English
ONTHEFIFTHmorning,orratherafternoon,adifferentstepapproached—lighterandshorter;and,thistime,thepersonenteredtheroom.
—ItwasZillah;donnedinherscarletshawl,withablacksilkbonnetonherhead,andawillowbasketswungtoherarm.
“Eh,dear!Mrs.Dean!”sheexclaimed.“Well!thereisatalkaboutyouatGimmerton.
IneverthoughtbutyouweresunkintheBlackhorsemarsh,andmissywithyou,tillmastertoldmeyou’dbeenfound,andhe’dlodgedyouhere!What!
andyoumusthavegotonanisland,sure?Andhowlongwereyouinthehole?Didmastersaveyou,Mrs.Dean?
Butyou’renotsothin—you’venotbeensopoorly,haveyou?”
“Yourmasterisatruescoundrel!”Ireplied.“Butheshallanswerforit.Heneedn’thaveraisedthattale:itshallallbelaidbare!”
“Whatdoyoumean?”askedZillah.
“It’snothistale;theytellthatinthevillage—aboutyourbeinglostinthemarsh:andIcallstoEarnshaw,whenIcomein—‘Eh,they’squeerthings,Mr.Hareton,happenedsinceIwentoff.
It’sasadpityofthatlikelyyounglass,andcantNellyDean.’Hestared.
Ithoughthehadnotheardaught,soItoldhimtherumour.
Themasterlistened,andhejustsmiledtohimself,andsaid,‘Iftheyhavebeeninthemarsh,theyareoutnow,Zillah.
NellyDeanislodged,atthisminute,inyourroom.
Youcantellhertoflit,whenyougoup;hereisthekey.
Thebog-watergotintoherhead,andshewouldhaverunhomequiteflighty;butIfixedhertillshecameroundtohersenses.
YoucanbidhergototheGrangeatonce,ifshebeable,andcarryamessagefromme,thatheryoungladywillfollowintimetoattendthesquire’sfuneral.”
“Mr.Edgarisnotdead?”Igasped.“Oh!Zillah,Zillah!”
“No,no;sityoudown,mygoodmistress,”shereplied,“you’rerightsicklyyet.He’snotdead;DoctorKenneththinkshemaylastanotherday.Imethimontheroadandasked.”
Insteadofsittingdown,Isnatchedmyoutdoorthings,andhastenedbelow,forthewaywasfree.
Onenteringthehouse,IlookedaboutforsomeonetogiveinformationofCatherine.
Theplacewasfilledwithsunshine,andthedoorstoodwideopen;butnobodyseemedathand.
AsIhesitatedwhethertogooffatonce,orreturnandseekmymistress,aslightcoughdrewmyattentiontothehearth.
Lintonlayonthesettle,soletenant,suckingastickofsugar-candy,andpursuingmymovementswithapatheticeyes.“WhereisMissCatherine?”
Idemandedsternly,supposingIcouldfrightenhimintogivingintelligence,bycatchinghimthus,alone.Hesuckedonlikeaninnocent.
“Isshegone?”Isaid.
“No,”hereplied;“she’supstairs:she’snottogo,wewon’tlether.”
“Youwon’tlether,littleidiot!”Iexclaimed.“Directmetoherroomimmediately,orI’llmakeyousingoutsharply.”
“Papawouldmakeyousingout,ifyouattemptedtogetthere,”heanswered.
“HesaysI’mnottobesoftwithCatherine:she’smywife,andit’sshamefulthatsheshouldwishtoleaveme.
Hesaysshehatesmeandwantsmetodie,thatshemayhavemymoney;butsheshan’thaveit:andsheshan’tgohome!Shenevershall!
—shemaycry,andbesickasmuchasshepleases!”
Heresumedhisformeroccupation,closinghislids,asifhemeanttodropasleep.
“MasterHeathcliff,”Iresumed,“haveyouforgottenallCatherine’skindnesstoyoulastwinter,whenyouaffirmedyoulovedher,andwhenshebroughtyoubooksandsungyousongs,andcamemanyatimethroughwindandsnowtoseeyou?
Shewepttomissoneevening,becauseyouwouldbedisappointed;andyoufeltthenthatshewasahundredtimestoogoodtoyou:andnowyoubelievetheliesyourfathertells,thoughyouknowhedetestsyouboth.Andyoujoinhimagainsther.That’sfinegratitude,isitnot?”
ThecornerofLinton’smouthfell,andhetookthesugar-candyfromhislips.
“DidshecometoWutheringHeights,becauseshehatedyou?”Icontinued.“Thinkforyourself!
Astoyourmoney,shedoesnotevenknowthatyouwillhaveany.
Andyousayshe’ssick;andyet,youleaveheralone,upthereinastrangehouse!
Youwhohavefeltwhatitistobesoneglected!
Youcouldpityyourownsufferings;andshepitiedthemtoo;butyouwon’tpityhers!
Ishedtears,MasterHeathcliff,yousee—anelderlywoman,andaservantmerely—andyou,afterpretendingsuchaffection,andhavingreasontoworshipheralmost,storeeverytearyouhaveforyourself,andlietherequiteatease.Ah!you’reaheartless,selfishboy!”
“Ican’tstaywithher,”heansweredcrossly.“I’llnotstaybymyself.ShecriessoIcan’tbearit.
Andshewon’tgiveover,thoughIsayI’llcallmyfather.
Ididcallhimonce,andhethreatenedtostrangleher,ifshewasnotquiet;butshebeganagaintheinstanthelefttheroom,moaningandgrievingallnightlong,thoughIscreamedforvexationthatIcouldn’tsleep.”
“IsMr.Heathcliffout?”Ienquired,perceivingthatthewretchedcreaturehadnopowertosympathisewithhiscousin’smentaltortures.
“He’sinthecourt,”hereplied,“talkingtoDr.Kenneth;whosaysuncleisdying,truly,atlast.
I’mglad,forIshallbemasteroftheGrangeafterhim.
Catherinealwaysspokeofitasherhouse.Itisn’thers!
It’smine:papasayseverythingshehasismine.
Allhernicebooksaremine;sheofferedtogivemethem,andprettybirds,andherponyMinny,ifIwouldgetthekeyofherroom,andletherout;butItoldhershehadnothingtogive,theywereall,allmine.
Andthenshecried,andtookalittlepicturefromherneck,andsaidIshouldnothavethat;twopicturesinagoldcase,ononesidehermother,andontheother,uncle,whentheywereyoung.
Thatwasyesterday—Isaidtheyweremine,too;andtriedtogetthemfromher.
Thespitefulthingwouldn’tletme:shepushedmeoff,andhurtme.
Ishriekedout—thatfrightensher—sheheardpapacoming,andshebrokethehingesanddividedthecase,andgavemehermother’sportrait;theothersheattemptedtohide:butpapaaskedwhatwasthematter,andIexplainedit.
HetooktheoneIhadaway,andorderedhertoresignherstome;sherefused,andhe—hestruckherdown,andwrencheditoffthechain,andcrusheditwithhisfoot.”
“Andwereyoupleasedtoseeherstruck?”Iasked:havingmydesignsinencouraginghistalk.
“Iwinked,”heanswered:“Iwinktoseemyfatherstrikeadogorahorse.hedoesitsohard.
YetIwasgladatfirst—shedeservedpunishingforpushingme:butwhenpapawasgone,shemademecometothewindowandshowedmehercheekcutontheinside,againstherteeth,andhermouthfillingwithblood;andthenshegatheredupthebitsofthepicture,andwentandsatdownwithherfacetothewall,andshehasneverspokentomesince:andIsometimesthinkshecan’tspeakforpain.
Idon’tliketothinkso;butshe’sanaughtythingforcryingcontinually;andshelookssopaleandwild,I’mafraidofher.”
“Andyoucangetthekeyifyouchoose?”Isaid.
“Yes,whenI’mupstairs,”heanswered;“butIcan’twalkupstairsnow.”
“Inwhatapartmentisit?”Iasked.
“Oh,”hecried,“Ishan’ttellyouwhereitis!Itisoursecret.
Nobody,neitherHaretonnorZillah,istoknow.There!you’vetiredme—goaway,goaway!”
Andheturnedhisfaceontohisarm,andshuthiseyesagain.
IconsidereditbesttodepartwithoutseeingMr.Heathcliff,andbringarescueformyyoungladyfromtheGrange.
Onreachingit,theastonishmentofmyfellow-servantstoseeme,andtheirjoyalso,wasintense;andwhentheyheardthattheirlittlemistresswassafe,twoorthreewereabouttohurryupandshoutthenewsatMr.Edgar’sdoor:butIbespoketheannouncementofit,myself.
HowchangedIfoundhim,eveninthosefewdays!
Helayanimageofsadnessandresignationwaitinghisdeath.
Veryyounghelooked;thoughhisactualagewasthirty-nine,onewouldhavecalledhimtenyearsyounger,atleast.
HethoughtofCatherine;forhemurmuredhername.Itouchedhishand,andspoke.
“Catherineiscoming,dearmaster!”Iwhispered;“sheisaliveandwell;andwillbehere,Ihope,to-night.”
Itrembledatthefirsteffectsofthisintelligence:hehalfroseup,lookedeagerlyroundtheapartment,andthensankbackinaswoon.
Assoonasherecovered,Irelatedourcompulsoryvisit,anddetentionattheHeights.
IsaidHeathcliffforcedmetogoin:whichwasnotquitetrue.
IutteredaslittleaspossibleagainstLinton;nordidIdescribeallhisfather’sbrutalconduct—myintentionsbeingtoaddnobitterness,ifIcouldhelpit,tohisalreadyoverflowingcup.
Hedivinedthatoneofhisenemy’spurposeswastosecurethepersonalproperty,aswellastheestate,tohisson:orratherhimself;yetwhyhedidnotwaittillhisdeceasewasapuzzletomymaster,becauseignoranthownearlyheandhisnephewwouldquittheworldtogether.
However,hefeltthathiswillhadbetterbealtered:insteadofleavingCatherine’sfortuneatherowndisposal,hedeterminedtoputitinthehandsoftrusteesforheruseduringlife,andforherchildren,ifshehadany,afterher.
Bythatmeans,itcouldnotfalltoMr.HeathcliffshouldLintondie.
Havingreceivedhisorders,Idespatchedamantofetchtheattorney,andfourmore,providedwithserviceableweapons,todemandmyyoungladyofhergaoler.Bothpartiesweredelayedverylate.Thesingleservantreturnedfirst.
HesaidMr.Green,thelawyer,wasoutwhenhearrivedathishouse,andhehadtowaittwohoursforhisre-entrance;andthenMr.Greentoldhimhehadalittlebusinessinthevillagethatmustbedone;buthewouldbeatThrushcrossGrangebeforemorning.
Thefourmencamebackunaccompaniedalso.
TheybroughtwordthatCatherinewasill:tooilltoquitherroom;andHeathcliffwouldnotsufferthemtoseeher.
Iscoldedthestupidfellowswellforlisteningtothattale,whichIwouldnotcarrytomymaster;resolvingtotakeawholebevyuptotheHeights,atdaylight,andstormitliterally,unlesstheprisonerwerequietlysurrenderedtous.
Herfathershallseeher,Ivowed,andvowedagain,ifthatdevilbekilledonhisowndoorstonesintryingtopreventit!
Happily,Iwassparedthejourneyandthetrouble.
Ihadgonedownstairsatthreeo’clocktofetchajugofwater;andwaspassingthroughthehallwithitinmyhand,whenasharpknockatthefrontdoormademejump.“Oh!
itisGreen,”Isaid,recollectingmyself—“onlyGreen,”andIwenton,intendingtosendsomebodyelsetoopenit;buttheknockwasrepeated:notloud,andstillimportunately.
Iputthejugonthebanisterandhastenedtoadmithimmyself.Theharvestmoonshoneclearoutside.Itwasnottheattorney.
Myownsweetlittlemistresssprangonmyneck,sobbing:
“Ellen!Ellen!ispapaalive?”
“Yes,”Icried:“yes,myangel,heis.Godbethanked,youaresafewithusagain!”
Shewantedtorun,breathlessasshewas,upstairstoMr.Linton’sroom;butIcompelledhertositdownonachair,andmadeherdrink,andwashedherpaleface,chafingitintoafaintcolourwithmyapron.
ThenIsaidImustgofirst,andtellofherarrival;imploringhertosay,sheshouldbehappywithyoungHeathcliff.
Shestared,butsooncomprehendingwhyIcounselledhertoutterthefalsehood,sheassuredmeshewouldnotcomplain.
Icouldn’tabidetobepresentattheirmeeting.
Istoodoutsidethechamber-dooraquarterofanhour,andhardlyventurednearthebed,then.
Allwascomposed,however:Catherine’sdespairwasassilentasherfather’sjoy.
Shesupportedhimcalmly,inappearance;andhefixedonherfeatureshisraisedeyes,thatseemeddilatingwihecstasy.
Hediedblissfully,Mr.Lockwood:hediedso.Kissinghercheek,hemurmured:
“Iamgoingtoher;andyou,darlingchild,shallcometous!”
andneverstirredorspokeagain;butcontinuedthatrapt,radiantgaze,tillhispulseimperceptiblystoppedandhissouldeparted.
Nonecouldhavenoticedtheexactminuteofhisdeath,itwassoentirelywithoutastruggle.
WhetherCatherinehadspenthertears,orwhetherthegriefweretooweightytoletthemflow,shesattheredry-eyedtillthesunrose;shesattillnoon,andwouldstillhaveremainedbroodingoverthatdeathbed,butIinsistedonhercomingawayandtakingsomerepose.
ItwaswellIsucceededinremovingher;foratdinner-timeappearedthelawyer,havingcalledatWutheringHeightstogethisinstructionshowtobehave.
HehadsoldhimselftoMr.Heathcliff:thatwasthecauseofhisdelayinobeyingmymaster’ssummons.
Fortunately,nothoughtofworldlyaffairscrossedthelatter’smind,todisturbhim,afterhisdaughter’sarrival.
Mr.Greentookuponhimselftoordereverythingandeverybodyabouttheplace.
Hegavealltheservants,butme,noticetoquit.
HewouldhavecarriedhisdelegatedauthoritytothepointofinsistingthatEdgarLintonshouldnotbeburiedbesidehiswife,butinthechapel,withhisfamily.
Therewasthewill,however,tohinderthat,andmyloudprotestationsagainstanyinfringementofitsdirections.
Thefuneralwashurriedover;Catherine,Mrs.LintonHeathcliffnow,wassufferedtostayattheGrangetillherfather’scorpsehadquittedit.
ShetoldmethatheranguishhadatlastspurredLintontoincurtheriskofliberatingher.
SheheardthemenIsentdisputingatthedoor,andshegatheredthesenseofHeathcliff’sanswer.Itdroveherdesperate.
Linton,whohadbeenconveyeduptothelittleparloursoonafterIleft,wasterrifiedintofetchingthekeybeforehisfatherreascended.
Hehadthecunningtounlockandre-lockthedoor,withoutshuttingit;andwhenheshouldhavegonetobed,hebeggedtosleepwithHareton,andhispetitionwasgrantedforonce.
Catherinestoleoutbeforebreakofday.
Shedarenottrythedoors,lestthedogsshouldraiseanalarm;shevisitedtheemptychambersandexaminedtheirwindows;and,luckily,lightingonhermother’sshegoteasilyoutofitslattice,andontotheground,bymeansofthefir-treecloseby.
Heraccomplicesufferedforhisshareintheescape,notwithstandinghistimidcontrivances.
Share this article to
FINISH