English
FORSOMEDAYSafterthatevening,Mr.Heathcliffshunnedmeetingusatmeals;yethewouldnotconsentformallytoexcludeHaretonandCathy.
Hehadanaversiontoyieldingsocompletelytohisfeelings,choosingrathertoabsenthimself;andeatingonceintwenty-fourhoursseemedsufficientsustenanceforhim.
Onenight,afterthefamilywereinbed,Iheardhimgodownstairs,andoutatthefrontdoor.
Ididnothearhimre-enter,andinthemorningIfoundhewasstillaway.
WewereinAprilthen:theweatherwassweetandwarm,thegrassasgreenasshowersandsuncouldmakeit,andthetwodwarfappletreesnearthesouthernwallinfullbloom.
Afterbreakfast,Catherineinsistedonmybringingachairandsittingwithmyworkunderthefirtreesattheendofthehouse;andshebeguiledHareton,whohadperfectlyrecoveredfromhisaccident,todigandarrangeherlittlegarden,whichwasshiftedtothatcornerbytheinfluenceofJoseph’scomplaints.
Iwascomfortablyrevellinginthespringfragrancearound,andthebeautifulsoftblueoverhead,whenmyyounglady,whohadrundownnearthegatetoprocuresomeprimroserootsforaborder,returnedonlyhalfladen,andinformedusthatMr.Heathcliffwascomingin.
“Andhespoketome,”sheaddedwithaperplexedcountenance.
“Whatdidhesay?”askedHareton.
“HetoldmetobegoneasfastasIcould,”sheanswered.“ButhelookedsodifferentfromhisusuallookthatIstoppedamomenttostareathim.”
“How?”heenquired.
“Why,almostbrightandcheerful.No,almostnothing—verymuchexcited,andwildandglad!”shereplied.
“Night-walkingamuseshim,then,”Iremarked,affectingacarelessmanner:inrealityassurprisedasshewas,andanxioustoascertainthetruthofherstatement;fortoseethemasterlookinggladwouldnotbeanevery-dayspectacle.Iframedanexcusetogoin.
Heathcliffstoodattheopendoor,hewaspale,andhetrembled:yet,certainly,hehadastrange,joyfulglitterinhiseyes,thatalteredtheaspectofhiswholeface.
“Willyouhavesomebreakfast?”Isaid.“Youmustbehungry,ramblingaboutallnight!”Iwantedtodiscoverwherehehadbeen,butIdidnotliketoaskdirectly.
“No,I’mnothungry,”heanswered,avertinghisheadandspeakingrathercontemptuously,asifheguessedIwastryingtodivinetheoccasionofhisgood-humour.
Ifeltperplexed:Ididn’tknowwhetheritwerenotaproperopportunitytoofferabitofadmonition.
“Idon’tthinkitrighttowanderoutofdoors,”Iobserved,“insteadofbeinginbed:itisnotwise,atanyrate,thismoistseason.
Idaresayyou’llcatchabadcold,orafever:youhavesomethingthematterwithyounow!”
“NothingbutwhatIcanbear,”hereplied;“andwiththegreatestpleasure,providedyou’llleavemealone;getin,anddon’tannoyme.”
Iobeyed:and,inpassing,Inoticedhebreathedasfastasacat.
“Yes!”Ireflectedtomyself,“weshallhaveafitofillness.Icannotconceivewhathehasbeendoing.”
Thatnoonhesatdowntodinnerwithus,andreceivedaheaped-upplatefrommyhands,asifheintendedtomakeamendsforpreviousfasting.
“I’veneithercoldnorfever,Nelly,”heremarked,inallusiontomymorning’sspeech;“andI’mreadytodojusticetothefoodyougiveme.”
Hetookhisknifeandfork,andwasgoingtocommenceeating,whentheinclinationappearedtobecomesuddenlyextinct.
Helaidthemonthetable,lookedeagerlytowardsthewindow,thenroseandwentout.
Wesawhimwalkingtoandfrointhegardenwhileweconcludedourmeal,andEarnshawsaidhe’dgoandaskwhyhewouldnotdine:hethoughtwehadgrievedhimsomeway.
“Well,ishecoming?”criedCatherine,whenhercousinreturned.
“Nay,”heanswered;“buthe’snotangry:heseemedrarelypleasedindeed;onlyImadehimimpatientbyspeakingtohimtwice;andthenhebidmebeofftoyou:hewonderedhowIcouldwantthecompanyofanybodyelse.”
Isethisplatetokeepwarmonthefender;andafteranhourortwohere-entered,whentheroomwasclear,innodegreecalmer:thesameunnatural—itwasunnatural—appearanceofjoyunderhisblackbrows;thesamebloodlesshue,andhisteethvisible,nowandthen,inakindofsmile;hisframeshivering,notasoneshiverswithchillorweakness,butasatight-stretchedcordvibrates—astrongthrilling,ratherthantrembling.
Iwillaskwhatisthematter,Ithought;orwhoshould?AndIexclaimed:
“Haveyouheardanygoodnews,Mr.Heathcliff?Youlookuncommonlyanimated.”
“Whereshouldgoodnewscomefromtome?”hesaid.“I’manimatedwithhunger;and,seemingly,Imustnoteat.”
“Yourdinnerishere,”Ireturned;“whywon’tyougetit?”
“Idon’twantitnow,”hemutteredhastily:“I’llwaittillsupper.
And,Nelly,onceforall,letmebegyoutowarnHaretonandtheotherawayfromme.
Iwishtobetroubledbynobody:Iwishtohavethisplacetomyself.”
“Istheresamenewreasonforthisbanishment?”Ienquired.“Tellmewhyyouaresoqueer,Mr.Heathcliff?Wherewereyoulastnight?I’mnotputtingthequestionthroughidlecuriosity,but-”
“Youareputtingthequestionthroughveryidlecuriosity,”heinterrupted,withalaugh.“Yet,I’llanswerit.
LastnightIwasonthethresholdofhell.To-day,Iamwithinsightofmyheaven.
Ihavemyeyesonit:hardlythreefeettoseverme!Andnowyou’dbettergo!
You’llneitherseenorhearanythingtofrightenyou,ifyourefrainfromprying.”
Havingsweptthehearthandwipedthetable,Ideparted;moreperplexedthanever.
Hedidnotquitthehouseagainthatafternoon,andnooneintrudedonhissolitude;till,ateighto’clock,Ideemeditproper,thoughunsummoned,tocarryacandleandhissuppertohim.
Hewasleaningagainsttheledgeofanopenlattice,butnotlookingout:hisfacewasturnedtotheinteriorgloom.
Thefirehadsmoulderedtoashes;theroomwasfilledwiththedamp,mildairofthecloudyevening;andsostill,thatnotonlythemurmurofthebeckdownGimmertonwasdistinguishable,butitsripplesanditsgurglingoverthepebbles,orthroughthelargestoneswhichitcouldnotcover.
Iutteredanejaculationofdiscontentatseeingthedismalgrate,andcommencedshuttingthecasements,oneafteranother,tillIcametohis.
“MustIclosethis?”Iasked,inordertorousehim;forhewouldnotstir.
ThelightflashedonhisfeaturesasIspoke.
Oh,Mr.Lockwood,IcannotexpresswhataterriblestartIgotbythemomentaryview!Thosedeepblackeyes!Thatsmile,andghastlypaleness!
Itappearedtome,notMr.Heathcliff,butagoblin;and,inmyterror,Iletthecandlebendtowardsthewall,anditleftmeindarkness.
“Yes,closeit,”hereplied,inhisfamiliarvoice.“There,thatispureawkwardness!Whydidyouholdthecandlehorizontally?Bequick,andbringanother.”
Ihurriedoutinafoolishstateofdread,andsaidtoJoseph:
“Themasterwishesyoutotakehimalightandrekindlethefire.”ForIdarednotgoinmyselfagainjustthen.
Josephrattledsomefireintotheshovel,andwent;buthebroughtitbackimmediately,withthesupper-trayinhisotherhand,explainingthatMr.Heathcliffwasgoingtobed,andhewantednothingtoeattillmorning.
Weheardhimmountthestairsdirectly;hedidnotproceedtohisordinarychamber,butturnedintothatwiththepanelledbed:itswindow,asImentionedbefore,iswideenoughforanybodytogetthrough;anditstruckmethatheplottedanothermidnightexcursion,ofwhichhehadratherwehadnosuspicion.
“Isheaghouloravampire?”Imused.
Ihadreadofsuchhideousincarnatedemons.
AndthenIsetmyselftoreflecthowIhadtendedhimininfancy,andwatchedhimgrowtoyouth,andfollowedhimalmostthroughhiswholecourse;andwhatabsurdnonsenseitwastoyieldtothatsenseofhorror.
“Butwheredidhecomefrom,thelittledarkthing,harbouredbyagoodmantohisbane?”
mutteredSuperstition,asIdozedintounconsciousness.
AndIbegan,halfdreaming,towearymyselfwithimaginingsomefitparentageforhim;and,repeatingmyawakingmeditations,Itrackedhisexistenceoveragain,withgrimvariations;atlast,picturinghisdeathandfuneral:ofwhich,allIcanrememberis,beingexceedinglyvexedathavingthetaskofdictatinganinscriptionforhismonument,andconsultingthesextonaboutit;and,ashehadnosurname,andwecouldnottellhisage,wewereobligedtocontentourselveswiththesingleword,“Heathcliff.”
Thatcametrue:wewere.
Ifyouenterthekirkyard,you’llreadonhisheadstone,onlythat,andthedateofhisdeath.
Dawnrestoredmetocommonsense.Irose,andwentintothegarden,assoonasIcouldsee,toascertainiftherewereanyfootmarksunderhiswindow.Therewerenone.
“Hehasstayedathome,”Ithought,“andhe’llbeallrightto-day.”
Ipreparedbreakfastforthehousehold,aswasmyusualcustom,buttoldHaretonandCatherinetogettheirserethemastercamedown,forhelaylate.
Theypreferredtakingitoutofdoors,underthetrees,andIsetalittletabletoaccommodatethem.
Onmyre-entrance,IfoundMr.Heathcliffbelow.
HeandJosephwereconversingaboutsomefarmingbusiness;hegaveclear,minutedirectionsconcerningthematterdiscussed,buthespokerapidly,andturnedhisheadcontinuallyaside,andhadthesameexcitedexpression,evenmoreexaggerated.
Whenjosephquittedtheroomhetookhisseatintheplacehegenerallychose,andIputabasinofcoffeebeforehim.
Hedrewitnearer,andthenrestedhisarmsonthetable,andlookedattheoppositewall,asIsupposed,surveyingoneparticularportion,upanddown,withglittering,restlesseyes,andwithsucheagerinterestthathestoppedbreathingduringhalfaminutetogether.
“Comenow,”Iexclaimed,pushingsomebreadagainsthishand,“eatanddrinkthat,whileitishot:ithasbeenwaitingnearanhour.”
Hedidn’tnoticeme,andyethesmiled.I’dratherhaveseenhimgnashhisteeththansmileso.
“Mr.Heathcliff!master!”Icried,“don’t,forGod’ssake,stareasifyousawanunearthlyvision.”
“Don’t,forGod’ssake,shoutsoloud,”hereplied.“Turnround,andtellme,arewebyourselves?”
“Ofcourse,”wasmyanswer;“ofcourseweare.”
StillIinvoluntarilyobeyedhim,asifIwasnotquitesure.Withasweepofhishandheclearedavacantspaceinfrontamongthebreakfastthings,andleantforwardtogazemoreathisease.
Now,Iperceivedhewasnotlookingatthewall;forwhenIregardedhimalone,itseemedexactlythathegazedatsomethingwithintwoyards’distance.
Andwhateveritwas,itcommunicated,apparently,bothpleasureandpaininexquisiteextremes:atleasttheanguished,yetraptured,expressionofhiscountenancesuggestedthatidea.
Thefanciedobjectwasnotfixed,either;hiseyespursueditwithunwearieddiligence,and,eveninspeakingtome,wereneverweanedaway.
Ivainlyremindedhimofhisprotractedabstinencefromfood:ifhestirredtotouchanythingincompliancewithmyentreaties,ifhestretchedhishandouttogetapieceofbread,hisfingersclenchedbeforetheyreachedit,andremainedonthetable,forgetfuloftheiraim.
Isat,amodelofpatience,tryingtoattracthisabsorbedattentionfromitsengrossingspeculation;tillhegrewirritable,andgotup,askingwhyIwouldnotallowhimtohavehisowntimeintakinghismeals?
andsayingthatonthenextoccasion,Ineedn’twait:Imightsetthethingsdownandgo.
Havingutteredthesewordsheleftthehouse,slowlysauntereddownthegardenpath,anddisappearedthroughthegate.
Thehourscreptanxiouslyby:anothereveningcame.
Ididnotretiretoresttilllate,andwhenIdid,Icouldnotsleep.
Hereturnedaftermidnight,and,insteadofgoingtobed,shuthimselfintotheroombeneath.
Ilistened,andtossedabout,and,finally,dressedanddescended.
Itwastooirksometoliethere,harassingmybrainwithahundredidlemisgivings.
IdistinguishedMr.Heathcliff’sstep,restlesslymeasuringthefloor,andhefrequentlybrokethesilencebyadeepinspiration,resemblingagroan.
Hemuttereddetachedwordsalso;theonlyoneIcouldcatchwasthenameofCatherine,coupledwithsomewildtermofendearmentorsuffering;andspokenasonewouldspeaktoapersonpresent:lowandearnest,andwrungfromthedepthofhissoul.
Ihadnotcouragetowalkstraightintotheapartment;butIdesiredtodiverthimfromhisreverie,andthereforefellfoulofthekitchenfire,stirredit,andbegantoscrapethecinders,ItdrewhimforthsoonerthanIexpected.
Heopenedthedoorimmediately,andsaid:
“Nelly,comehere—isitmorning?Comeinwithyourlight.”
“Itisstrikingfour,”Ianswered.“Youwantacandletotakeupstairs:youmighthavelitoneatthisfire.”
“No,Idon’twishtogoupstairs,”hesaid.“Comein,andkindlemeafire,anddoanythingthereistodoabouttheroom.”
“Imustblowthecoalsredfirst,beforeIcancarryany,”Ireplied,gettingachairandthebellows.
Heroamedtoandfro,meantime,inastateapproachingdistraction;hisheavysighssucceedingeachothersothickastoleavenospaceforcommonbreathingbetween.
“WhendaybreaksI’llsendforGreen,”hesaid;“IwishtomakesomelegalenquiriesofhimwhileIcanbestowathoughtonthosematters,andwhileIcanactcalmly.
Ihavenotwrittenmywillyet;andhowtoleavemypropertyIcannotdetermine.
IwishIcouldannihilateitfromthefaceoftheearth.”
“Iwouldnottalkso,Mr.Heathcliff,”Iinterposed.
“Letyourwillbeawhile:you’llbesparedtorepentofyourmanyinjusticesyet.
Ineverexpectedthatyournerveswouldbedisordered:theyare,atpresent,marvellouslyso,however;andalmostentirelythroughyourownfault.
Thewayyou’vepassedthesethreelastdaysmightknockupaTitan.Dotakesomefood,andsomerepose.
Youneedonlylookatyourselfinaglasstoseehowyourequireboth.
Yourcheeksarehollow,andyoureyesbloodshot,likeapersonstarvingwithhungerandgoingblindwithlossofsleep.”
“ItisnotmyfaultthatIcannoteatorrest,”hereplied.
“Iassureyouitisthroughnosettleddesigns.I’lldobothassoonasIpossiblycan.
Butyoumightaswellbidamanstrugglinginthewaterrestwithinarm’slengthoftheshore!
Imustreachitfirst,andthenI’llrest.
Well,nevermindMr.Green:astorepentingofmyinjustices,I’vedonenoinjustice,andIrepentofnothing.
I’mtoohappy;andyetI’mnothappyenough.
Mysoul’sblisskillsmybody,butdoesnotsatisfyitself.”
“Happy,master?”Icried.“Strangehappiness!Ifyouwouldhearmewithoutbeingangry,Imightoffersomeadvicethatwouldmakeyouhappier.”
“Whatisthat?”heasked.“Giveit.”
“Youareaware,Mr.Heathcliff,”Isaid,“thatfromthetimeyouwerethirteenyearsold,youhavelivedaselfish,unchristianlife;andprobablyhardlyhadaBibleinyourhandsduringallthatperiod.
YoumusthaveforgottenthecontentsoftheBook,andyoumaynothavespacetosearchitnow.
Coulditbehurtfultosendforsomeone—someministerofanydenomination,itdoesnotmatterwhich—toexplainit,andshowyouhowveryfaryouhaveerredfromitsprecepts;andhowunfityouwillbeforitsheaven,unlessachangetakesplacebeforeyoudie?”
“I’mratherobligedthanangry,Nelly,”hesaid,“foryouremindmeofthemannerinwhichIdesiretobeburied.
Itistobecarriedtothechurchyardintheevening.
YouandHaretonmay,ifyouplease,accompanyme:andmind,particularly,tonoticethatthesextonobeysmydirectionsconcerningthetwocoffins!
Noministerneedcome;norneedanythingbesaidoverme.
—ItellyouIhavenearlyattainedmyheaven;andthatofothersisaltogetherunvaluedanduncovetedbyme.”
“Andsupposingyouperseveredinyourobstinatefast,anddiedbythatmeans,andtheyrefusedtoburyyouintheprecinctsoftheKirk?”
Isaid,shockedathisgodlessindifference.“Howwouldyoulikeit?”
“Theywon’tdothat,”hereplied:“iftheydid,youmusthavemeremovedsecretly:andifyouneglectityoushallprove,practically,thatthedeadarenotannihilated!”
Assoonasheheardtheothermembersofthefamilystirringheretiredtohisden,andIbreathedfreer.
Butintheafternoon,whileJosephandHaretonwereattheirwork,hecameintothekitchenagain,and,withawildlook,bidmecomeandsitinthehouse:hewantedsomebodywithhim.
Ideclined:tellinghimplainlythathisstrangetalkandmannerfrightenedme,andIhadneitherthenervenorthewilltobehiscompanionalone.
“Ibelieveyouthinkmeafiend,”hesaid,withhisdismallaugh:“somethingtoohorribletoliveunderadecentroof.”
ThenturningtoCatherine,whowasthere,andwhodrewbehindmeathisapproach,headded,half-sneeringly—“Willyoucome,chuck?I’llnothurtyou.No!
toyouI’vemademyselfworsethanthedevil.
Well,thereisonewhowon’tshrinkfrommycompany!ByGod!she’srelentless.Oh,damnit!
It’sunutterablytoomuchforfleshandbloodtobear—evenmine.”
Hesolicitedthesocietyofnoonemore.Atdusk,hewentintohischamber.
Throughthewholenight,andfarintothemorning,weheardhimgroaningandmurmuringtohimself.
Haretonwasanxioustoenter;butIbadehimfetchDr.Kenneth,andheshouldgoinandseehim.
Whenhecame,andIrequestedadmittanceandtriedtoopenthedoor,Ifounditlocked;andHeathcliffbidusbedamned.
Hewasbetter,andwouldbeleftalone;sothedoctorwentaway.
Thefollowingeveningwasverywet:indeeditpoureddowntillday-dawn;and,asItookmymorningwalkroundthehouse,Iobservedthemaster’swindowswingingopen,andtheraindrivingstraightin.
Hecannotbeinbed,Ithought:thoseshowerswoulddrenchhimthrough.Hemusteitherbeuporout.
ButI’llmakenomoreado,I’llgoboldlyandlook.
Havingsucceededinobtainingentrancewithanotherkey,Irantounclosethepanels,forthechamberwasvacant;quicklypushingthemaside,Ipeepedin.
Mr.Heathcliffwasthere—laidonhisback.
Hiseyesmetminesokeenandfierce,Istarted;andthenheseemedtosmile.
Icouldnotthinkhimdead:buthisfaceandthroatwerewashedwithrain;thebed-clothesdripped,andhewasperfectlystill.
Thelattice,flappingtoandfro,hadgrazedonehandthatrestedonthesill;nobloodtrickledfromthebrokenskin,andwhenIputmyfingerstoit,Icoulddoubtnomore:hewasdeadandstark!
Ihaspedthewindow;Icombedhisblacklonghairfromhisforehead;Itriedtoclosehiseyes:toextinguish,ifpossible,thatfrightful,life-likegazeofexultationbeforeanyoneelsebeheldit.
Theywouldnotshut:theyseemedtosneeratmyattempts:andhispartedlipsandsharpwhiteteethsneeredtoo!
Takenwithanotherfitofcowardice,IcriedoutforJoseph.
Josephshuffledupandmadeanoise;butresolutelyrefusedtomeddlewithhim.
“Th’divil’sharriedoffhissoul,”hecried,“andhemayheyhiscarcassintot’bargain,foraughtIcare!Ech!
whatawickedunhelooksgirningatdeath!”andtheoldsinnergrinnedinmockery.
Ithoughtheintendedtocutacaperroundthebed;but,suddenlycomposinghimself,hefellonhisknees,andraisedhishands,andreturnedthanksthatthelawfulmasterandtheancientstockwererestoredtotheirrights.
Ifeltstunnedbytheawfulevent;andmymemoryunavoidablyrecurredtoformertimeswithasortofoppressivesadness.
ButpoorHareton,themostwronged,wastheonlyonewhoreallysufferedmuch.
Hesatbythecorpseallnight,weepinginbitterearnest.
Hepresseditshand,andkissedthesarcasticsavagefacethateveryoneelseshrankfromcontemplating;andbemoanedhimwiththatstronggriefwhichspringsnaturallyfromagenerousheart,thoughitbetoughastemperedsteel.
Dr.Kennethwasperplexedtopronounceofwhatdisorderthemasterdied.
Iconcealedthefactofhishavingswallowednothingforfourdays,fearingitmightleadtotrouble,andthen,Iampersuaded,hedidnotabstainonpurpose:itwastheconsequenceofhisstrangeillness,notthecause.
Weburiedhim,tothescandalofthewholeneighbourhood,ashewished.
EarnshawandI,thesexton,andsixmentocarrythecoffin,comprehendedthewholeattendance.
Thesixmendepartedwhentheyhadletitdownintothegrave:westayedtoseeitcovered.
Hareton,withastreamingface,duggreensods,andlaidthemoverthebrownmoundhimself;atpresentitisassmoothandverdantasitscompanionmounds—andIhopeitstenantsleepsassoundly.
Butthecountryfolk,ifyouaskthem,wouldswearontheBiblethathewalks:therearethosewhospeakofhavingmethimnearthechurch,andonthemoor,andeveninthishouse.Idletales,you’llsay,andsosayI.
Yetthatoldmanbythekitchenfireaffirmshehasseentwoon‘em,lookingoutofhischamberwindow,oneveryrainynightsincehisdeath:andanoddthinghappenedtomeaboutamonthago.
IwasgoingtotheGrangeoneevening—adarkevening,threateningthunder—and,justattheturnoftheHeights,Iencounteredalittleboywithasheepandtwolambsbeforehim;hewascryingterribly;andIsupposedthelambswereskittish,andwouldnotbeguided.
“What’sthematter,mylittleman?”Iasked.
“There’sHeathcliffandawoman,yonder,undert’nab,”heblubbered,“un’Idarnutpass‘em.”
Isawnothing;butneitherthesheepnorhewouldgoon;soIbidhimtaketheroadlowerdown.
Heprobablyraisedthephantomsfromthinking,ashetraversedthemoorsalone,onthenonsensehehadheardhisparentsandcompanionsrepeat.
Yet,still,Idon’tlikebeingoutinthedarknow;andIdon’tlikebeingleftbymyselfinthisgrimhouse:Icannothelpit;Ishallbegladwhentheyleaveit,andshifttotheGrange.
“TheyaregoingtotheGrange,then,”Isaid.
“Yes,”answeredMrs.Dean,“assoonastheyaremarried,andthatwillbeonNewYear’sday.”
“Andwhowilllivehere,then?”
“Why,Josephwilltakecareofthehouse,and,perhaps,aladtokeephimcompany.Theywillliveinthekitchen,andtherestwillbeshutup.”
“Fortheuseofsuchghostsaschoosetoinhabitit,”Iobserved.
“No,Mr.Lockwood,”saidNelly,shakingherhead.“Ibelievethedeadareatpeace:butitisnotrighttospeakofthemwithlevity.”
Atthatmomentthegardengateswungto;theramblerswerereturning.
“Theyareafraidofnothing,”Igrumbled,watchingtheirapproachthroughthewindow.“TogethertheywouldbraveSatanandallhislegions.”
Astheysteppedontothedoor-stones,andhaltedtotakealastlookatthemoon—or,morecorrectly,ateachotherbyherlight—Ifeltirresistiblyimpelledtoescapethemagain;and,pressingaremembranceintothehandofMrs.Dean,anddisregardingherexpostulationsatmyrudeness,Ivanishedthroughthekitchenastheyopenedthehousedoor;andsoshouldhaveconfirmedJosephinhisopinionofhisfellow-servant’sgayindiscretions,hadhenotfortunatelyrecognisedmeforarespectablecharacterbythesweetringofasovereignathisfeet.
Mywalkhomewaslengthenedbyadiversioninthedirectionofthekirk.
Whenbeneathitswalls,Iperceiveddecayhadmadeprogress,eveninsevenmonths:manyawindowshowedblackgapsdeprivedofglass;andslatesjuttedoff,hereandthere,beyondtherightlineoftheroof,tobegraduallyworkedoffincomingautumnstorms.
Isought,andsoondiscovered,thethreehead-stonesontheslopenextthemoor:themiddleonegrey,andhalfburiedinheath:EdgarLinton’sonlyharmonisedbytheturfandmosscreepingupitsfoot:Heathcliff’sstillbare.
Ilingeredroundthem,underthatbenignsky;watchedthemothsflutteringamongtheheathandharebells,listenedtothesoftwindbreathingthroughthegrass,andwonderedhowanyonecouldeverimagineunquietslumbersforthesleepersinthatquietearth.
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