I’msure.
CatherinewilltellyouthatI—thatI—havebeencheerful.Ah!
keepbyme,Catherine:givemeyourhand.”
“Takemine,”saidhisfather;“standonyourfeet.
Therenow—she’lllendyouherarm:that’sright,lookather.
YouwouldimagineIwasthedevilhimself,MissLinton,toexcitesuchhorror.
Besokindastowalkhomewithhim,willyou?HeshuddersifItouchhim.”
“Linton,dear!”whisperedCatherine,“Ican’tgotoWutheringHeights:papahasforbiddenme.He’llnotharmyou:whyareyousoafraid?”
“Icanneverre-enterthathouse,”heanswered.“I’mnottore-enteritwithoutyou!”
“Stop!”criedhisfather.“We’llrespectCatherine’sfilialscruples.Nelly,takehimin,andI’llfollowyouradviceconcerningthedoctor,withoutdelay.”
“You’lldowell,”repliedI.“ButImustremainwithmymistress:tomindyoursonisnotmybusiness.”
“Youareverystiff,”saidHeathcliff,“Iknowthat:butyou’llforcemetopinchthebabyandmakeitscreambeforeitmovesyourcharity.Come,then,myhero.
Areyouwillingtoreturn,escortedbyme?”
Heapproachedoncemore,andmadeasifhewouldseizethefragilebeing;but,shrinkingback,Lintonclungtohiscousin,andimploredhertoaccompanyhim,withafranticimportunitythatadmittednodenial.
HoweverIdisapproved,Icouldn’thinderher:indeed,howcouldshehaverefusedhimherself?
Whatwasfillinghimwithdreadwehadnomeansofdiscerning:buttherehewas,powerlessunderitsgrip,andanyadditionseemedcapableofshockinghimintoidiocy.
Wereachedthethreshold:Catherinewalkedin,andIstoodwaitingtillshehadconductedtheinvalidtoachair,expectingheroutimmediately;whenMr.Heathcliff,pushingmeforward,exclaimed:
“Myhouseisnotstrickenwiththeplague,Nelly;andIhaveamindtobehospitableto-day:sitdown,andallowmetoshutthedoor.”
Heshutandlockeditalso.Istarted.
“Youshallhaveteabeforeyougohome,”headded.“Iambymyself.
HaretonisgonewithsomecattletotheLees,andZillahandJosephareoffonajourneyofpleasure;and,thoughI’musedtobeingalone,I’dratherhavesomeinterestingcompany,ifIcangetit.MissLinton,takeyourseatbyhim.
IgiveyouwhatIhave:thepresentishardlyworthaccepting;butIhavenothingelsetooffer.ItisLinton,Imean.Howshedoesstare!
It’soddwhatasavagefeelingIhavetoanythingthatseemsafraidofme!
HadIbeenbornwherelawsarelessstrictandtasteslessdainty,Ishouldtreatmyselftoaslowvivisectionofthosetwo,asanevening’samusement.”
Hedrewinhisbreath,struckthetable,andsworetohimself,“Byhell!Ihatethem.”
“I’mnotafraidofyou!”exclaimedCatherine,whocouldnothearthelatterpartofhisspeech.
Shesteppedcloseup;herblackeyesflashingwithpassionandresolution.“Givemethatkey:Iwillhaveit!”shesaid.
“Iwouldn’teatordrinkhere,ifIwerestarving.”
Heathcliffhadthekeyinhishandthatremainedonthetable.
Helookedup,seizedwithasortofsurpriseatherboldness;or,possibly,remindedbyhervoiceandglance,ofthepersonfromwhomsheinheritedit.
Shesnatchedattheinstrument,andhalf-succeededingettingitoutofhisloosenedfingers:butheractionrecalledhimtothepresent;herecovereditspeedily.
“Now,CatherineLinton,”hesaid,“standoff,orIshallknockyoudown;andthatwillmakeMrs.Deanmad.”
Regardlessofthiswarning,shecapturedhisclosedhandanditscontentsagain.“Wewillgo!”
sherepeated,exertingherutmosteffortstocausetheironmusclestorelax;andfindingthathernailsmadenoimpression,sheappliedherteethprettysharply.
Heathcliffglancedatmeaglancethatkeptmefrominterferingamoment.
Catherinewastoointentonhisfingerstonoticehisface.
Heopenedthemsuddenly,andresignedtheobjectofdispute;but,ereshehadwellsecuredit,heseizedherwiththeliberatedhand,and,pullingheronhisknee,administeredwiththeotherashowerofterrificslapsonthesideofthehead,eachsufficienttohavefulfilledhisthreat,hadshebeenabletofall.
AtthisdiabolicalviolenceIrushedonhimfuriously.“Youvillain!”Ibegantocry,“youvillain!”
Atouchonthechestsilencedme:Iamstout,andsoonputoutofbreath;and,whatwiththatandtherage,Istaggereddizzilyback,andfeltreadytosuffocate,ortoburstablood-vessel.
Thescenewasoverintwominutes;Catherine,released,puthertwohandstohertemples,andlookedjustasifshewerenotsurewhetherherearswereofforon.
Shetrembledlikeareed,poorthing,andleantagainstthetableperfectlybewildered.
“Iknowhowtochastisechildren,yousee,”saidthescoundrelgrimly,ashestoopedtorepossesshimselfofthekey,whichhaddroppedtothefloor.
“GotoLintonnow,asItoldyou;andcryatyourease!
Ishallbeyourfather,to-morrow—allthefatheryou’llhaveinafewdays—andyoushallhaveplentyofthat.
Youcanbearplenty;yourenoweakling:youshallhaveadailytaste,ifIcatchsuchadevilofatemperinyoureyesagain!”
CathyrantomeinsteadofLinton,andkneltdownandputherburningcheekonmylap,weepingaloud.
Hercousinhadshrunkintoacornerofthesettle,asquietasamouse,congratulatinghimself,Idaresay,thatthecorrectionhadlightedonanotherthanhim.
Mr.Heathcliff,perceivingusallconfounded,rose,andexpeditiouslymadetheteahimself.Thecupsandsaucerswerelaidready.Hepoureditout,andhandedmeacup.
“Washawayyourspleen,”hesaid.“Andhelpyourownnaughtypetandmine.Itisnotpoisoned,thoughIpreparedit.I’mgoingouttoseekyourhorses.”
Ourfirstthought,onhisdeparture,wastoforceanexitsomewhere.
Wetriedthekitchendoor,butthatwasfastenedoutside:welookedatthewindows—theyweretoonarrowforevenCathy’slittlefigure.
“MasterLinton,”Icried,seeingwewereregularlyimprisoned:“youknowwhatyourdiabolicalfatherisafterandyoushalltellusorI’llboxyourears,ashehasdoneyourcousin’s.”
“Yes,Linton,youmusttell,”saidCatherine.“ItwasforyoursakeIcame;anditwillbewickedlyungratefulifyourefuse.”
“Givemesometea,I’mthirsty,andthenI’lltellyou”heanswered.“Mrs.Dean,goaway.Idon’tlikeyoustandingoverme.
Now,Catherine,youarelettingyourtearsfallintomycup.Iwon’tdrinkthat.Givemeanother.”
Catherinepushedanothertohim,andwipedherface.
Ifeltdisgustedatthelittlewretch’scomposure,sincehewasnolongerinterrorforhimself.
TheanguishhehadexhibitedonthemoorsubsidedassoonaseverheenteredWutheringHeights;soIguessedhehadbeenmenacedwithanawfulvisitationofwrathifhefailedindecoyingusthere;and,thataccomplished,hehadnofurtherimmediatefears.
“Papawantsustobemarried,”hecontinued,aftersippingsomeoftheliquid.
“Andheknowsyourpapawouldn’tletusmarrynow;andhe’safraidofmydying,ifwewait;sowearetobemarriedinthemorning,andyouaretostayhereallnight;andifyoudoashewishes,youshallreturnhomenextday,andtakemewithyou.”
“Takeyouwithher,pitifulchangeling?”Iexclaimed.“Youmarry?
Why,themanismad;orhethinksusfools,everyone.
Anddoyouimaginethatbeautifulyounglady,thathealthy,heartygirl,willtieherselftoalittleperishingmonkeylikeyou!
Areyoucherishingthenotionthatanybody,letaloneMissCatherineLinton,wouldhaveyouforahusband?
Youwantwhippingforbringingusinhereatall,withyourdastardlypulingtricks;and—don’tlooksosilly,now!
I’veaverygoodmindtoshakeyouseverely,foryourcontemptibletreachery,andyourimbecileconceit.”
Ididgivehimaslightshaking;butitbroughtonthecough,andhetooktohisordinaryresourceofmoaningandweeping,andCatherinerebukedme.
“Stayallnight?No,”shesaid,lookingslowlyround.“Ellen,I’llburnthatdoordown,butI’llgetout.”
Andshewouldhavecommencedtheexecutionofherthreatdirectly,butLintonwasupinalarmforhisdearselfagain.
Heclaspedherinhistwofeeblearms,sobbing:“Won’tyouhaveme,’andsaveme?notletmecometotheGrange?Oh,darlingCatherine!youmustn’tgoandleave,afterall.Youmustobeymyfather—youmust!”
“Imustobeymyown,”shereplied,“andrelievehimfromthiscruelsuspense.Thewholenight!Whatwouldhethink?he’llbedistressedalready.
I’lleitherbreakorburnawayoutofthehouse.Bequiet!
You’reinnodanger;butifyouhinderme—Linton,Ilovepapabetterthanyou!”
ThemortalterrorhefeltofMr.Heathcliff’sanger,restoredtotheboyhiscoward’seloquence.
Catherinewasneardistraught:still,shepersistedthatshemustgohome,andtriedentreatyinherturn,persuadinghimtosubduehisselfishagony.
Whiletheywerethusoccupied,ourgaolerre-entered.
“Yourbeastshavetrottedoff,”hesaid,“and—now,Linton!snivellingagain?Whathasshebeendoingtoyou?Come,come—havedone,andgettobed.
Inamonthortwo,mylad,you’llbeabletopayherbackherpresenttyrannieswithavigoroushand.
You’repiningforpurelove,areyounot?
nothingelseintheworld:andsheshallhaveyou!There,tobed!
Zillahwon’tbeheretonight;youmustundressyourself.Hush!holdyournoise!
Onceinyourownroom,I’llnotcomenearyou:youneedn’tfear.Bychanceyou’vemanagedtolerably.I’lllooktotherest.”
Hespokethesewords,holdingthedooropenforhissontopass;andthelatterachievedhisexitexactlyasaspanielmight,whichsuspectedthepersonwhoattendedonitofdesigningaspitefulsqueeze.Thelockwasresecured.
Heathcliffapproachedthefire,wheremymistressandIstoodsilent.
Catherinelookedup,andinstinctivelyraisedherhandtohercheek:hisneighbourhoodrevivedapainfulsensation.
Anybodyelsewouldhavebeenincapableofregardingthechildishactwithsternness,buthescowledonherandmuttered:
“Oh!youarenotafraidofme?Yourcourageiswelldisguised:youseemdamnablyafraid!”
“Iamafraidnow,”shereplied,“because,ifIstay,papawillbemiserable;andhowcanIenduremakinghimmiserable;—whenhe—whenhe—Mr.Heathcliff,letmegohome!
IpromisedtomarryLinton:papawouldlikemeto:andIlovehim.
WhyshouldyouwishtoforcemetodowhatI’llwillinglydoofmyself?”
“Lethimdaretoforceyou!”Icried.
“There’salawintheland,thankGodthereis;thoughwebeinanout-of-the-wayplace.
I’dinformifheweremyownson:andit’sfelonywithoutbenefitofclergy!”
“Silence!”saidtheruffian.“Tothedevilwithyourclamour!Idon’twantyoutospeak.
MissLinton,Ishallenjoymyselfremarkablyinthinkingyourfatherwillbemiserable:Ishallnotsleepforsatisfaction.
Youcouldhavehitonnosurerwayoffixingyourresidenceundermyroofforthenexttwenty-fourhours,thaninformingmethatsuchaneventwouldfollow.
AstoyourpromisetomarryLinton,I’lltakecareyoushallkeepit;foryoushallnotquitthisplacetillitisfulfilled.”
“SendEllen,then,toletpapaknowI’msafe!”exclaimedCatherine,weepingbitterly.“Ormarrymenow.Poorpapa!Ellen,he’llthinkwe’relost.Whatshallwedo?”
“Nothe!He’llthinkyouaretiredofwaitingonhim,andrunoffforalittleamusement,”answeredHeathcliff.
“Youcannotdenythatyouenteredmyhouseofyourownaccord,incontemptofhisinjunctionstothecontrary.
Anditisquitenaturalthatyoushoulddesireamusementatyourage;andthatyouwouldwearyofnursingasickman,andthatmanonlyyourfather.
Catherine,hishappiestdayswereoverwhenyourdaysbegan.
Hecursedyou,Idaresay,forcomingintotheworld(Idid,atleast);anditwouldjustdoifhecursedyouashewentoutofit.I’djoinhim.Idon’tloveyou!HowshouldI?Weepaway.
AsfarasIcansee,itwillbeyourchiefdiversionhereafter;unlessLintonmakeamendsforotherlosses:andyourprovidentparentappearstofancyhemay.
Hislettersofadviceandconsolationentertainedmevastly.
Inhislastherecommendedmyjeweltobecarefulofhis;andkindtoherwhenhegother.Carefulandkind—that’spaternal.
ButLintonrequireshiswholestockofcareandkindnessforhimself.Lintoncanplaythelittletyrantwell.
He’llundertaketotortureanynumberofcats,iftheirteethbedrawnandtheirclawspared.
You’llbeabletotellhisunclefinetalesofhiskindness,whenyougethomeagain,Iassureyou.”
“You’rerightthere!”Isaid;“explainyourson’scharacter.Showhisresemblancetoyourself;andthen,Ihope,MissCathywillthinktwicebeforeshetakesthecockatrice!
“Idon’tmuchmindspeakingofhisamiablequalitiesnow,”heanswered;“becauseshemusteitheraccepthimorremainaprisoner,andyoualongwithher,tillyourmasterdies.
Icandetainyouboth,quiteconcealed,here.
Ifyoudoubt,encouragehertoretractherword,andyou’llhaveanopportunityofjudging!”
“I’llnotretractmyword,”saidCatherine.
“I’llmarryhimwithinthishour,ifImaygotoThrushcrossGrangeafterwards.
Mr.Heathcliff,you’reacruelman,butyou’renotafiend;andyouwon’tfrommeremalice,destroyirrevocablyallmyhappiness.
IfpapathoughtIhadlefthimonpurpose,andifhediedbeforeIreturned,couldIbeartolive?
I’vegivenovercrying:butI’mgoingtokneelhere,atyourknee;andI’llnotgetup,andI’llnottakemyeyesfromyourfacetillyoulookbackatme!No,don’tturnaway!dolook!You’llseenothingtoprovokeyou.Idon’thateyou.I’mnotangrythatyoustruckme.
Haveyouneverlovedanybodyinallyourlife,uncle?never?Ah,youmustlookonce.
I’msowretched,youcan’thelpbeingsorryandpityingme.”
“Keepyoureft’sfingersoff;andmove,orI’llkickyou!”criedHeathcliff,brutallyrepulsingher.“I’dratherbehuggedbyasnake.Howthedevilcanyoudreamoffawningonme?Idetestyou!”
Heshruggedhisshoulders:shookhimself,indeed,asifhisfleshcreptwithaversion;andthrustbackhischair;whileIgotup,andopenedmymouth,tocommenceadownrighttorrentofabuse.
ButIwasrendereddumbinthemiddleofthefirstsentence,byathreatthatIshouldbeshownintoaroombymyselftheverynextsyllableIuttered.
Itwasgrowingdark—weheardasoundofvoicesatthegardengate.
Ourhosthurriedoutinstantly:hehadhiswitsabouthim;wehadnot.
Therewasatalkoftwoorthreeminutes,andhereturnedalone.
“IthoughtithadbeenyourcousinHareton,”IobservedtoCatherine.“Iwishhewouldarrive!Whoknowsbuthemighttakeourpart?”
“ItwasthreeservantssenttoseekyoufromtheGrange,”saidHeathcliff,overhearingme.
“Youshouldhaveopenedalatticeandcalledout:butIcouldswearthatchitisgladyoudidn’t.
She’sgladtobeobligedtostay,I’mcertain.”
Atlearningthechancewehadmissed,webothgaveventtoourgriefwithoutcontrol;andheallowedustowailontillnineo’clock.
Thenhebidusgoupstairs,throughthekitchen,toZillah’schamber;andIwhisperedmycompaniontoobey:perhapswemightcontrivetogetthroughthewindowthere,orintoagarret,andoutbyitsskylight.
Thewindow,however,wasnarrow,likethosebelow,andthegarrettrapwassafefromourattempts;forwewerefastenedinasbefore.
Weneitherofuslaydown:Catherinetookherstationbythelattice,andwatchedanxiouslyformorning;adeepsighbeingtheonlyanswerIcouldobtaintomyfrequententreatiesthatshewouldtrytorest.
Iseatedmyselfinachair,androckedtoandfro,passingharshjudgmentonmymanyderelictionsofduty;fromwhich,itstruckmethen,allthemisfortunesofmyemployerssprang.
Itwasnotthecase,inreality,Iamaware;butitwas,inmyimagination,thatdismalnight;andIthoughtHeathcliffhimselflessguiltythanI.
Atseveno’clockhecame,andenquiredifMissLintonhadrisen.
Sherantothedoorimmediately,andanswered,“Yes.”
“Here,then,”hesaid,openingit,andpullingherout.
Irosetofollow,butheturnedthelockagain.Idemandedmyrelease.
“Bepatient,”hereplied:“I’llsendupyourbreakfastinawhile.”
Ithumpedonthepanels,andrattledthelatchangrily;andCatherineaskedwhyIwasstillshutup?
Heanswered,Imusttrytoendureitanotherhour,andtheywentaway.
Ienduredittwoorthreehours;atlength,Iheardafootstep:notHeathcliff’s.
“I’vebroughtyousomethingtoeat,”saidavoice;“oppent’door!”
Complyingeagerly,IbeheldHareton,ladenwithfoodenoughtolastmeallday.
“Takeit,”headded,thrustingthetrayintomyhand.
“Stayoneminute,”Ibegan.
“Nay,”criedhe,andretired,regardlessofanyprayersIcouldpourforthtodetainhim.
AndthereIremainedenclosedthewholeday,andthewholeofthenextnight;andanother,andanother.
FivenightsandfourdaysIremained,altogether,seeingnobodybutHareton,onceeverymorning;andhewasamodelofagaoler:surly,anddumb,anddeaftoeveryattemptatmovinghissenseofjusticeorcompassion.
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