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 UNIVERSITY 
 
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WUTUERIiNG HEIGHTS 
 
 A x\OVEL 
 
 Br 
 
 ELLIS BELL 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON: 
 THOMAS CAUTLEY NEWBY, PUBLISHER, 
 
 72, MORTIMER St., CAVENDISH Sq. 
 1847. 
 

 DO 
 
 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 1801 1 have just returned from a visit to 
 
 my landlord— the solitary neighbour that I 
 shall be troubled with. This is certainly, a 
 beautiful country ! In all England, 1 do not 
 believe that I could have fixed on a situation 
 so completely removed from the stir of society. 
 A perfect misanthropist's Heaven — and Mr. 
 Heathcliff and I are such a suitable pair to 
 divide the desolation between us. A capital 
 ^ fellow I He little imagined how my heart 
 warmed towards him when 1 beheld his black 
 
 VOL. I. B 
 
J WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 eyes withdraw so suspiciously under their 
 brows, as I rode up, and when his fingers shel- 
 tered themselves, with a jealous resolution, still 
 further in his waistcoat, as 1 anoounced my 
 name. 
 
 '* Mr. HeathclifF?" I said. 
 
 A nod was the answer. 
 
 " Mr. Lockwood your new tenant, sir — I do 
 myself the honour of calling as soon as possible, 
 after my arrival, to express the hope that I 
 have not inconvenienced you by my perseve- 
 rance in soliciting the occupation of Thrush- 
 cross Grange : I heard, yesterday, you had 
 had some thoughts — " 
 
 " Thrushcross Grange is my own, sir," he 
 interrupted wincing, " I should not allow any 
 one to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it- 
 walk in !^' 
 
 The '' walk in," was uttered with closed 
 teeth and expressed the sentiment, " Go to the 
 Deuce !" even the gate over which he leant 
 manifested no sympathizing movement to the 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. O 
 
 words; and I think that circumstance deter- 
 mined me to accept the invitation : I felt in- 
 terested in a man who seemed more exagge- 
 ratedly reserved than myself. 
 
 When he saw my horse's breast fairly push- 
 ing the barrier, he did pull out his hand to un- 
 chain it, and then sullenly preceded me up the 
 causeway, calling, as we entered the court : 
 
 '' Joseph, take Mr. Lock wood's horse ; and 
 bring up some wine." 
 
 " Here we have the whole establishment of 
 domestics, I suppose," was the reflection, sug- 
 gested by this compound order, '' No wonder 
 the grass grows up between the flags, and 
 cattle are the only hedge-cutters." 
 
 Joseph was an elderly, nay, an old man, 
 very old, perhaps, though hale and sinewy. 
 
 ** The Lord help us !" he soliloquised in an 
 undertone of peevish displeasure, while reliev- 
 ing me of my horse : looking, meantime, in n.y 
 face 60 sourly that I charitably conjectured he 
 must have need of divine aid to digest his din- 
 B 3 
 
4 WUTHERING nEIGHTS. 
 
 ner, and his pious ejaculation had no reference 
 to my unexpected advent. 
 
 Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. 
 HeathclifF's dwelling. " Wuthering" being a 
 significant provincial adjective, descriptive of 
 the atmospheric tumult to which its station is 
 exposed, in stormy weather. Pure, bracing 
 ventilation they must have up there, at all 
 times, indeed : one may guess the power of the 
 north wind, blowing over the edge, by the 
 excessive slant of a few, stunted firs at the 
 end of the house ; and by a range of gaunt 
 thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as 
 if craving alms of the sun. Happily, the ar- 
 chitect had foresight to build it strong : the 
 narrow windows are deeply set in the wall ; 
 and the corners defended with large jutting 
 stones. 
 
 Before passing the threshold, I paused to 
 admire a quantity of grotesque carving lavished 
 over the front, and especially about the princi- 
 pal door, above which, among a wilderness of 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. O 
 
 crumbling griffins, and shameless little boys, I 
 detected the date "1500,'' and the name 
 '* Hareton Earnshaw," I would have made a 
 few comments, and requested a short history 
 of the place, from the surly owner, but his 
 attitude at the door appeared to demand my 
 speedy entrance, or complete departure, and I 
 had no desire to aggraVate his impatience, pre- 
 vious to inspecting the penetralium. 
 
 One step brought us into the family sitting- 
 room, without any introductory lobby, or pas- 
 sage : they call it here " the house" preemi- 
 nently. It includes kitchen, and parlor, ge- 
 nerally, but I believe at Wuthering Heights, 
 the kitchen is forced to retreat altogether, into 
 another quarter, at least I distinguished a 
 chatter of tongues, and a clatter of culinary 
 utensils, deep within ; and I observed no signs 
 of roasting, boiling, or baking, about the huge 
 fire-place ; nor any glitter of copper saucepans 
 and tin cullenders on the walls. One end, 
 indeed, reflected splendidly both light and heat, 
 
6 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 from ranks of immense pewter dishes ; inter- 
 spersed with silver jugs, and tankards, tower- 
 ing row after row, in a vast oak dresser, to the 
 very roof. The latter had never been under- 
 drawn, its entire anatomy lay bare to an in- 
 quiring eye, except where a frame of wood 
 laden with oatcakes, and clusters of legs of 
 beef, mutton and ham^ concealed it. Above 
 the chimney were sundry villanous old guns, 
 and a couple of horse-pistols, and, by way of 
 ornament, three gaudily painted canisters dis- 
 posed along its ledge. The floor was of 
 smooth, white stone : the chairs, high-backed, 
 primitive structures, painted green: one or 
 two heavy black ones lurking in the shade. 
 In an arch, under the dresser, reposed a huge, 
 liver-coloured bitch pointer surrounded by a 
 swarm of squealing puppies, and other dogs, 
 haunted other recesses. 
 
 The apartment, and furniture would have 
 been nothing extraordinary as belonging to a 
 homely, northern farmer with a stubborn coun- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 7 
 
 tenance, and stalwart limbs, set out to advan- 
 tage in knee-breeches, and gaiters. Such an 
 individual, seated in his arm-chair, his mug of 
 ale frothing on the round table before him, is 
 to be seen in any circuit of five or six miles 
 among these hills, if you go at the right time, 
 after dinner. But, Mr. Heathcliff forms a sin- 
 gular contrast to his abode and style of living. 
 He is a dark skinned gypsy, in aspect, in 
 dress, and manners, a gentleman, that is, as 
 much a gentleman as many a country squire : 
 rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss, 
 with his negligence, because he has an erect 
 and handsome figure — and rather morose — pos- 
 sibly, some people might suspect him of a de- 
 gree of under-bred pride — I have a sympathe- 
 tic chord within that tells me it is nothing of 
 the sort; I know, by instinct, his reserve 
 springs from an aversion to showy displays of 
 •feeling — to manifestations of mutual kindliness. 
 He'll love and hate, equally under cover, and 
 esteem it a species of impertinence, to be loved 
 
8 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 or hated again — No, I'm running on too fast — 
 I bestow my own attributes over liberally on 
 him. Mr. Heathcliff may have entirely dis- 
 similar reasons for keeping his handj out of 
 the way, when he meets a would be acquaint- 
 ance, to those which actuate me. Let me hope my 
 constitution is almost peculiar : my dear mo- 
 ther used to say I should never have a com- 
 fortable home, and only last summer, I proved 
 myself perfectly unworthy of one. 
 
 While enjoying a month of fine weather at 
 the sea-coast, I was thrown into the company 
 " of a most fascinating creature, a real goddess, 
 in my eyes, as long as she took no notice of 
 me. I ** never told my love" vocally; still, if 
 looks have language, the merest idiot might 
 have guessed I was over head and ears : she 
 understood me, at last, and looked a return — 
 the sweetest of all imaginable looks — and what 
 did I do ? I confess it with shame — shrunk 
 icily into myself, like a snail, at every glance 
 retired colder and farther; till, finally, the 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. y 
 
 poor innocent was led to doubt her own senses, 
 and, overwhelmed with confusion at her sup- 
 posed mistake, persuaded her mamma to de- 
 camp. 
 
 By this curious turn of disposition I have 
 gained the reputation of deliberate heartless- 
 ness, how undeserved, I alone can appreciate. 
 
 I took a seat at the end of the hearthstone 
 opposite that towards which my landlord ad- 
 vanced, and filled up an interval of silence by 
 attempting to caress the canine mother, who 
 had left her nursery, and was sneaking wolf- 
 ishly to the back of my legs, her lip curled up, 
 and her white teeth watering for a snatch. 
 
 My caress provoked a long, guttural gnarl. 
 
 " You*d better let the dog alone,'^ growled 
 Mr. Heathcliflf, in unison, checking fiercer de- 
 monstrations with a punch of his foot. *' She's 
 not accustomed to be spoiled — not kept for a 
 pet." 
 
 Then, striding to a side-door, he shouted 
 again. 
 
 B 5 
 
10 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 " Joseph !" 
 
 Joseph mumbled indistinctly in the depths 
 of the cellar ; but, gave no intimation of as- 
 cending ; so, his master dived down to him, 
 leaving me vis-a-vis the ruffianly bitch, and a 
 pair of grim, shaggy sheep dogs, who shared 
 with her a jealous guardianship over all my 
 movements. 
 
 Not anxious to come in contact with their 
 fangs, I sat still— but, imagining they would 
 scarcely understand tacit insults, I unfortu- 
 nately indulged in winking and making faces 
 at the trio, and some turn of my physiognomy 
 so irritated madam, that she suddenly broke 
 into a fury, and leapt on my knees. I flung 
 her back, and hastened to interpose the table 
 between us. This proceeding roused the whole 
 hive. Half-a-dozen four-footed fiends, of va- 
 rious sizes, and ages, issued from hidden dens to 
 the common centre. I felt my heels, and 
 coat-laps peculiar subjects of assault; and, 
 parrying off the larger combatants, as effec- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 11 
 
 tually as I could, with the poker, I was con- 
 strained to demand, aloud, assistance from some 
 of the household, in re-establishing peace. 
 
 Mr. Heathcliff and his man climbed the 
 cellar steps with vexatious phlegm. I don't 
 think they moved one second faster than usual, 
 though the hearth was an absolute tempest of 
 worrying and yelping. 
 
 Happily, an inhabitant of the kitchen made 
 more dispatch ; a lusty dame, with tucked up 
 gown, bare arms, and fire-flushed cheeks, 
 rushed into the midst of us flourishing a fry- 
 ingpan ; and used that weapon, and her tongue 
 to such purpose, that the storm subsided magi- 
 cally, and she only remained, heaving like a 
 sea after a high wind, when her master entered 
 on the scene. 
 
 " What the devil is the matter?'' he asked, 
 eyeing me in a manner that I could iU endure 
 after this inhospitable treatment. 
 
 "What the devil, indeed I" I muttered. 
 " The herd of possessed swine could have had 
 
12 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 no worse spirits in them than those animals of 
 yours, sir. You might as well leave a stranger 
 with a brood of tigers !" 
 
 ** They wont meddle with persons who 
 touch nothing," he remarked, putting the 
 bottle before me, and restoring the displaced 
 table. " The dogs do right to be vigilant. 
 Take a glass of wine?" 
 
 ** No, thank you." 
 
 '' Not bitten, are you ?" 
 
 *' If 1 had been, I would have set my signet 
 on the biter." 
 
 Heathcliff's countenance relaxed iuto a grin. 
 
 " Come, come," he said, " you are flurried, 
 Mr. Lockwood. Here, take a little wine. 
 Guests are so exceedingly rare in this house 
 that I and my dogs, I am willing to own, 
 hardly know how to receive them. Your 
 health, sir !" 
 
 I bowed and returned the pledge ; beginning 
 to perceive that it would be foolish to sit 
 sulking for the misbehaviour of a pack of curs : 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS, 13 
 
 besides, I felt loath to yield the fellow further 
 amusement, at my expense ; since his humour 
 took that turn. 
 
 He-probably swayed by prudential consider- 
 ations of the folly of offending a good tenant 
 — relaxed, a little, in the laconic style of chip- 
 ping of his pronouns, and auxiliary verbs ; and 
 introduced, what he supposed would be a sub- 
 ject of interest to me, a discourse on the ad- 
 vantages and disadvantages of my present place 
 of retirement. 
 
 I found him very intelligent on the topics we 
 touched ; and, before I went home, I was en- 
 couraged so far as to volunteer another visit, 
 to-morrow. 
 
 He evidently wished no repetition of my in- 
 trusion. I shall go, notwithstanding. It is 
 astonishing how sociable I feel myself compared 
 with him. 
 
14 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 Yesterday afternoon set in misty and cold. I 
 had half a mind to spend it by my study 
 fire, instead of wading through heath and mud 
 to Wuthering Heights. 
 
 On coming up from dinner, however, (N. B. 
 I dine between twelve and one o'clock; the 
 housekeeper, a matronly lady taken as a fixture 
 along with the house, could not, or would not 
 comprehend my request that I might be served 
 at five.) On mounting the stairs with this 
 lazy intention, and stepping into the room, I 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 15 
 
 saw a servant-girl on her knees, surrounded by- 
 brushes, and coal-scuttles; and raising an in- 
 fernal dust as she extinguished the flames with 
 heaps of cinders. This spectacle drove me 
 back immediately ; I took my hat, and, after a 
 four miles walk, arrived at Heathcliif 's garden 
 gate just in time to escape the first feathery- 
 flakes of a snow shower. 
 
 On that bleak hill top the earth was hard 
 with a black frost, and the air made me shiver 
 through every- limb. Being unable to remove 
 the chain, I jumped over, and, running up the 
 flagged causeway bordered with straggling 
 gooseberry bushes, knocked vainly for admit- 
 tance, till my knuckles tingled, and the dogs 
 howled. 
 
 *' Wretched inmates 1" I ejaculated, men- 
 tally, " you deserve perpetual isolation from 
 your species for your churlish inhospitality. 
 At least, I would not keep my doors barred 
 in the day time—I don't care — I will get in !" 
 
16 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 So resolved, I grasped the latch, and shook 
 it vehemently. Vinegar-faced Joseph pro- 
 jected his head from a round window of the 
 barn. 
 
 ''Whet are ye for?" he shouted. ** T' 
 maisters dahn i' t'fowld. Goa rahnd by th' 
 end ut' laith. if yah went tuh spake tull him." 
 
 " Is there nobody inside to open the door ?" 
 I hallooed, responsively. 
 
 *' They's nobbut t' missis; and shoo'll nut 
 oppen't an ye mak yer flaysome dins till 
 neeght." 
 
 '' Why ? cannot you tell her who I am, eh, 
 Joseph ?" 
 
 " Nor-ne me! Aw'll hae noa hend wi't," 
 muttered the head vanishing. 
 
 The snow began to drive thickly. I seized 
 the handle to essay another trial ; when a 
 young man, without coat, and shouldering a 
 pitchfork, appeared in the yard behind. He 
 hailed me to follow him, and, after marching 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 17 
 
 through a washhouse, and a paved area con- 
 taining a coal-shed, pump, and pigeon cote, we 
 at length arrived in the large, warm, cheerful 
 apartment, where I was formerly received. 
 
 It glowed delightfully in the radiance of an 
 immense fire, compounded of coal, peat, and 
 wood : and near the table, laid for a plentiful 
 evening meal, I was pleased to observe the 
 " missis," an individual whose existence I had 
 never previously suspected. 
 
 I bowed and waited, thinking she would bid 
 me take a seat. She looked at me, leaning 
 back in her chair, and remained motionless and 
 mute. 
 
 '' Rough weather !" I remarked. *' I'm 
 afraid, Mrs. Heathcliff, the floor must bear the 
 consequence of your servant's leisure attend- 
 ance : I had hard work to make them hear 
 me I" 
 
 She never opened her mouth. I stared — 
 she stared also. At any rate, she kept her eyes 
 
18 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 on me, in a cool, regardless manner, exceed- 
 ingly embarrassing and disagreeable. 
 
 ** Sit down," said the young man, gruffly. 
 « He'll be in soon." 
 
 I obeyed ; and hemmed, and called the vil- 
 lain Juno, who deigned, at this second inter- 
 view, to move the extreme tip of her tail, in 
 token of owning my acquaintance. 
 
 ^^ A beautiful animal !" I commenced again. 
 '* Do you intend parting with the little ones, 
 madam ?" 
 
 " They are not mine," said the amiable 
 hostess more repellingly than Heathcliff him- 
 self could have replied. 
 
 *^ Ah, your favourites are among these !" I 
 continued, turning to an obscure cushion full 
 of something like cats. 
 
 *' A strange choice of favourites," she ob- 
 served scornfully. 
 
 Unluckily, it was a heap of dead rabbits — 
 I hemmed once more, and drew closer to the 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 19 
 
 hearth, repeating my comment on the wildness 
 of the evening. 
 
 " You should not have come out," she said, 
 rising and reaching from the chimney piece two 
 of the painted canisters. 
 
 Her position before was sheltered from the 
 light : now, I had a distinct view of her 
 whole figure and countenance. She was slender, 
 and apparently scarcely past girlhood : an ad- 
 mirable form, and the most exquisite little face 
 that I have ever had the pleasure of behold- 
 ing : small features, very fair ; flaxen ringlets, 
 or rather golden, hanging loose on her delicate 
 neck ; and eyes — had they been agreeable in 
 expression, they would have been irresistible — 
 fortunately for my susceptible heart, the only 
 sentiment they evinced hovered between scorn 
 and a kind of desperation, singularly unnatural 
 to be detected there. 
 
 The canisters were almost out of her reach ; 
 I made a motion to aid her ; she turned upon 
 me as a miser might turn, if any one at- 
 tempted to assist him in counting his gold. 
 
^0 WUTHERINO HEIGHTS. 
 
 " I don't want your help," she snapped, " I 
 can get them for myself." 
 
 "I beg your pardon," I hastened to reply. 
 
 " Were you asked to tea ?" she demanded, 
 tying an apron over her neat black frock, and 
 standing with a spoonful of the leaf poised 
 over the pot. 
 
 " I shall be glad to have a cup," I an- 
 swered. 
 
 " Were you asked ?" she repeated. 
 
 ** No ;" I said, half smiling. ** You are the 
 proper person to ask me." 
 
 She flung the tea back, spoon and all ; and 
 resumed her chair in a. pet, her forehead cor- 
 rugated, and her red under-lip pushed out, 
 like a child's, ready to cry. 
 
 Meanwhile, the young man had slung onto 
 his person a decidedly shabby upper garment, 
 and, erecting himself before the blaze, looked 
 down on me, from the corner of his eyes, for 
 all the world as if there were some mortal 
 feud unavenged between us. I began to doubt 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 21 
 
 whether he were a servant or not ; his dress 
 and speech were both rude, entirely devoid of 
 the superiority observable in Mr. and ^Irs. 
 Heathcliff ; his thick, brown curls were rough 
 and uncultivated, his whiskers encroached 
 bearishly over his cheeks, and his hands were 
 embrowned like those of a common labourer, 
 still his bearing was free, almost haughty ; 
 and he showed none of a domestic's assiduity 
 in attending on the lady of the house. 
 
 In the absence of clear proofs of his con- 
 dition, I deemed it best to abstain from no- 
 ticing his curious conduct, and, five minutes 
 afterwards, the entrance of Heathclifi' relieved 
 me, in some measure, from my uncomfortable 
 state. 
 
 " You see, sir, I am come according to 
 promise !" I exclaimed, assuming the cheerful 
 " and I fear I shall be weather-bound for 
 half an hour, if you can afford me shelter dur- 
 ing that space." 
 
 *' Half an hour ?" he said, shaking the 
 
22 WUT BERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 white flakes from his clothes ; " I wonder 
 you should select the thick of a snow-storm 
 to ramble about in. Do you know that you 
 run a risk of being lost in the marshes ? People 
 familiar with these moors often miss their 
 road on such evenings, and, I can tell you, 
 there is no chance of a change at present." 
 
 " Perhaps I can get a guide among your 
 lads, and he might stay at the Grange till 
 morning — could you spare me one ?" 
 
 '* No, I could not." 
 
 " Oh^ indeed ! Well then, I must trust to 
 my own sagacity." 
 
 ^'Umph!" 
 
 ** Are you going to mak th 'tea ?'' demanded 
 he of the shabby coat, shifting his ferocious 
 gaze from me to the young lady. 
 
 " Is he to have any ?"' she asked, appealing 
 to Heathcliff. 
 
 " Get it ready, will you ?" was the answer, 
 uttered so savagely that I started. The tone 
 in which the words were said, revealed a ge- 
 
WUTHEEING HEIGHTS. 23 
 
 nuine bad nature. I no longer felt Inclined to 
 call Heathcliff a capital fellow. 
 
 When the preparations were finished, he 
 invited me with — 
 
 "Now, sir, bring forward your chair." And 
 we all, including the rustic youth, drew round 
 the table, an austere silence prevailing while 
 we discussed our meal. 
 
 I thought, if I had caused the cloud, it was 
 my duty to make an effort to dispel it. They 
 could not every day sit so grim and taciturn, 
 and it was impossible, how^ever ill-tempered 
 they might be, that the universal scowl they 
 wore was their every day countenance. 
 
 " It is strange," I began in the interval of 
 swallowing one cup of tea, and receiving 
 another, " it is strange how custom can mould 
 our tastes and ideas ; many could not imagine 
 the existence of happiness in a life of such 
 complete exile from the world as you spend, 
 Mr. Heathcliff; yet, I'll venture to say, 
 that, surrounded by your family, and with 
 
24 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 your amiable lady as the presiding genius over 
 your home and heart — " 
 
 " My amiable lady !'' he interrupted, with 
 an almost diabolical sneer on his face. 
 " Where is she — my amiable lady ?" 
 
 " Mrs. Heathcliff, your wife, I mean.'* 
 
 " Well, yes — Oh ! you would intimate that 
 her spirit has taken the post of ministering 
 angel, and guards the fortunes of Wuthering 
 Heights, even when her body is gone. Is 
 that it ?" 
 
 Perceiving myself in a blunder, I attempted 
 to correct it. I might have seen there was 
 too great a disparity between the ages of the 
 parties to make it likely that they were man 
 and wife. One was about forty ; a period of 
 mental vigour at which men seldom cherish 
 the delusion of being married for love, by 
 girls : that dream is reserved for the solace 
 of our declining years. The other did not look 
 seventeen. 
 
 Then it flashed upon me ; " the clown at 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 25 
 
 my elbow, who is drinking his tea out of a 
 basin, and eating his bread with unwashed 
 hands, may be her husband. Heathcliff, 
 junior, of course. Here is the consequence of 
 being buried alive : she has thrown herself 
 away upon that boor, from sheer ignorance 
 that better individuals existed ! A sad pity — 
 I must beware how I cause her to regret her 
 choice." 
 
 The last reflection may seem conceited ; it 
 was not. My neighbour struck me as bor- 
 dering on repulsive. I knew, through expe- 
 rience, that I was tolerably attractive. 
 
 ** Mrs. Heathcliff is my daughter-in-law," 
 said Heathcliff, corroborating my surmise. He 
 turned, as he spoke, a peculiar look in her di- 
 rection, a look of hatred unless he has a most 
 perverse set of facial muscles that will not, 
 like those of other people, interpret the langu- 
 age of his suul. 
 
 ^^ Ah, certainly — I see now ; you are the 
 
 VOL. I. c 
 
26 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 favoured possessor of the beneficent fairy," I 
 remarked, turning to my neighbour. 
 
 This was worse than before : the youth grew 
 crimson, and clenched his fist with every ap- 
 pearance of a meditated assault. But he 
 seemed to recollect himself, presently ; and 
 smothered the storm in a brutal curse, muttered 
 on my behalf, which, however, I took care not 
 to notice." 
 
 " Unhappy in your conjectures, sir !" ob- 
 served my host ; " we neither of us have the 
 privilege of owning your good fairy ; her mate 
 is dead. I said she was my daughter-in-law, 
 therefore, she must have married my son." 
 
 " And this young man is — " 
 
 " Not my son, assuredly !" 
 
 Heathcliff smiled again, as if it were rather 
 too bold a jest to attribute the paternity of 
 that bear to him. 
 
 " My name is Hareton Earnshaw," growled 
 the other ; " and I'd counsel you to respect 
 it!'' 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 27 
 
 " I've shown no disrespect,'^ was my reply, 
 laughing internally at the dignity with which 
 he announced himself. 
 
 He fixed his eye on me longer than I cared 
 to return the stare, for fear I might be tempted 
 either to box his ears, or render my hilarity 
 audible. I began to feel unmistakably out of 
 place in that pleasant family circle. The dis- 
 mal spiritual atmosphere overcame, and more 
 than neutralized the glowing physical comforts 
 round me ; and I resolved to be cautious how 
 I ventured under those rafters a third time. 
 
 The business of eating being concluded, and 
 no one uttering a word of sociable conversa- 
 tion, I approached a window to examine the 
 weather. 
 
 A sorrowful sight I saw ; dark night coming 
 down prematurely, and sky and hills mingled 
 in one bitter »whirl of wind and suffocating 
 snow. 
 
 *' I don't think it possible for me to get home 
 now, without a guide," I could not help ex- 
 c 3 
 
28 WUTflERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 claiming. " The roads will be buried already ; 
 and, if they were bare, I could scarcely dis- 
 tinguish a foot in advance." 
 
 ** Hareton, drive those dozen sheep into the 
 barn porch. They'll be covered if left in the 
 fold all night; and put a plank before them," 
 said Heathcliff. 
 
 " How must I do?" I continued, with rising 
 irritation. 
 
 There was no reply to my question; and, 
 on looking round, I saw only Joseph bringing 
 in a pail of porridge for the dogs ; and Mrs. 
 Heathcliff, leaning over the fire, diverting her- 
 self with burning a bundle of matches which 
 had fallen from the chimney-piece as she re- 
 stored the tea-canister to its place. 
 
 The former, when he had deposited his bur- 
 den, took a critical survey of the room ; and, 
 in cracked tones, grated out : 
 
 ** Aw woonder hagh yah can faishion tub 
 stand thear i' idleness un war, when all on 'em's 
 goan aght ! Bud yah're a nowt, and it^s noa 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 29 
 
 use talking — yah'll niver mend uh yer ill ways ; 
 bud, goa raight tub t' divil, like yer mother 
 afore ye !" 
 
 I imagined, for a moment, that this piece of 
 eloquence was addressed to me ; and, suffici- 
 ently entaged, stepped towards the aged rascal 
 with an intention of kicking him out of the 
 door. 
 
 Mrs. HeathclifF, however, cbecked me by her 
 answer. 
 
 " You scandalous old hypocrite !" she re- 
 plied. ** Are you not afraid of being carried 
 away bodily, whenever you mention the devil's 
 name? I warn you to refrain from provoking 
 me, or I'll ask your abduction as a special 
 favour. Stop, look here, Joseph," she con- 
 tinued, taking a long, dark book from a shelf. 
 ** I'll show you how far I've progressed in the 
 Black Art — I shall soon be competent to make 
 a clear house of it. The red cow didn't die 
 by chance ; and your rheumatism can hardly 
 be reckoned among providential visitations !" 
 
30 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 *' Oh, wicked, wicked I" gasped the elder, 
 " may the Lord deliver us from evil !" 
 
 *' No, reprobate ! you are a castaway — be 
 off, or I'll hurt you seriously ! I'll have you 
 all modlled in wax an d clay ; and the first who 
 passes the limits, I fix, shall — I'll not say 
 what he shall be done to — but, you'll see ! Go, 
 I'm looking at you !" 
 
 The little witch put a mock malignity into 
 her beautiful eyes, and Joseph, trembling with 
 sincere horror, hurried out praying and ejacu- 
 lating " wicked" as he went. 
 
 I thought her conduct must be prompted 
 by a species of dreary fun ; and, now that we 
 were alone, I endeavoured to interest her in 
 my distress. 
 
 " Mrs. Heathcliff," I said, earnestly, " you 
 must excuse me for troubling you — I presume, 
 because, with that face, I'm sure you cannot 
 help being good-hearted. Do point out some 
 landmarks by which I may know my way home 
 — I have no more idea how to get there than 
 you would have how to get to London !" 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 31 
 
 " Take the road you came/^ she answered, 
 ensconcing herself in a chair, with a candle, 
 and the long book open before her. " It is 
 brief advice ; but, j;s sound as I can give." 
 
 " Then, if you hear of me being discovered 
 dead in a bog, or a pit full of snow, your con- 
 science wont whisper that it is partly your 
 fault ?" 
 
 " How so ? I cannot escort you. They 
 wouldn't let me go to the end of the garden- 
 wall." 
 
 " You ! I should be sorry to ask you to cross 
 the threshold, for my cDuvenience, on such a 
 night," I cried. " I want you to tell me my 
 way, not to show it ; or else to per-uade Mr. 
 Heathcliff to give me a guide." 
 
 " Who ? Tnere is himself, Earnshaw, Zillah, 
 Joseph, and I. Which would you have ?" 
 
 " Are there no boys at the farm ?" 
 
 " No, those are all." 
 
 " Then, it follows that I am compelled to 
 stay." 
 
32 WllTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 *' That you may settle witl^ your host. I 
 have nothing to do with it." 
 
 " I hope it will be a lesson to you, to make 
 no more rash journeys on these hills/' cried 
 Heathcliff's stern voice from the kitchen en- 
 trance. " As to staying here, I don't keep 
 accommodations for visiters; you must share a 
 bed with Hareton, or Joseph, if you do.*' 
 
 " I can sleep on a chair in this room," I re- 
 plied. 
 
 " No, no ! A stranger is a stranger, be he 
 rich or poor — it will not suit me to permit any 
 one the range of the place while I am off 
 guard !" said the unmannerly wretch. 
 
 With this insult my patience was at an end. 
 I uttered an expression of disgust, and pushed 
 past him into the yard, running against Earn- 
 shaw in my haste. It was so dark that I could 
 not see the means of exit, and, as I wandered 
 round, I heard another specimen of their civil 
 behaviour amongst each other. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 33 
 
 At first, the young man appeared about 
 to befriend me. 
 
 •* I'll go with him as far as the park," he 
 said. 
 
 ^' You'll go with him to hell !" exclaimed 
 his master, or whatever relation he bore. 
 " And who is to look after the horses, 
 eh?'^ 
 
 " A man's life is of more consequence than 
 one evening's neglect of the horses ; somebody 
 must go," murmured Mrs. HeathclifF, more 
 kindly than I expected. 
 
 *' Not at your command !" retorted Hareton. 
 " If you set store on him, you'd better be 
 quiet." 
 
 " Then I hope his ghost will haunt you ; 
 and I hope jMr. Heatbcliif will never get 
 another tenant, till the Grange is a ruin I" 
 she answered sharply. 
 
 " Hearken, hearken, shoo's cursing on em I" 
 
 muttered Joseph, towards whom I had been 
 
 steering. 
 
 c 5 
 
34 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 He sat within earshot, milking the cows, 
 by the aid of a lantern which I seized uncere- 
 moniously, and calling out that 1 would send 
 it back on the morrow, rushed to the nearest 
 postern. 
 
 ** Maister, maister, he*s staling t' lantern !" 
 shouted the ancient, pursuing my retreat. 
 " Hey, Gnasher ! Hey, dog ! Hey, wolf, 
 holld him, holld him I" 
 
 On opening the little door, two hairy 
 monsters flew at my throat, bearing me 
 down, and extinguishing the light, while a 
 mingled guffaw, from Heathcliff and Hareton, 
 put the copestone on my rage and humi- 
 liation. 
 
 Fortunately, the beasts seemed more bent 
 on stretching their paws, and yawning, and 
 flourishing their tails, than devouring me alive ; 
 but, they would suffer no resurrection, and I 
 was forced to lie till their malignant masters 
 pleased to deliver me : then hatless, and trem- 
 bling with wrath, 1 ordered the miscreants to 
 
WUTHERING HEIGaT8. 35 
 
 let me out — on their peril to keep me one 
 minute longer — with several incoherent threats 
 of retaliation, that in their indefinite depth of 
 virulency, smacked of King Lear. 
 
 The vehemence of my agitation brought on 
 a copious bleeding at the nose, and still Heath- 
 cliff laughed, and still I scolded. I don't know 
 what would have concluded the scene had 
 there not been one person at hand rather more 
 rational than myself, and more benevolent than 
 uiy entertainer. This was Zillah, the stout 
 housewife ; who at length issued forth to in- 
 quire into the nature of the uproar. She 
 thought that some of them had been laying 
 violent hands on me ; and, not daring to at- 
 tack her master, she turned her vocal artillery 
 against the younger scoundrel. 
 
 " Well, Mr. Earnshaw," she cried, *' I won- 
 der what youll have agait next ! Are we 
 going to murder folk on our very door-stones ? 
 I see this house will never do for me — look at 
 t' poor lad, he's fair choking ! Wiaht, wisht I 
 
Ob WUTHEEENG HEIGHTS. 
 
 you mun'n't go on so — come in, and I'll cure 
 that. There now, hold ye still." 
 
 With these words she suddenly splashed'ia 
 pint of icy water down my neck, and pulled 
 me into the kitchen. Mr. Heathcliff followed, 
 his accidental merriment expiring quickly in 
 his habitual moroseness. 
 
 I was sick exceedingly, and dizzy and faint ; 
 and thus compelled, perforce, to accept lodg- 
 ings under his roof. He told Zillah to give 
 me a glass of brandy, and then passed on to 
 the inner room, while she condoled with me on 
 my sorry predicament, and having obeyed his 
 orders, whereby I was somewhat revived, 
 ushered me to bed. 
 
WUTUERING HEIGHTS. 37 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 While leading the way up-stairs, she recom- 
 mended that I should hide the candle, and not 
 make a noise, for her master had an odd notion 
 about the chamber she would put me in ; and 
 never let anybody lodge there willingly. 
 
 I asked the reason. 
 
 She did not know, she answered; she had 
 only lived there a year or two ; and they had 
 so many queer goings on, she could not begin 
 to be curious. 
 
 Too stupified to be curious myself, I fas- 
 
38 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 tened my door and glanced round for the bed. 
 The whole furniture consisted of a chair, a 
 clothes-press, and a large oak case, with 
 squares cut out near the top, resembling coach 
 windows. 
 
 Having approached this structure, I looked 
 inside, and perceived it to be a singular sort 
 of old-fashioned couch, very conveniently de- 
 signed to obviate the necessity for every mem- 
 ber of the family having a room to himself. 
 In fact, it formed a little closet, and the ledge 
 of a window, which it enclosed, served as a 
 table. 
 
 I slid back the panelled sides, got in with 
 my light, pulled them together again, and felt 
 secure against the vigilance of Heathcliff, and 
 every one else.^ 
 
 The ledge, where I placed my candle, had a 
 few mildewed books piled up in one corner ; 
 and it was covered with writing scratched on 
 the paint. This writing, however, was nothing 
 but a name repeated in all kinds of characters, 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 39 
 
 large and small — Catherine Earnshaw \ here 
 and there varied to Catherine Heathcliffi and 
 then again to Catherine LintonJ^ 
 
 In vapid listlessness I leant my head against 
 the window, and continued spelling over 
 Catherine Earnshaw — Heathcliff — Linton, till 
 my eyes closed ; but they had not rested five 
 minutes when a glare of white letters started 
 from the dark, as vivid as spectres— the air 
 swarmed with Catherines ; and rousing myself 
 to dispel the obtrusive name, I discovered my 
 candle wick reclining on one of the antique 
 volumes, and perfuming the place with an 
 odour of roasted calf-skin. 
 
 I snuffed it off, and, very ill at ease, under 
 the influence of cold and lingering nausea, sat 
 up, and spread open the injured tome on my 
 knee. It was a Testament, in lean type, and 
 smelling dreadfully musty : a fly-leaf bore the 
 inscription — " Catherine Earnshaw, her book," 
 and a date some quarter of a century back. 
 
40 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 I shut it, and took up another, and another, 
 till I had examined all. Catherine's library- 
 was select ; and its state of dilapidation proved 
 it to have been well used, though not altogether 
 for a legitimate purpose ; scarcely one chapter 
 had escaped a pen and ink commentary, at 
 least, the appearance of one, covering every 
 morsel of blank that the printer had left. 
 
 Some were detached sentences; other parts 
 took the form of a regular diary, scrawled in 
 an unformed, childish hand. At the top of an 
 extra page, quite a treasure probably when 
 first lighted on, I was greatly amused to behold 
 an excellent caricature of my friend Joseph, 
 rudely yet powerfully sketched. 
 
 An immediate interest kindled within me for 
 the unknown Catherine, and I began, forth- 
 with, to decypher her faded hieroglyphics. 
 
 " An awful Sunday !" commenced the para- 
 graph beneath. ** I wish my father were back 
 again. Hindley is a detestable substitute — 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 41 
 
 his conduct to Heathcliff is atrocious — H. and 
 I are going to rebel — we took our initiatory- 
 step this evening. 
 
 " All day had been flooding with rain ; we 
 could not go to church, so Joseph must needs 
 get up a congregation in the garret; and, 
 while Hindley and his wife basked down stairs 
 before a comfortable fire, doing anything but 
 reading their bibles, I'll answer for it ; Heath- 
 cliff, myself, and the unhappy plough-boy, 
 were commanded to take our Prayer-books, 
 and mount — we were ranged in a row, on a 
 sack of corn, groaning and shivering, and hop- 
 ing that Joseph would shiver too, so that he 
 might give us a short homily for his own sake. 
 A vain idea! The service lasted precisely 
 three hours ; and yet my brother had the face 
 to exclaim, when he saw us descending, 
 *^'What, done already ?" 
 *'0n Sunday evenings we used to be permitted 
 to play, if we did not make much noise ; now 
 
42 WUTflERING HEIGHTS, 
 
 a mere titter is suflScient to send us into 
 corners ! 
 
 " * You forget you have a master here," says 
 the tyrant. * I'll demolish the first who puts 
 me out of temper ! I insist on perfect sobri- 
 ety and silence. Oh, boy I was that you? 
 Frances, darling, pull his hair as you go by ; I 
 heard him snap his fingers.' 
 
 *' Frances pulled his hair heartily ; and then 
 went and seated herself on her husband's knee, 
 and there they were, like two babies, kissing 
 and talking nonsense by the hour — foolish 
 palaver that we should be ashamed of. 
 
 " We made ourselves as snug as our means 
 allowed in the arch of the dresser. I had just 
 fastened our pinafores together, and hung them 
 up for a curtain ; when in comes Joseph, on an 
 errand from the stables. He tears down my 
 handy work, boxes my ears, and croaks ; 
 
 " * T' maister nobbut just buried, and Sab- 
 bath nut oe'red, und t' sabnd, uh't gospel still i' 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. "43 
 
 yer lugs, and yah darr be laiking! shame on 
 ye ! sit ye dahn, ill chllder ! they's good books 
 eneugh if ye'U read 'em; sit ye dahn, and 
 think uh yer sowls I* 
 
 Saying thi?, he compelled us so to square 
 our positions that we might receive, from the 
 far-off fire, a dull ray to show us the text of 
 the lumber he thrust upon us. 
 
 " I could not bear the employment. I took 
 my dingy volume by the scroop, and hurled it 
 into the dog-kennel, vowing I hated a good 
 book. 
 
 '' Heathcliff kicked his to the same place. 
 
 " Then there was a hubbub ! 
 
 ** ' Maister Hindley !' shouted our chaplain. 
 
 * Maister, coom hither ! Miss Cathy's riven 
 th' back oiF ' Th' Helmet uh Salvation,' un' 
 Heathcliff 's pa weed his fit intuh t' first part uh 
 
 * T' Brooad Way to Destruction !' It's fair 
 flaysome ut yah let 'em goa on this gait. Ech ! 
 th' owd man ud uh laced 'em properly — bud 
 he's goan !' 
 
44 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 " Hindley hurried up from his paradise on 
 the hearth, and seizing one of us by the collar, 
 and the other by the arm, hurled both into the 
 back-kitchen ; where, Joseph asseverated, 
 " owd Nick" would fetch us as sure as we were 
 living; and, so comforted, we each sought a 
 separate nook to await his advent. 
 
 " I reached this book, and a pot of ink from 
 a shelf, and pushed the house-door ajar to give 
 me light, and I have got the time on with 
 writing for twenty minutes ; but my companion 
 is impatient and proposes that we should ap- 
 propriate the dairy woman's cloak, and have a 
 scamper on the moors, under its shelter. A 
 pleasant suggestion — and then, if the surly old 
 man come in, he may believe his prophesy 
 verified — we cannot be damper, or colder, in 
 the rain than we are here." 
 
 I suppose Catherine fulfilled her project, 
 
WUTH BRING HEIGHTS. 45 
 
 for the next sentence took up another subject ; 
 she waxed lachrymose. 
 
 '^ How little did I dream that Hindley would 
 ever make me cry so!" she wrote. " My head 
 aches, till T cannot keep it on the pillow ; and 
 still I can't give over. Poor Heathcliff* 
 Hindley calls him a vagabond, and wont let 
 him sit with us, nor eat with us any more; 
 
 and, he says, he and I must not play together, 
 
 and threatens to turn him out of the house if 
 
 we break his orders. 
 " He has been blaming our father (how 
 
 dared he ?) for treating H. too liberally ; 
 
 and swears he will reduce him to his right 
 
 place — " 
 
 1 began to nod drowsily over the dim page ; 
 my eye wandered from manuscript to print. I 
 saw a red ornamented title...*' Seventy Times 
 Seven, and the First of the Seventy First. 
 
46 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 A Pious Discourse delivered by the Reverend 
 Jabes Branderham, in the Chapel of Gimmer- 
 den Sough." And while I was, half consciously, 
 worrying my brain to guess what Jabes Bran - 
 derham would make of his subject, I sank back 
 in bed, and fell asleep. 
 
 Alas, for the effects of bad tea and bad 
 temper ! what else could it be that made me 
 pass such a terrible night ? I don't remember 
 another that I can at all compar®. with it since 
 I was capable of suffering. 
 
 I began to dream, almost before I ceased to 
 be sensible of my locality. I thought it was 
 morning ; and I had set out on my way home, 
 with Joseph for a guide. The snow lay yards 
 deep in our road ; and, as we floundered on, 
 my companion wearied me with constant re- 
 proaches that I had not brought a pilgrim's 
 staff: telling me I could never get into the 
 house without one, and boastfully flourishing 
 a heavy-headed cudgel, which I understood to 
 be so denominated. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 47 
 
 For a moment I considered it absurd that I 
 should need such a weapon to gain admittance 
 into my own residence. Then, a new idea 
 flashed across me. I was not going there ; we 
 were journeying to hear the famous Jabes 
 Branderham preach from the text — " Seventy 
 Times Seven ;" and either Joseph, the preacher, 
 or I had committed the '' First of the Seventy 
 First," and were to be publicly exposed and ex- 
 communicated. 
 
 We came to the chapel — I have passed it 
 really in my walks, twice or thrice : it lies in 
 a hollow, between two hills — an elevated hol- 
 low — near a swamp, whose peaty moisture is 
 said to answer all the purposes of embalming on 
 the few corpses deposited there. The roof has 
 been kejit whole hitherto, but, as the clergyman's 
 stipend is only twenty pounds per annum, and 
 a house with two rooms, threatening speedily 
 to determine into one, no clergyman will un- 
 dertake the duties of pastor, especially, as it is 
 currently reported that his flock would rather 
 
48 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 let him starve than increase the living by one 
 penny from their own pockets. However, in 
 my dream, Jabes had a full and attentive con- 
 gregation: and he preached — good God — what 
 a sermon ! Divided into four hundred and 
 ninety parts — each fully equal to an ordinary 
 address from the pulpit — and each discussing a 
 separate sin ! Where he searched for them, I 
 cannot tell ; he had his private manner of in- 
 terpreting the phrase, and it seemed necessary 
 the brother should sin different sins on every 
 occasion. 
 
 They were of the most curious character — 
 odd trangressions that I never imagined previ- 
 ously. 
 
 Oh, how weary I grew. How I writhed, 
 and yaw'nsd, and nodded, and revived! How 
 I pinched and pricked myself, and rubbed my 
 eyes, and stood up, and sat down again, and 
 nudged Joseph to inform me if he would ever 
 have doner* 
 
 I was condemned to hear all out — finally, he 
 
WUTHERTNG HEIGHTS. 49 
 
 reached the " First of the Seventy -First''' At 
 that crisis, a sudden inspiration descended on 
 me ; I was moved to rise and denounce .Tabes 
 Branderham as the sinner of the sin that no 
 christian need pardon. 
 
 " Sir," I exclaimed, " sitting here, within 
 these four walls, at one stretch, I have endured 
 and forgiven the four hundred and ninety 
 heads of your discourse. Seventy times 
 seven times have I plucked up ray hat, and 
 been about to depart —Seventy times seven 
 times have you preposterously forced me to re- 
 sume my seat. The four hundred and ninety- 
 first is too much. Fellow martyrs, have at 
 him ! Drag him down, and crush him to 
 atoms, that the place which knows him may 
 know him no more !" 
 
 " Thou art the ManT' cried Jabes, after a 
 solemn pause, leaning over his cushion. 
 " Seventy times seven times didst thou gapingly 
 contort thy visage — seventy times seven did I 
 
 VOL. I. D 
 
50 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 take counsel with my soul — Lo, this is human 
 weakness; this also may be absolved! The 
 First of the Seventy-First is come. Brethren, 
 execute upon him the judgment written ! such 
 honour have all His saints!'* 
 
 With that concluding word, the whole as- 
 sembly, exalting their pilgrim's staves, rushed 
 round me in a body, and I, having no weapon 
 to raise in self-defence, commenced grappling 
 with Joseph, my nearest and most ferocious as- 
 sailant, for his. In the confluence of the mul- 
 titude, several clubs crossed ; blows, aimed at 
 me, fell on other sconses. Presently the whole 
 chapel resounded with rappings and counter- 
 rappings. Every man's hand was against his 
 neighbour ; and Branderham, unwilling to re- 
 main idle, poured forth his zeal in a shower of 
 loud taps on the boards of the pulpit which 
 responded so smartly, that, at last, to my un- 
 speakable relief, they woke me. 
 And what was it that had suggested the tre- 
 
WUTHEblNG HEIGHTS. 51 
 
 mendous tumult, what bad plaj^ed Jabes' part in 
 the row ? Merely, the branch of a fir-tree 
 that touched my lattice, as the blast wailed by, 
 and rattled its dry cones against the panes ! 
 
 I listened doubtingly an instant ; detected 
 the disturber, then turned and dosed, and 
 dreamt again ; if possible, still more disagree- 
 bly than before. 
 
 This time, I remembered I was lying in the 
 oak closet, and I heard distinctly the gusty 
 wind, and the driving of the snow ; 1 heard 
 also, the firbough repeat its teasinoj sound, and 
 ascribed it to the right cause : but, it annoyed 
 me so much, that I resolved to silence it, if 
 possible ; and, I thought, I rose and endea- 
 voured to unhasp the casement. The hook 
 was soldered into the staple, a circumstance 
 observed by me, when awake, but forgotten. 
 
 '* I must stop it, nevertheless I" I muttered, 
 knocking my knuckles through the glnss, and 
 stretching an arm out to seize the importunate 
 
 D 3 
 
52 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 branch : instead of which, my fingers closed on 
 the fingers of a little, ice-cold hand ! 
 
 The intense horror of nightmare came over 
 me ; I tried to draw back my arm, but, the 
 hand clung to it, and a most melancholy voice, 
 sobbed, 
 
 " Let me in — let me in I*' 
 
 " Who are you ?" I asked struggling, mean- 
 while, to disengage myself. 
 
 " Catherine Linton," it replied, shiveringly, 
 (why did I think of Linton ? I had read Earn- 
 shaw, twenty times for Linton) *' I'm come 
 home, I'd lost my way on the moor!'' 
 
 As it spoke, I discerned, obscurely, a child's 
 face lookinoj through the window — Terror 
 made me cruel ; and, finding it useless to at- 
 tempt shaking the creature off, I pulled its 
 wrist on to the broken pane, and rubbed it to 
 and fro till the blood ran down and soaked the 
 bed-clothes : still it wailed, " Let me in !" and 
 maintained its tenacious gripe, almost madden- 
 ing me with fear. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS, 53 
 
 ** How can I ?" I said at length. " Let me 
 go, if you want me to let you in !" 
 
 The fingers relaxed, I snatched mine through 
 the hole, hurriedly piled the books up in a py- 
 ramid against it, and stopped my ears to ex- 
 clude the lamentable prayer. 
 
 I seemed to keep them closed above a quar- 
 ter of an hour, yet, the instant I listened, 
 again, there was the doleful cry moaning on ! 
 
 " Begone !" I shouted, " I'll never let you in, 
 not if you beg for twenty years !" 
 
 *' It's twenty years," mourned the voice, 
 " twenty years, I've been a waif for twentj 
 years!" 
 
 Thereat began a feeble scratching outside, 
 and the pile of books mov^d as if thrust for- 
 ward. 
 
 I tried to jump up ; but, could not stir a 
 limb; and so, yelled aloud, in a frenzy of 
 fright. 
 
 To my confusion, I discovered the yell waa 
 not ideal. Hasty footsteps approached my 
 
54 WUTHERING HEIGHTS'. 
 
 chamber door : somebody pushed it open, with 
 a vigorous hand, and a light glimmered through 
 the squares at the top of the bed. I sat shud- 
 dering, yet, and wiping the perspiration from 
 my forehead: the intruder appeared to hesitate 
 and muttered to himself. 
 
 At last, he said in a half-whisper, plainly 
 not expecting an answer, 
 
 ** Is any one here ?" 
 
 I considered it best to confess my presence, 
 for I knew Heathcliff's accents, and feared he 
 might search further, if I kept quiet. 
 
 With this intention, I turned and opened 
 the panels — I shall not soon forget the effect 
 my action produced. 
 
 Heathcliff stood near the entrance, in his 
 shirt and trousers; with a candle dripping 
 over his fingers, and his face as white as the 
 wall behind him. The first creak of the oak 
 startled him like an electric shock : the light 
 leaped from his hold to a distance of some 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS, 55 
 
 feet, and his agitation was so extreme, that he 
 could hardly pick it up. 
 
 *' It is only your guest, slr,*^ I called out, 
 desirous to spare him the hun:iiliation of ex- 
 posing his cowardice further. *' I had the 
 misfortune to scream in my sleep, owing to a 
 frightful nightmare. I'm sorry I disturbed 
 you." 
 
 '' Oh, God confound you, Mr. Lockwood ! I 
 wish you were at the — " commenced my host 
 setting the candle on a chair, because he found 
 it impossible to hold it steady. 
 
 " And who showed you up to this room ?" 
 he continued, crushing his nails into his palms, 
 and grinding his teeth to subdue the maxillary 
 convulsions. " Who was it ? I've a good 
 mind to turn them out of the house, this 
 moment!" 
 
 *' It was your servant, Zillah," I replied 
 flinging myself, on to the floor, and rapidly 
 resuming my garments. " I should not care 
 if you did, Mr. Heathcliff ; she richly deserves 
 
56 WUTHERINvS HEIGHTS. 
 
 it. I suppose that she wanted to get another 
 proof that the place was haunted, at my ex- 
 pense — Well, it is — swarming with ghosts and 
 goblins ! You have reason in shutting it up, 
 I assure you. No one will thank you for a 
 dose in such a den !" 
 
 " \A'hat do you mean ?" asked Heathcliffi 
 *'and what are you doing? Lie down and 
 finish out the night, since you are here ; but, 
 for Heaven's sake ! don't repeat that horrid 
 noise ~ Nothing eould excuse it, unless you 
 were having your throat cut!*' 
 
 " If the little fiend had got in at the win- 
 dow, she probably would have strangled me !" 
 I returned. " I'm not going to endure the 
 persecutions of your hospitable ancestors, again 
 — Was not the Reverend Jabes Branderham 
 akin to you on the mother's side ? And that 
 minx, Catherine Linton, or Earnshaw, or how- 
 ever she was called — she must have been a 
 changling — wicked little soul! She told me 
 fihe had been walking the earth these twenty 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 57 
 
 years : a just punishment for her mortal trans- 
 gressions, I've no doubt!" 
 
 Scarcely were these words uttered, when I 
 recollected the association of HenthclifF's with 
 Catherine's name in the book, which had com- 
 pletely slipped from my memory till thus 
 awakened. I blushed at my inconsideration ; 
 but without showing further consciousness of 
 the offence, I hastened to add, 
 
 '' The truth is, sir, I passed the first part of 
 the night in — " Here, I stopped afresh— I 
 was about to say ''perusing those old vo- 
 lumes," then it would have revealed my know- 
 ledge of their written, as well as their printed 
 contents ; so correcting myself, I went on, 
 
 " In spelling over the name scratched on 
 that window-ledge. A monotonous occupa- 
 tion, calculated to set n.e asleep, like counting, 
 or—" 
 
 ** What can you mean, by talking in this 
 way to me !" thundered Heathcliff with savage 
 vehemence. " How — how dare you, under my 
 
58 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 roof— God! he's mad to speak so !" And he 
 struck his forehead with rage. 
 
 I did not know whether to resent this lan- 
 guage, or pursue my explanation ; but he 
 seemed so powerfully affected that I took pity 
 and proceeded with my dreams ; affirming 
 I had never heard the appellation of " Cathe- 
 rine Linton," before, but, reading it often over 
 produced an impression which personified itself 
 when I had no longer my imagination under 
 control. 
 
 Heathcliff gradually fell back into the shel- 
 ter of the bed, as I spoke, finally, sitting down 
 almost concealed behind it. I guessed, how- 
 ever, by his irregular and intercepted breath- 
 ing, that he struggled to vanquish an access of 
 violent emotion. 
 
 Not liking to show him that I heard the 
 conflict, I continued my toilette rather noisily, 
 looked at my watch, and soliloquised on the 
 length of the night : 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS, 59 
 
 *' Not three o'clock, yet ! I could have taken 
 oath it had been six — time stagnates here — we 
 must surely have retired to rest at eight !"' 
 
 " Always at nine in winter, and always rise 
 at four," said my host, suppressing a groan ; 
 and, as I fancied, by the motion of his shadow's 
 arm, dashing a tear from his eyes. 
 
 ** Mr Lockwood," he added, " you may go 
 into my room ; you'll only be in the way, com- 
 ing down stairs so early : and your childish 
 outcry has sent sleep to the devil forme." 
 
 *' And for me too," I replied. '•' I'll walk 
 in the yard till daylight, and then I'll be off; 
 and you need not dread a repetition of my in- 
 trusion. I am now quite cured of seeking 
 pleasure in society, be it country or town. A 
 sensible man ought to find sufficient company 
 in himself." 
 
 *' Delightful company!" muttered Heath- 
 cliff. " Take the candle, and go where you 
 please. I shall join you directly. Keep out 
 of the yard though the dogs are unchained ; 
 
60 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 and the house — Juno mounts sentinel there— 
 and — nay, you can only ramble about the steps 
 and passages — but, away with you ! I'll come 
 in two minutes." 
 
 I obeyed, so far as to quit the chamber ; 
 when, ignorant where the narrow lobbies led, 
 I stood still, and was witness, involuntaril} , to 
 a piece of superstition ou the part of my land- 
 lord, which belied, oddly, his apparent sense. 
 
 He got on to the bed, and wrenched open 
 the lattice, bursting, as he pulled at it, into an 
 uncontrollable passion of tears. 
 
 " Come in I come in!" he subbed. " Cathy, 
 do come. Oh do — once more ! Oh ! my heart's 
 darling, hear me this time — Catherine, at last!" 
 
 The spectre showed a spectre's ordinary ca- 
 price; it gave no sign of being; but the snow 
 and wind whirled wildly through, even reach- 
 ing my station, and blowing out the light. 
 
 There was such anguish in the gush of grief 
 that accompanied this raving, that my com- 
 passion made me overlook its folly, and I drew 
 
WDTUERING HEIGHTS. 61 
 
 ofiF, half angry to have listened at all, and vexed 
 at having related my ridiculous nightmare, 
 since it produced that agony ; though why^ 
 was beyond my comprehension. 
 
 I descended cautiously to the lower regions 
 and landed in the back-kitchen, where a gleam 
 of fire, raked compactly together, enabled me 
 to rekindle my candle. 
 
 Nothing was stirring except a brindled, grey 
 cat, which crept from the ashes, and saluted me 
 with a querulous mew. 
 
 Two benches, shaped in sections of a circle, 
 nearly enclosed the hearth; on one of these 
 I stretched myself, and Grimalkin mounted 
 the other. We were both of us nodding, ere 
 any one invaded our retreat ; and then it was 
 Josepli shufiliag down a wooden ladder that 
 vanished in the roof, through a trap, the assent 
 to his garret, 1 suppose. 
 
 He cast a sinister look at the little tiame 
 which 1 had enticed to play between the ribs, 
 swept the cat from its elevation, and bestowing 
 
62 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 himself In the vacancy, commenced the opera- 
 tion of stuffing a three-inch pipe with tobacco ; 
 my presence in his sanctum was evidently es- 
 teemed a piece of impudence too shameful for 
 remark. He silently applied the tube to his 
 lips, folded his arms, and puffed away. 
 
 I let him enjoy the luxury, unannoyed; and 
 after sucking out the last wreath, and heaving 
 a profound sigh, he got up, and departed as 
 solemnly as he came. 
 
 A more elastic footstep entered next, and 
 now I opened my mouth for a *' good morn- 
 ing," but closed it again, the salutation un- 
 achieved ; for Hareton Earnshaw was perform- 
 ing his orisons, sotto voce, in a series of curses 
 directed against every object he touched, 
 while he rummaged a corner, for a spade or 
 shovel to dig through the drifts. He glanced 
 over the back of the bench dilating his nostrils, 
 and thought as little of exchanging civilities 
 with me, as with my companion, the cat. 
 
 I guessed by his preparations that egress 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 63 
 
 was allowed, and leaving my hard couch, made 
 a movement to follow him. He noticed this, 
 and thrust at an inner door with the end of 
 his spade, intimating by an inarticulate sound, 
 that there was the place where I must go, if I 
 changed my locality. 
 
 It opened into the house, where the females 
 were already astir. Zillah urging flakes of 
 flame up the chimney with a colossal bellows ; 
 and Mrs. Heathcliff, kneeling on the hearth, 
 reading a book by the aid of the blaze. 
 
 She held her hand interposed between the 
 furnace-heat and her eyes ; and seemed ab- 
 sorbed in her occupation : desisting from it 
 only to chicle the servant for covering her with 
 sparks, or to push away a dog, now and then, 
 that snoozled its nose over forwardly into her 
 face. 
 
 I was surprised to see Heathcliff there also. 
 He stood by the fire, his back towards me, 
 just finishing a stormy scene to poor Zillah, 
 who ever and anon interrupted her labour to 
 
64 WUTHERING HEIGHT8. 
 
 pluck up the corner of her apron, and heave an 
 indignant groan. 
 
 " And you, you worthless — '' he broke out 
 as I entered, turning to his daughter-in-law, 
 and employing an epithet as harmless as duck, 
 or sheep, but generally represented by a dash. 
 
 " There you are at your idle tricks again I 
 The rest of them do earn their bread—you live 
 on my charity! Put your trash away, and 
 find something to do. You shall pay me for 
 the plague of having you eternally in my sight 
 —do you hear, damnable jade ?" 
 
 *^ I'll put my trash away, because you can 
 make me, if I refuse," answered the young 
 lady, closing her book, and throwing it on a 
 chair. " But I'll not do anything, though you 
 should swear your tongue out, except what I 
 please !" 
 
 Heathcliff lifted his hand, and the speaker 
 sprang to a safer distance, obviously acquainted 
 with its weight. 
 
 Having no desire to be entertained by a cat 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 65 
 
 and dojij combat, I stepped forward briskly, 
 as if eager to partake the warmth of the 
 hearth, and innocent of any knowledge of the 
 interrupted dispute. Each had enough de- 
 corum to suspend further hostilities ; Heath- 
 cliff placed his fists, out of temptation, in his 
 pockets: Mrs. Heathcliff curled her lip, and 
 walked to a seat far off; where she kept her 
 word by playing the part of a statue during 
 the remainder of my stay. 
 
 That was not long. I declined joining their 
 breakfast, and, at the first gleam of dawn, took 
 an opportunity of escaping into the free air, 
 now clear, and still, and cold as impalpable 
 ice. 
 
 My landlord hallooed for me to stop ere I 
 reached the bottom of the garden, and offered 
 to accompany me across the moor. It was 
 well he did, for the whole hill-back was one 
 billowy, white ocean ; the swells and falls not 
 indicating corresponding rises and depressions 
 in the ground — many pits, at least, were filled 
 
66 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 to a level ; and entire ranges of mounds, the 
 refuse of the quarries, blotted from the chart 
 which my yesterday's walk left pictured in my 
 mind. 
 
 I had remarked on one side of the road, at 
 intervals of six or seven yards, a line of up- 
 right stones, continued through the whole 
 length of the barren : these were erected, and 
 daubed with lime, on purpose to serve as guides 
 in the dark, and also, when a fall, like the 
 present, confounded the deep swamps on 
 either hand with the firmer path : but, except- 
 ing a dirty dot pointing up, here and there, all 
 traces of their existence had vanished ; and my 
 companion found it necessary to warn me fre- 
 quently to steer to the right, or left, when I 
 imagined I was following, correctly, the wind- 
 ings of the road. 
 
 We exchanged little conversation, and he 
 halted at the entrance of Thrushcross park, 
 saying, I could make no error there. Our 
 adieux were limited to a hasty bow, and then 
 
WUTHERING HEFGHTS. 67 
 
 I pushed forward, trusting to my own resources, 
 for the norter's lodge is untenanted as yet. 
 
 The distance from the gate to the Grange is 
 twcO to miles : I believe I managed to make it four ; 
 what with losing myself among the trees, and 
 sinking up to the neck in snow, a predicament 
 which only those who have experienced it can 
 appreciate. At any rate, whatever were my 
 wanderings, the clock chimed twelve as I en- 
 tered the house ; and that gave exactly an 
 hour for every mile of the usual way from 
 Wuthering Heights. 
 
 My human fixture, and her satellites rushed 
 to welcome me ; exclaiming, tumultuously, 
 they had completely given me up ; everybody 
 conjectured that I perishfd last night ; and 
 they were wondering how they must set about 
 the search for my remains. 
 
 I bid them be quiet, now that they saw me 
 returned, and, benumbed to my very heart, I 
 dragged up-stairs, whence, after putting on 
 dry clothe."=, and pacing to and fro, thirty or 
 
68 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 forty minutes, to restore the animal heat, I am 
 adjourned to my study, feeble as a kitten, al- 
 most too much so to enjoy the cheerful fire, and 
 smoking coffee which the servant has prepared 
 for my refreshment. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 69 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 What vain weather-cocks we are ! I, who had 
 determined to held myself independent of all 
 social intercourse, and thanked my stars that, 
 at length, I had lighted on a spot where it was 
 next to impracticable. I, weak wretch, after 
 maintaining till dusk a struggle with low 
 spirits, and solitude, was finally compelled to 
 strike my colours ; and, under pretence of 
 gaining information concerning the necessities 
 of my establishment, I desired Mrs. Dean, 
 when she brought in supper, to sit down while 
 
70 WUTHEKING HEIGHTS. 
 
 I ate it, hoping sincerely she would prove a re- 
 gular gossip, and either rouse me to animation, 
 or lull me to sleep by her talk. 
 
 *' You have lived here a considerable time," 
 I commenced ; '^ did you not say sixteen 
 years ?" 
 
 " Eighteen, sir ; I came, when the mistress 
 was married, to wait on Ler ; after she died, 
 the master retained me for his house-keeper." 
 
 " Indeed." 
 
 There ensued a pause. She was not a gos- 
 sip, I feared, unless about her own affairs, and 
 those could hardly interest me. 
 
 However, having studied for an interval, 
 with a fist on either knee, and a cloud of me- 
 ditation over her ruddy countenance, she eja- 
 culated — 
 
 " Ah, times are greatly changed since 
 then I" 
 
 " Yes," I remarked, " you've seen a good 
 many alterations, I suppose ?" 
 
 '• 1 have : and troubles too," she said. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 71 
 
 " Oh, I'll turn the talk on my landlord's 
 family!" I thought to myself. ** A good sub- 
 ject to start — and that pretty girl — widow, I 
 should like to know her history ; whether she 
 be a native of the country, or, as is more pro- 
 bable, an exotic that the surly indigenae will 
 not recognise for kin." 
 
 \yith this intention T asked ^Irs. Dean why 
 Heathcliif let Thrushcross Grange, and pre- 
 ferred living in a situation and residence so 
 much inferior. 
 
 '^ Is he not rich enough to keep the estate 
 in good order?" I enquired. 
 
 " llich sir!" she returned. ''He has, no- 
 body knows what money, and every year it in- 
 creases. Yes, yes, he's rich enough to live in 
 a finer house than this; but he's very near — 
 cloee- handed ; and, if he had meant to flit to 
 Thrushcross Grange, as soon as he heard of a 
 good tenant, he could nut have borne to miss 
 the chance of getting a few hundreds mure. It 
 
72 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 is strange people should be so greedy, when 
 they are alone in the world !" 
 
 " He had a -eon, it seems?" 
 
 " Yes, he had one — he is dead." 
 
 " And that young lady, Mrs. Heathcliff, is 
 his widow ?" 
 
 *'Yes." 
 
 " Where did she come from originally?" 
 
 *' Why, sir, she is my late master's daughter ; 
 Catherine Linton was her maiden name. I 
 nursed her, poor thing ! I did wish Mr. Heath- 
 cliflP would remove here, and then we might 
 have been together again." 
 
 '' What, Catherine Linton I" I exclaimed, 
 astonished. But a minute's reflection convinced 
 me it was not my ghostly Catherine. " Then," 
 I continued, " my predecessor's name was 
 Linton ? ' 
 
 " It was." 
 
 ** And who is that Earnshaw, Hareton 
 Earnshaw, who lives with Mr. Heathcliff? are 
 they relations?" 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 73 
 
 *' No ; he is the late Mrs. Linton's nephew.'* 
 
 " The young lady's cousin then ?" 
 
 *' Yes ; and her husband was her cousin 
 
 also — one, on the mother's — the other, on the 
 
 father's side — HeathclifF married Mr. Linton's 
 
 sister." 
 
 ** I see the house at Wutherlng Heights has 
 • Earnshaw' carved over the front door. Are 
 they an old family ?" 
 
 *' Very old, sir; and Hareton is the last of 
 them, as our Miss Cathy is of us — I mean, of 
 the Lintons. Have you been to Wuthering 
 Heights? I beg pardon for asking; but I 
 should like to hear how she is !" 
 
 '* Mrs. Heathcliff ? she looked very well, 
 and very handsome ; yet, I think, not very 
 happy." 
 
 " Oh dear, I don't wonder!" And how did 
 you like the master?" 
 
 " A rough fellow, rather, Mrs. Dean. Is 
 not that his character?" 
 
 " Rough as a saw-edge, and hard as whin- 
 VOL. I. E 
 
74 WCTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 stone ! The less you meddle with hira the 
 better." 
 
 ** He must have had some ups and downs in 
 life to make him such a churl. Do you know 
 anything of his history ?" 
 
 " It's a cuckoo's; sir — I know all about it ; 
 except where he was born, and who were his 
 parents, and how he got his money, at first — 
 And Hareton has been cast out like an un- 
 fledged dunnock — The unfortunate lad is the 
 only one, in all this parish, that does not guess 
 how he has been cheated !" 
 
 " Well, Mrs. Dean, it will be a charitable 
 deed to tell me something of my neighbours — 
 I feel I shall not rest, if I go to bed ; so, be 
 good enough to sit, and chat an hour." 
 
 " Oh, certainly, sir! I'll just fetch a little 
 sewing, and then I'll sit as long as you please 
 but you've caught cold, I saw you shivering, 
 and you must have some gruel to drive it 
 out.'^ 
 
 The worthy woman bustled off; i\nd I 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 75 
 
 crouched nearer the fire : my head felt hot, 
 and the rest of me chill : moreover I was ex- 
 cited, almost to a pitch of foolishness through 
 my nerves and brain. This caused me to feel, 
 not uncomfortable, but rather fearful, as I am 
 stillj of serious effects from the incidents of to- 
 day and yesterday. 
 
 She returned presently, bringing a smoking 
 basin, and a basket of work; and, having 
 placed the former oa the hob, drew in her seat, 
 evidently pleased to find me so companionable. 
 
 "Before I came to live here," she com- 
 menced, waiting no further invitation to her 
 story ; " I was almost always at AYuthering 
 Heights; because, my mother had nursed Mr. 
 Hindley Earnshaw, that was Hareton's father, 
 and I got used to playing with the children — 
 I ran errands too, and helped to make hay, and 
 hung about the farm ready for anything that 
 anybody would set me to. 
 
 "One fine summer morning — it was the be- 
 £ 3 
 
76 "WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 ginning of harvest, I remember — Mr. Earn, 
 shaw, the old master, came down stairs, dressed 
 for a journey; and, after he had told Joseph 
 what was to be done during the day, he turn- 
 ed to Hindley, and Cathy, and me — for I sat 
 eating my porridge, with them, and he said, 
 speaking to his son, 
 
 "Now my bonny man, I m going to Liver- 
 pool, to-day. ..What shall I bring you? You 
 may choose what you like ; only let it be little , 
 for 1 shall walk there and back ; sixty miles 
 each way, that is a long spell !" 
 
 Hindley named a fiddle, and then he asked 
 Miss Cathy; she was hardly six years old, but 
 she could ride any horse in tlie stable, and she 
 chose a whip. 
 
 He did not forget me, for, he had a kind 
 heart, though he was rather severe, sometimes. 
 He promised to bring me a pocketful of apples, 
 and pears, and then he kissed his children, 
 good bye, and set off. 
 
 It seemed a long while to us all — the three 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 77 
 
 days of his absence — and often did little Cathy 
 ask when he would be home : Mrs. Earnshaw, 
 expected him by supper-time, on the third 
 evening; and she put the meal oft hour after 
 hour ; there were no signs of his coming, how- 
 ever, and at last the children ofot tired of run- 
 ning down to the gate to look — Then it grew 
 dark, she would have had them to bed, but 
 they begged sadly to be allowed to stay up : 
 and, just about eleven o'clock, the door-latch 
 was raised quietly and in stept the master. 
 He threw himself into a chair, laughing and 
 groaning, aod bid them all stand oft", for he was 
 nearly killed — he would not have such another 
 walk for the three kingdoms. 
 
 **And at the end of it, to be flighted to 
 death !" he said opening his great coat, which 
 he held bundled up in his arms, '* See here, 
 wife ; I was never so beaten with anything in 
 my life ; but you must e'en take it as a gift 
 of God ; though it's as dark almost as if it 
 came from the deviL" 
 
78 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 We crowded round, and, over Miss Cathy's 
 head, I had a peep at a dirty, ragged, black- 
 haired child ; big enough both to walk and 
 talk — indeed, its face looked older than Cathe- 
 rine's — yet, when it was set on its feet, it only 
 stared round, and repeated over and over again, 
 some gibberish that nobody could understand. 
 I was frightened, and Mrs. Earnshaw was 
 ready to fling it out of doors : she did fly up — 
 asking how he could fashion to bring that gip- 
 sy brat into the house, when they had their 
 own bairns to feed, and fend for ? What he 
 meant to do v/ith it, and whether he were 
 mad? 
 
 The master tried to explain the matter ; but, 
 he was really half dead with fatigue, and all 
 that I could make out, amongst her scold- 
 ing, was a tale of his seeing it starving, and 
 houseless, and as good as dumb in the streets 
 of Liverpool where he picked it up and in- 
 quired for its owner— Not a soul knew to 
 whom it belonged, he said, and his money and 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 79 
 
 time, being both limited, he thought it better, 
 to take it home with him, at once, than run, 
 into vain expences there ; because he was de- 
 termined he would not leave as he found it. 
 
 Well, the conclusion was that my mistress 
 grumbled herself calm ; and Mr Earnshaw told 
 me to wash it, and give it clean things, and let 
 it sleep with the children. 
 
 Hindley and Cathy contented themselves 
 with looking and listening till peace was res- 
 tored : then, both began searching their father's 
 pockets for the presents he had promised them. 
 The former was a boy of fourteen, but when 
 he drew out, what had been a fiddle crushed 
 to morsels in the great coat, he blubbered 
 aloud, and Cathy, when she learnt the master 
 had lost her whip in attending on the stran- 
 ger, showed her humour by grinning and spit- 
 ting at the stupid little thing, earning for her 
 pains, a sound blow from her father to teach 
 her cleaner manners. 
 
 They entirely refused to have it in bed with 
 
80 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 them, or even in their room, and I had no more 
 sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, 
 hoping it might be gone on the morrow. By 
 chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, 
 it crept to Mr. Earnshavv*s door and there he 
 found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries 
 were made as to how it got there ; I was obli- 
 ged to confess, and in recompense for my co- 
 wardice and inhumanity was sent out of the 
 house. 
 
 This was Heathcliff's first introduction to 
 the family : on coming back a few days after- 
 wards, for I did not consider my banishment 
 perpetual, I found they had christened him 
 ** Heathcliff," it was the name of a son who 
 died in childhood, and it has served him ever 
 since, both for christian and surname. 
 
 Miss Cathy and he were now very thick l 
 but Hindley hated him, and to say the truth 
 I did the same ; and we plagued and went on 
 with him shamefully, for I was'nt reasonable 
 enough to feel my injustice, and the mistress 
 
WUTHEKING HEIGHTS. ^1 
 
 never put in a word on his behalf, when she 
 fiaw him wronged. 
 
 He seemed a sullen, patient child ; hardened, 
 perhaps, to ill-treatment : he would stand 
 Hindley's blows without winking or shedding 
 a tear, and my pinches moved him only to 
 draw in a breath, and open his eyes as if he 
 had hurt himself by accident, and nobody was 
 to blame. 
 
 This endurance made old Earnshaw furious 
 when he discovered his son persecuting the 
 poor, fatherless child, as he called him. He 
 took to Heathcliff strangely, believing, all he 
 said, (for that matter, he said precious little, 
 and generally the truth,) and petting him up 
 far above Cathy, who was too mischievous and 
 wayward for a favourite. 
 
 So, from the very beginning, he bred bad 
 
 feeling in the house ; and at Mrs Earnshaw's 
 
 death, which happened in less than two years 
 
 after, the young master had learnt to regard 
 
 E 5 
 
82 WUTHERING HEIQUTS. 
 
 his father as an oppressor rather than a friend, 
 and Heathcliff as a usurper of his parent's 
 aflfections, and his privileges, and he grew bit- 
 ter with brooding over these injuries. 
 
 I sympathised awhile, but, when the chil- 
 dren fell ill of the measles and I had to tend 
 them, and take on me the cares of a woman, 
 at once, I changed my ideas. Heathcliff was 
 dangerously sick, and while he lay at the 
 worst he would have me constantly by his pil- 
 low ; I suppose he felt I did a good deal for 
 him, and he had'nt wit to guess that I was 
 compelled to do it. However, I will say this, 
 he was the quietest child that ever nurse 
 watched over. The difference between him 
 and the others forced me to be less partial : 
 Cathy and her brother harassed me terribly : 
 he was as uncomplaining as a lamb ; though 
 hardness, not gentleness, made him give little 
 trouble. 
 
 He got through, and the doctor affirmed it 
 was in a great measure owing to me, and 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 83 
 
 praised me for my care. I was vain of his 
 commendations, and softened towards the being 
 by whose means, I earned them, and thus 
 Hindley lost his last ally ; still I couldn't dote 
 on Heathcliff, and I wondered often what my 
 master saw to admire so much in the sullen 
 boy who never, to my recollection, repaid his 
 indulgence by any sign of gratitude. He was 
 not insolent to his benefactor ; he was simply 
 insensible, though knowing perfectly the hold 
 he had on his heart, and conscious he had only 
 to speak and all the house would be obliged 
 to bend to his wishes. 
 
 As an instance, I remember Mr. Earnshaw 
 once bought a couple of colts at the parish 
 fair, and gave the lads each one. Heathcliff 
 took the handsomest, but it soon fell lame, and 
 when he discovered it, he said to Hindley, 
 
 *' You must exchange horses with me ; I 
 don't like mine, and, if you won't I shall tell 
 your father of the three thrashings you've 
 
84 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 given me this week, and show hiin my arm 
 which is black to the shoulder." 
 
 Hindley put out his tongue, and cuffed him 
 over the ears. 
 
 " Ycu'd better do it, at once," he persisted 
 escaping to the porch, (they were in the stable) 
 *' you will have to, and, if I speak, of these 
 blows, you'll get them again with interest." 
 
 *' Off dog!" cried Hindley, threatening him 
 with an iron weight, used for weighing pota- 
 toes, and hay. 
 
 " Throw it," he replied, standing still, " and 
 then ril tell how you boasted that you would 
 turn me out of doors as soon as he died, and 
 see whether he will not turn you out direct- 
 ly." 
 
 Hindley threw it, hitting him on the breast 
 and down he fell but staggered up, imme- 
 diately, breathless and white, and had not I 
 prevented it he would have gone just so to 
 the master, and got full revenge by letting 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 85 
 
 his condition plead for him, intimating who 
 had caused it." 
 
 '* Take my colt, gipsy, then !" said young 
 Earnshaw, *' And I pray that he may break 
 your neck, take him, and be damned, you 
 beggarly interloper ! and wheedle my father 
 out of all he has, only, afterwards, show him 
 what you are, imp of Satan — And take that, 
 I hope he'll kick out your brains !" 
 
 HeathclifF had gone to loose the beast, and 
 shift it to his own stall — He was passing be- 
 hind it, when Hindley finished his speech by 
 knocking him under its feet, and without stop- 
 ping to examine whether his hopes were ful- 
 filled, ran away as fast as he could. 
 
 I was surprised to witness how coolly the 
 child gathered himself up, and went on with 
 his intention, exchanging saddles and all ; and 
 then sitting down on a bundle of hay to over- 
 come the qualm which the violent blow occa- 
 sioned, before he entered the house. 
 
 I persuaded him easily to let me lay the 
 
86 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 blame of his bruises on the horse ; he minded 
 little what tale was told since he had what he 
 wanted. He complained so seldom, indeed, of 
 such stirs as these, that I really thouorht him 
 not vindictive —I was deceived, completely, as 
 you will hear. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 87 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 In the course of time, Mr. Earnshaw began to 
 fail. He had been active and healthy, yet his 
 strength left him suddenly ; and when he was 
 confined to the chimney-corner he grew griev- 
 ously irritable. A nothing vexed him, and 
 suspected slights of his authority nearly threw 
 him into fits. 
 
 Thia was especially to be remarked if any 
 one attempted to impose upon, or domineer 
 over his favourite ; he was painfully jealous 
 lest a word should be spoken amiss to him, 
 
88 
 
 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 seeming to have got into his head the notion 
 that, because he liked HeathclifF, all hated, and 
 longed to do him an ill-turn. 
 
 It was a disadvantage to the lad, for the 
 kinder among us did not wish to fret the mas- 
 ter, 60 we humoured his partiality ; and that 
 humouring was rich nourishment to the child's 
 pride and black tempers. Still it became in a 
 manner necessary ; twice, or thrice, Hindley's 
 manifestations of scorn, while his father was 
 near, roused the old man to a fury. He seized 
 his stick to strike him, and shook with rage 
 that he could not do it. 
 
 At last, our curate, (we had a curate then 
 who made the living answer by teaching the 
 little Lintons and Earnshaws, and farming his 
 bit of land himself,) he advised that the young 
 man should be sent to college, and Mr, Earn- 
 shaw agreed, though with a heavy spirit, for he 
 said — 
 
 ** Hindley was naught, and would never 
 thrive as where he wandered." 
 
WUTHEHING HEIGHTS. 89 
 
 I hoped heartily we should have peace now. 
 It hurt me to think the master should be made 
 uncomfortable by his own good deed. I fan- 
 cied the discontent of age and disease arose 
 from his family disagreements, as he would 
 have it that it did — really, you know, sir, it 
 was in his sinking frame. 
 
 We might have got on tolerably, notwith- 
 standing; but, for two people. Miss Cathy, 
 and Joseph, the servant ; you saw him, I dare 
 say, up yonder. He was, and is yet, moit 
 likely, the wearisomest, self-righteous pharisee 
 that ever ransacked a bible to rake the pro- 
 mises to himself, and fling the curses on his 
 neighbours. By his knack of sermonizing and 
 pious discoursing, he contrived to make a great 
 impression on Mr. Earnshaw, and, the more 
 feeble the master became, the more influence 
 he gained. 
 
 He was relentless in worrying him about his 
 soul's concerns, and about ruling his children 
 rigidly. He encouraged him to regard Hind- 
 
90 WDTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 ley as a reprobate; and, night after night, he 
 regularly grumbled out a long string of tales 
 against Heathcliff and Catherine ; always 
 minding to flatter Earnshaw's weakness by 
 heaping the heaviest blame on the last. 
 
 Certainly, she had ways with her such as I 
 never saw a child take up before ; and she put 
 all of us past our patience fifty times and of- 
 tener in a day: from the hour she came down 
 stairs, till the hour she went to bed, we had 
 not a minute's security that she wouldn't be in 
 mischief. Her spirits were always at high-water 
 mark, her tongue always going — singing, laugh- 
 ing, and plaguing everybody who would not do 
 the same. A wild, wick slip she was — but, 
 she had the bonniest eye, and sweetest smile, 
 and lightest foot in the parish ; and, after all, 
 I believe she meant no harm ; for when once 
 she made you cry in good earnest, it seldom 
 happened that she would not keep you com- 
 pany ; and oblige you to be quiet that you 
 might comfort her. 
 
 She was much too fond of Heathcliff. The 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 91 
 
 greatest punishment we could invent for her 
 was to keep her separate from him : yet, she 
 got chided more than any of us on his account. 
 
 In play, she liked, exceedingly, to act the 
 little mistress ; using her hands freely, and com- 
 manding her companions : she did so to me, 
 but I would not bear slapping, and ordering ; 
 and so I let ber know. 
 
 Now, Mr. Earnshaw did not understand 
 jokes from his children : he had always been 
 strict and grave with them ; and Catherine, on 
 her part, had no idea why her father should be 
 crosser and less patient in his ailing condition, 
 than he was in his prime. 
 
 His peevish reproofs wakened in her a 
 naughty delight to provoke him ; she was never 
 so happy as when we were all scolding her at 
 once, and she defying us with her bold, saucy 
 look, and her ready words ; turning Joseph's 
 religious curses into ridicule, baiting me, and 
 doing just what her father hated most, showing 
 how her pretended insolence, which he thought 
 
92 WUTHERING HEIGUTS. 
 
 real, had more power over Heathcliff than his 
 kindness. How the boy would do her bidding 
 in anything, and his only when it suited his 
 own inclination. 
 
 After behaving as badly as possible all day, 
 she sometimes came fondling to make it up at 
 night. 
 
 '* Nay, Cathy," the old man would say, " I 
 cannot love thee; thou'rt worse than thy 
 brother. Go, say thy prayers, child, and ask 
 God's pardon. I doubt thy mother and I must 
 rue that we ever reared thee !" 
 
 That made her cry, at first ; and then, being 
 repulsed continually hardened her, and she 
 laughed if I told her to say she was sorry for 
 her faults, and beg to be forgiven. 
 
 But the hour came, at last, that ended Mr. 
 Earnshaw's troubles on earth. He died 
 quietly in his chair one October evening, seated 
 by the fire-side. 
 
 A high wind blustered round the house, and 
 roared in the chimney : it sounded wild and 
 
WUTHERING HEIGnTS. 93 
 
 stormy, yet it was not cold, and we were all 
 together — I, a little removed from the hearth, 
 busy at my knitting, and Joseph reading his 
 Bible near the table, (for the servants generally 
 sat in the house then, after their work was 
 done.) Miss Cathy had been sick, and that 
 made her still; she leant against her father's 
 knee, and Heathcliff was lying on the floor 
 with his head in her lap. 
 
 I remember the master, before he fell into a 
 doze, stroking her bonny hair — it pleased him 
 rarely to see her gentle — and saying — 
 
 " Why canst thou not always be a good 
 lass, Cathy ?" 
 
 And she turned her face up to his, and 
 laughed, and answered, 
 
 *' Why cannot you always be a good man, 
 father?" 
 
 But as soon as she saw him vexed again, 
 she kissed his hand, and said she would sing 
 him to sleep. She began singing very low, till 
 his fingers dropped from hers, and his head 
 
94 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 sank on his breast. Then I told her to hush, 
 and not stir, for fear she should wake him. 
 We all kept as mute as mice a full half-hour, 
 and should have done longer, only Joseph, 
 having finished his chapter, got up and said 
 that he must rouse the master for prayers and 
 bed. He stepped forward, and called him by 
 name, and touched his shoulder, but he would 
 not move — so he took the candle and looked at 
 him. 
 
 I thought there was something wrong as he 
 set down the light ; and seizing the children 
 each by an arm, whispered them to " frame 
 up-stairs, and make little din — they might pray 
 alone that evening — he had summut to do." 
 
 " I shall bid father good-night first," said 
 Catherine, putting her arms round his neck, 
 before we could hinder her. 
 
 The poor thing discovered her loss directly— 
 she screamed out — 
 
 « Oh, he's dead, Heathcliff! he's dead!" 
 
 And they both set up a heart-breaking cry. 
 
WUTHERINO HP:iGaTS. 95 
 
 I joined my wail to theirs, loud and bitter ; 
 but Joseph asked what we could be thinking 
 of to roar in that way over a saint in Heaven. 
 
 He told me to put on ray cloak and run to 
 Gimmerton for the doctor and the parson. I 
 could not guess the use that either would be 
 of, then. However, I went, through wind and 
 rain, and brought one, the doctor, back with 
 me ; the other said he would come in the 
 morning. 
 
 Leaving Joseph to explain matters, I ran 
 to the children's room ; their door was ajar, I 
 saw they had never kid down, though it was 
 past midnight; but they were calmer, and did 
 not need me to console them. The little souls 
 were comforting each other with better 
 thoughts than I could have hit on ; no parson 
 in the world ever pictured Heaven so beauti- 
 fully as they did, in their innocent talk ; and, 
 while I sobbed, and listened, I could not help 
 wishing we were all there safe together. 
 
96 WUTUERINQ HEIGHTS. 
 
 CHAPTEK VI. 
 
 Mr. Hindley came home to the funeral ; and 
 — a thing that amazed us, and set the neigh- 
 bours gossipping right and left — he brought a 
 wife with him. 
 
 What she was, and where she was born he 
 never informed us ; probably, she bad neither 
 money nor name to recommend her, or he 
 would scarcely have kept the union from his 
 father. 
 
 She was not one that would have disturbed 
 the house much on her own account. Every ob- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 97 
 
 ject she saw, the moment she crossed the thres- 
 hold, appeared to delight her ; and every cir- 
 cumstance that took place about her, except 
 the preparing for the burial, and the presence 
 of the mourners. 
 
 I thought she was half silly from her be- 
 haviour while that went on; she ran into her 
 chamber, and made me come with her, though 
 I should have been dressing the children ; and 
 there she sat shivering and clasping her hands, 
 and asking repeatedly — 
 
 " Are they gone yet ?" 
 
 Then she began describing with hysterical 
 emotion the effect it produced on her to see 
 black ; and started, and tremble!, and, at last," 
 fell a weeping — and when I asked what was 
 the matter ? answered, she didn't know ; but 
 she felt so afraid of dying ! 
 
 I imagined her as little likely to die as my- 
 self. She was rather thin, but young, and 
 fresh complexioned, and her eyes sparkled aa 
 
 VOL. !• F 
 
98 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 bright as diamonds. I did remark, to be sure, 
 that mounting the stairs made her breathe very 
 quick, that the least sudden noise set her all in 
 a quiver, and that she coughed troublesomely 
 sometimes : but, I knew nothinor of what these 
 symptoms portended, and had no impulse to 
 sympathize with her. We don't in general 
 take to foreigners here, Mr. Lockwood, unless 
 they take to us first. 
 
 Young Earnshaw was altered considerably in 
 the three years of his absence. He had grown 
 sparer, and lost his colour, and spoke and 
 dressed quite differently : and, on the very day 
 of his return, he told Joseph and me we must 
 thenceforth quarter ourselves in the back- kit- 
 chen, and leave the house for him. Indeed 
 he would have carpeted and papered a small 
 spare room for a parlour; but his wife ex- 
 pressed such pleasure at the white floor, and 
 huge glowing fire-place, at the pewter dishes, 
 and delf-case, and dog-kennel, and the wide 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 99 
 
 space there was to move about in, where they 
 usually sat, that he thought it unnecessary to 
 her comfort, and so dropped the intention. 
 
 She expressed plcTSure, too, at finding a 
 sister among her new acquaintance, and she 
 prattled to Catherine, and kissed her, and ran 
 about with her, and gave her quantities of 
 presents, at the beginning. Her affection 
 tired very soon, however, and when she grew 
 peevish, Hindley became tyrannical. A few 
 words from her, evincing a dislike to Heath- 
 cliff, were enough to rouse in him all his old 
 hatred of the boy. He drove him from their 
 company to the servant.s, deprived him of the 
 instructions of the curate, and insisted that he 
 should labonr out of doors instead, compelling 
 him to do so, as hard as any other lad on the 
 farm. 
 
 He bore his degradation pretty well at first, 
 
 because Cathy taught him ^vhat she learnt, and 
 
 worked or played with him in the fields. They 
 
 both promised fair to grow up as rude as sa- 
 
 F 3 
 
100 WUTHEHIXG HEIGHTS. 
 
 vages, the young master being entirely negli- 
 gent how they behaved, and what they did, 
 so they kept clear of him. He would not even 
 have seen after their going to church on Sun- 
 days, only Joseph and the curate reprimanded 
 his carelessness when they absented themselves, 
 and that reminded him to order Heathcliff a 
 flogging, and Catherine a fast from dinner or 
 supper. 
 
 But it was one of their chief amusements 
 to run away to the moors in the morning and 
 remain there all day, and the after punish il en t 
 grew a mere thing to laugh at. The curate 
 might set as many chapters as he pleased for 
 Catherine to get by heart, and Joseph might 
 thrash Heathcliff till his arm ached ; they 
 forgot everything the minute they were to- 
 gether again, at least the minute they had 
 contrived some naughty plan of revenge, and 
 many a time I've cried to myself to watch 
 them growing more reckless daily, and I not 
 daring to speak a syllable for fear of losing 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 101 
 
 the small power I still retaiaed over the un- 
 friended creatures. 
 
 One Sunday evening, it chanced that they 
 were banished from the sitting-room, for 
 makinoj a noise, or a Jight offence of the kind, 
 and when 1 went to call them to supper, I 
 could discover them nowhere. 
 
 We searched the house, above and below, 
 and the yard, and stables, they were invisible ; 
 and, at last, Hindley in a passion told us to 
 bolt the doors, and swore nobody should let 
 them in that night. 
 
 The household went to bed ; and I, too 
 anxious to lie down, opened my lattice and 
 put my head out to hearken, though it rained, 
 determined to admit them in spite of the pro- 
 hibition, should they return. 
 
 In a while, I distinguished steps coming up 
 the road, and the light of a lantern glimmered 
 through the gate. 
 
 I threw a shawl over my head and ran to 
 prevent them from waking Mr. Earnshaw by 
 
102 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 knocking. There was Heathcliff, by himself ; 
 it gave me a start to see him alone. 
 
 " Where is Miss Catherine ?" I cried hur- 
 riedly. " No accident, I hope ?" 
 
 " At Thrushcross Grange," he answered, 
 '* and I would have been there too, but they 
 had not the manners to ask me to stay." 
 
 « Well, you will catch it I" I said, " you'll 
 never be content till you're sent about your 
 business. What in the world led you wan- 
 dering to Thrushcross Grange ?" 
 
 " Let me get off my wet clothes, and I'll 
 tell you all about it, Nelly," he replied. 
 
 I bid him beware of rousing the master, and 
 while he undressed, and I waited to put out 
 the candle, he continued — 
 
 " Cathy and T escaped from the wash house 
 to have a ramble at liberty, and getting a 
 glimpse of the Grange lights, we thought we 
 would just go and see whether the Lintona 
 passed their Sunday evenings standing shiver- 
 ing in corners, while their father and mother 
 
WUTHERING HiSIGHTS. 103 
 
 sat eating and drlnkin^^ und si[jgi:;g and 
 laughing, and burning their eyes out before 
 the fire. Do you think they do ? Or reading 
 sermons, and being catechised by their man- 
 servant, and set to leurn a column of Scripture 
 names, if they don't answer properly ?" 
 
 *^ Probably not," 1 responded. " They are 
 good children, no doubt, and don't deserve 
 the treatment you receive, for your bad 
 conduct." 
 
 ^' Don't you cant, Xelly," he said '* non- 
 sense ! We ran from the top of the Heights 
 to the park, without stopping — Catherine 
 completely beaten in the race, because she 
 was barefoot. You'll have to seek for her 
 shoes in the bog to-morrow. v\ e crept through 
 a broken hedge, groped our way up the 
 path, and planted ourselves on a flower-plot 
 under the drawing room window. The light 
 came from thence ; they had not put up the 
 shutters, and the curt liiis were only half 
 closed. Both of ub vveru able to look in by 
 
104 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 standing on the basement, and clinging to the 
 ledge, and we saw — ah ! it was beautiful — a 
 splendid place carpeted with crimson, and 
 crimson-covered chairs and tables, and a pure 
 white ceiling bordered by gold, a shower of 
 glass-drops hanging in silver chains from the 
 centre, and shimmering with little soft tapers. 
 Old Mr. and Mrs. Linton were not there. 
 Edgar and his sister had it entirely to them- 
 selves ; shouldn't they have been happy ? 
 We should have thought ourselves in heaven ! 
 And now, guess what your good children were 
 doing ? Isabella, I believe she is eleven, a 
 year younger than Cathy, lay screaming at 
 the farther end of the room, shrieking as if 
 witches were running red hot needles into 
 her. Edgar stood on the hearth weeping si- 
 lently, and in the middle of the table sat a 
 little dog shaking its paw and yelping, which, 
 from their mutual accusations, we understood 
 they had nearly pulled in two between them. 
 The idiots ! That was their pleasure ! to 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 105 
 
 quarrel who should hold a heap of warm hair, 
 and each begin to cry because both, after 
 struggling to get it, refused to take it. We 
 laughed outright at the petted things, we did 
 despise them ! When would yon catch lue 
 wishing to have what Catherine wanted ? or 
 find us by ourselves, seeking entertainmenc 
 in yelling, and sobbing, and rolling on the 
 ground, divided by the whole room ? I'd not 
 exchange, for a thousand lives, my condition 
 here, for Edgar Linton's at Thrushcross 
 Grange — not if I might have the privilege of 
 flinging Joseph off the highest gable, and 
 painting the house-front with Hindley'a 
 blood !" 
 
 '* Hush, hush I" I interrupted. *' Still you 
 have not told me, Heathcliff, how Catherine 
 is left behind ?" 
 
 " I told you we laughed," he answered. 
 The Linton's heard us, and with one accord, 
 they shot like arrows to the door ; there was 
 silence, and then a cry, ' Oh, mamma, mamma I 
 
106 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 Oh, papa ! Oh, mamma, come here. Oh papa, 
 oh !' They really did howl out, something in 
 that way. We made frightful noises to ter- 
 rify them still more, and then we dropped off 
 the ledge, because somebody was drawing the 
 bars, and we felt we had better flee. I had 
 Cathy by the hand, and was urging her on, 
 when all at once she fell down. 
 
 ** Bun, Heathcliffj run !" she whispered. 
 " They have let the bull-dog loose, and he 
 holds me !" 
 
 " The devil had seized her ankle, Nelly ; I 
 heard his abominable snorting. She did not 
 yell out— no ! She would have scorned to do 
 it, if she had been spitted on the horns of a 
 mad cow. I did, though, I vociferated curses 
 enough to annihilate any fiend in Christendom, 
 and I got a stone and thrust it between his 
 jaws, and tried with all my might to cram it 
 down his throat. A beast of a servant came 
 up with a lanterB, at last, shouting— 
 
 *' Keep fast, Skulker, keep fast !" 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 107 
 
 " He changed his note, however, when he saw 
 Skulker's game. The dog was throttled olF, 
 his huge, purple tongue hanging halt a toot 
 out of his mouth, and his pendant lips stream- 
 ing with bloody s'avef*. 
 
 "The man took Cathy up; she was sick; 
 not Irom fear, I'm certain, but from pain. He 
 carried her in ; I followed grumbling exe- 
 crations and vengeance." 
 
 " What prey, Robert ?" hallooed Linton from 
 the entrance." 
 
 " Skulker has caught a little girl, sir," he 
 replied, and there's a lad here," ha added, 
 making a clutch at me, " who looks an out- 
 and-outer ! Very like, the robbers were for 
 putting them through tlie window, to open 
 the doors to the gang, after all were asleep, 
 that they might murder us at their ease. Hold 
 your tongue, you foul-mouthed thief, you ! 
 you shall go to the gallows for this. Mr. 
 Linton, sir, don't lay by your gun !" 
 
 '' No, no, Robert !" said the old fooL 
 
108 WUT BERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 " The rascals knew that yesterday was my 
 rent day ; they thought to have me cleverly. 
 Come in ; I'll furnish them a reception. There, 
 John, fasten the chain. Give Skulker some 
 water, Jenny. To beard a magistrate in his 
 strong-hold, and on the Sabbath, too ! where 
 will their insolence stop ? Oh, my dear Mary, 
 look here ! Don't be afraid, it is but a boy — 
 yet, the villain scowls so plainly in his face, 
 would it not be a kindness to the country to 
 hang him at once, before he shows his nature 
 in acts, as well as features ?" 
 
 He pulled me under the chandelier, and 
 Mrs. Linton placed her spectacles on her nose 
 and raised her hands in horror. The cowardly 
 children crept nearer also, Isabella lisping — 
 
 *' Frightful thing ! Put him in the cellar, 
 papa. He's exactly like the son of the fortune- 
 teller, that stole my tame pheasant. Isn't he, 
 Edgar T' 
 
 " While they examined me, Cathy came 
 round ; she heard the last speech, and laughed. 
 
WDTHERING HEIGHTS. 109 
 
 Edgar Linton, after an inquisitive stare, col- 
 lected sufficient wit to recognise her. They 
 see us at church, you know, though we sel- 
 dom meet them elsewhere.** 
 
 " That's Miss Earnshaw !" he whispered to 
 his mother, " and look how Skulker has bitten 
 her — how her foot bleeds I' ' 
 
 " Miss Earnshaw ? Nonsense !" cried the 
 dame, " Miss Earnshaw scouring the country 
 with a gipsy ! Aud yet, my dear, the child 
 is in mourning — surely it is — and she may be 
 lamed for life !" 
 
 " What culpable carelessness in her bro- 
 ther !" exclaimed Mr. Linton, turning from 
 me to Catherine. " I've understood from 
 Shielders (that was the curate sir) that he lets 
 her grow up in absolute heathenism. But 
 who is this ? Where did she pick up this com- 
 panion ? Oho ! I declare he is that strange 
 acquisition my late neighbour made in his 
 journey to Liverpool— a little Lascar, or an 
 American or Spanish castaway." 
 
110 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 " A wicked boy, at all events," remarked 
 the old lady, " and quite unfit for a decent 
 house ! Did you notice his language, Linton ? 
 I'm shocked that my children should have 
 heard it." 
 
 "I recommenced cursing— don't be angry 
 Nelly — and so Robert was ordered to take me 
 off — 1 refused to go without Cathy — he drag- 
 ged me into the garden, pushed the lantern 
 into my hand, assured me that Mr. Earnshaw, 
 should be informed of my behaviour, and bid- 
 ding me march, directly, secured the door 
 again. 
 
 " The curtains were still looped up at one 
 corner ; and I resumed my station as spy, be- 
 cause, if Catherine had wished to return, I 
 intended shattering their great glass panes to 
 a million fragments, unless they let her out. 
 
 ^' She sat on the sofa quietly, Mrs. Linton 
 took off the grey cloak of the dairy maid 
 which we had borrpwed for our excursion ; 
 shaking her head, and expostulating with her, 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. Ill 
 
 1 suppose ; bhe tvas a youugf lady and they 
 made a distinction between her treatment, and 
 mine. Then the woman servant brought a 
 basin of warm water, and washed her feet ; 
 and Mr. Linton mixed a tumbler of negus, and 
 Isabella emptied a plateful of cakes into her 
 lap, and Edgar, stood gaping at a distance. 
 Afterwards, they dried and combed her beau- 
 tiful hair, and ^ave her a pair of enormous 
 slippers, and wheeled her to the fire, and I left 
 her, as merry as she could be, dividing her 
 food, between the little dog and Skulker whose 
 nose she piuched as he ate; and kindling a 
 spark of spirit in the vacant blut; eyes of the 
 Lintons — a dim reflection from her own e:i- 
 chanting face — I saw they were full of stupid 
 admiration ; she is so immeasurably superior 
 to them — to everybody on earth ; is she not, 
 Nelly?" 
 
 *• There will more come of this business than 
 you reckon on." I answered covering him up 
 and extinguishing the light, " You are incura- 
 
112 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 ble HeathclifF, and Mr. Hiudley will have to 
 proceed to extremities, see if he wont ." 
 
 My words came truer than I desired. The 
 luckless adventure made Earnshaw furious — 
 And then, Mr. Linton, to mend matters, paid 
 us a visit himself, on the morrow ; and read 
 the young master such a lecture on the road 
 he guided his family, that he was stirred to 
 look about him, in earnest. 
 
 Heathcllff received no flogging, but he was 
 told that the first word he spoke to Miss Ca- 
 therine should ensure -a dismissal; and Mrs. 
 Earnshaw undertook to keep her sister-in-law 
 in due restraint, when she returned home em- 
 ploying art, not force — with force she would 
 have found it impossible. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 113 
 
 CHAPTER Vir. 
 
 Cathy stayed at Thrushcross Grange five 
 weeks, till Christmas. By that time her an- 
 kle was thoroughly cured, and her manners 
 much iuiproved. The mistress visited her oi- 
 ten, in the interval, and commenced her plan 
 of reform, by trying to raise her self-respect 
 with fine clothes, and flattery, which she took 
 readily: so that, instead of a wild, hatle^5 
 little savage jumping into the house, and rush- 
 ing to squeeze us all breathless, there lighted 
 
114 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 from a handsome black pony a very dignified 
 person with brown ringlets falling from the 
 cover of a feathered beaver, and a long cloth 
 habit which she was obliged to hold up with 
 both hands that she might sail in. 
 
 Hindley lifted her from her horse exclaiming 
 delightedly, 
 
 " Why Cathy, you are quite a beauty ! I 
 should scarcely have known you — you look 
 like a lady now — Isabella Linton id not to be 
 be compared with her, is she Frances?" 
 
 " Isabella has not her natural advantages," 
 replied his wife, "but she must mind and not 
 grow wild again here. Ellen, help Miss Ca- 
 therine off with her things — Stay, dear, you 
 will disarrange your curls — let me untie your 
 hat.'' 
 
 I removed the habit, and there shone 
 forth, beneath a grand plaid silk frock, white 
 trousers, and burnished shoes ; and, wiiile her 
 eyes s[)arkled joyfully when the dogs came 
 bounding up to welcoiiie her, slie dare hardly 
 
WUTHRRING HEIGHTS. 115 
 
 touch them lest they should fawn upon her 
 splendid garments. 
 
 She kissed me gently, 1 was all flour making 
 the Christmas cake, and it would not Ivive done 
 to give me a hug; and, then, she looked round 
 for HeathcliiF. Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw 
 watched anxiously their meetinsr, thinking it 
 would enable them to judge, in some measure, 
 what grounds they had for hoping to succeed 
 in separating the two friends. 
 
 Heathcliff was hard to discover, at first — If 
 he were careless, and uncared for, before Ca- 
 therine's absence, he had been ten times more 
 go, since. 
 
 Nobody, but I even did him the kindness to 
 call him a dirty boy, and bid him wash him- 
 self, once a week ; and children of his age, sel- 
 dom have a natural pleasure in soap and water. 
 Therefore, not to mention his clothes, which 
 had seen three month's service, in mire and 
 dust, and his thick uncombed hair; the surface 
 of his face and hands was dibmally beclouded. 
 
116 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 He might well skulk behind the settle, on be- 
 holding such a bright, graceful damsel enter 
 the house, instead of a rough-headed counter- 
 part to himself, as he expected. 
 
 " Is HeathcliflP not here ?" she demanded 
 pulling off her gloves, and displaying fingers 
 wonderfully whitened with doing nothing, and 
 staying in doors. 
 
 ** Heathcliff you may come forward," cried 
 Mr. Hindley enjoying his discomfiture and 
 gratified to see what a forbidding young black- 
 guard he would be compelled to present him- 
 self. ** You may come and wish Miss Cathe- 
 rine welcome, like the other servants." 
 
 Cathy, catching a glimpse of her friend in 
 his concealment, flew to embrace him, she bes- 
 tawed seven or eight kisses on his cheek within 
 the second, and, then, stopped, and drawing 
 back, burst into a laugh, exclaiming, 
 
 " Why, how very black and cross you look I 
 and how — how funny and grim ! But that's 
 because I'm used to Edgar, and Isabella Lin- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 117 
 
 ton. Well, HeathclifF, have you forgotten 
 me?" 
 
 She had some reason to put the question, 
 for shame, and pride threw double gloom over 
 his countenance^ and kept him immoveable. 
 
 " Shake hands, HeathclifF," said Mr. Earn- 
 shavv, condescendingly ; " once in a way, that 
 is permitted." 
 
 " I shall not !'* replied the boy finding his 
 tongue at last, " I shall not stand to be laughed 
 at, I shall not bear it !" 
 
 And he would have broken from the circle, 
 but Miss Cathy seized him again. 
 
 " I did not mean to laugh at you," she said, 
 " I could not hinder myself, Heathcllff, shake 
 hands, at least ! What are you sulky for? It 
 was only that you looked odd — If you wash 
 your face, and brush your hair it will be all 
 right. But you are so dirty !" 
 
 She gazed concernedly at the dusky fingers 
 she held in her owd, and also at her dress 
 
118 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 which she feared had gained no embellishment 
 from its contact with his. 
 
 " You needn't have touched me I" He an- 
 swered, following her eye and snatching away 
 his hand. I shall be as dirty as I please, and 
 I like to be dirty, and I will be dirty." 
 
 With tliat he dashed head foremost out of 
 the room, amid the merriment of the uiaster 
 and mistre s, and to the serious disturbance of 
 Catherine who could not comprehend how her 
 remarks should have produced such an exhi- 
 bition of bad temper. 
 
 After playing lady's maid to the new comer, 
 and putting my cakes in the oven, and making 
 the house and kitchen cheerful with great fires 
 befitting Christmas eve, I prepared to sit down 
 and amuse myself by singing carols, all alone ; 
 regardless of Joseph's aflfirmations that he con- 
 sidered the merry tunes I chose as next door 
 to songs. 
 
 He had retired to private prayer in his 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 119 
 
 chamber , and Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw were 
 engaging Missy's attention by sundry gay tri- 
 fles bought for her to present to the little 
 Lintons, as an acknowledgment of their kind- 
 ness 
 
 They had invited them to spend the morrow 
 at Wuthering Heights, and the invitation had 
 been accepted, on one condition, Mrs. Linton 
 begged that her darlings might be kept care- 
 fully apart from that "naughty, swearing boy." 
 
 Under these circumstances I remained soli- 
 tary. I smeit the rich scent of the heating 
 spices ; and admired the shining kitchen uten- 
 sils, the polished clock, decked in holly, the 
 silver mugs ranged on a tray ready to be 
 filled with mulled ale for supper; and, above 
 all, the speckless purity of my particular care 
 — the scoured and well-swept floor. 
 
 I gave due inward applause to every object 
 and, then, I remembered how old Earnshaw 
 used to come in when all was tidied, and call 
 me a cant lass, and slip a shilling into mj 
 
120 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 hand, as a christmp.s box : and, from that, I 
 went on to think of his fondness for HeathclifF, 
 and his dread lest he should suffer neglect after 
 death had removed him ; and that naturally 
 led me to consider the poor lad's situation 
 now, and from singing I changed ray mind to 
 crying. It struck me soon, however, there 
 would be more sense in endeavouring to repair 
 some of his wrongs than shedding tears over 
 them— I got up and walked into the court to 
 seek him. 
 
 He was not far, I found him smoothing the 
 glossy coat of the new pony in the stable, 
 and feeding the other beasts, according to 
 custom. 
 
 "Make haste, Heathcliffl" I said "the 
 kitchen is so comfortable — and Joseph is up- 
 stairs ; make haste, and let me dress you smart 
 before Miss Cathy comes out — and then you 
 can sit to^iether, with the whole hearth to 
 yourselves, and have a long chatter till bed- 
 time." 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 121 
 
 He proceeded with his task and never turned 
 his head towards me. 
 
 ** Come — are you coming?*' I continued, 
 " There's a little cake for each of you, nearly 
 enough ; and you'll need half an hour's don- 
 ning." 
 
 I waited five minutes, but getting no answer 
 left him... Catherine supped with her brother 
 and sister-io law : Joseph and I joined at an 
 unsociable meal seasoned with reproofs on one 
 side, and sauciness on the other. His cake 
 and cheese remained on the table all night, for 
 the fairies. He managed to continue work till 
 nine o'clock, and, then, marched dumb and 
 dour, to his chamber. 
 
 Cathy sat up late ; having a world of things 
 to order for the reception of her new friends : 
 she ci^me into the kitchen, once, to speak to 
 her old one, but he was gone, and she only 
 staid to ask what was the matter with him, and 
 then went back. 
 
 " In the morning, he rose early ; and, as it 
 
 VOL. I. o 
 
122 WUTHERmG HEIGHTS. 
 
 was a boliday, carried his ill-humour onto the 
 moors ; not re-appearing till the family were 
 departed for church. Fasting, and reflection 
 seemed to have brought him to a better spirit. 
 He hung about me, for a while, and having 
 screwed up his courage, exclaimed abruptly, 
 
 "Nelly, make me decent, I'm going to be 
 good." 
 
 ''High time, HeathclifF," I said, "you have 
 grieved Catherine ; she's sorry she ever came 
 home, I dare say ! It looks as if you envied 
 her, because she is more thought of than 
 you." 
 
 The notion of envying Catherine was in- 
 comprehensible to him, but the notion of griev- 
 ing her, be understood clearly enough. 
 
 " Did she say she was grieved ?" he inquired 
 looking very serious. 
 
 " She cried when I told her you were off 
 again this morning." 
 
 "Well, / cried last night' he returned, 
 " and I had more reason to cry than she.*' 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 123 
 
 *' Yes, you had the reason of going to bed, 
 with a proud heart, and an empty stomach,'* 
 said I, " Proud people breed sad sorrows for 
 themselves — But, if you be ashamed of your 
 touchiness, you must ask pardon, mind, when 
 she comes in. You must go up, and offer to 
 kiss her, and say — you know best what to say, 
 only, do it heartily, and not as if you thought 
 her converted into a stranger by her grand 
 dress. And now, though I have dinner to get 
 ready, I'll steal time to arrange you so that 
 Edgar Linton shall look quite a doll beside 
 you : and that he does — You are younger, and 
 yet, I'll be bound, you are taller and twice as 
 broad across the shoulders — you could knock 
 him down in a twinkling ; don't you feel that 
 you could?" 
 
 Heathcliff's face brightened a moment ; then, 
 it was overcast afresh, and he sighed. 
 
 " But, NeJIy, if I knocked him down twenty 
 
 times, that wouldn't make him less handsome, 
 G 3 
 
124 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 or me more so. I wish I had light hair and a 
 fair skin, and was dressed, and behaved as 
 well, and had a chance of being as rich as he 
 will be !" 
 
 ** And cried for mamma, at every turn — " I 
 added, " and trembled if a country lad heaved 
 his fist against you, and sat at home all day 
 for a shower of rain. — O, Heathcliff, you are 
 showing a poor spirit ! Coaie to the glass, 
 and I'll let you see what you should wish. 
 Do you mark those two lines between your 
 eyes, and those thick brow, that instead of 
 rising arched, sink in the middle, and that cou- 
 ple of black fiends, so deeply buried, who 
 never open their windows boldly, but lurk 
 glinting under them, like devil's spies ? 
 Wish and learn to smooth away the surly 
 wrinkles, to raise your lids frankly, and change 
 the fiends to confidant, innocent angels, sus- 
 pecting and doubting nothing, and always 
 seeing friends where they are not sure of 
 foes — Don't get the expression of a vicious 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 125 
 
 cur that appears to know the kicks it gets are 
 its desert, and yet, hates all the world, as well 
 as the kicker, for what it suffers." 
 
 " In other words, I must wish for Edgar 
 Linton's great blue eyes, and even forehead," 
 he replied. " I do — and that wont help me 
 to them." 
 
 " A good heart will help you to a bonny 
 face my lad," I continued, " if you were a re- 
 gular black ; and a bad one will turn the bon- 
 niest into something worse than ugly. And 
 now that we've done washing, and combing, 
 and sulking — tell me whether you don't think 
 yourself rather handsome? I'll tell you, I do. 
 You're fit for a prince in disguise. Who 
 knows, but your father was Emperor of China, 
 and your mother an Indian queen, each of 
 them able to buy up, with one week's income, 
 Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange 
 together ? And you were kidnapped by 
 wicked sailors, and brouglit to England. Were 
 I in your place, I would fraue high notions of 
 
126 WUTHERTNG HEIGHTS. 
 
 my birth ; and the thoughts of what I was 
 should give me courage and dignity to support 
 the oppressions of a little farmer !'* 
 
 So I chattered on ; and Heathcliflf gradually 
 lost his frown, and began to look quite plea- 
 sant ; when, all at once, our conversation was 
 interrupted by a rumbling sound moving up 
 the road and entering the court. He ran to 
 the window, and I to the door, just in time to 
 behold the two Lintons descend from the family 
 carriage, smothered in cloaks and furs, and 
 the Earnshaws dismount from their horses — 
 they often rode to church in winter. Cathe- 
 rine took a hand of each of the children, and 
 brought them into the house, and set them 
 before the fire which quickly put colour into 
 their white faces. 
 
 I urged my companion to hasten now, and 
 show his amiable humour; and he wiUingly 
 obeyed : but ill luck would have it, that as he 
 opened the door leading from the kitchen on 
 one side, 11 indley opened it on the other; they 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 127 
 
 met, and the master irritated at seeing him 
 clean and cheerful, or, perhaps, eager to keep 
 his promise to Mrs. Linton shoved him back 
 with a sudden thrust, and angrily bade Joseph 
 " keep the fellow out of the room — send him 
 into the garret till dinner is over. He'll be 
 cramming his fingers in the tarts, and stealing 
 the fruit, if left alone with them a minute." 
 
 " Nay, sir,'' I could not avoid answering, 
 *' he'll touch nothing, not he — and, 1 suppose, 
 he must have his share of the dainties as well 
 as we." 
 
 " He shall have his share of my hand, if I 
 catch him down stairs again till dark," cried 
 Hindley. " Begone, you vagabond ! What, 
 you are attempting the coxcomb, are you ? 
 Wait till I get hold of those elegant locks — see 
 if I won't pull them a bit longer !' 
 
 '* They are long enough already," observed 
 Master Linton, peeping from the door-way, 
 " I wonder they don't make his head- ache. 
 It's like a colt's mane over his eyes I" 
 
128 WUTIIERING HEIGHTS, 
 
 He ventured this remark without any intCD- 
 tion to insult ; but, HeathclifF's violent nature 
 was not prepared to endure the appearance of 
 impertinence from one whom he seemed to 
 hate, even then, as a rival. He seized a tu- 
 reen of hot apple-sauce, the first thing that 
 came under his gripe, and dashed it full against 
 the speaker's face and neck — who instantly 
 commenced a lament that brought Isabella 
 and Catherine hurrying to the place. 
 
 Mr. Earnshaw snatched up the culprit di- 
 rectly and conveyed him to his chamber, 
 where, doubtless, he administered a rough 
 remedy to cool the fit of passion, for he re- 
 appeared red and breathless. I got the dish- 
 cloth, and, rather spitefully, scrubbed Edgar's 
 nose and mouth, affirming, it served him right 
 for meddling. His sister began weeping to go 
 home, and Cathy stood by confounded, blush- 
 ing for all. 
 
 *' You should not have spoken to him I" she 
 expostulated with Master Linton. *« He was 
 
WUTHERING HEIGUTS. 1^9 
 
 in a bad temper, and now you've spoilt your 
 visit, and he'll be flogged — I hate him to be 
 flogged ! I can't eat my dinner. Why did 
 you speak to him, Edgar?" 
 
 ** I didn't," sobbed the youth, escaping from 
 my hands, and finishing the remainder of the 
 purification with his cambric pocket-handker- 
 chief. " I promised mamma that I wouldn't 
 say one word to him, and I didn't !" 
 
 " Well, don't cry!" replied Catherine, con- 
 temptuously. " You're not killed — don't 
 make more mischief — my brother is coming — 
 be quiet ! Give over, Isabella ! Has any body 
 hurt you ?" 
 
 " There, there, children — to your seats !" 
 cried Hindley, bustling in. " That brute oi 
 a lad has warmed me nicely. Next time, Master 
 Edgar, take the law into your own fists — it 
 will give you an appetite P' 
 
 The little party recovered its equanimity at 
 sight of the fragrant feast. They were hun- 
 G 5 
 
130 WIITHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 gry, after their ride, and easily consoled, since 
 no real harm had befallen them. 
 
 Mr. Earnshaw carved bountiful platefuls; 
 and the mistress made them merry with lively 
 talk. I waited behind her chair, and was 
 pained to behold Catherine, with dry eyes and 
 an indifferent air, commence cutting up the 
 wing of a goose before her. 
 
 " An unfeeling child," I thought to myself, 
 ** how lightly she dismisses her old playmate's 
 troubles. I could not have imagined her to be 
 so selfish." 
 
 She lifted a mouthful to her lips ; then, she 
 set it down again: her cheeks flushed, and the 
 tears gushed over them. She slipped her fork 
 to the floor, and hastily dived under the cloth 
 to conceal her emotion. I did not call her 
 unfeeling long, for, I perceived she was in pur- 
 gatory throughout the day, and wearying to 
 find an opportunity of getting by herself, or 
 paying a visit to Heathcliff, who had been 
 locked up by the master, as I discovered, on 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 131 
 
 endeavouring to introduce to him a private 
 mess of victuals. 
 
 In the evening we had a dance, Cathy- 
 begged that he might be liberated then, as 
 Isabella Linton had no partner ; her entreaties 
 were vain, and I was appointed to supply the 
 deficiency. 
 
 We got rid of all gloom in the excitement 
 of the exerci-e, and our pleasure was increased 
 by the arrival of the Gimmerton band, mus- 
 tering fifteen strong ; a trumpet, a trombone, 
 clarionets, bassoons, French horns, and a bass 
 viol, besides singers. They go the rounds of 
 all the respectable houscwS, and receive contribu- 
 tions every Christmas, and we esteemed it a 
 first-rate treat to hear them. 
 
 After the usual carols had been sung, we 
 set them to songs and glees. Mrs. Earnshaw 
 loved the music, and, so, they gave us plenty. 
 
 Catherine loved it too ; but she said it 
 sounded sweetest at the top of the steps, and 
 she went up in the dark : I followed. They 
 
132 WUTHERING HEIGHT3. 
 
 shut the house door below, never noting our 
 absence, it was so full of people. She made 
 no stay at the stairs' head, but mounted far- 
 ther, to the garret where Heathcliff was con- 
 fined; and called him. He stubbornly de- 
 clined answering for a while — she persevered, 
 and finally persuaded him to hold communion 
 with her through the boards. 
 
 I let the poor things converse unmolested, 
 till I supposed the songs were going to cease, 
 and the singers to get some refreshment : then, 
 I clambered up the ladder to warn her. 
 
 Instead of finding her outside, I heard her 
 voice within. The little monkey had crept by 
 the skylight of one garret, along the roof, 
 into the skylight of the other, and it was with 
 the utmost diflScultly I could coax her out 
 again. 
 
 When she did come, Heathcliff came with 
 her ; and she insisted that I should take him 
 into the kitchen, as my fellow-servant had gone 
 to a neighbour's to be removed from the sound 
 
WUTH BRING HEIGHTS. 133 
 
 of our " devil's psalmody," as it pleased him 
 to call it. 
 
 I told them I intended, by no means, to en- 
 courage their tricks ; but as the prisoner had 
 never broken his fast since yesterday's dinner, 
 I would wink at his cheating Mr. Hindley that 
 once. 
 
 He went down ; I set him a stool by the 
 fire, and oflfered him a quantity of good things ; 
 but, he was sick and could eat little : and my 
 attempts to entertain him were thrown away. 
 He leant his two elbows on his knees, and his 
 chin on his hands, and remained wrapt in dumb 
 meditation. On my inquiring the subject of 
 his thoughts, he answered gravely — 
 
 " I'm trying to settle how I shall pay Hind- 
 ley back. I don't care how long I wait, if I 
 can only do it, at last. 1 hope he will not die 
 before I do !" 
 
 " For shame, Heathcliff !" said I. " It is for 
 God to punish wicked people ; we should learn 
 to forgive." 
 
134 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 " No, God wont have the satisfaction that I 
 shall," he returned. " I only wish I knew the 
 best way ! Let me alone, and I'll plan it out : 
 while I'm thinking of that, I don't feel pain." 
 
 " But, Mr. Lockwood, I forget these tales 
 cannot divert you. I'm annoyed how I should 
 dream of chattering on at such a rate; and 
 your gruel cold, and you nodding for bed ! I 
 could have told Heathcliflfs history, all that 
 you need hear, in half-a-dozen words.'' 
 
 Thus interrupting herself, the housekeeper 
 rose, and proceeded to lay aside her sewing ; 
 but I felt incapable of moving from the hearth, 
 and I was very far from nodding. 
 
 " Sit still, Mrs. Dean," I cried, " do sit still, 
 another half hour ! You've done just right to 
 tell the story leisurely. That is the method I 
 like ; and you must finish in the same style. I 
 am interested in every character you have 
 mentioned, more or less." 
 
 " The clock is on the stroke of eleven, sir." 
 
 ** No matter — I'm not accustomed to go to 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 135 
 
 bed in the long hours. One or two is early 
 enough for a person who lies till ten." 
 
 " You shouljln't lie till ten. There's the 
 very prime of the morning gone long before 
 that time. A person who has not done one 
 half his day's work by ten o'clock, runs a 
 chance of leaving the other half undone." 
 
 '^ Nevertheless, Mrs. Dean, resume your 
 chair; because to-morrow I intend lengthen- 
 ing the night till afternoon. I prognosticate 
 for myself an obstinate cold, at least." 
 
 " 1 hope not, sir. Well, you must allo\v me 
 to leap over some three years, during that 
 space, Mrs. Earnshaw — " 
 
 " No, no, I'll allow nothicg of the sort ! 
 Are you acquainted with the mood of mind in 
 which, if you were seated alone, and the cat 
 licking its kitten on the rug before you, you 
 would watch the operation so intently that 
 puss's neglect of one ear would put you seri- 
 ously out of temper?" 
 
 '* A terribly lazy mood, I should say." 
 
136 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 " On the contrary, a tiresomely active one. 
 It is mine, at present, and, therefore, continue 
 minutely. I perceive that people in these re- 
 gions acquire over people in towns the value that 
 a spider in a dungeon does over a spider in a 
 cottage, to their various occupants; and yet 
 the deepened attraction is not entirely owing 
 to the situation of the looker-on. They do live 
 more in earnest, more in themselves, and less in 
 surface change, and frivolous external things. 
 1 could fancy a love for life here almost possi- 
 ble ; and I was a fixed unbeliever in any love 
 of a year's standing — one state resembles set- 
 ting a hungry man down to a single dish on 
 which he may concentrate his entire appetite, 
 and do it justice — the other, introducing him 
 to a table laid out by French cooks ; he can 
 perhaps extract as much enjoyment from the 
 whole ; but each part is a mere atom in his re- 
 gard and remembrance." 
 
 '' Oh ! here we are the same as anywhere 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 137 
 
 else, when you get to know us," observed Mrs. 
 Dean, somewhat puzzled at my speech. 
 
 " Excuse me," I responded ; '* you, my good 
 friend, are a striking evidence against that as- 
 sertion. Excepting a few provincialisms of 
 slight consequence ; you have no marks of the 
 manners that I am habituated to consider as 
 peculiar to your class. I am sure you have 
 thought a great deal more than the generality 
 of servants think. You have been compelled 
 to cultivate your reflactive facu ties, for want 
 of occasions for frittering your life away in 
 silly trifles." 
 
 Mrs. Dean laughed. 
 
 " I certainly esteem myself a steady, reason- 
 able kind of body," she said, *' not exactly 
 from living among the hills, and seeing one set 
 of faces, and one series of actions, from year's 
 end to year's end: but I have undergone sharp 
 discipline which has taught me wisdom ; and 
 then, I have read more than you would fancy, 
 Mr. Lock wood. You could not open' a book 
 
138 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 in this library that I have not looked into, and 
 got something out of also ; unless it be that 
 range of Greek and Latin, and that of French 
 — and those I know one from another, it is as 
 much as you can expect of a poor man's 
 daughter." 
 
 However, if I am to follow my story in true 
 gossip's fashion, I had better go on ; and in- 
 stead of leaping three years, I will be content 
 to pass to the next summer — the summer of 
 1778, that is nearly twenty-three years ago. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 139 
 
 / 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 On the morning of a fine June day, my first 
 bonny little nursling, and the last of the anci- 
 ent Earnshaw stock was born. 
 
 We were busy with the hay in a far away 
 field, when the girl that usually brought our 
 breakfasts came running, an hour too soon, 
 across the meadow and up the lane, calling me 
 as she ran. 
 
 ** Oh, such a grand bairn !" she panted out. 
 " The finest lad that ever breathed ! but the 
 doctor says missis must go; he says she's been 
 
140 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 in a consumption these many months. I heard 
 him tell Mr. Hindley — and now she has 
 nothing to keep her, and she'll be dead before 
 winter. You must come home directly. 
 You're to nurse it, Nelly — to feed it with sugar 
 and milk, and take care of it, day and night — 
 I wish I were you, because it will be all yours 
 when there is no missis !" 
 
 *' But is she very ill ?" I asked, flinging down 
 my rake, and tying my bonnet. 
 
 " I guess she is ; yet she looks bravely,'* re- 
 plied the girl, " and she talks as if she thought 
 of living to see it grow a man. She's out of 
 her head for joy, it's such a beauty ! If I were 
 her I'm certain I should not die. I should get 
 better at the bare sight of it, in spite of Kcd- 
 neth. I was fairly mad at him. Dame Ar- 
 cher brought the cherub down to master, in 
 the house, and his face just began to light up, 
 then the old croaker steps forward, and, says 
 he: — * Earnshaw, it's a blessing your wife has 
 been spared to leave you this son. When she 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 141 
 
 came, I felt convinced we shouldn't keep her 
 long ; and now, I must tell you, the winter 
 will probably finish her. Don't take on, and 
 fret about it too much, it can't be helped. And 
 besides, you should have know^n better than to 
 choose such a rush of a lass !" 
 
 " And what did the master answer ?" I en- 
 quired. 
 
 " I think he swore — but, I didn't mind him, 
 I was straining to seethe bairn,'^ and she began 
 again to describe it rapturously. I, as zealous 
 as herself, hurried eagerly home to admire, on 
 my part, though I was very sad for Hindley's 
 sake ; he had room in his heart only for two 
 idols — his wife and himself — he doted on 
 both, and adored one, and I couldn't conceive 
 how he would bear the loss. 
 
 When we got to Wuthering Heights, there 
 he stood at the front door; and, as I passed in, 
 I asked, how was the baby ?" 
 
 " Nearly ready to run about, Nell !" he re- 
 plied, putting on a cheerful smile. 
 
142 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 *' And the mistress ?" I ventured to inquire, 
 *• the doctor says she's — " 
 
 *' Damn the doctor!" he interrupted, red- 
 dening. " Frances is quite right — she'll be 
 perfectly well by this tiane next week. Are 
 you going up-stairs? will you tell her that I'll 
 come, if she'll promise not to talk. I left her 
 because she would not hold her tongue; and 
 she must— tell her Mr. Kenneth says she must 
 be quiet." 
 
 I delivered this message to Mrs. Earnshaw ; 
 she seemed in flighty spirits, and replied mer- 
 rily — 
 
 " I hardly spoke a word, Ellen, and there 
 he has gone out twice, crying. Well, say I 
 promise I wont speak ; but that does not bind 
 me not to laugh at him !" 
 
 Poor soul ! Till within a week of her death 
 that gay heart never failed her ; and her hus- 
 band percjisted doggedly, nay, furiously, in 
 affirming her health improved every day. 
 When Kenneth warned him that his medicines 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 143 
 
 were useless at that stage of the malady, and 
 he needn't put him to further expense by at- 
 tending her, he retorted — 
 
 " I know you need not — she's well — she 
 does not want any more attendance from }ou! 
 She never was in a consumption. It was a 
 fever; and it is gone — her pulse is as slow as 
 mine now, and her cheek as cool." 
 
 He told his wife the same story, and she 
 seemed to believe him ; but one night, while 
 leaning on his shoulder, in the act of saying 
 she thought she should be able to get up to- 
 morrow, a fit of coughing took her — a very 
 slight one — he raised her in his arms ; she put 
 her two hands about his neck, her face changed, 
 and she was dead. 
 
 As the girl had anticipated ; the child 
 Hareton, fell wholly into my hands. Mr. 
 Earnshaw, provided he saw him healthy, and 
 never heard him cry, was contented, as far as 
 regarded him. For himself, he grew desper- 
 ate ; his sorrow was of that kind that will not 
 
144 WUTHRRING HEIGHTS. 
 
 lament, he neither wept nor prayed — he cursed 
 and defied— execrated God and man, and gave 
 himself up to reckless dissipation. 
 
 The servants could not bear his tyrannical 
 and evil conduct long : Joseph and I were the 
 only two that would stay. I had not the 
 heart to leave my charge; and besides, you 
 know, I had been his foster sister, and excused 
 his behaviour more readily than a stranger 
 would. 
 
 Joseph remained to hector over tenants and 
 labourers ; and because it was his vocation to 
 be where he had plenty of wickedness to re- 
 prove. 
 
 The master's bad ways and bad companions 
 formed a pretty example for Catherine and 
 Heathcliff. His treatment of the latter was 
 enough to make a fiend of a saint. And, 
 truly, it appeared as if the lad were possessed 
 of something diabolical at that period. He 
 delighted to witness Hindley degrading himself 
 past redemption ; and became daily more 
 notable for savage sullenness and ferocity. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 145 
 
 I could not half tell what an infernal house 
 we had. The curate dropped calling, and no- 
 body decent came near us, at last ; unless, 
 Edgar Linton's vi-its to Miss Cathy might 
 be an exception. At fifteen she was the 
 queen of the country-side; she had no peer: 
 and she did turn out a haughty, headstrong 
 creature! I oWn I did not like her, after her 
 infancy was past ; and I vexed her frequently 
 by trying to bring down her arrojauce ; she 
 never took an aversion to me though. She 
 had a wondrous] constancy to old attachments; 
 even Heathcliff kept his hold on her affections 
 unalterably, and young Linton, with all his 
 superiority, found it difficult to make an 
 equally deep impression. 
 
 He was my late master ; that is his portrait 
 over the fireplace. It used to hang on one 
 side, and his wife's on the other; but her's has 
 been removed, or else you might see something 
 of what she was. Can you make that out ? 
 
 Mrs. Dean raised the candle, and I discerned 
 
 VOL. I. H 
 
146 WUTHERING HEIGHTS, 
 
 a soft- featured face, exceedingly resembling 
 the young lady at the Heights, but more pen- 
 sive and amiable in expression. It formed a 
 sweet picture. The long light hair curled 
 slightly on the temples ; the eyes were large 
 and serious ; the figure almost too graceful. I 
 did not marvel how Catherine Earnshaw could 
 forget her first friend for such an individual. 
 I marvelled much how he, with a mind to cor- 
 respond with his person, could fancy my idea 
 of Catherine Earnshaw. 
 
 " A very agreeable portrait," I observed to 
 the housekeeper. " Is it like ?" 
 
 " Yes," she answered ; '' but he looked 
 better when he was animated, that is his every 
 day countenance ; he wanted spirit in general." 
 Catherine had kept up her acquaintance 
 with the Lintons since her five weeks* residence 
 among them ; and as she had no temptation 
 to show her rough side in their company, and 
 had the sense to be ashamed of being rude 
 where she experienced such invariable cour- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 147 
 
 tesy, she imposed unwittingly on the old lady 
 and gentleman, by her ingenious cordiality ; 
 gained the admiration of Isabella, and the 
 heart and soul of her brother— acquisitions 
 that flattered her from the first, for she was 
 full of ambition — and led her to adopt a double 
 character without exactly intending to deceive 
 anyone. 
 
 In the place where she heard HeathclifF 
 termed a " vulgar young ruffian," and " worse 
 than a brute," she took care not to act like 
 him ; but at home she had small inclination to 
 practise politeness that would only be laughed 
 at, and restrain an unruly nature when it 
 would bring her neither credit, nor praise. 
 
 Mr. Edgar seldom mustered courage to visit 
 Wuthering Heights openly. He had a terror 
 of Earnshaw's reputation, and shrunk from en- 
 countering him, and yet, he was always re- 
 ceived with our best attempts at civility : the 
 master himself, avoided offending him — know- 
 ing why he came, and if he could not be gra- 
 H 3 
 
148 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 cious, kept out of the way. I rather think his 
 appearance there was distasteful to Catherine; 
 she was not artful, never played the coquette, 
 and had evidently an objection to her two 
 friends meeting at all: for when HeathclifF 
 expressed contempt of Linton, in his presence, 
 she could not half coincide, as she did in his 
 absence; and when Linton evinced disgust, 
 and antipathy to HeathclifF, she dare not treat 
 his sentiments with indifference, as if depre- 
 ciation of her playmate were of scarcely any 
 consequence to her. 
 
 I've had many a laugh at her perplexities, 
 and untold troubles, which she vainly strove to 
 hide from my mockery. That sounds ill-na- 
 tured — but she was so proud, it became really 
 impossible to pity her distresses, till she should 
 be chastened into more humility. 
 
 She did bring herself, finally, to confess, and 
 confide in me. There was not a soul else that 
 she might fashion into an adviser. 
 
 Mr. Hindley had gone from home, one after- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 149 
 
 HOOD ; and HeathclifF presumed to give him- 
 self a holiday, on the strength of it. He had 
 reached the age of sixteen then, I think, and 
 without having bad features or being deficient 
 in intellect, he contrived to convey an impres- 
 sion of inward and outward repulsiveness that 
 his present aspect retains no traces of 
 
 In the first place, he had, by that time, lost 
 the benefit of his early education : continual 
 hard work, begun soon and concluded late, had 
 extinguished any curiosity he once possessed 
 in pursuit of knowledge, and any love for 
 books, or learning. His childhood's sense of 
 superiority, instilled into him by the favours 
 of old Mr. Earnshaw, was faded away. He 
 struggled long to keep up an equality with 
 Catherine in her studies and yielded with 
 poignant though silent regret : but, he yielded 
 completely ; and there was no prevailing on 
 him to take a step in the way of moving 
 upward, when he found he must, necessarily, 
 sink beneath his former level. Then persona] 
 
150 WUTHRRING HEIGHTS. 
 
 appearance sympathised with mental deterio- 
 ration ; he acquired a slouching gait, and ig- 
 noble look ; his naturally reserved disposition 
 was exaggerated into an almost idiotic excess 
 of unsociable moroseness ; and he took a grim 
 pleasure, apparently, in exciting the aversion 
 rather than the esteem of his few acquaint- 
 ance. ^ 
 
 Catherine and he were constant companions 
 still, at his seasons of respite from labour ; but, 
 he had ceased to express his fondness for her 
 in words, and recoiled with angry suspicion 
 from her girlish caresses, as if conscious there 
 could be no gratification in lavishing such 
 marks of affection on him. On the before- 
 named occasion he came into the house to 
 announce his intention of doing nothing, while 
 I was assisting Miss Cathy to arrange her 
 dress — she had not reckoned on his taking it 
 into his head to be idle, and imagining she 
 would have the whole place to herself, she 
 managed, by some means, to inform Mr. 
 
WUTHFRING HEIGHTS. l5l 
 
 Edgar of her brother's absence, and was then 
 preparing to receive him. 
 
 " Cathy, are you busy, this afternoon ?" 
 asked Ileathcliff, " Are you going any- 
 where ?" 
 
 " No, it is raining," she answered. 
 
 '' Why have you that silk frock on, then ?" 
 he said, " Nobody coming here I hope ?" 
 
 "Not that I know of;" stammered Miss, 
 *' but you should be in the field nov, Heath- 
 cliff. It is an hour pa?t dinner time ; I 
 thought you were gone." 
 
 " Hindley does not often free us from his 
 accursed presence;" observed the boy, *' I'll 
 not work any more to- day, I'll stay with 
 you." 
 
 *' O, but Joseph vvill tell;" she suggested, 
 ** you'd better go!" 
 
 " Joseph is loading lime on the farther side 
 of Pennistow Crag, it will take him till dark, 
 and he'll never know." 
 
 So saying he lounged to the fire, and sat 
 
152 WUTHERING HFIGHTS, 
 
 down, Catherine reflected an instant, with 
 knitted brows — she found it needful to smooth 
 the way for an intrusion. 
 
 " Isabella, and Edgar Linton talked of 
 calling this afternoon ;" she said at the con- 
 clusion of a minute's silence. " As it rains, I 
 hardly expect them ; but, they may come, and 
 if they do, you run the risk of being scolded 
 for no good." 
 
 *' Order Ellen to say yoa are engaged, 
 Cathy," he persisted, " Don't turn me out for 
 those pitiful, silly friends of yours I I'm on 
 the point, sometimes, of complaining that they 
 —but I'll not—" 
 
 " That they what ?" cried Catherine, gazing 
 at him with a troubled countenance. **0h 
 Nelly !" she added petulantly jerking her head 
 away from my hands, "you've combed my 
 hair quite out of curl ! That's enough, let me 
 alone. What are you on the point of com- 
 plaining about, Heathcliff?" 
 
 "Nothing — only look at the almanack, on 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 153 
 
 that wall," he pointed to a framed sheet hang- 
 ing near the window, and continued ; 
 
 " The crosses are for the evenings you have 
 spent with the Lintons, the dots for those 
 spent with me — Do you see, I've marked every 
 day ?" 
 
 '* Yes — very foolish ; as if I took notice !" 
 re[)lied Catherine in a peevish tone. " And 
 where is the sense of that ?" 
 
 " To show that I do take notice." said 
 HeathcHff. 
 
 *' And should I always be sitting with you," 
 she demanded, growing more irritated. '* What 
 good do I get — What do you talk about ? you 
 might be dumb or a baby for anything you 
 say to amuse me, or for anything you do, 
 either !" 
 
 " You never told me, before, that I talked 
 too little, or that you disliked my company, 
 Cathy!" exclaimed HeathclifF in much agita- 
 tion. 
 
154 WUTHERING HEIGUT8. 
 
 ** It is no company at all, when people know 
 nothing and say nothing,'* she muttered. 
 
 Her companion rose up, but he hadn't time 
 to express his feelings further, for a horse's 
 feet were heard on the flags, and, having 
 knocked gently, young Linton entered, his 
 face brilliant with delight at the unexpected 
 summons he had received. 
 
 Doubtless Catherine marked the difference 
 between her friends as one came in, and the 
 other went out. The contrast resembled what 
 you see in exchanging a bleak, hilly, coal coun- 
 try, for a beautiful fertile valley ; and his 
 voice, and greeting were as opposite as his 
 aspect— He had a sweet, low manner of speak- 
 ing, and pronounced his words as you do, that's 
 less gruff than we talk here and softer. 
 
 " I'm not come too soon, am 1 ?" he said, 
 casting a look at me, I had begun to wipe the 
 plate, and tidy some drawers at the far end in 
 the dresser. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 155 
 
 ** No," answered Catherine. ** What are you 
 doing there, Nelly ?" 
 
 '* My work, Miss," I replied. (Mr. Hindley 
 had given me directions to make a third party 
 in any private visits Linton chose to pn.y.) 
 
 She stepped behind me and whispered cross- 
 ly, '* Take yourself and your dusters off! 
 when company are in the house, servants 
 don't commence scouring and cleaning in the 
 room where they are !" 
 
 " It's a good opportunity, now that master 
 is away," I answered aloud, "he hates me to 
 be tidgetting over these things in his presence 
 — I'm sure Mr. Edgar will excuse me." 
 
 *' I hate you to be fidgetting in jhi/ pre- 
 sence," exclaimed the young lady imperiously, 
 not allowing her guest time to speak —she had 
 failed to recover her equanimity since the little 
 dispute with Heathcliff. 
 
 '' I'm sorry for it, Miss Catherine !" was my 
 response ; and I proceeded assiduously with 
 my occupation. 
 
156 WUTUERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 She, supposing Edgar could not see her, 
 snatched the cloth from my hand, and pinched 
 me, with a prolonged wrench, very spitefully 
 on the arm. 
 
 I've said I did not love her; and rather re- 
 lished mortifying her vanity, now and then ; 
 besides, she hurt me extremely, so I started 
 up from my knees, and screamed out. 
 
 " O, Miss, that's a nasty trick ! you have no 
 right to nip me, and I'm not going to bear 
 it!" 
 
 " 1 didn't touch you, you lying creature !" 
 cried she, her fingers tingling to repeat the 
 act, and her ears red with rage. She never 
 had power to conceal her passion, it always 
 set her whole complexion in a blaze. 
 
 ** What's that then ?" I retorted showing a 
 decided purple witness to refute her. 
 
 She stamped her foot, wavered a moment, 
 and then, irresistibly impelled by the naughty 
 spirit within her, slapped me on the cheek a 
 stinging blow that filled both eyes with water. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 157 
 
 *' Catherine, love ! Catherine!" interposed 
 Linton, greatly shocked at the double fault of 
 falsehood, and violence which his idol had com- 
 mitted. 
 
 " Leave the room, Ellen !" she repeated, 
 trembling all over. 
 
 Little Hareton, who followed me every- 
 where, and was sitting near nie on the floor, 
 at seeing my tears commenced crying himeelf, 
 and sobbed out complaints against " wicked 
 aunt Cathy," which drew her fury on to his 
 unlucky head : she seized his shoulders, and 
 shook him till the poor child waxed livid, 
 and Edgar thoughtlessly laid hold of her hands 
 to deliver him. In an instant one was wrung 
 free, and the astonished young man felt it ap- 
 plied over his own ear in a way that could not 
 be mistaken for jest. 
 
 He drew back in consternation — I lifted 
 Hareton in my arms, and walked off to the 
 kitchen with him ; leaving the door of com- 
 munication open, for 1 was curiuus to 
 
158 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 watch how they would settle their disagree- 
 ment. 
 
 The insulted visiter moved to the spot where 
 he had laid his hat, pale and with a quivering 
 lip. 
 
 "That's right!" I said to myself, "Take 
 warning and begone! It's a kindness to let 
 yoQ have a glimpse of her genuine disposition.** 
 " Where are you going ?" demanded Cathe- 
 rine, advancing to the door. 
 
 He swerved aside and attempted to pass. 
 "You must not go!" she exclaimed ener- 
 getically. 
 
 " I must and shall !" he replied in a subdued 
 voice. 
 
 " No," she persisted, grasping the handle ; 
 **not yet, Edgar Linton — sit down, you shall 
 not leave me in that temper. 1 should be 
 miserable, all night, and I won't be misera- 
 ble for you !" 
 
 " Can I stay after you have struck me ?' 
 asked Linton. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 159 
 
 Catherine was mute. 
 
 *' You've made me afraid, and ashamed of 
 you ;'* he continued ; '* I'll not come here 
 again I" 
 
 Her eyes began to glisten and her lids to 
 twinkle. 
 
 ** And you told a deliberate untruth !" he 
 said. 
 
 ** I didn't !" she cried, recovering her speech 
 " I did nothinoj deliberately — Well, go, if you 
 please — get away! And now I'll cry — I'll cry 
 myself sick!" 
 
 She dropped down on her knees by a chair 
 and set to weeping in serious earnest. 
 
 Edgar persevered in his resolution as far as 
 the court ; there, he lingered. I resolved to 
 encourage him. 
 
 " Miss is dreadfully wayward, sir!*' I called 
 out. *'As bad as any marred child — you'd 
 better be riding home, or else she will be sick, 
 only to grieve us." 
 
 The soft thing looked askance through the 
 
160 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 window — he possessed the power to depart, 
 as much as a cat possesses the power to leave 
 a mouse half killed, or a bird half eaten — 
 
 Ah, T thought ; there will be no saving him 
 — He's doomed, and flies to his fate! 
 
 And, so it was ; he turned abruptly, has- 
 tened into the house again, shut the door be- 
 hind him ; and, when I went in a while after 
 to inform them that Earnshaw had come home 
 rabid drunk, lead}^ to pull the old place about 
 our ears, (his ordinary frame of mind in that 
 condition) I saw the quarrel had merely af- 
 fected a closer intimacy — had broken the out- 
 works of youthful timidity, and enabled them 
 to forsake the disguise of friendship, and con- 
 fess themselves lovers. 
 
 Intelligence of Mr. Hindley's arrival drove 
 Linton speedily to his hor&e, and Catherine to 
 her chamber. I went to hide little Hareton, 
 and to take the shot out of the master's fow- 
 ling piece which he was fond of playing with 
 in his insane excitement, to the hazard of the 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 161 
 
 lives of any who provoked, or even, attracted 
 his notice too much ; and I had hit upon the 
 plan of removing it, that he might do less mis- 
 chief, if he did go the length of firing the 
 gun. 
 
162 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 CHAPTER. IX 
 
 He entered, vociferating oaths dreadful to 
 hear; and caught me in the act of stowing 
 his son away in the kitchen cupboard. Hare- 
 ton was impressed with a wholesome terror of 
 encountering either his wild-beast's fondness, 
 or his madman's rage — for in one he ran a 
 chance of being squeezed and kissed to death, 
 and in the other of being flung into the fire, or 
 dashed against the wall — and the poor thing 
 remained perfectly quiet wherever I chose to 
 put him. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 163 
 
 " There I've found it out at last I" cried Hind- 
 lej, pulling me back by the skin of the neck, 
 like a dog, " By Heaven and Hell, you've 
 sworn between you to murder that child ! I 
 know how it is, now, that he is always out of 
 my way. But, with the help of Satan, I shall 
 make you swallow the carving knife, Nelly ! 
 you needn't laugh ; for I've just crammed 
 Kenneth head-downmost, in the Blackhorse 
 marsh ; and two is the same as one — and I 
 want to kill some of you, I shall have no rest 
 till I do !" 
 
 '^ But I don't like the carving knife, Mr. 
 Hindley ;" I answered, it has been cutting red 
 herrings — I'd rather be shot if you please." 
 
 " You'd rather be damned !" he said, " and 
 so you shall — No law in England can hinder a 
 man from keeping his house decent, and mine's 
 abominable ! open your mouth." 
 
 He held the knife in his hand, and pushed 
 its point between my teeth : but, for my part 
 I was never much afraiJ of his vanririe.'. I 
 
164 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 spat out, and affirmed it tasted detestably — I 
 would not take it on any account." 
 
 ** Oh !" said he releasing me, I see that hi- 
 deous little villain is not Hareton — I beg your 
 pardon, Nell — if it be he deserves flaying alive 
 for not running to welcome me, and for 
 screaming as if I were a goblin. Unnatural 
 cub, come hither ! I'll teach thee to impose on 
 a good-hearted, deluded father — Now, don't 
 you think the lad would be handsomer crop- 
 ped ? It makes a dog fiercer, and I love some- 
 thing fierce — Get me a scissors— something 
 fierce and trim ! Besides, it's infernal affecta- 
 tion—devilish conceit, it is to cherish our ears 
 — sve're asses enough without them. Hush, 
 child, hush ! well then, it is my darling I wisht, 
 dry thy eyes — there's a joy ; kiss me ; what it 
 wont? kiss me, Hareton! Dam'n thee, kiss 
 me ! By God, as if I would rear such a mon- 
 ster! Ae sure as I'm living, I'll break the 
 brat's neck." 
 
 Poor Hareton was squalling and kicking in 
 
WUfHERING HEIGHTS. 165 
 
 his father's arms with all his might , and re- 
 doubled his yells when he carried him up-stairs 
 and lifted him over the bannister. I cried out 
 that he would frighten the child into fits, and 
 ran to rescue him. 
 
 As I reached them, Hindley leant forward 
 on the rails to listen to a noise below ; almost 
 forgetting what he had in his hands. 
 
 " Who is that ?" he asked, hearing some one 
 approaching the stair's-foot. 
 
 I leant forvvanl, also, for the purpose of 
 signing to Heathcliff, whose step I recognized, 
 not to come further; and, at the instant when 
 my eye quitted Hareton, he gave a sudden 
 spring, delivered himself from the careless 
 grasp that held him, and fell. 
 
 1 here was scarcely time to experience a 
 thrill of horror before we saw that the little 
 wretch was safe. HeathclifF arrived under- 
 neath just at the critical moment ; by a natu- 
 ral impulse, he arrested his descent, and setting 
 
166 WUTUEKING HEIGHTS. 
 
 him on his feet, looked up to discover the au- 
 thor of the accident. 
 
 A miser who has parted with a lucky lottery- 
 ticket for five shillings and finds next day he 
 has lost in the bargain five thousand pounds, 
 could not show a blanker countenance than he 
 did on behoklino; the fitjure of Mr. Earnshaw 
 above — It expressed, plainer than words could 
 do, the intensest anguish at having made him- 
 self the instrument of thwarting his own re- 
 venge. Had it been dark, I dare tay, he 
 would have tried to remedy the mistake by 
 smashing Hareton's skull on the steps ; but, we 
 witnessed his salvation ; and I was presently 
 below with my precious charge pressed to my 
 heart. 
 
 Hindley descended more leisurely, sobered 
 and abashed. 
 
 "It is your fault, Ellen," be said, "you 
 should have kept him out of sight ; you should 
 have taken him from me ! Is he injured any- 
 where ?" 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 167 
 
 "Injured!" I cried angrily, "If he's not 
 killed, he'll be an idiot! Oh! I wonder his 
 mother does not rise from her grave to see how 
 you use him. You're worse than a heathen — 
 treating your own flesh and blood in that man- 
 
 ner i 
 
 M" 
 
 He attempted to touch the child, who on 
 finding himself with me sobbed off his terror 
 directly. At the first finger his father laid on 
 him, however, he shrieked again louder than 
 before, and struggled as if he would go into 
 convulsions. 
 
 " You shall not meddle with him !" I conti- 
 nued, " He hates you — they all hate you — 
 that's the truth ! A happy family you have ; 
 and a pretty state you're come to !" 
 
 "I shall come to a prettier, yet! Nellj," 
 laughed the misguided man, recovering his 
 hardness. " At present, convey yourself and 
 him tiwsiy — And, hark you, HeathcliflT! clear 
 you too, quite from my reach and hearing... I 
 wouldn't murder you to-night, unless, perhaps 
 
168 WUTHEIUNG HEIGHTS. 
 
 I set the house on fire ; but that's as my fancy 
 goes — " 
 
 While saying this he took a pint bottle ot 
 brandy from the dresser, and poured some into 
 a tumbler. 
 
 "Nay don't I" I entreated, ''Mr. Hindley 
 do take warning. Have mercy on this unfor- 
 tunate boy, if you care nothing for yourself!"' 
 
 " Any one will do better for him, than I 
 shall," he answered. 
 
 *' Have mercy on your own soul!" I said, 
 endeavouring to snatch the glass from his hand. 
 
 " Not I ! on the contrary, I shall Lave great 
 pleasure in sending it to perdition, to punish 
 its maker/' exclaimed the blasphemer, " Here's 
 to its hearty damnation I" 
 
 He drank the spirits, and impatiently bade 
 us go ; terminating his command with a sequel 
 of horrid imprecations, too bad to repeat, or re- 
 member. 
 
 " It's a pity he cannot kill himself with 
 drink," observed Heathcliff, muttering an 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 169 
 
 echo of curses back when the door was shut. 
 ** He's doing his very utmost ; but his consti- 
 tution defies him — Mr. Kenneth says he woulJ 
 wager his mare, that he'll outlive any man on 
 this side Gimmerton, and go to the grave a 
 hoary sinner; unless, some happy chance out 
 of the common course befall him." 
 
 I went into the kitchen and sat down to lull 
 my little lamb to sleep. Heathcliff, as I 
 thought, walked through to the barn. It 
 turned out, afterwards, that he only got as far 
 as the other side the settle, when he flung him- 
 self on a bench by the wall, removed from the 
 fire, and remained silent. 
 
 I was rocking Hareton on my knee, and 
 humming a song that began ; 
 
 " It was far in the night, and the bairnies grat, 
 The mither beneath the mods heard that." 
 when Miss Cathy, who had listened to the 
 hubbub from her room, put her head in, and 
 whispered, 
 
 ** Are you alone, Nelly ?" 
 
 VOL. I. I 
 
170 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 « Yes, Miss," I replied. 
 
 She entered and approached the hearth. I, 
 supposing she was going to say something, 
 looked up. The expression of her face seem- 
 ed disturbed and anxious. Her lips were 
 half asunder as if she meant to speak ; and 
 she drew a breath, but it escaped in a sigh, 
 instead of a sentence. 
 
 I resumed my song: not having forgotten 
 her recent behaviour. 
 
 " Where's HeathclifF?'^ she said, interrupt- 
 ing me. 
 
 *' About his work in the stable," was my 
 answer. 
 
 He did not contradict me ; perhaps, he had 
 fallen into a dose. 
 
 There followed another long pause, during 
 which I perceived a drop or two trickle from 
 Catherine's cheek to the flags. 
 
 Is she sorry for her shameful conduct ? I 
 asked myself. That will be a novelty, but, she 
 may cooje to the point as she will — I shan't 
 help her! 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 171 
 
 No, -he felt small trouble regarding any 
 subject, save her own concerns. 
 
 ''Oh, dear !^' she cried at last. "Prnvery 
 unhappy !" 
 
 **A pity,'^ observed I, " you're hard to 
 please — so many friends and so few cares, and 
 can't make yourself, content !" 
 
 ** Nelly, will you keep a secret for me ?" 
 she pursued, kneeling down by me, and lifting 
 her winsome eyes to my face with that sort of 
 look which turns off bad temper, even, when 
 one has all the right in the world to indulge 
 it. 
 
 ** Is it worth keeping ?" I inquired less sulk- 
 ily. 
 
 " Yes, and it worries me, and I must let it 
 out ! 1 want to know what 1 should do — To- 
 day, Edgar Linton has asked me to marry 
 him, and I've given him an answer — Now, be- 
 fore I tell you whether it was a consent, or 
 denial— you tell me which it ought to have 
 
 been." 
 
 H 3 
 
172 WUTHERTNG HEIGHTS. 
 
 " Really, Miss Catherine, how can I know ?' 
 I replied. **To be sure, considering the ex- 
 hibition you performed in his presence, this 
 afternoon, I might say it would be wise to re- 
 fuse him — since he asked you after that, he 
 must either be hopelessly stupid, or a venture- 
 some fool." 
 
 " If you talk so, I wont tell you any more," 
 she returned, peevishly, rising to her feet, " I 
 accepted him, Nelly ; be quick, and say whe- 
 ther I was wrong !" 
 
 "You accepted him? then, what good is it 
 discussing the matter ? You have pledged your 
 word, and cannot retract." 
 
 " But, say whether I should have done so — 
 do!" she exclaimed in an irritated tone ; chafing 
 her hands together, and frowning. 
 
 *' There are many things to be considered, 
 before that question can be answered pro- 
 perly." I said sententiously, '' First and fore- 
 most, do you love Mr. Edgar ?" 
 
WUTHERING HEIGETS. 173 
 
 " Who can help it? of course I do," she an- 
 swered. 
 
 Then 1 put her through the following cate- 
 chism—for a girl of twenty-two it was not in- 
 judicious. 
 
 " Why do you love him, Miss Cathy ?" 
 
 "Nonsense, I do— that's sufficient." 
 
 " By no means ; you must say why ?" 
 
 " Well, because he is handsome, and pleasant 
 to be with." 
 
 "Bad," was my commentary. 
 
 " And because he is young and cheerful." 
 
 ^* Bad, still." 
 
 " And, because he loves me." 
 
 " Indifferent, coming there." 
 
 '^ And he will be rich, and I shall like to be 
 the greatest woman of the neighbourhood, and 
 I shall be proud of having such a husband." 
 
 " Worst of all ! And, now, say how you love 
 him ?" 
 
 " zls every body loves — You're silly, Nelly.'' 
 
 '' Not at all— Answer." 
 
174 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 " I love the ground under his feet, and the 
 air over his head, and everything he touches, 
 and every word he says — I love all his looks, 
 and all his actions, and him entirely, and al- 
 together. There now !" 
 
 "And why?'* 
 
 "Nay — you are making a jest of it; it is 
 exceedingly ill-natured ! It's no jest to me !" 
 said the young lady scowling, and turning her 
 face to the fire. 
 
 *'Vm very far from jesting, Miss Cathe- 
 rine," I replied, "you love Mr. Edgar, because 
 he is handsome, and young, and cheerful, and 
 rich, and loves you. The last, however, goes 
 for nothing — You would love him without 
 that, probably, and with it, you wouldn't un- 
 less he possessed the four former attractions." 
 
 "No, to be sure not — I should only pity 
 him — hate him, perhaps, if he were ugly, and 
 a clown." 
 
 " But, there are several other handsome, rich 
 young men in the world ; handsomer, possibly. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 175 
 
 and richer than he is — Wbat should hinder 
 you from loving them ?** 
 
 "If there be any, they are out of my way — 
 I've seen none like Edgar." 
 
 **You may see some; and he won't always 
 be handsome, and young, and may not always 
 be rich." 
 
 " He is now ; and I have only to do with 
 the present —I wish you would speak ration- 
 ally." 
 
 ** Well, that settles it — if you have only to 
 do with the present, marry Mr. Linton." 
 
 " I don't want your permission for that — I 
 shall marry him ; and yet, you have not told 
 me whether I'm right." 
 
 "Perfectly right; if people be right to 
 marry only for the present. And now, let us 
 hear what you are uuhappy about. Your bro- 
 ther will be pleased... The old lady and gen- 
 tleman will not object, I think — you will escape 
 from a disorderly, comfortless home into a 
 wealthy respectable one ; and you love E Jgar, 
 
176 WUTHERING HEIGUTS. 
 
 and Edgar loves you. All seems smooth and 
 easy — where is the obstacle ?" 
 
 '' Here 1 and here /" replied Catherine, 
 striking one hand on her forehead, and 
 the other on her breast. " In whichever place 
 the soul lives — in my soul, and in my heart, 
 I'm convinced I'm wrong !" 
 
 " That's very strange ! I cannot make it 
 out." 
 
 " It's my secret ; but if you will not mock 
 at me, I'll explain it ; I can't do it distinctly 
 — but I'll give you a feeling of how I feel." 
 
 She seated herself by me again : her coun- 
 tenance grew sadder and graver, and her 
 clasped hands trembled. 
 
 " Nelly, do you never dream queer dreams ?" 
 she said, suddenly, after some minutes' reflec- 
 tion." 
 
 *' Yes, now and then," I answered. 
 
 ** And so do I. I've dreamt in my life 
 dreams that have stayed with me ever after, 
 and changed my ideas ; they've gone through 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 177 
 
 and through rae, like wine through water, and 
 altered the colour of my mind. And this is 
 one — I'm groing to tell it — but take care not 
 to smile at any part of it." 
 
 "Oh! don't. Miss Catherine!" I cried. 
 ** We're dismal enough without conjuring up 
 ghosts, and visions to perplex us. Come, 
 come, be merry, and like yourstlf ! Look at 
 little Hareton — hes dreaming nothing dreary. 
 How sweetly he smiles in his sleep I" 
 
 *' Yes; and how sweetly his father curses 
 in his -solitude ! You remember him, I dare 
 say, when he was just such another as that 
 chubby thing — nearly as young and innocent. 
 However, Nelly, I shall oblige you to listen 
 — it's not long; and I've no power to be 
 merry to-night.'^ 
 
 " I wont hear it, I wont hear it !" I repeated, 
 hastily. 
 
 I was superstitious about dreams then, and 
 am still ; and Catherine had an unusual gloom 
 in her aspect, that made me dread something 
 I 5 
 
178 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 from which I might shape a prophecy, and 
 foresee a fearful catastrophe. 
 
 She was vexed, but she did not proceed. 
 Apparently taking up another subject, she 
 re-commenced in a short time. 
 
 " If I were in heaven, Nelly, I should be 
 extremely miserable." 
 
 " Because you are not fit to go there," I 
 answered. " All sinners would be miserable 
 in heaven." 
 
 '* But it is not for that. I dreamt, once, 
 that I was there.'* 
 
 " I tell you I wont barken to your dreams, 
 Miss Catherine ! I'll go to bed," I interrupted 
 again. 
 
 She laughed, and held me down, for I 
 made a motion to leave my chair. 
 
 '' This is nothing," cried she; *' I was only 
 going to say that heaven did not seem to be 
 my home ; and I broke my heart with weeping 
 to come back to earth ; and the angels were so 
 angry that they flung me out, into the middle 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 179 
 
 of the heath on the top of Wuthering Heights : 
 where I woke sobbing for joy. That will do 
 to explain my secret, as well as the other. 
 I've no more business to marry Edgar Linton 
 than I have to be in heaven ; and if the wicked 
 man in there, had not brought Heathcliff so 
 low I shouldn't have thought of it. It would 
 degrade me to marry Heathcliff, now ; so he 
 shall never know how I love him ; and that, 
 not because he's handsome, Nelly, but because 
 he's more myself than I am. Whatever our 
 souls are made of, his and mine are the same, 
 and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam 
 from lightning, or frost from fire." 
 
 Ere this speech ended I became sensible of 
 Heathcliff's presence. Having noticed a slight 
 movement, I turned my head, and saw him 
 rise from the bench, and steal out, noiselessly. 
 He had listened till he heard Catherine say it 
 would degrade her to marry him, and then he 
 staid to hear no farther. 
 
 My companion, sitting on the ground, was 
 
180 
 
 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 prevented by the back of the settle from re- 
 marking his presence or departure ; but 1 
 started, and bade her hush ! 
 
 ^* Why?" she asked, gazing nervously round. 
 
 ^' Joseph is here," I answered, catching, 
 oi^portunely, the roll of his cartwheels up the 
 road; ** and Heathcliff will come in with him. 
 I'm not sure whether he were not at the door 
 this moment." 
 
 ** Oh, he couldn't overhear me at the door I" 
 said she. " Give me Hareton, while you get 
 the supper, and when it is ready ask mc tj sup 
 with you. I want to cheat my uncomrortable 
 conscience, and be convinced that Heathclift' 
 has no notion of these things — he has not, has 
 be ? He does not know what being in love is ?" 
 
 " I see no reason that he should not know, 
 as well as you," 1 returned ; " and if you, are 
 his choice, he'll be the most unfortunate crea- 
 ture that ever was born ! As soon as you be- 
 come Mrs. Linton, he loses friend, and love, 
 and all ! Have you considered how you'll bear 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 181 
 
 the separation, and how he'll bear to be quite 
 deserted in the world? Because, Miss 
 Catherine — " 
 
 ** He quite deserted ! we separated !" she 
 exclaimed, with an accent of indignation. 
 " Who is to separate us, pray ? Tney'U meet 
 the fate of Milo ! Not as long as I live, Ellen 
 — for no mortal creature. Every Linton on 
 the face of the earth might melt into nothing, 
 before I could consent to forsake Heathcliff. 
 Oh, that's not what I intend — that's not what 
 I mean ! I shouldn't be Mrs. Linton were 
 such a price demanded ! He'il be as much to 
 me as he has been all his lifetime. Edgar must 
 shake off his antipathy, and tolerate him, at 
 least. He will when he learns my true feelings 
 towards him. Nelly, I see now, you think 
 me a selfish wretch, but, did it never strike 
 you that, if HeathclifF and I married, we 
 bhould be beggars? whereas, if I marry 
 Linton, I can aid HeathclifF to rise, and place 
 him out of my brother's power." 
 
182 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 *' With your husband's money, Miss 
 Catherine ?" I asked. " You'll find him not 
 so pliable as you calculate upon : and, though 
 I'm hardly a judge, I think that's the worst 
 motive you've given yet for being the wife of 
 young Linton." 
 
 " It is not," retorted she, *' it is the best ! 
 The others were the satisfaction of my whims ; 
 and for Edgar's sake, too, to satisfy him. 
 This is for the sake of one who comprehends 
 in his person my feelings to Edgar and myself. 
 I cannot express it ; but surely you and every 
 body have a notion that there is, or should be 
 an existence of yours beyond you. AYhat 
 were the use of my creation if I were entirely 
 contained here? My great miseries in this 
 world have been HeathclifF's miseries, and I 
 watched and felt each from the beginning ; my 
 great thought in living is himself. If all else 
 perished, and he remained, I should still con- 
 tinue to be ; and, if all else remained, and he 
 were annihilated, the Universe would turn to 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 183 
 
 a mighty stranger. I should not seem a part 
 of it. My love for Linton is like the foliage 
 in the woods. Time will change it, I'm well 
 aware, as winter changes the trees — my love 
 for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks be- 
 neath — a source of little visible delight, but 
 necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff— he's al- 
 ways, always in my mind — not as a pleasure, 
 any more than I am always a pleasure to my- 
 self — but, as my own being — so, don't talk of 
 our separation again — it is impracticable ; 
 and—" 
 
 She paused, and hid her face in the folds of 
 my gown; but I jerked it forcibly away. I 
 was out of patience with her folly ! 
 
 " If I can make any sense of your nonsense, 
 Miss," I said, '* it only goes to convince me 
 that you are ignorant of the duties you under- 
 take in marrying ; or else, that you are a 
 wicked, unprincipled girl. But, trouble me 
 with no more secrets. I'll not promise to keep 
 them." 
 
184 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 f 
 
 " You'll keep that ?" she asked, eagerly. 
 
 *' No, I'll not promise,*' I repeated. 
 
 She was about to insist, when the entrance 
 of Joseph finished our conversation ; and 
 Catherine removed her seat to a corner, and 
 nursed Hareton, while I made the supper. 
 
 After it was cooked, my fellow servant and 
 I began to quarrel who should carry some to 
 Mr. Hindley ; and we didn't settle it till all 
 was nearly cold. Then we came to the agree- 
 ment that we would let him ask, if he wanted 
 any, for we feared particularly to go into his 
 presence when he had been sometime alone. 
 
 " Und hah isn't that nowt corned in frough 
 th' field, be this time? What is he abaht? 
 girt eedle seeght!" demanded the old man, 
 looking round for HeathclifF. 
 
 *' rU call him," I replied. "He's in the 
 barn, I've no doubt.'' 
 
 I went and called, but got no answer. On 
 returning, I whispered to Catherine that he 
 had heard a good part of what she said, I was 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 185 
 
 sure ; and told how I saw liioQ quit the kitchen 
 just as she complained of her brother's conduci 
 regardinof him. 
 
 She jumped up in a fine fright — flung Hare- 
 ton onto the settle, and ran to seek for her 
 friend herself, not taking leisure to consider 
 why she was so flurried, or how her talk would 
 have affected him. 
 
 She was absent such a while that Joseph 
 proposed we should wait no longer. He cun- 
 ningly conjectured they were staying away in 
 order to avoid hearing his protracted blessing. 
 They were " ill eneugh for ony fahl manners," 
 he aflfirmed. And, on their behalf, he added, 
 that night a special prayer to the usual quar- 
 ter of an hour's supplication before meat, and 
 would have tacked another to the end of the 
 grace, had not his young mistress broken in 
 upon him with a hurried command, that he 
 must run down the road, and, wherever 
 Heathclift had rambled, find and make him re- 
 enter directly !" 
 
186 WUIHKRlNo HEIGHTS. 
 
 " I want to speak to him, and I must, before 
 I go up-stairs, she said. " And the scate is 
 open, he is somewhere out of hearing ; for he 
 would not reply, though I shouted at the top 
 of the fold as loud as I could." 
 
 Joseph objected at first ; she was too much 
 in earnest, however, to suffer contradiction ; 
 and, at last, he placed his hat on his head, and 
 walked grumbling forth. 
 
 Meantime, Catherine paced up and down 
 the floor, exclaiming — 
 
 " I wonder where he is — I wonder where he 
 can be !" What did I say, Nelly ? I've forgot- 
 ten. Was he vexed at my bad humour this 
 afternoon ? Dear ! tell me what I' ve said to 
 grieve him ? I do wish he'd come. 1 do wish 
 
 be would !" 
 
 '* What a noise for nothing !" I cried, 
 
 though rather uneasy myself. " What a trifle 
 
 scares you ! It's surely no great cause of 
 
 alarm that Heathcliff should take a moonlight 
 
 saunter on the moors, or, even lie too sulky to 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 187 
 
 speak to us, in the hay-loft. I'll engage he's 
 lurking there. See, if I don't ferret him out !" 
 I departed to renew my search ; its result 
 was disappointment, and Joseph's quest ended 
 in the same. 
 
 "Yon lad gets war unwar!" observed he 
 on re-entering. " He's left th' yate ut t' full 
 swing, and miss's pony has trodden dahn two 
 rigs uh com, un plottered through, raight o'er 
 intuh t' meadow ! Hahsomdiver, t' maister 
 'ull play t' divil to-morn, and he'll do weel. 
 He's patience itsseln wi' sich careless, offald 
 craters — patience itsseln he is ! Bud hell nut 
 be soa alius — yah's see, all on ye ! Yah 
 mumn't drive him aht uf his heead fur nowt !" 
 
 *' Have you found HeathcliiF, you ass ?" 
 interrupted Catherine. " Have you been 
 looking for him, as I ordered ?' 
 
 " Aw sud more likker look for th' horse," he 
 replied. ** It 'ud be tuh more sense. Bud, aw 
 can look for norther horse, nur man uf a neeght 
 loike this— as black as t' chimbley ! und 
 
188 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 HatheclifF's noan t' chap tuh coom ut maw 
 whistle — happen he'll be less hard uh hearing 
 wi' 7/e !" 
 
 It was a very dark evening for summer : the 
 clouds appeared inclined to thunder, and I said 
 we had better all sit down; the approaching 
 rain would be certain to bring him home with- 
 out further trouble. 
 
 However, Catherine would not be persuaded 
 into tranquillity. She kept wandering to and 
 fro, from the gate to the door, in a state of agi- 
 tation, which permitted no repose: and, at 
 length, took up a permanent situation on one 
 side of the wall, near the road; where, heed- 
 less of my expostulations, and the growling 
 thunder, and the great drops that began to 
 plash around her, she remained calling, at in- 
 tervals, and then listening, and then crying 
 outright. She beat Hareton, or any child, at 
 a good, passionate fit of crying. 
 
 About midnight, while we still sat up, the 
 storm came rattling over the Heights in full 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 189 
 
 fury. There was a violent wind, as well as 
 thunder, and either one or the other split a 
 tree off at the corner of the building ; a huge 
 bough fell across the roof, and knocked down a 
 portion of the east chimney-stack, sending a 
 clatter of stones and soot into the kitchen 
 fire. 
 
 We thought a bolt had fallen in the middle 
 of us, and Joseph swung onto his knees, be- 
 seeching the Lord to remember the Patriarchs 
 Noah and Lot ; and, as in former times, spare 
 the righteous, though he smote the ungodly. 
 I felt some sentiment that it must be a judg- 
 ment on us also. The Jonah, in my mind, was 
 Mr, Earnshaw, and I shook the handle of his 
 den that I might ascertain if he were yet 
 living. He replied audibly enough, in a fash- 
 ion which made my companion vociferate 
 more clamorously than before that a wide dis- 
 tinction might be drawn between saints like 
 himself, and sinners like his master. But, the 
 uproar passed away in twenty minutes, leaving 
 
190 WUTHERING HEIGHT?. 
 
 US all unharmed, excepting Cathy, who got 
 thoroughly drenched for her obstinacy in re- 
 fusing to take shelter, and standing bonnetless 
 and shawlless to catch as much water as she 
 could with her hair and clothes. 
 
 She came in, and lay down on the settle, all 
 soaked as she was, turning her face to the 
 back, and putting her hands before it. 
 
 " Well Miss !" I exclaimed, touching her 
 shoulder. " You are not bent on getting your 
 death, are you? Do you know what o'clock 
 it is ? Half-past twelve. Come ! come to 
 bed ; there's no use waiting longer on that 
 foolish boy — he'll be gone to Gimmerton, and 
 he'll stay there now. He guesses we should 
 n't wake for him till this late hour ; at least, 
 he guesses that only Mr. Hindley would be 
 up ; and he'd rather avoid having the door 
 opened by the master." 
 
 *' Nay, nay, he's noan at Gimmerton !" said 
 Joseph. *' Aw's niver wonder, bud he's at t' 
 bothoin uf a bog-hoile. This visitation worn't 
 
WUTHERIXG HEIGHTS. 191 
 
 for nowt, und aw wod hev ye tub look aht. 
 Miss, — yah muh be t' next. Thank Hivin 
 for all ! All warks toiither for gooid tuh them 
 as is chozzen, and piked aht froo' th' rubbidge! 
 Yah knaw whet t' Scripture ses— " 
 
 And he began quoting several texts ; refer- 
 ing us to the chapters and verses, where we 
 might find them. 
 
 I having vainly begged the wilful girl to 
 rise and remove her wet things, left him 
 preaching, and her shivering, and betook my* 
 self to bed with little Hareton ; who slept as 
 iast as if every one had been sleeping round 
 him. 
 
 T heard Joseph read on a while afterwards ; 
 then, 1 distinguished his slow step on the lad- 
 der, and then I dropt asleep. 
 
 Coming down somewhat later than usual, I 
 saw, by the sunbeams piercing the chinks of 
 the shutters. Miss Catherine still seated near 
 the fire-place. The house door was ajar, too 
 liuht entered from its unclosed windows, 
 
192 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 Hindley had come out, and stood on the kit- 
 chen hearth, haorgard and drowsy. 
 
 "What ails you, Cathy?" he was saying 
 when I entered ; " You look as dismal as a 
 drowned whelp — Why are you so damp and 
 pale child?" 
 
 *' I've been wet;" she answered reluctantly 
 "and I'm cold, that's all" 
 
 "Oh, she is naughty!" I cried, perceiving 
 the master to be tolerably sober; " She got 
 steeped in the shower of yesterday evening, 
 and there she has sat, the night through, and 
 I couldn't prevail on her to stir." 
 
 Mr. Earnshaw stared at us in surprise. 
 "The night through," he repeated. ''What 
 kept her up, not fear of the thunder, surely ? 
 That was over, hours since." 
 
 Neither of us washed to mention Heathcliff*s 
 absence, as long as we could conceal it ; so, I 
 replied, I didn't know how she took it into 
 her head to sit up ; and she said nothing. 
 
 The morning was fresh and cool ; I threw 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 193 
 
 back the lattice, and presently the room filled 
 with sweet scents from the garden : but Ca- 
 therine called peevishly to me. 
 
 "Ellen, shut the window. I'ru starving!" 
 And her teeth chattered as she shrunk closer 
 to the almost extinguished embers. 
 
 ''' She's ill — " said Hindley, taking her 
 wrist, *' I suppose that's the reason she would 
 not go to bed — Damn it ! I don't want to be 
 troubled with more sickness, here — What took 
 you into the rain ?" 
 
 '^ Eunning after t'lads, as usuald !" croaked 
 Joseph, catching an opportunity, from our he- 
 sitation, to thrust in his evil tongue. 
 
 *^If Aw wur yah, maister, Aw'd just slam 
 t'boards i' their faces all on 'em, gentle and 
 simple ! Never a day ut yah 're off, but yon 
 cat uh Linton comes sneaking hitber — and 
 Miss Nelly shoo's a fine lass ! shoo sits watch- 
 ing for ye i' t'kitchen ; and as yah' re in at one 
 door, he's aht at t'other — Und, then, wer grand 
 lady goes a coorting uf hor side ! It's bonny 
 
 VOL. I. K 
 
194 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 behaviour, lurking amang t'flields, after twelve 
 ut' night, wi that fahl, flaysome divil uf a gip- 
 sy, HeathcliiF, ! They think ^'m blind; but 
 Aw'm noan, now't ut t'soart ! Aw seed young 
 Linton, boath coming and going, and Aw seed 
 yah (directing his discourse to me.) Yah gooid 
 fur nowt, slattenlywitch;! nip up nud bolt intuh 
 th* haks, t' minute yah heard t'maister's horse 
 fit clatter up t' road. 
 
 " Silence, eavesdropper!" cried Catherine, 
 ** None of your insolence, before me !" Edgar 
 Linton, came yesterday, by chance, Hindley: 
 and it was /who told him to be off: because, 
 I knew you would not like to have met him as 
 you were." 
 
 *^You lie, Cathy, no doubt," answered her 
 brother, *^and you are a confounded simpleton ! 
 But, never mind Linton, at present — Tell me, 
 were you not with Heathcliff, last night ? 
 Speak the truth, now. You need not be 
 afraid of harming him — Though I hate him as 
 much as ever, he did me a good turn, a short 
 
WUTHF.RING HEIGHTS. 195 
 
 time since, that will make my conscience ten- 
 der of breaking his neck. To prevent it, I 
 shall send him about his business, this very- 
 morning ; and after he's gone, I*d advise you 
 all to look sharp, I shall only have the more 
 humour for you !"' 
 
 "I never saw Heathcliff last night," an- 
 swered Catherine, beginning to sob bitterly : 
 " and if yon do turn him out of doors, I'll go 
 with him. But, perhaps, you'll never have 
 an opportunity— perhaps, he's gone." Hero 
 she burst into uncontrollable grief, and the re 
 mainder of her words were inarticulate. 
 
 Hindley lavished on her a torrent of scorn- 
 ful abuse, and bid her get to her room imme- 
 diately, or she shouldn't cry for nothing! I 
 obliged her to obey ; and I shall never forget 
 what a scene she acted, when we reached her 
 chamber. It terrified me — I thought she was 
 going mad, and I begged Joseph to run for the 
 doctor. 
 
 K 3 
 
196 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 It proved the commencement of delirium : 
 Mr. Kenneth, as soon as he saw her, pronoun- 
 ced her dangerously ill ; she had a fever. 
 
 He bled her, and he told rae to let her live 
 on whey, and water gruel ; and take care she 
 did not throw herself down stairs, or out of 
 the window ; and then he left ; for, he had 
 enough to do in the parish where two or three 
 miles was the ordinary distance between cot- 
 tage and cottage. 
 
 Though I cannot say I made a gentle Jnurse, 
 and Joseph and the master were no better; 
 and, though our patient was as wearisome and 
 headstrong as a patient could be, she weather- 
 ed it through. 
 
 Old Mrs. Linton paid us several visits, to be 
 sure ; and set things to rights, and scolded and 
 ordered us all ; and when Catherine was con- 
 valescent, she insisted on conveying her to 
 Thrushcross Grange ; for which deliverance 
 we were very grateful. But, the poor dame 
 ha-il reason to repent of her kindness; she, and 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 197 
 
 her husband, both took the fever, and died 
 within a few days of each other. 
 
 Our young lady returned to us, saucier, 
 and more passionate, and haughtier than ever. 
 Heathcliff had never been heard of since the 
 evening of the thunder-storm, and, one day, 
 I had the misfortune, when she had provoked 
 me exceedingly, to lay the blame of his dis- 
 appearance on her (where indeed it belonged, 
 as she well knew.) From that period for seve- 
 ral months, she ceased to hold any communi- 
 cation with me save in the relation of a mere 
 servant. Joseph fell under a ban also ; he 
 would speak his mind, and lecture her all the 
 same as if she were a little girl ; and she es- 
 teemed herself a woman, and our mistress ; and 
 thought that her recent illness gave her a 
 claim to be treated with consideration. Then 
 the doctor had said that she would not bear 
 crossing much, she ought to have her own 
 way ; and it was nothing less than murder, in 
 
198 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 her eyes, for any one, to presume to stand up 
 and contradict her. 
 
 From Mr. Earnshaw, and his companions 
 she kept aloof, and tutored by Kenneth, and 
 serious threats of a fit that often attended 
 her rages, her brother allowed her whatever 
 she pleased to demand, and generally avoided 
 aggravating her fiery temper. He was rather 
 too indulgent in humouring her caprices ; not 
 from affection, but from pride; he wished 
 earnestly to see her bring honour to the family 
 by an alliance with the Lintons, and, as long 
 as she let him alone, she might trample us like 
 slaves fot ought he cared I 
 
 Edgar Linton, as multitudes have been be- 
 fore, and will be after him, was infatuated ; 
 and believed himself the happiest man alive 
 on the day he led her to Gimmerton chapel, 
 three years subsequent to his father's death. 
 
 Much against my inclination, I was per- 
 suaded to leave Wuthering Heights and ac- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 199 
 
 company her here. Little Hareton was near- 
 ly ^ve years old, and I had just began to 
 teach him his letters : We made a sad part- 
 ing, but Catherine's tears were more power- 
 ful than ours — When I refused to go, and 
 when she found her entreaties did not move 
 me, she went lamenting to her husband, and 
 brother. The former offered me munificent 
 wages ; the latter ordered me to pack up — he 
 wanted no women in the house, he said, now 
 that there was no mistress ; and as to Hare- 
 ton, the curate should take him in hand, by 
 and bye. And so, I had but one choice left, 
 to do as I was ordered — I told the master he 
 got rid of all decent people only to run to 
 ruin a little faster ; I kissed Hareton good 
 bye ; and, since then, he has been a stranger, 
 and it's very queer to think it, but I've no 
 doubt, he has completely forgotten all about 
 Ellen Dean and that he was ever more than 
 all the world to her, and she to him ! 
 
 At this point of the housekeeper's story she 
 
200 WUTHERTNG HEIGHTS. 
 
 chanced to glance towards the time-piece over 
 the chimney ; and was in amazement, on seeing 
 the minute-hand measure half past one. She 
 would not hear of staying a second longer — 
 In truth, I felt rather disposed to defer the 
 sequel of her narrative, myself: and now, 
 that she is vanished to her rest, and I have 
 meditated for another hour or two, I shall sum- 
 mon courage to go, also, in spite of aching la- 
 ziness of head and limbs. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 201 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A CHARMING introduction to a hermit's life ! 
 Four weeks' torture, tossing and sickness ! 
 Oh, these bleak winds, and bitter, northern 
 skies, and impassable roads, and dilatory coun- 
 try surgeons ! And, oh, this dearth of the 
 human physiognomy, and, worse than all, the 
 terrible intimation of Kenneth that I need not 
 expect to be out of doors till spring ! 
 
 Mr. Heathcliff has just honoured me with a 
 call. About seven days ago he sent me a 
 brace of grouse — the last of the season. 
 k5 
 
202 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 Scoundrel ! He is not altogether guiltless in 
 this illness of mine ; and that I had a great 
 mind to tell him. But, alas ! how could I 
 offend a man who was charitable enough to 
 sit at my bedside a good hour, and talk on 
 some other subject than pills, and draughts, 
 blisters, and leeches ? 
 
 This is quite an easy interval. I am too 
 weak to read, yet I feel as if I could enjoy 
 something interesting. Why not have up Mrs. 
 Dean to finish her tale ? I can recollect its 
 chief incidents, as far as she had gone. Yes, 
 I remember her hero had run off, and never 
 been heard of for three years ; and the heroine 
 was married. I'll ring ; she'll be delighted to 
 find me capable of talking cheerfully. 
 
 Mrs. Dean came. 
 
 *^ It wants twenty minutes, sir, to taking 
 the medicine," she commenced. 
 
 *' Away, away with it !" I replied ; " I de- 
 sire to have — " 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 203 
 
 " The doctor says you must drop the 
 powders." 
 
 " With all my heart ! Don't interrupt me, 
 Come and take your seat here. Keep your 
 fiDgers from that bitter phalanx of vials. Draw 
 your knitting out of your pocket — that will do 
 — now continue the history of Mr. Heathcliff, 
 from where you left off, to the present day. 
 Did he finish his education on the Continent, 
 and come back a gentleman ? or did he get a 
 sizer's place at college? or escape to America, 
 and earn honours by drawing blood from his 
 foster country ? or make a fortuno more 
 promptly, on the English highways ?" 
 
 *' He may have done a little in all these vo- 
 cations, Mr. Lockwood ; but I couldn't give 
 my word for any. I stated before that I didn't 
 know how he gained his money ; neither am I 
 aware of the means he took to raise his mind 
 from the savage ignorance into which it was 
 sunk ; but, with your leave, I'll proceed in 
 my, own fashion, if you think it will amuse, 
 
204 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 and not weary you. Are you feeling better 
 this morning ?^' 
 
 '' Much." 
 
 " That's good news. I got Miss Cathe- 
 rine and myself to Thrushcross Grange : and 
 to my agreeable disappointment, she behaved 
 infinitely better than I dared to expect. She 
 seemed almost over fond of Mr. Linton ; and 
 even to his sister, she showed plenty of affec- 
 tion. They were both very attentive to her 
 comfort, certainly. It was not the thorn bend- 
 ing to the honeysuckles, but the honeysuckles 
 embracing the thorn. There were no mutual 
 concessions ; one stood erect, and the others 
 yielded ; and who can be ill-natured, and bad- 
 teaipered, when they encounter neither oppo- 
 sition, nor indifference ? 
 
 " I observed that Mr. Edgar had a deep- 
 rooted fear of ruffling her humour. He con- 
 cealed it from her ; but if ever he heard me 
 answer sharply, or saw any other servant grow 
 cloudy at some imperious order of hers, he 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 205 
 
 would show his trouble by a frown of displea- 
 sure that never darkened on his own account. 
 He, many a time, spoke sternly to me about 
 my pertness ; and averred that the stab of a 
 knife could not inflict a worse pang than he 
 suffered at seeing his lady vexed. 
 
 *' Not to grieve a kind master I learnt to be 
 less touchy ; and, for the space of half a year, 
 the gunpowder lay as harmless as sand, be- 
 cause no fire came near to explode it. Catherine 
 had seasons of gloom and silence, now and then, 
 they were respected with sympathizing silence 
 by her husband, who ascribed them to an al- 
 teration in her constitution, produced by her 
 perilous illness, as she was never subject to de- 
 pression of spirits before. The return of sun- 
 shine was welcomed by answering sunshine 
 froja him. I believe I may assert that they 
 were really in possession of deep and growing 
 happiness. 
 
 " It ended. Well, we must be for our- 
 selves in the long run ; the mild and generous 
 
20 ) WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 are only more justly selfish than the domineer- 
 ing — and it ended when circumstances caused 
 each to feel that the one's interest was not the 
 chief consideration in the other's thoughts. 
 
 "• On a mellow evening in September, I was 
 coming from the garden with a heavy biisket 
 of apples which I had been gathering. It had 
 got dusk, and the moon looked over the high 
 wall of the court, causing undefined shadows 
 to lurk in the corners of the numerous project- 
 ing portions of the building. I set my burden 
 on the house steps by the kitchen door, and 
 lingered to rest, and draw in a few more 
 breaths of the soft, sweet air ; my eyes were 
 on the moon, and my back to the entrance, 
 when I heard a voice behind me say — 
 
 '■' ' Nelly, is that you ?' 
 
 ^' It was a deep voice, and foreign in tone : 
 yet, there was something in the manner of 
 pronouncing my name which made it sound 
 familiar. I turned about to discover who 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 207 
 
 spoke, fearfully, for the doors were shut, and 
 I had seen nobody on approaching the steps. 
 
 " Something stirred in the porch ; and mov- 
 ing nearer, I distinguished a tall man dressed 
 in dark clothes, with dark face and hair. He 
 leant against the side, and held his fingers on 
 the latch, as if intending to open for himself. 
 
 " * Who can it be ?' I thought. ' Mr. 
 Earnshaw ? Oh, no ! The voice has no re- 
 semblance to his.' 
 
 '' * I have waited here an hour,' he resumed, 
 while I continued staring; ' and the whole of 
 that time all round has been as still as death 
 I dared not enter. You do not know me? 
 Look, I'm not a stranger !' 
 
 A. ray fell on his features ; the cheeks were 
 sallow, and half covered with black whiskers ; 
 the brows lowering, the eyes deep set and sin- 
 gular. I remembered the eyes." 
 
 " What !" I cried, uncertain whether to re- 
 gard him as a worldly visiter, and I raised my 
 
208 WDTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 hands in amazement. " What ! you come 
 back ? Is it really you ? Is it ?'* 
 
 " Yes, Heathcliff," he replied, glancing from 
 me up to the windows which reflected a score 
 of glittering moons, but showed no lights from 
 within. " Are they at home — where is she ? 
 Nelly, you are not glad — you needn't be so 
 disturbed. Is she here ? Speak ! I want to 
 have one word with her — your mistress. Go, 
 and say some person from Gimmerton desires 
 to see her." 
 
 " How will she take it ?" I exclaimed, 
 " what will she do? The surprise bewilders 
 me — it will put her out of her head ! And 
 you are Heathcliff ? But altered ! Nay, 
 there's no comprehending it. Have you been 
 for a soldier?" 
 
 *' Go, and carry my message," he interrupted 
 impatiently; I'm in hell till you do!" 
 
 He lifted the latch, and I entered; but 
 when I got to the parlour where Mr. and Mrs. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 209 
 
 Linton were, I could not persuade myself to 
 proceed. 
 
 At length, I resolved on making an excuse 
 to ask if they would have the candles lighted, 
 and I opened the door. 
 
 They sat together in a window whose lattice 
 lay back against the wall, and displayed beyond 
 the garden trees, and the wild green park, the 
 valley of Gimmerton, with a long line of mist 
 winding nearly to its top, (for very soon after 
 you pass the chapel, as you may have no- 
 ticed, the sough that runs from the marshes 
 joins a beck which follows the bend of the 
 glen), Wuthering Heights rose above this sil- 
 very vapour, ; but our old house was invisible 
 — it rather dips down on the other side. 
 
 Both the room, and its occupants, and the 
 scene they gazed on, looked wondrously 
 peaceful. I shrank reluctantly from perform- 
 ing my errand : and was actually going away, 
 leaving it unsaid, after having put my ques- 
 
210 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 tion about the candles, when a sense of my 
 folly compelled me to return, and mutter : 
 
 " A person from Gimmerton wishes to see 
 you, ma'am." 
 
 *' What does he want?" asked Mrs. Linton. 
 
 " I did not question him," I answered. 
 
 " Well, close the curtains, Nelly,*' she said ; 
 " and bring up tea. I'll be back again di- 
 rectly." 
 
 She quitted the apartment ; Mr. Edgar in- 
 quired carelessly, who it was ? 
 
 " Some one the mistress does not expect," 
 I replied. "That HeathclifF, you recollect 
 him, sir, who used to live at Mr. Earnshaw's." 
 
 '* What, the gipsy— the plough-boy?" he 
 cried. " Why did you not say so to Cathe- 
 rine ?" 
 
 " Hush I you must not call him by those 
 names, master," I said. " She'd be sadly 
 grieved to hear you. She was nearly heart- 
 broken when he ran off; I guess his return 
 will make a jubilee to her.'* 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 211 
 
 Mr. Linton walked to a window on the 
 other side of the room that overlooked the 
 court. He unfastened it, and leant out. I 
 suppose they were below, for he exclaimed, 
 quickly : — 
 
 " Don't stand there love I Bring the person 
 in, if it be any one particular.'^ 
 
 Ere long, I heard the click of the latch, and 
 Catherine flew up-stairs, breathless and wild, 
 too excited to show gladness ; indeed, by her 
 face, you would rather have surmised an awful 
 calamity. 
 
 " Oh, Edgar, Edgar !" she panted, flinging 
 her arms round his neck. " Oh, Edgar, darl- 
 ing! Heathcliff''s come back— he is!" And 
 she tightened her embrace to a squeeze. 
 
 " Well, well," cried her husband, crossly, 
 ** don't strangle me for that ! He never struck 
 me as such a marvellous treasure. There is 
 no need to be frantic !" 
 
 " I know you didn't like him," she an- 
 swered, repressing a little the intensity of her 
 
212 WUT BERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 delight. " Yet for my sake, you must be 
 friends now. Shall 1 tell him to come up ?" 
 
 " Here," he said, " into the parlour?" 
 
 " Where else?" she asked. 
 
 He looked vexed, and suggested the kitchen 
 as a more suitable place for him. 
 
 Mrs. Linton eyed him with a droll expres- 
 sion — ^half angry, half laughing at his fastidi- 
 ousness. 
 
 '* No," she added, after a while ; " I cannot 
 sit in the kitchen. Set two tables here, Ellen; 
 one for your master and Miss Isabella, being 
 gentry ; the other for Heathcliff and myself, 
 being of the lower orders. Will that please 
 you, dear ? Or must I have a fire lighted else- 
 virhere ? If so, give directions. I'll run down 
 and secure my guest. I'm afraid the joy is 
 too great to be real !" 
 
 She was about to dart off again ; but Edgar 
 arrested her. 
 
 '^ You bid him step up," he said, addressing 
 me ; " and, Catherine, try to be glad, without 
 
WUTHERING HKIGHTa. 213 
 
 being absurd ! The whole household need not 
 witness the sight of your welcoming a runaway- 
 servant as a brother." 
 
 I descended and found Heathcliff waiting 
 under the porch, evidently anticipating an in- 
 vitation to enter. He followed nny guidance 
 without waste of words, and I ushered him 
 into the presence of the master and mistress, 
 whose flushed cheeks betrayed signs of warm 
 talking. But the lady's glowed with another 
 feeling when her friend appeared at the door; 
 she sprang forward, took both his hands, and 
 led him to Linton ; and then she seized Lin- 
 ton's reluctant fingers and crushed them into 
 his. 
 
 Now fully revealed by the fire and candle- 
 light, I was amazed, more than ever, to behold 
 the transformation of Heathcliff. He had 
 grown a tall, athletic, well-formed man ; be- 
 side whom, my master seemed quite slender 
 and youth-like. His upright carriage sug- 
 gested the idea of his having been in the army. 
 
214 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 His countenance was much older in expression, 
 and decision of feature than Mr. Linton's; it 
 looked intelligent, and retained no marks of 
 former degradation. A half-civilized ferocity- 
 lurked yet in the depressed brows, and eyes 
 full of black fire, but it was subdued ; and his 
 manner was even dignified, quite divested of 
 roughness though too stern for grace. 
 
 My master's surprise equalled or exceeded 
 mine : he remained for a minute at a loss how 
 to address the ploughboy, as he had called 
 him ; HeathcUfF dropped his slight hand, and 
 stood looking at him coolly till he chose to 
 speak. 
 
 " Sit down, sir," he said, at length. " Mrs. 
 Linton, recalling old times, would have me 
 give you a cordial reception, and, of course, I 
 am gratified when anything occurs to please 
 her." 
 
 " And I also," answered Heathcliff, " espe- 
 cially if it be anything in which I have a 
 part. I shall stay an hour or two willingly." 
 
WUTHERTNG HEIGHTS. 216 
 
 He took a seat opposite Catherine, who kept 
 her gaze fixed on him as if she feared he 
 would vanish were she to remove it. He did 
 not raise his to her, often ; a quick glance now 
 and then sufficed ; but it flashed back, each 
 time, more confidently, the undisguised delight 
 he drank from hers. 
 
 They were too much absorbed in their mu- 
 tual joy to suffer embarrassment ; not so Mr. 
 Edgar, he grew pale with pure annoyance, a 
 feeling that reached its climax when his lady 
 rose — and stepping across the rug, seized 
 Heathcliff's hands again, and laughed like one 
 beside herself. 
 
 " I shall think it a dream to-morrow!*' she 
 cried. " I shall not be able to believe that I 
 have seen, and touched, and spoken to you 
 once more — and yet, cruel HeathcliffI you 
 don't deserve this welcome. To be absent and 
 silent for three years, and never to think of 
 me!" 
 
 " A little more than you have thought of 
 
216 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 me !" he murmured. " I heard of your mar- 
 riage, Cathy, not long since ; and, while wait- 
 ing in the yard below, 1 meditated this plan — 
 just to have one glimpse of your face — a stare 
 of surprise, perhaps, and pretended pleasure ; 
 afterwards settle my score with Hindley; and 
 then prevent the law by doing execution on 
 myself. Your welcome has put these ideas out 
 of my mind; but beware of meeting me with 
 another aspect next time ! Nay, you'll not drive 
 me off again —you were really sorry for me, were 
 you? Well, there was cause. I've fou-ht 
 through a bitter life since I last heard your 
 voice, and you must forgive me, for I struggled 
 only for you !" 
 
 " Catherine, unless we are to have cold tea, 
 please to come to the table," interrupted Lin- 
 ton, striving to prcocrve his ordinary tone, and 
 a due measure of politeness. " Mr. Heath- 
 cliff will have a long walk, wherever he may 
 lodge to-night ; and I'm thirsty." 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 217 
 
 She took her post before the urn ; and Miss 
 Isabella came, summoned by the bell ; then, 
 having handed their chairs forwardj I left the 
 room. 
 
 The meal hardly endured ten minutes — Ca- 
 therine's cup was never filled, she could nei- 
 ther eat, nor drink. Edgar had made a slop 
 in his saucer, and scarcely swallowed a mouth- 
 ful. I 
 
 Their guest did not protract his stay, that 
 evening, above an hour longer. I asked, as he 
 departed, if he went to Gimmerton ? 
 
 "No, to Wutheriog Heights," he answered, 
 ^' Mr. Earnshaw invited me when I called this 
 morning." 
 
 Mr. Earnshaw invited him ! and he called on 
 Mr. Earnshaw ! I pondered this sentence pain- 
 fully, after he was gone. Is he turning out a 
 bit of a hypocrite, and coming into the country 
 to work mischief under a cloak ? I mused — I 
 had a presentiment, in the bottom of my heart, 
 that he had better have remained away. 
 
 VOL. I. L 
 
218 WUT BERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 About the middle of the night, I was wa- 
 kened from my first nap by Mrs. Linton glid- 
 ing into my chamber, taking a seat on my 
 bed-side, and pulling me by the hair to rouse 
 me. 
 
 ** I cannot rest, Ellen ;" she said by way of 
 apology. " And I want some living creature 
 to keep me company in my happiness I Edgar 
 is sulky, because I'm glad of a thing that does 
 not interest him — He refuses to open his 
 mouth, except to utter pettish, silly speeches ; 
 and he affirmed I was cruel and selfish for 
 wishing to talk when he was so sick and sleepy. 
 He always contrives to be sick at the least 
 cross ! I gave a few sentences of commenda- 
 tioQ to HeathclifF, and he, either for a head- 
 ache or a pang of envy, began to cry : so I got 
 up and left him."' 
 
 ** What use is it praising Heathcliff to 
 him ?" I answered, " As lads they had an aver- 
 sion to each other, and Heathcliff would hate 
 just as much to hear him praised — it's human 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 219 
 
 nature. Let Mr. Linton alone about him, un- 
 less you would like an open quarrel between 
 them." 
 
 *' But does it not show great weakness?" 
 pursued she. " I'm not envious — I never feel 
 hurt at the brightness of Isabella's yellow hair, 
 and the whiteness of her skin ; at her dainty 
 elegance, and the fondness all the family ex- 
 hibit for her. Even you Nelly, if we have a 
 dispute sometimes, you back Isabella, at once ; 
 and I yield like a foolish mother — I call her a 
 darling, and flatter her into a good temper. 
 It pleases her brother to see us cordial, and 
 that pleases me. But, they are very much 
 alike they are spoiled children, and fancy the 
 world was made for their accommodation ; 
 and, though I humour both, I think a smart 
 chastisement might improve them, all the 
 same." 
 
 ** You're mistaken, Mrs. Lintoo," said I, 
 
 " They humour you — 1 know what there 
 
 would be to do if they did not ! You can well 
 L 3 
 
220 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 afford to indulge their passing whims, as long 
 as their business is to anticipate all your de- 
 sires — You may, however, fall out, at last, 
 over something of equal consequence to both 
 sides ; and, then those you term weak are very 
 capable of being as obstinate as you !" 
 
 " And then we shall fight to the death, 
 shan't we, Nelly ?" she returned laughing, 
 " No ! I tell you, I have such faith in Linton's 
 love that 1 believe I might kill him, and he 
 wouldn't wish to retaliate." 
 
 I advised her to value him the more for his 
 affection. 
 
 *' I do," she answered, " but, he needn't re- 
 sort to whining for trifles. It is childish; 
 and, instead of melting into tears, because 
 I said that Heathcliff was now worthy of any 
 one's regard, and it would honour the first 
 gentleman in the country to be his friend; 
 he ought to have said it for me, and been de- 
 lighted from sympathy — He must get accus- 
 tomed to him, and he may as well like him — 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 221 
 
 considering how HcathcliiF has reason to object 
 to him, I'm sure he behaved excellently !" 
 
 " What do you think of his going to Wu- 
 thering Heights ?" I inquired, " He is reform- 
 ed in every respect, apparently — quite a chris- 
 tian — offering the right hand of fellowship to 
 his enemies all round !" 
 
 " He explained it," she replied. ^' I won- 
 dered as much as you — He said he called to 
 gather information concerning me, from you, 
 supposing you resided there still ; and Joseph 
 told Hindley who came out, and fell to ques- 
 tioning him of what he had been doing, and 
 how he had been living: and finally, desired 
 him to walk in — There were some persons sit- 
 ting at cards — Heathcliff joined them ; my bro- 
 ther lost some money to him ; and, finding him 
 plentifully supplied, he requested that he 
 would come again in the evening, to which he 
 consented. Hindley is too reckless to select 
 his acquaintance prudently; he doesn't trouble 
 himself to reflect on the causes he micrht have 
 
222 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 for mistrusting one whom he has basely in- 
 jured—But, HeathclifF affirms his principal 
 reason for resuming a connection with his 
 ancient persecutor is a wish to install himself 
 in quarters at walking distance from the 
 Grange, and an attachment to the house 
 where we lived together , and, likewise a hope 
 that I shall have more opportunities of seeing 
 him there than I could have if he settled in 
 Gimmerton. He means to offer liberal pay- 
 ment for permission to lodge at the Heights; 
 and doubtless my brother's covetousness will 
 prompt him to accept the terms ; he was al- 
 ways greedy, though what he grasps with one 
 hand, he flings away with the other." 
 
 " It's a nice place for a young man to fix 
 his dwelling in !" said I, *' Have you no fear 
 of the consequences, Mrs. Linton ?*' 
 
 '* None for my friend," she replied, " his 
 strong head will keep him from danger — a lit- 
 tle for Hindley ; but, he can't be made moral- 
 ly worse than he is; and I stand between 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 223 
 
 him and bodily harm — The event of this 
 evening has reconciled me to God, and hu- 
 manity ! I had risen in angry rebellion 
 against providence — Oh, I've endured very, 
 very bitter misery. Nelly ! If that creature 
 knew how bitter, he'd be ashamed to cloud 
 its removal with idle petulance — It was kind- 
 ness for him which induced me to bear it 
 alone: had I expressed the'agony I frequently 
 felt, he would have been taught to long for 
 its alleviation as ardently as I — However, it's 
 over, and I'll take no revenge on his folly — 
 1 can afford to suffer anything, hereafter! 
 should the meanest thing alive slap me on the 
 cheek, I'd not only turn the other, but, I'd 
 ask pardon for provoking it — and, as a proof i 
 ril, go make my peace with Edgar instantly 
 — Good night — I'm an angel!" 
 
 In this self-complacent conviction she de- 
 parted; and the success of her ful611ed reso- 
 lution was obvious on the morrow — -Mr. Lin- 
 
224 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 ton had not only abjured , his peevishness 
 (though his spirits seemed still subdued by 
 Catherine's exuberance of vivacity) but he 
 ventured no objection to her taking Isabella 
 with her to Wuthering Heights, in the after- 
 noon ; and she rewarded him with such a sum- 
 mer of sweetne«s and affection, in return, as 
 made the house a paradise for several days ; 
 both master, and servants profiting from the 
 perpetual sunshine. 
 
 Heathcliff— Mr. Heathcliff I should say in 
 future, used the liberty of visiting at Thrush- 
 cross Grange cautiously, at first : he seemed 
 estimating how far its owner \\ould bear his 
 intrusion. Catherine also, deemed it judicious 
 to moderate her expressions of pleasure in re- 
 ceiving him ; and he gradually established his 
 right to be expected. 
 
 He retained a great deal of the reserve for 
 which his boyhood was remarkable, and that 
 served to repress all startling demonstrations 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 225 
 
 of feeling. My master's uneasiness experienced 
 a lull, and further circumstances diverted it in- 
 to another channel for a space. 
 
 His new source of trouble sprang from the 
 not anticipated misfortune of Isabella Linton 
 evincing a sudden and irresistible attraction 
 towards the tolerated guest— She was at that 
 time a charming young lady of eighteen ; in- 
 fantile in manners, though possessed of keen 
 wit, keen feelings, and a keen temper, too, i^ 
 irritated. Her brother, who loved her tender- 
 ly, was appalled at this fantastic preference. 
 Leaving aside the degradation of an alliance 
 with a nameless man, and the possible fact 
 that his property, in default of heirs male, 
 might pass into such a one's power, he had 
 sense to comprehend Heathcliff's disposition 
 — to know that, though his exterior was alter- 
 ed, his mind was unchangeable, and unchan- 
 ged. And he dreaded that miud ; it revolted 
 him ; he shrank forebodingly from the idea of 
 committing Isabella to its keeping. 
 L 5 
 
226 
 
 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 He would have recoiled still more had he 
 been aware that her attachment rose unsoli- 
 cited, and was bestowed where it awakened no 
 reciprocation of sentiment ; for the minute he 
 discovered its existence, he laid the blame on 
 Heathcliff's deliberate designing. 
 
 We had all remarked, during some time, 
 that Miss Linton fretted and pined over some- 
 thing. She grew cross and wearisome, snap- 
 ping at and teazing Catherine, continually, at 
 the imminent risk of exhausting her limited 
 patience. We excused her to a certain extent, 
 on the plea of ill health — she was dwindling 
 and fading before our eyes — But, one day 
 "when she had been peculiarly wayward, reject- 
 ing her breakfast, complaining that the ser- 
 vants did not do what she told them ; that the 
 mistress would allow her to be nothing in the 
 house, and Edgar neglected her; that she 
 had caught a cold with the doors being left 
 open, and we let the parlour fire go out on 
 purpose to vex her ; with a hundred yet more 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 227 
 
 frivolous accusations ; Mrs. Linton perempto- 
 rily insisted that she should get to-bed ; and, 
 having scolded her heartily, threatened to send 
 for the doctor. 
 
 Mention of Kenneth, caused her to exclaim, 
 instantly, that her health was perfect, and it 
 was only Catherine's harshness which made 
 ber unhappy. 
 
 " How can you say I am harsh, you naughty 
 fondling?" cried the mistress, amazed at the 
 unreasonable assertion. " You are surely 
 losing your reason. When have I been harsh, 
 tell me ?" 
 
 ** Yesterday," sobbed Isabella, '* and now!" 
 
 *' Yesterday !" said her sister-in-law. " On 
 what occasion ?" 
 
 *' In our walk along the moor ; you told me 
 to ramble where I pleased, while you sauntered 
 on with Mr. Heathcliff!" 
 
 ** And that's your notion of harshness ?" said 
 Catherine, laughing. ** It was no hint that 
 your company was superfluous; we didn't care 
 
228 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 whether you kept with us or not ; I merely 
 thought HeathclifTs talk would have nothing 
 entertaining for your ears." 
 
 " Oh, no," wept the young lady, *' you 
 wished me away, because you knew I liked to 
 be there I" 
 
 " Is she sane ?'' asked Mrs. Linton, appeal- 
 ing to me. " I'll repeat our conversation, 
 word for word, Isabella ; and you point out 
 any charm it could have had for you." 
 
 ** I don't mind the conversation," she an- 
 swered: " I wanted to be with — " 
 
 " Well !" said Catherine, perceiving her 
 hesitate to complete the sentence. 
 
 *' With him ; and I wont be always sent oflP!" 
 she continued, kindling up. "' You are a dog 
 in the manger, Cathy, and desire no one to 
 be loved but yourself !" 
 
 " You are an impertinent little monkey !" 
 exclaimed Mrs, Linton, in surprise. *' But 
 I'll not believe this idiocy ! It is impossible 
 that you can covet the admiration of Heathcliff 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 229 
 
 — ^that you can consider him an agreeable per- 
 son ! I hope I have misunderstood you^ 
 Isabella ?' 
 
 "Xo, you have not," said the infatuated 
 girl. " I love him more than ever you loved 
 Edgar; and he might love me if you would 
 let him !" 
 
 *' I wouldn't be you for a kingdom, then!" 
 Catherine declared, emphatically — and she 
 seemed to speak sincerely. " Nelly, help me 
 to convince her of her madness. Tell her 
 what Heathcliff is — an unreclaimed creature, 
 without refinement— without cultivation ; an 
 arid wilderness of furze and whinstone. I'd 
 as soon put that little canary into the park on 
 a winter's day as recommend you to bestow 
 your heart on him ! It is deplorable ignorance 
 of his character, child, and nothing else, 
 which makes that dream enter your head, 
 pray don't imagine that he conceals depths of 
 benevolence and affection beneath a stern ex- 
 terior ! He's not a rough diamond — a pearl- 
 
2^0 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 containing oyster of a rustic ; he's a fierce, 
 pitiless, wolfish man. I never say to him let 
 this or that enemy alone, because it would be 
 ungenerous or cruel to harm them — I say let 
 them alone, because T should hate them to be 
 wronged : and he'd crush you, like a sparrow's 
 egg, Isabella, if he found you a troublesome 
 charge. I know he couldn't love a Linton ; 
 and yet, he'd be quite capable of marrying 
 your fortune, and expectations. Avarice is 
 growing with him a besetting sin. There's my 
 picture ; and I'm his friend — so much so, that 
 had he thought seriously to catch you, I should, 
 perhaps, have held my tongue, and let you 
 fall into his trap." 
 
 Miss Linton regarded her sister-in-law with 
 indignation. 
 
 " For shame ! for shame !" she repeated, 
 angrily. *^ You are worse than twenty foes, 
 you poisonous friend !" 
 
 *' Ah ! you wont believe me, then ?" said 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 231 
 
 Catherine. " You think I speak from wicked 
 selfishness ?" 
 
 '* I'm certain you do," retorted Isabella ; 
 " and I shudder at you !" 
 
 *' Good !" cried the other. " Try for your- 
 self, if that be your spirit ; I have done, and 
 yield the argument to your saucy insolence." 
 
 " And I must suflPef for her egotism !" she 
 sobbed, as Mrs. Linton left the room. " All, 
 all is against me ; she has blighted my single 
 consolation. But she uttered falsehoods, 
 didn't she ? Mr. HeathclifF is not a fiend ; he 
 has an honourable soul, and a true one, or how 
 could he remember her ?" 
 
 ** Banish him from your thoughts, miss," I 
 said. '* He's a bird of bad omen ; no mate for 
 you. Mrs. Linton spoke strongly, and yet, I 
 can't contradict her. She is better acquainted 
 with his heart than I, or any one besides ; and 
 she never would represent him as worse than 
 he is. Honest people don't hide their deeds. 
 How has he been living ? how has he got rich ? 
 
232 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 why is he staying at Wuthering Heights, the 
 house of a man whom he abhors ? They say 
 Mr. Earnshaw is worse and worse since he 
 came. They sit up all night together continu- 
 ally ; and Hindley has been borrowing money 
 on his land ; and does nothing but play and 
 drink, I heard only a week ago ; it was Joseph 
 who told me — I met him at Gimmerton." 
 
 *^ Nelly,'^ he said, " we's hae a Crahnr's 
 'quest enah, at ahr folks. One on 'em's 
 a' most getten his finger cut off wi' handing 
 t'other froo' sticking hisseln loike a cawlf. 
 That's maister, yah knaw, ut's soa up uh going 
 tub t'grand 'sizes. He's noan feard uh t' 
 Bench uh judges, norther Paul, nur Peter, 
 nur John, nor Mathew, nor noan on 'em, nut 
 he I He fair like's he langs tub set his braz- 
 ened face ageau 'em! And yon bonny lad 
 Heathcliff, yah mind, he's a rare un ! Pie 
 can girn a laugh, as weel's onybody at a 
 raight divil's jest. Does he niver say nowcof 
 his fine living amang us, when he goas tub t' 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 233 
 
 Grange ? This is t' way on't — up at sun-dahn ; 
 dice, brandy, cloised shutters, und can'le 
 lught till next day, at nooin — then, t' fooil 
 gangs banning un raving tub bis cham'er, 
 makking dacent fowks dig thur fingers i' thur 
 bigs fur varry shaume ; un' the' knave, wah 
 he earn cabnt his brass, un ate, un' sleep, un' 
 off tub bis neighbour's tub gossip vvi' t' wife. 
 I' course, be tells Dame Catherine hah hor 
 father's goold runs in tub bis pocket, and her 
 fatbur's son gallops dahn t' Broad road, while 
 be flees afore tub oppen t' pikes ?" Now, 
 Miss Linton, Joseph is an old rascal, but no 
 liar; and, if his account of rieathcliff's con- 
 duct be true, you would never think of desir- 
 ing such a husband, would you ?" 
 
 " You are leagued with the rest, Ellen !" 
 she replied. *' I'll not listen to your slanders. 
 What malevolence you must have to wish to 
 convince me that there is no happiness in the 
 world !" 
 
 Whether she would have got over tliid fancy 
 
234 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 if left to herself, or persevered in nursing it 
 perpetually, I cannot say ; she had little time 
 to reflect. The day dfter, there was a justice- 
 meeting at the next town ; my master was 
 obliged to attend ; and Mr. Heathcliff, aware of 
 his absence, called rather earlier than usual. 
 
 Catherine and Isabella were silting in the 
 library, on hostile terms, but silent. The lat- 
 ter alarmed at her recent indiscretion, and the 
 disclosure she had made of her secret feelings 
 in a transcient fit of passion ; the former, on 
 mature consideration, really offended with her 
 companion ; and, if she laughed again at her 
 pertness, inclined to make it no laughing mat- 
 ter to her. 
 
 She did laugh as she sa^v Heathcliff pass 
 the window. I was svyeeping the hearth, and 
 I noticed a mischievous smile on her lips. Isa- 
 bella, absorbed in her meditations, or a book, 
 remained till the door opened, and it was too 
 late to attempt an escape, which she would 
 gladly have done had it been practicable. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 235 
 
 " Come in, that's riorht !" exclaimed the 
 mistress, gaily, pulling a chair to the fire. 
 ** Here are two people sadly in need of a third 
 to thaw the ice between them ; and you are 
 the very one we should both of us choose. 
 Heathcliff, I'm proud to show you, at last, 
 somebody that dotes on you more than myself. 
 1 expect you to feel flattered — nay, it's not 
 Nelly; don't look at her! My poor little 
 sister-in-law is breaking her heart by mere 
 contemplation of your physical and moral 
 beauty. It lies in your own power to be 
 Edgar's brother ! No, no, Isabella, you 
 sha'n't run off," she continued, arresting, 
 with feigned playfulness, the confounded girl 
 who had risen indignantly. " We were quar- 
 relling like cats about you, Heathcliff; and I 
 was fairly beaten in protestations of devotion, 
 and admiration ; and, moreover, I was informed 
 that if I would but have the manners to stand 
 aside, my rival, as she will have herself to be, 
 would shoot a shaft into your soul that would 
 
236 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 fix you for ever, and send my image into eter- 
 nal oblivion!" 
 
 *' Catherine," said Isabella, calling up her 
 dignity, and disdaining to struggle from the 
 tight grasp that held her. '' I'd thank you to 
 adhere to the truth and not slander me, even 
 in joke ! Mr. HeathclifF, be kind enough to 
 bid this friend of yours release me — she forgets 
 that you and I are not intimate acquaintances, 
 and what amuses her is painful to me beyond 
 expression." 
 
 As the guest answered nothing, but took 
 his seat, and looked thoroughly indifferent 
 what sentiments she cherished concerning him, 
 she turned, and whispered an earnest appeal 
 for liberty to her tormentor. 
 
 ** By no means!" cried Mrs. Linton in 
 answer. " I wont be named a dog in the 
 manger again. You shall stay, now then! 
 Heathcliff, why don't you evince satisfaction 
 at my pleasant news ? Isabella swears that 
 the love Edgar has for me, is nothing to that 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 237 
 
 she entertains for you. I'm sure she made 
 some speech of the kind, did she not, Ellen ? 
 And she has fasted ever since the day before 
 yesterday's walk, from sorrow and rage that I 
 despatched her out of your society, under the 
 idea of its being unacceptable." 
 
 '^ I think you belie her," said HeathclifF, 
 twisting his chair to face them. " She wishes 
 to be out of my society now, at any rate !" 
 
 And he stared hard at the object of dis- 
 course, as one might do at a strange repulsive 
 animal, a centipede from the Indies, for in- 
 stance, which curiosity leads one to examine in 
 spite of the aversion it raises. 
 
 The poor thing couldn't bear that ; she grew 
 white and red in rapid succession, and, while 
 tears beaded her lashes, bent the strength of 
 her small fingers to loosen the firm 
 clutch of Catherine, and perceiving that, 
 as fast as she raised one finger off 
 her arm, another closed down, and she could 
 not remove the whole together, she began to 
 
238 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 make use of her nails, and their sharpness 
 presently ornamented the detainer's with cres- 
 cents of red. 
 
 *' There's a tigress!" exclaimed Mrs. Linton, 
 setting her free, and shaking her hand with 
 pain. " Begone, for God's sake, and hide your 
 vixen face ! How foolish to reveal those talons 
 to him. Can't you fancy the conclusions he'll 
 draw ? Look, Heathcliff ! they are instruments 
 that will do execution — you must beware of 
 ^your eyes." 
 
 " I'd wrench them off her fingers, if they 
 ever menaced me," he answered, brutally, when 
 the door had closed after her. '^ But, what 
 did you mean by teasing the creature in that 
 manner, Cathy ? You were not speaking the 
 truth, were you?" 
 
 *' I assure you I was," she returned. " She 
 has been pining for your sake several weeks; 
 and raving about you this morning, and pour- 
 ing forth a deluge of abuse, because I repre- 
 sented your failings in a plain light for the 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 239 
 
 purpose of mitigating her adoration. But 
 don't notice it further. I wished to punish 
 her sauciness, that's all — I like her too well, 
 my dear HeathcliiF, to let you absolutely seize 
 and devour her up." 
 
 ** And I like her too ill to attempt it," said 
 he, " except in a very ghoulish fashion. You'd 
 hear of odd things, if I lived alone with that 
 mawkish, waxen face; the most ordinary would 
 be painting on its white the colours of the 
 rainbow, and turning the blue eyes, black, 
 every day or two ; they detestably resemble 
 Linton's.'* 
 
 '* Delectably," observed Catherine. " They 
 are dove's eyes — angel's!" 
 
 *' She's her brother's heir, is she not?" he 
 asked, after a brief silence. 
 
 ** I should be sorry to think so," returned 
 his companion. '^ Half-a-dozen nephews shall 
 erase her title, please Heaven ! Abstract your 
 mind from the subject, at present — you are too 
 prone to covet your neighbour's goods: re- 
 member this neighbour's goods are mine." 
 
240 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 *' If they were mine^ they would be none 
 the less that," said Heathcliff, "but though 
 Isabella Linton may be silly, she is scarcely 
 raad ; and — in short we'll dismiss the matter as 
 you advise." 
 
 From their tongues, they did dismiss it ; 
 and Catherine, probably, from her thoughts. 
 The other, I felt certain, recalled it often in 
 the course of the evening ; I saw him smile to 
 himself — grin rather — and lapse into ominous 
 musing whenever Mrs. Linton had occasion 
 to be absent from the apartment. 
 
 I determined to watch his movements. My 
 heart invariably cleaved to the master's, in pre- 
 ference to Catherine's side ; with reason, I im- 
 agined, for he was kind, and trustful, and hon- 
 ourable : and she — she could not be called the 
 opposite, yet, she seemed to allow herself such 
 wide latitude, that I had little faith in her 
 principles, and still less sympathy for her feel- 
 ings. I wanted something to happen which 
 might have the effect of freeing both Wuther- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 241 
 
 ing Heights and the Grange of Mr. Heath- 
 cliff, quietly, leaving us as we had been prior 
 to his advent. His visits were a continual 
 nightmare to me; and, 1 suspected, to my 
 master also. His abode at the Heights was 
 an oppression past explaining. I felt that God 
 had forsaken the stray sheep there to its own 
 wicked wanderings, and an evil beast prowled 
 between it and the fold, waiting his time to 
 spring and destroy. 
 
 VOL. L M 
 
242 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Sometimes, while meditatiDo: on these things 
 in solitude, I've got up in a sudden terror, and 
 put on my bonnet to go see how all was at the 
 farm ; I've persuaded my conscience that it 
 was a duty to warn him how people talked re- 
 garding his ways ; and then IVe recollected 
 his confirmed bad habits, and, hopeless of 
 benefiting him, have flinched from re-entering 
 the dismal house, doubting if I could bear to 
 be taken at my word. 
 
 One time, I passed the old gate, going out of 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 243 
 
 iny way, on a journey to Gimmerton. It was 
 about the period that my narrative has reached 
 — a bright, frosty afternoon ; the ground bare, 
 and the road hard and dry. 
 
 I came to a stone where the highway 
 branches off on to the moor at your left hand ; 
 a rough sand-pillar, with the letters W. H. 
 cut on its north side, on the east, G., and on 
 the south-west, T. G. It serves as guide-post 
 to the Grange, and Heights, and village. 
 
 The sun shone yellow on its grey head, re- 
 minding me of summer; and I cannot say 
 why, but all at once, a gush of child's sensa- 
 tions flowed into my heart. Hindley and I 
 held it a favourite spot twenty years before. 
 
 I gazed long at the weather-worn block; 
 and, stooping down, perceived a hole near the 
 bottom still full of snail-shells and pebbles 
 which we were fond of storing there with 
 more perishable things — and, as fresh as rea- 
 lity, it appeared that I beheld my early play- 
 mate seated on the withered turf; his dark, 
 M 3 
 
244 WUTHERTNG HEIGHTS. 
 
 square head bent forward, and his little hand 
 scooping out the earth with a piece of slate. 
 *' Poor Hindley !" I exclaimed, involuntarily. 
 I started — my bodily eye was cheated into a 
 momentary belief that the child lifted its face 
 and stared straight into mine ! It vanished in 
 a twinkling ; but, immediately, I felt an irre- 
 sistible yearning to be at the Heights. Super- 
 stition urged me to comply with this impulse — 
 supposing he should be dead ! I thought — or 
 should die soon ! — supposing it were a sign of 
 death ! 
 
 The nearer I got to the house the more agi- 
 tated I grew : and on catching sight of it, I 
 trembled every limb. The apparition had out- 
 stripped me ; it stood looking through the 
 <jate. That was my first idea on observing an 
 elf-locked, brown-eyed boy setting his ruddy 
 countenance against the bars. Further reflec- 
 tion suggested this must be Hareton, my Hare- 
 ton, not altered greatly since 1 left him, ten 
 months since. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 245 
 
 '' God bless thee, darling !" I cried, forget- 
 ting instantaneously my foolish fears. *' Hare- 
 ton, it's Nelly — Nelly, thy nurse." 
 
 He retreated out of arm's length, and picked 
 up a large flint. 
 
 " I am come to see thy father, Hareton," I 
 added, guessing from the action that Nelly, if 
 she lived in his memory at all, was not recog- 
 nised as one with me. 
 
 He raised his missile to hurl it; 1 com- 
 menced a soothing speech, but could not stay 
 his hand. The stone struck my bonnet, and 
 then ensued, from the stammering lips of the 
 little fellow, a string of curses which, whether 
 he comprehended them or not, were delivered 
 with practised emphasis, and distorted his baby 
 features into a shocking expression of malig- 
 nity. 
 
 You may be certain this grieved, more 
 than angered me. Fit to cry, I took an 
 orange from my pocket, and offered it to pro- 
 pitiate him. 
 
246 WIJTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 He hesitated, and then snatched it from my 
 hold, as if he fancied I only intended to tempt, 
 and disappoint him. 
 
 I showed another keeping it out of his reach. 
 
 " Who has taught you those fine words, my 
 barn/ I inquired. *' The curate?" 
 
 " Damn the curate, and thee ! Gie me that," 
 he replied. 
 
 " Tell us where you got your lessons, and 
 you shall have it," said I. *' Whose your mas- 
 ter?" 
 
 '* Devil daddy," was his answer. 
 
 " And what do you learn from Daddy?" I 
 continued. 
 
 He jumped at the fruit; I raised it higher. 
 " What does he teach you ?" I asked. 
 
 ** Naught," said he, " but to keep out of his 
 gait — Daddy cannot bide me, because I swear 
 at him." 
 
 *' Ah ! and the devil teaches you to swear at 
 Daddy ?" I observed. 
 
 ** Aye — nay," he drawled. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 247 
 
 « Who then ?" 
 
 " HeathclifF." 
 
 " I asked if he liked Mr. Heathcliff ? 
 
 *' Aye!" he answered again. 
 
 Desiring to have his reasons for liking him, 
 I could only gather the sentences. I knownt 
 — he pays Dad back what he gies to me — he 
 curses Daddy for cursing me— He says I mun 
 do as I will." 
 
 " And the curate does not teach you to read 
 and write, then?" I pursued. 
 
 " No, I was told the curate should have his 
 
 teeth dashed down his throat, if he 
 
 stepped over the threshold —HeathclifF, had 
 promised that 1" 
 
 I put the orange in his hand ; and bade him 
 tell his father that a woman called Nelly Dean, 
 was waiting to speak with him, by the garden 
 gate. 
 
 He went up the walk, and entered the 
 house ; but, instead of Hindley, Heathcliff ap- 
 peared on the door stones, and I turned directly 
 
248 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 and ran down the road as hard as ever I could 
 race, making no halt till I gained the guide 
 post, and feeling as scared as if I had raised a 
 goblin. 
 
 This is not much connected with Miss Isa- 
 bella's aifair ; except, that it urged me to re- 
 solve further, on mounting vigilant guard, and 
 doing my utmost to check the spread of such 
 bad influence at the Grange, even though I 
 should wake a domestic storm, by thwarting 
 Mrs. Linton's pleasure. 
 
 The next time Heathcliff came, my young 
 lady chanced to be feeding some pigeons in the 
 court. She had never spoken a word to her 
 sister-in-law, for three days ; but, she had 
 likewise dropped her fretful complaining, and 
 we found it a great comfort. . 
 
 Heathcliff had not the habit of bestowing a 
 single unnecessary civility on Miss Linton, I 
 knew. Now, as soon as he beheld her, his 
 first precaution was to take a sweeping survey 
 of the house-front. I was standing by the 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 249 
 
 kitchen window, but I drew out of sight. He 
 then stept across the pavement to her, and 
 said something : bhe seemed embarrassed, and 
 desirous of getting away ; to prevent it, he laid 
 his hand on her arm : she averted her face ; 
 he apparently put some question which she had 
 no mind to answer. There was another rapid 
 glance at the house, and supposing himself un- 
 seen, the scoundrel had the impudence to em- 
 brace her. 
 
 "Judas I Traitor !" 1 ejaculated "you area 
 hypocrite too, are you ? A deliberate deceiver." 
 
 '* Who is Nelly ?" said Catherine's voice at 
 my elbow — 1 had been over-intent on watching 
 the pair outside to mark her entrance. 
 
 '* Your worthless friend !" I answered warm- 
 ly, *' the sneaking rascal yonder — Ah, he has 
 caught a glimpse of us — he is coming in 1 I 
 wonder will he have the art to find a plausible 
 excuse, for making love to Miss, when he told 
 you he hated her?" 
 
 Mrs. Linton saw Isabella tear herself free, 
 
 M 5 
 
250 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 and run into the garden ; and a minute after, 
 Heathcliff opened the door. 
 
 I couldn't withhold giving some loose to 
 my indignation ; but Catherine angrily insisted 
 on silence, and threatened to order me out of 
 the kitchen, if I dared be so presumptuous as 
 to put in my insolent tongue. 
 
 " To hear you, people might think you were 
 the mistress !" She cried. "You want set- 
 ting down in your right place I Heathcliff, 
 what are you about, raising this stir ? I said 
 you must let Isabella alone ! — I beg you will 
 unless you are tired of being received here, and 
 wish Linton to draw the bolts against 
 you!" 
 
 " God forbid that he should try !" answered 
 the black villain — I detested him just then. 
 '* God keep him meek and patient ! Every 
 day 1 grow madder after sending him to hea- 
 ven!" 
 
 " Hush !" said Catherine shutting the inner 
 door! ** Don't vex me. Why have you dia- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 251 
 
 regarded my request ? Did she come across 
 you on purpose ?" 
 
 " What is it to you?'* he growled, "I have 
 a right to kiss her, if she chooses, and you 
 have no right to object — I'm not your husband 
 you needn't be jealous of me !" 
 
 *' I'm not jealous of you ;" replied the mis- 
 tress, I'm jealous for you. Clear your face, 
 you shan't scowl at me ! If you like Isabella, 
 you shall marry her. But, do you like her, 
 tell the truth, HeathcliiF? There, you wont 
 answer. I'm certain you don't!" 
 
 '^ And would Mr. Linton approve of his sis- 
 ter marrying that man ?" I inquired. 
 
 "Mr. Linton should approve," returned my 
 lady decisively. 
 
 " He might spare himself the trouble,'^ said 
 HeathclifF, ''I could do as well without his 
 approbation — And, as to you, Catherine, I 
 have a mind to speak a few words, now, while 
 we are at it — I want you to be aware that I 
 know you have treated me infernally— infer- 
 
^52 WUTKERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 nally! Do you hear? And, if you flatter 
 yourself that I don't perceive it you are a fool 
 — and if you think I can be consoled by sweet 
 words you are an idiot — and if you fancy I'll 
 suffer unrevenged, I'll convince you of the 
 contrary, in a very little while I Meantime, 
 thank you for telling me your sister-in-law's 
 secret — I swear I'll make the most of it, and 
 stand you aside !" 
 
 " What new phase of his character is this?" 
 exclaimed Mrs. Linton, in amazement. *' Tve 
 treated you infernally — and you'll take re- 
 venge ! How will you take it, ungrateful 
 brute ? How have I treated you infernally ?" 
 
 '* I seek no revenge on you," replied 
 Heathcliff less vehemently. *' That's not the 
 plan — The tyrant grinds down his slaves and 
 they don't turn against him, they crush those 
 beneath them — You are welcome to torture me 
 to death for your amusement, only, allow me 
 me to amuse myself a little in the same style — 
 And refrain from insult, as much as you are 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 253 
 
 able. Having levelled my palace, don't erect 
 a hovel and complacently admire your own 
 charity in giving me that for a home. If I 
 imagined you really wished me to marry Isa- 
 bella, I'd cut my throat !" 
 
 " Oh the evil is that I am not jealous, is 
 it ?" cried Catherine. " Well, I won't rejjeat 
 my offer of a wife — It is as bad as offering 
 Satan a lost soul — Your bliss lies, like his, in 
 inflicting misery — You prove it — Edgar is res- 
 tored from the ill-temper he gave way to at 
 your coming ; I begin to be secure and tran- 
 quil; and, you, restless to know us at peace, 
 appear resolved on exciting a quarrel — quarrel 
 with Edgar if you please, Heathcliff, and de- 
 ceive his sister; you'll hit on exactly the most 
 efficient method of revenging yourself on 
 me." 
 
 Tne conversation ceased — xdrs. Lmtun sat 
 down by the fire, flusiied and gloomy. The 
 spirit which served her was growing intracta- 
 ble : sue could neither lay nor control it. He 
 
254 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 Stood on the hearth, with folded arms brooding 
 on his evil thoughts; and in this position I 
 left them, to seek the master who was wonder- 
 ing what kept Catherine below so long. 
 
 " Ellen," said he, when I entered, " have 
 you seen your mistress ? ' 
 
 ^' Yes, she's in the kitchen, sir," I answered. 
 ** She's sadly put out by Mr. HeathclifTs be- 
 haviour : and, indeed, I do think it's time to 
 arrange his visits on another footing. There's 
 harm in being too soft, and now it's come to 
 tliis — ." And I related the scene in the court, 
 and, as near as I dared, the whole subsequent 
 dispute. I fancied it could not be very preju- 
 cial to Mrs. Linton, unless she made it so, af- 
 terwards, by assuming the defensive for her 
 guest. 
 
 Edgar Linton had difficulty in hearing me 
 to the close — His first words revealed that he 
 did not clear his wife of blame. 
 
 " This is insufferable !" he exclaimed. " It 
 is disgraceful that she should own him for a 
 
WUTHKRING HEIGHTS. 255 
 
 friend, and force his company on me ! Call me 
 two men out of the hall, Ellen — Catherine shall 
 linger no longer to argue with the low ruffian 
 — I have humoured her enough." 
 
 He descended, and, bidding the servants 
 wait in the passage, went, followed by me, to 
 the kitchen. Its occupants had recommenced 
 their angry discussion ; Mrs. Linton, at least, 
 was scolding with renewed vigour ; Heathcliff 
 had moved to the window, and hung his head 
 somewhat cowed by her violent rating ap- 
 parently. 
 
 He taw the master first, and made a hasty 
 motion that she should be silent ; which she 
 obeyed, abruptly, on discovering the reason of 
 his intimation. 
 
 ** How is this?" said Linton, addressing her; 
 *' what notion of propriety must you have to 
 remain here, after the language which has been 
 held to you by that blackguard ? I suppose, 
 because it is his ordinary talk, you think no- 
 thing of it — you are habituated to his baseness. 
 
256 WUTHERING HElGttTd. 
 
 and, perhaps, imagine I can get used to it 
 too !" 
 
 " Have you been listening at the door^ 
 Edgar?" asked the mistress, in a tone parti- 
 cularly calculated to provoke her husband, im- 
 plying both carelessness and contempt of his 
 irritation. 
 
 Heathcliff, who had raised his eyes at the 
 former speech, gave a sneering laugh at the 
 latter, on purpose, it seemed, to draw Mr. 
 Linton's attention to him. 
 
 He succeeded ; but Edgar did not mean to 
 entertain him with any high flights of passion. 
 
 " I have been so far forbearing with you, 
 sir," he said, quietly ; " not that I was igno- 
 rant of your miserable, degraded character, 
 but, I felt you were only partly responsible 
 for that ; and Catherine, wishing to keep up 
 your acquaintance, I acquiesced — foolishly. 
 Your presence is a moral poison that would 
 contaminate the most virtuous —for that cause, 
 and to prevent worse consequences, 1 shall deny 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 257 
 
 you, hereafter, admission into this house, and 
 give notice, now, that I require your instant 
 departure. Three minutes' delay will render 
 '\t involuntary and ignominious." 
 
 Heathcliff measured the height and breadth 
 of the speaker with an eye full of derision. 
 
 " Cathy, this lamb of yours threatens like 
 a bull I" he said. *' It is in danger of splitting 
 its skull against my knuckles. By God, Mr. 
 Linton, I'm mortally sorry that you are not 
 worth knocking down 1" 
 
 My master glanced towards the passage, 
 and signed me to fetch the men — he had no in- 
 tention of hazarding a personal encounter. 
 
 I obeyed the hint ; but Mrs. Linton sus- 
 pecting something, followed, and when I at- 
 tempted to call them, she pulled me back, 
 slammed the door to, and locked it. 
 
 " Fair means !" she said, in answer to her 
 husband's look of angry surprise. '' If you 
 have not the courage to attack him, make an 
 apology, or allow yourself to be beaten. It 
 
258 WUTnERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 will correct you of feigning more valour than 
 you possess. No, I'll swallow the key before 
 you shall get it I Vm delightfully rewarded 
 for my kindness to each ! After constant in- 
 dulgence of one's weak nature, and the other's 
 bad one, I earn, for thanks, two samples of 
 blind ingratitude, stupid to absurdity ! Edgar, 
 I was defending you, and yours ; and I wish 
 Heathcliff may flog you sick, for daring to 
 think an evil thought of me !** 
 
 It did not need the medium of a flogging to 
 produce that efiect on the master. He tried 
 to wrest the key from Catherine's grasp ; and 
 for safety she flung it into the hottest part of 
 the fire; whereupon Mr. Edgar was taken 
 with a nervous trembling, and his counten- 
 ance grew deadly pale. For his life he could 
 not avert that access of emotion — mingled 
 anguish and humiliation overcame him com- 
 pletely. He leant on the back of a chair, and 
 covered his face. 
 
 " Oh ! Heavens 1 In old days this would 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 259 
 
 win you knighthood I" exclaimed Mr3. Linton. 
 " We are vanquished, we are vanquished ! 
 Heathcliff would as soon lift a finger at you 
 as the king would march his army against a 
 colony of mice. Cbeer up, you sha'n't be 
 hurt ! Your type is not a lamb, it's a suck- 
 ing leveret." 
 
 " I wish you joy of the milk-blooded 
 coward, Cathy !' ' said her friend. ** I com- 
 pliment you on your taste : and that is the 
 slavering, shivering thing you preferred to me ! 
 I would not strike him with my fist, but I'd 
 kick him with my foot, and experience consider- 
 able satisfaction. Is he weeping, or is he 
 going to faint for fear?" 
 
 The fellow approached and gave the chair 
 on which Linton rested a push. He'd better 
 have kept his distance: my master quickly 
 sprang erect, and struck him full on the throat 
 a blow that would have levelled a slighter man. 
 
 It took his breath for a minute ; and, while 
 he choked, Mr. Linton walked out by the back 
 
260 warHERTNG heights. 
 
 door iato the yard, and from thence, to the 
 front entrance. 
 
 " There ! youVe done with coming here," 
 cried Catherine. " Get away, now — he'll re- 
 turn with a brace of pistols, and half-a-dozen 
 assistants. If he did overhear us, of course, 
 he'd never forgive you. You've played me an 
 JU turn, Heathcliff ! But, go— make haste ! I'd 
 rather see Edgar at bay than you.*' 
 
 " Do you suppose I'm going with that blow 
 burning in my gullet ?" he thundered. " By 
 Hell, no ! I'll crush his ribs in like a rotten 
 hazel-nut, before I cross the threshold ! If I 
 don't floor him now, I shall murder him some- 
 time, so, as you value his existence, let me 
 get at him !" 
 
 " He is not coming." I interposed, fram- 
 ing a bit of a lie. " There's the coachman, 
 and the two gardeners ; you'll surely not wait 
 to be thrust into the road by them ! Efjch has 
 a bludgeon, and master will, very likely, be 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 261 
 
 watching from the parlour windows to see that 
 they fulfil his orders." 
 
 The gardeners, and coachn;an were there; 
 but Linton was with them. They had already 
 entered the court — HeathclifF, on second 
 thoughts resolved to avoid a struggle against 
 three underlings ; he seized the poker, smashed 
 the lock from the inner door, and made his 
 escape as they tramped in. 
 
 Mrs. Linton who was very much excited, 
 bid me accompany her up stairs. She did not 
 P. now my share in contributing to the disturb- 
 ance, and I was anxious to keep her in ignorance. 
 
 " I'm nearly distracted, Nelly !" she ex- 
 claimed, throwing herself on the sofa. ** A 
 thousand smiths' hammers are beating in my 
 head ! Tell Isabella to shun me — this uproar 
 is owing to her ; and should she or any one else 
 aggravate my anger at present, I shall get 
 wild. And, Kelly, say to Edgar, if you see 
 him again to-night, that I'm in danger of being 
 seriously ill— 1 wish it may prove true. He 
 
262 \VUTUERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 has startled and distressed me shockingly ! I 
 want to frighten him. Besides, he might come 
 and begin a string of abuse, or complainings ; 
 I'm certain I should recriminate, and God 
 knows where we should end ! Will you do so, 
 my good Nelly ? You are aware that I am 
 no way blameable in this matter. What pos- 
 sessed him to turn listener ? Heathcliff 's talk 
 was outrageous, after you left us ; but I could 
 soon have diverted him from Isabella, and the 
 rest meant nothing. Now, all is dashed wrong 
 by the fool's- craving to hear evil of self that 
 haunts some people like a demon ! Had Edgar 
 never gathered our conversation, he would 
 never have been the worse for it. Really, when 
 he opened on me in that unreasonable tone 
 of displeasure, after I had scolded HeathcliiF 
 till I was hoarse for him ; I did not care, hardly, 
 what they did to each other, especially as I 
 felt that, however the scene closed, we should 
 all be driven asunder for nobody knows how 
 long ! Well, if 1 cannot keep Heathcliff for 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 263 
 
 my friend — if Edgar will be mean and jealous, 
 I'll try to break their hearts by breaking my 
 own. That will be a prompt way of finishing 
 all, when I am pushed to extremity ! But it's 
 a deed to be reserved for a forlorn hope — I'd 
 nol take Linton by surprise with it. To this 
 this point he has been discreet in dreading to 
 provoke me ; you must represent the peril of 
 quitting that policy ; and remind hirc of my 
 passionate temper, verging, when kindled, on 
 frenzy — I wish you could dismiss that apathy 
 out of your countenance, and look rather more 
 anxious about me !" 
 
 The stolidity with which I received these 
 instructions was, no doubt, rather exasperat- 
 ing ; for they were delivered in perfect sincer- 
 ity, but I believed a person who could plan 
 the turning of her fits of passion to account, 
 beforehand, might, by exerting her will, 
 manage to control herself tolerably even while 
 under their influence ; and I did not wish to 
 
264 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 " frighten " her husband, as she said» and mul- 
 tiply his annoyances for the purpose of serving 
 her selfishness. 
 
 Therefore I said nothing when I met the 
 master coming towards the parlour ; but I took 
 the liberty of turning back to listen whether 
 they would resume their quarrel together. 
 He began to speak first. 
 *' Remain where you are, Catherine/' he 
 said, without any anger in his voice, but with 
 much sorrowful despondency. " I shall not 
 stay. I am neither come to wrangle, nor be 
 reconciled : but I wish just to learn whether, 
 after this evening's events, you intend to con- 
 tinue your intimacy with — " 
 
 " Oh, for mercy's sake," interrupted the 
 mistress, stamping her foot, '*for mercy's sake, 
 let us hear no more of it now ! Your cold 
 blood cannot be worked into a fever — your 
 veins are full of ice- water — but mine are 
 boiling, and the sight of such chillness makes 
 them dance." 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 265 
 
 ** To get rid of me — answer my question," 
 persevered Mr. Linton. " You must answer 
 it; and that violence does not alarm me. I 
 have found that you can be as stoical as any 
 one, when you please. Will you give up 
 Heathcliff hereafter, or will you give up me ? 
 It is impossible for you to be my friend, and 
 his at the same time ; and I absolutely require 
 to know which you choose." 
 
 '^ I require to be let alone !" exclaimed 
 Catherine, furiously. " I demand it I Don't 
 you see I can scarcely stand ? Edgar, you — 
 you leave me I" 
 
 She rung the bell till it broke with a twang : 
 I entered leisurely. It was enough to try the 
 temper of a saint, such senseless, wicked 
 rages! There she lay dashing her head 
 against the arm of the sofa, and grinding her 
 teeth, so that you might fancy she would crash 
 them to splinters ! 
 
 Mr. Linton stood looking at her in sudden 
 
 VOL. I. N 
 
266 WUTHERING HEIGHTS, 
 
 compunction and fear. He told me to fetch 
 some water. She had no breath for speaking. 
 
 I brought a glass full; and, as she would not 
 drink, I sprinkled it on her face. In a few 
 seconds she stretched herself out stiff, and 
 turned up her eyes, while her cheeks, at once 
 blanched and livid, assumed the aspect of 
 death. 
 
 Linton looked terrified. 
 
 " There is nothing in the world the 
 matter," I whispered. I did not want him 
 to yield, though I could not help being afraid 
 in my heart. 
 
 " She has blood on her lips !" he said, shud- 
 dering. 
 
 " Never mind !" I answered, tartly. And I 
 told him how she had resolved, previous to 
 his coming, on exhibiting a fit of frenzy. 
 
 I incautiously gave the account aloud, and 
 she heard me, for she started up — her hair 
 flying over her shoulders, her eyes flashing, the 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 267 
 
 muscles of her neck and arms standing out 
 
 preternaturally. I made up my mind for 
 
 broken bones, at least ; but she only glared 
 
 about her, for an instant, and then rushed from 
 
 the room. 
 
 The master directed me to follow ; I did, to 
 
 her chamber door; she hindered me from 
 
 going farther by securing it against me. 
 
 As she never offered to descend to breakfast 
 
 next morning, I went to ask whether she would 
 
 have some carried up. 
 
 " No !" she replied, peremptorily. 
 
 The same question was repeated at dinner, 
 
 and tea ; and again on the moi ro w after, and 
 
 received the same answer. 
 
 Mr. Linton, on his part, spent his time in 
 
 the library, and did not inquire concerning his 
 
 V ife's occupations. Itabella and he had had an 
 
 hour's interview, during which he tried to elicit 
 
 from her some sentiment of proper horror for 
 
 Heathcliff's advances ; but he could make 
 
 nothing of her evasive replies, and was obliged 
 N 3 
 
268 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 to close the examination , unsatisfactorily ; 
 adding, however, a solemn warning, that if she 
 were so insane as to encourage that worthless 
 suitor, it would dissolve all bonds of relation- 
 ship between herself and him. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS, 269 
 
 CHAPTER XII, 
 
 While Miss Linton moped about the park and 
 garden, always silent, and almost always in 
 tears ; and her brother shut himself up among 
 books that he never opened ; wearying, 1 
 guessed, with a continual vague expectation 
 that Catherine, repenting her conduct, would 
 come of her ovn accord to ask pardon, and 
 seek a reconciliation ; and she fasted pertina- 
 ciously, under the idea, probably, that at every 
 meal, Edgar was ready to choke for her ab- 
 sence, and pride alone held him from running 
 
270 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 to cast himself at her feet ; I went about my 
 household duties, convinced that the Grange 
 had but one sensible soul in its walls, and that 
 lodged in my body. 
 
 I wasted no condolences on miss, nor any 
 expostulations on my mistress, nor did 1 pay 
 attention to the sighs of my master who 
 yearned to hear his lady's name, since he might 
 not hear her voice. 
 
 I determined they should come about as 
 they pleased for me ; and though it was a tire- 
 somely slow process, I began to rejoice at 
 length in a faint dawn of its progress, as I 
 thought at first. 
 
 Mrs. Linton, on the third day, unbarred her 
 door; and having finished the water in her 
 pitcher and decanter, desired a renewed supply, 
 and a basin of gruel, for she believed she was 
 dying. That I set down as a speech meant 
 for Edgar's ears, I believed no such thing, so 
 I kept it to myself, and brought her some tea 
 and dry toast. 
 
WUTHEKING HEIGHTS, 271 
 
 She eat and drank eagerly ; and sank back 
 on her pillow again clenching her hands and 
 groaning. 
 
 " Oh, 1 will die," she exclaimed, " since no 
 one cares anything about me. I wish I had 
 not taken that." 
 
 Then a good while after I heard her murmur, 
 
 '*No, I'll not die — he'd be glad— he does 
 not love me at all — he would never miss me !" 
 
 " Did you want anything, ma'am ?" I en- 
 quired, still preserving my external composure, 
 in spite of her ghastly countenance, and 
 strange exao^o-erated manner. 
 
 '* What is that apathetic being doing ?" she 
 demanded, pushing the thick entangled locks 
 from her wasted face. '' Has he fallen into a 
 lethargy, or is he dead?" 
 
 " Neither," replied I; *' if you mean Mr. 
 Linton. He's tolerably well, I think, though 
 his studies occupy him rather more than they 
 ought ; he is continually among his books, since 
 he has no other society." 
 
272 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 1 should not have spoken so, if I had known 
 her true condition, but I could not get rid of 
 the notion that she acted a part of her dis- 
 order. 
 
 *' Among his books !" she cried, confounded. 
 " And I dying ! I on the brink of the grave ! 
 My God ! does he know how I'm altered?" 
 continued she, staring at her reflection in a 
 mirror, hanging against the opposite wall. '' Is 
 that Catherine Linton ? He imagines me in 
 a pet — in play, perhaps. Cannot you inform 
 him that it is frightful earnest ? Nelly, if it be 
 not too late, as soon as I learn how he feels, 
 I'll choose between these two — either to starve, 
 at once, that would be no punishment unless 
 he had a heart — or to recover and leave the 
 country. Are you speaking the truth about 
 him now ? Take care. Is he actually so ut- 
 terly indifferent for my life ?" 
 
 " Why, ma'am,"' I answered, '' the master 
 has no idea of your being deranged ; and, of 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 273 
 
 course, he does not fear that you will let your- 
 self die of hunger/' 
 
 " You think not ? Cannot you tell him 1 
 will ?" she returned ; " persuade him — speak 
 of your own mind — say you are certain I 
 will !'' 
 
 *' No^you forget, Mrs. Linton,"! suggested, 
 ** that you have eaten some food with a reli-h 
 this evening, and to-morrow you will perceive 
 its good effects." 
 
 " If I were only sure it would kill hini," 
 she interrupted, " I'd kill myself directly ! 
 These three awful nights, I've never closed my 
 lids — and oh, I've been tormented I I've been 
 haunted, Nelly ! But I begin to fancy you 
 don't like me. How strange! I thought, 
 though everybody hated and desjji cd each 
 other, they could not avoid loving me — and 
 they have all turned to eneaiiea in a few hour?. 
 They have, I'm positive ; the people here. 
 How dreary to meet death, surrounded by their 
 cold faces! Isabella, terrified and repelled, 
 N 5 
 
274 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 afraid to enter the room, it would be so dread- 
 ful to watch Catherine go. And Edgar stand- 
 ing solemnly by to see it over ; then offering 
 prayers of thanks to God for restoring peace 
 to his house, and going back to his books \ 
 What in the name of all that feels, has he to 
 do with hooks, when I am dying ?" 
 
 She could not bear the notion which I had 
 put into her head of Mr. Linton's philosophi- 
 cal resignation. Tossing about, she increased 
 her feverish bewilderment to madness, and 
 tore the pillow with her teeth, then raising 
 herself up all burning, desired that I would 
 open the window. We were in the middle of 
 winter, the wind blew strong from the north- 
 east, and I objected. 
 
 Both the expressions flitting over her face, 
 and the changes of her moods, began to alarm 
 me terribly; and brought to my recollection 
 her former illness, and the doctor's injunction 
 that she should not be crossed. 
 
 A minute previously she was violent ; now, 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 275 
 
 supported on one arm, and not noticing ray re- 
 fusal to obey her, she seemed to find childish 
 diversion in pulling the feathers from the rents 
 she had just made, and ranging them on the 
 sheet according to their different species : her 
 mind had strayed to other associations. 
 
 " That's a turkey's," she murmured to her- 
 self; '*and this is a wild-duck's; and this is a 
 pigeon's. Ah, they put pigeons' feathers in 
 the pillows — no wonder I couldn't die ! Let me 
 take care to throw it on the floor when I lie 
 down. And here is a moor-cock's ; and this — 
 1 should know it among a thousand — it's a lap- 
 wing's. Bonny bird ; wheeling over our heads 
 in the middle of the moor. It wanted to get 
 to its nest, for the clouds touched the swells, 
 and it felt rain coming. This feather was 
 picked up from the heath, the bird was not 
 shot — we saw its nest in the winter, full of 
 little skeletons. Heathcliff set a trap over it, 
 and the old ones dare not come. I made him 
 promise he'd never shoot a lapwing, after that. 
 
276 
 
 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 and he didn't. Yes, here are more! Did he 
 shoot my lapwings, Nelly ? Are they red, any 
 of them ? Let me look." 
 
 " Give over with that bahy-work!" I inter- 
 rupted, dragging the pillow away, and turning 
 the holes towards the mattress, for she was re- 
 moving its contents by handfuls. •' Lie down 
 and shut your eyes, you're wandering. There's 
 a mess ! The down is flying about like snow I" 
 
 I went here and there collecting it. 
 
 ^* I see in you, Nelly," she continued, 
 dreamily, " an aged woman — you have grey 
 hair, and bent shoulders. This bed is the 
 fairy cave under Peniston Crag, and you are 
 gathering elf-bolts to hurt our heifers ; pre- 
 tending, while I am near, that they ar3 only 
 locks of wool. That's what you'll come to 
 fifty years hence; I know you are not so now. 
 I'm not wandering, you're mistaken, or else I 
 should believe you really were that withered 
 hag, and I should think I was under Penistone 
 Crag, and I'm conscious it's night, and there 
 
WUTHERINO HEIGET3. 277 
 
 are two candles on the table making the black 
 press shine like jet. 
 
 '* The black press? where is that?"' I asked. 
 ^' You are talking in your sleep !" 
 
 " It's against the wall, as it al vays is," she 
 replied. " It does appear odd — -I see a face in 
 it !" 
 
 " There is no press in the room, and never 
 was," said I, resuming my seat, and looping up 
 the curtain that I might watch her. 
 
 ** Don't you see that face?' she enquired, 
 gazing earnestly at the mirror. 
 
 And say what I could, I was incapable of 
 making her comprehend it to be her own ; so 
 I rose and covered it with a shawl. 
 
 ''It's behind there still I' she pursued, anxi- 
 ously. *' And it stirred. Who is it?" 1 hope 
 it will not come out when you are gone ! Oh ! 
 Nelly, the room is haunted ! I'm afraid of being 
 alone!" 
 
 I took her hand in mine, and bid her be com- 
 posed, for a succession of shudders convulsed 
 
S78 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 her frame, and she would keep straining her 
 gaze towards the glass. 
 
 " There's nobody here !" I insisted. *' It was 
 yourself y Mrs. Linton ; you knew it a while 
 since." 
 
 " Myself," she gasped, *^ and the clock is 
 striking twelve ! It's true then ; that's dread- 
 ful !" 
 
 Her fingers clutched the clothes, and gath- 
 ered them over her eyes. I attempted to steal 
 to the door with an intention of callinor her 
 husband ; but I was summoned back by a pierc- 
 ing shriek. The shawl had dropped from the 
 frame. 
 
 " Why what 25 the matter?" cried I. '^ Who 
 is coward now ? A¥ake up ! That is the glass 
 — the mirror, Mrs. Linton ; and you see your- 
 self in it, and there am I too by your side." 
 
 Trembling and bewildered, she held me fast, 
 but the horror gradually passed from her coun- 
 tenance ; its paleness gave place to a glow of 
 shame. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 2 "9 
 
 "Oh, dear! 1 thought I was at home," ahe 
 sighed. "I thought I was lying in my cham- 
 ber at Wutherinor Heicrhts. Because I'm 
 weak, my brain got confused, and I screamed 
 unconsciously. Don't say anything ; but 
 stay with me. I dread sleeping, my dreams 
 appal me." 
 
 *' A sound sleep would do you good, ma'am," 
 I answered ; " and I hope this suffering will 
 prevent your trying starving again." 
 
 " Oh, if I were but in my own bed in the 
 old house !" she went on bitterly, wringing her 
 hands. ** And that wind sounding in the fir? 
 by the lattice. Do let me feel it — it comes 
 straight down the moor — do let me have one 
 breath!'' 
 
 To pacify her, I held the casement ajar, a 
 few seconds. A cold blast rushed through, I 
 closed it, and returned to my post. 
 
 She lay still, now : her face bathed in tears 
 — Exhaustion of body had entirely subdued 
 
280 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 her spirit; our fiery Catherine was no better 
 than a wailing child ! 
 
 " How long is it since I shut myself in 
 here?" she asked suddenl) reviving. 
 
 " It was Monday evening," I replied, ** and 
 this is Thursday night, or rather Friday morn- 
 ing, at present." 
 
 " What ! of the same week ?" she exclaimed. 
 "Only that brief time?" 
 
 " Long enough to live on nothing but cold 
 water, and ill-temper," observed I. 
 
 *' Well, it seems a weary number of hours," 
 she muttered doubtfully, " it must be more — I 
 remember being in the parlour, after they had 
 quarrelled ; and Edgar bein^ cruelly provok- 
 ing, and me running into this room desperate 
 — As soon as ever I had barred the door, utter 
 blackness overwhelmed me, and J fell on the 
 floor — 1 couldn't explain to Edgar how cer- 
 tain I felt of having a fit,* or going raging 
 mad, if he persisted in teasing me ! I had no 
 command of tongue, or brain, and he did not 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 281 
 
 guess my agony, perhaps ; it barely left me 
 sense to try to escape from him and his voice 
 — Before I recovered, sufficiently to see, and 
 hear, it began to be dawn ; and Nelly, I'll tell 
 you whati thought, and what has kept recurring 
 and recurring till I feared for my reason— I 
 thought as I lay there with my head against 
 that table leg, and my eyes dimly discerning 
 the grey square of the window, that I was 
 enclosed in the oak-panelled bed at home ; 
 and my heart ached with some great grief 
 which, just waking, 1 could not recollect — 1 
 pondered, and worried myself to discover what 
 it could be; and most strangely, the whole 
 last seven years of my life grew a blank ! I 
 did not recall that they had been at all. I was 
 a child; my father was just buried, and my misery 
 arose from the separation that Hindley had 
 ordered between me, and HeathclifF — I was 
 laid alone, for the first time, and rousing from 
 a dismal dose after a night of weeping — I 
 lifted my hand to push the panels aside, it 
 
282 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 struck the table-top! I swept it along the 
 carpet, and then, memory burst in — my late 
 anguish was swallowed in a paroxysm of des- 
 pair — I cannot say why I felt so wildly wretch- 
 ed — it must have been temporary derangement 
 for there is scarcely cause — But, supposing at 
 twelve years old, I had been wrenched from 
 the Heights, and every early association, and 
 my all in all, as Heathcliff was at that time, 
 and been converted, at a stroke into Mrs. 
 Linton, the lady of Thrushcross Grange, and 
 the wife of a stranger ; an exile, and outcast, 
 thenceforth, from what had been my world — 
 You may fancy a glimpse of the abyss where 
 I grovelled ! Shake your head, as you will, 
 Nelly, you have helped to unsettle me ! You 
 should have spoken to Edgar, indeed you 
 should, and compelled him to leave me quiet ! 
 Oh, I'm burning! I wish I were out of doors 
 — I wish I were a girl again, half savage and 
 hardy, and free... and laughing at injuries, not 
 maddening under them! Why am I so 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 283 
 
 changed? why does my blood rush into a hell 
 of tumult at a few words ? I'm sure I should 
 be myself were I once among the heather on 
 those hills,.. Open the window again wide, fas- 
 ten it open ! Quick, why don't you move ?" 
 
 ** Because, I won't give you your death of 
 cold," I answered. 
 
 "You won't give me a chance of life, you 
 mean," she said sullenly. " However^ I'm not 
 helpless yet, I'll open it myself." 
 
 And sliding from the bed before I could hin- 
 der her, she crossed the room, walking very 
 uncertainly, threw it back, and bent out, care- 
 less of the frosty air that cut about her shoul- 
 ders as keen as a knife. 
 
 I entreated, and finally attempted to force 
 her to retire. But I soon found her delirious 
 strengh much surpassed mine ; (she was 
 delirious I became convinced by her subsequent 
 actions, and ravings.) 
 
 There was no moon, and every thing be- 
 neath lay in misty darkness; not a light 
 
284 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 gleamed from any house, far or near ; all had 
 been extinguished long ago ; and those at 
 Wuthering Heights were never visible... still 
 she asserted she cauo;ht their shinin^:. 
 
 " Look !" she cried eagerly, '' that's my 
 room, with the candle in it, and the trees 
 swaying before it... and the other candle is in 
 Joseph's garret... Joseph sits up late, doesn't 
 he ? He's waiting till I come home that he 
 may lock the gate...W§ll, he'll wait a while 
 yet. It's a rough journey, and a sad heart to 
 travel it ; and we must pass by Ginimerton 
 Kirk, to go that journey ! We've braved it's 
 ghosts often together, and dared each other to 
 stand among the graves and ask them to come 
 ...But Heathcliff, if I dare you now, will you 
 venture ? If you do, I'll keep you. I'll not lie 
 there by myself; they may bury me twelve 
 feet deep, and throw the church down over 
 me; but I won't rest till you are with me. ..I 
 never will !" 
 
 She paused, and resumed with a strange 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 285 
 
 smile, ^' He's considering... he'd rather I'd come 
 to him I Find a way, then ! not through that 
 Kirkyard...You are slow! Be content, you 
 always followed me!" 
 
 Perceiving it vain to argue against her in- 
 sanity, I was planning how I could reach 
 something to wrap about her, without quit- 
 ting my hold of herself, for I could not trust 
 her alone by the gaping lattice ; when to my 
 consternation, I heard the rattle of the door- 
 handle, and Mr. Linton entered. He had on- 
 ly then come from the library ; and, in pass- 
 ing through the lobby, had noticed our talking 
 and been attracted by curiosity, or fear to ex- 
 amine what it signified, at that late hour. 
 
 " Oh, sir !" I cried, checking the exclama- 
 tion risen to his lips at the sight which met 
 him, and the bleak atmosphere of the chamber. 
 
 *' My poor Mistress is ill, and she quite 
 masters me; I cannot manage her at all, pray, 
 come and persuade her to go to bed. Forget 
 
286 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 your anger, for she's hard to guide any way 
 but her own." 
 
 "Catherine ill?" he said hastening to us. 
 "Shut the window, Ellen I Catherine I why..." 
 
 He was silent; the hagjgardness of Mrs. 
 Linton's appearance smote him speechless, and 
 he could only glance from her to me in hor- 
 rified astonishment. 
 
 " She's been fretting here," I continued, "and 
 eating scarcely anything, and never complain- 
 ing, she would admit none of us till this even- 
 ing, and so we couldn't inform you of her 
 state, as we were not aware of it ourselves," 
 but it is nothing." 
 
 I felt I uttered my explanations awkwardly ; 
 the master frowned. *' It is nothing is it, 
 Ellen Dean?" he said sternly. *'You shall 
 account more clearly for keeping me ignorant 
 of this !" And he took his wife in his arms, 
 and looked at her with anguish. 
 
 At first she gave him no glance of recogni- 
 
WUTHERING HKIGHTS. 287 
 
 tioD...he was invisible to her abstracted gaze. 
 The delirium was not fixed, however ; having 
 weaned her eyes from contemplating the outer 
 daikness; by degrees, she centred her atten- 
 tion on him, and discovered who it was that 
 held her. 
 
 "Ah! you are come, are you, Edgar Lin- 
 ton ?" she said with angry animation...** You 
 are one of those things that are ever found 
 when least wanted, and when you are wanted 
 never ! I suppose we shall have plenty of la- 
 mentations, now... I see we shall... but they 
 can't keep me from my narrow home out yon- 
 der — My resting place where I'm bound be- 
 fore Spring is over ! There it is, not among 
 the Lintons, mind, under the chnpel-roof; 
 but in the open air with a head- stone, and you 
 may please yourself, whether you go to them, 
 or come to me !'* 
 
 '* Catherine, what have you done ?" com- 
 menced the master. "Am I nothing to vou. 
 
288 WUTHEHING HEIGHTS. 
 
 any more ? Do you love that wretch, 
 Heath—" 
 
 "Hush!" cried Mrs. Linton. "Hush, this 
 moment! You mention that name and 1 end 
 the matter, instantly, by a spring from the 
 window ! What you touch at present, you 
 may have ; but my soul will be on that hill- 
 top before you lay hands on me again. I don't 
 want you, Edgar; I'm past wanting you... 
 Return to your books... I'm glad you possess 
 a cunsolation, for all you had in me is gone.'' 
 
 ** Her mind wanders, sir," I interposed. 
 " She has been talking nonsense the whole 
 evening ; but, let her have quiet and proper 
 attendance, and she'll rally... Hereafter, we 
 must be cautious how we vex her." 
 
 " I desire no further advice from you," an- 
 swered Mr. Linton. " You knew your mis- 
 tress's nature, and you encouraged me to ha- 
 rass her. And not to give me one hint of how 
 she has been these three days ! It was heart- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 289 
 
 les8 ! months of sickness could not cause such a 
 change!" 
 
 I began to defend myself, thinking it too bad 
 to be blamed for another's wicked wayward- 
 ness ! 
 
 ** I knew Mrs. Linton's nature to be head- 
 strong and domineering," cried I ; " but I 
 didn't know that you wished to foster her fierce 
 temper ! I didn't know that, to humour her, I 
 should wink at Mr. HeathclifF. I performed 
 the duty of a faithful servant in telling you, 
 and I have got a faithful servant's wages! 
 Well, it will teach me to be careful next time. 
 Next time you may gather intelligence for 
 yourself!" 
 
 " The next time you bring a tale to me, you 
 shall quit my service, Ellen Dean," he replied. 
 
 "You'd rather hear nothing about it, I sup- 
 pose, then, Mr. Linton ?" said L '' Heathcliff 
 has your permission to come a courting to Mis a 
 and to drop in at every opportunity your ab- 
 
 VOL. I. o 
 
290 WUTIIKRING HEIGHT^'. 
 
 sence offers, on purpose to poison the mistress 
 against you ?" 
 
 Confused as Catherine was, her wits were 
 alert at applying our conversation. 
 
 " Ah ! Nelly has played traitor," she ex- 
 claimed, passionately. " Nelly is my hidden 
 enemy — you witch ! So you do seek elf-bolts 
 to hurt us ! Let me go, and I'll make her rue ! 
 I'll make her howl a recantation !" 
 
 A maniac's fury kindled under her brows ; 
 she struggled desperately to disengage herself 
 from Linton's arms. I felt no inclination to 
 tarry the event ; and resolving to seek medical 
 aid on my own responsibility, I quitted the 
 chamber. 
 
 In passing the garden to reach the road, at a 
 place where a bridle hook is driven into the 
 wall, I saw something white moved irregularly 
 evidently by another agent than the wind. 
 Notwithstanding my hurry^ I staid to examine 
 it, lest ever after I should have the conviction 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 291 
 
 impressed on my imagination that it was a 
 creature of the other world. 
 
 My surprise and perplexity were great to 
 discover, by touch more than vision. Miss Isa- 
 bella's springer Fanny, suspended to a hand- 
 kerchief, and nearly at its last gasp. 
 
 I quickly released the animal, and lifted it 
 into the garden. I had seen it follow its mis- 
 trees up-stairs, when she went to bed, and won- 
 dered much how it could have got out there, 
 and what mischievous person had treated it so. 
 
 While untying the knot round the hook, it 
 seemed to me that I repeatedly caught the 
 beat of horses' feet gallopping at some dis- 
 tance; but there were such a number of things 
 to occupy my reflections that I hardly gave the 
 circumstance a thought, though it was a 
 strange sound, in that place, at two o'clock in 
 the morning. 
 
 Mr. Kenneth was fortunately just issuing 
 from his house to see a patient in the village 
 as I came up the street ; and my account of 
 3 
 
292 WUTHERIXG HEIGHTS. 
 
 Catherine Linton's malady induced him to ac- 
 company me back immediately. 
 
 He was a plain, rough man ; and he made 
 no scruple to speak his doubts of her surviving 
 this second attack ; unless she were more sub- 
 missive to his directions than she had shown 
 herself before. 
 
 "■ Nelly Dean," said he, " I can't help f^m- 
 eying there's an extra cause for this. Wh it 
 has there been to do at the Grange ? AVe've 
 odd reports up here. A stout, hearty lass like 
 Catherine does not full ill for a trifle ; and that 
 sort of people should not either. It's hard 
 work bringing them through fevers, and such 
 things. How did it begin ?" 
 
 " The master will inform you," I atiswered ; 
 *' but you are acquainted with the Earnshaw's 
 violent dispositions, and Mrs. Linton caps theiu 
 all. Imay say this ; it commenced in a quarrel. 
 She was struck during a tempest of passion with 
 a kind of fit. That's her account, at least ; f(»r 
 she flew off in the height of it, and locked 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. *Z9Z 
 
 hereelf up. Afterwards, she refused to eat, 
 and now she alternately raves, and remains in 
 a half dream, knowing those about her, but 
 having her mind filled with all sorts of strange 
 ideas and illusions." 
 
 '* Mr. Linton will be sorry?" observed Ken- 
 neth, interrogatively. 
 
 " Sorry ? he'll break his heart should any- 
 thing happen!" I replied. " Don*t alarm him 
 more than necessary." 
 
 *' Well, I told him to be ^v are," said my com- 
 panion, *'• and he must bide the consequences 
 of neglecting my warning ! Hasn't he been 
 thick with Mr. Heathcliff lately?" 
 
 " Heathcliff frequently visits at the Grange," 
 answered I, ** tliough more on the strength of 
 the mistress having known him when a boy, 
 than because the master likes his company. 
 At present, he's discharged from the trouble of 
 calling ; owing to some presumptuous aspira- 
 tions after Miss Linton which he manifested. 
 I hardly think he'll be taken in again." 
 
294 WUTHERING HEIGHTS; 
 
 " And does Miss Linton turn a cold 
 shoulder on him?" was the doctor's next ques- 
 tion. 
 
 " I'm not in her confidence," returned I, re- 
 luctant to continue the subject. 
 
 *' No, she's a sly one," he remarked, shak- 
 ing his head. " She keeps her own counsel ! 
 But she's a real little fool. I have it from 
 good authority, that, last ni;^^ht, and a pretty 
 night it was ! she and HeathcliiF were walking 
 in the plantation at the back of your house, 
 above two hours ; and he pressed her not to 
 go in again, but just mount his horse and away 
 with him I My informant said she could only 
 put him off by pledging her word of honour 
 to be prepared on their first meeting after that, 
 when it was to be, he didn't hear, but you urge 
 Mr. Linton to look sharp I" . « 
 
 This news filled me with fresh fears ; I out- 
 stripped Kenneth, and ran most of the way 
 back. The little dog was yelping in the gar- 
 den yet. I spared a minute to open the gatvi 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 295 
 
 for it, but instead of going to the house door, 
 it coursed up and down snufl&ng the grass, an I 
 would have escaped to the roa 1, had I not 
 seized and conveyed it in with me. 
 
 On ascending to Isabella's lOom, my sus- 
 picions were confirmed ; it was empty. Had 
 I been a few hours sooner, ^Mr?. Linton's ill- 
 ness might have arrested her rash step. But 
 what could be done now? There was a bare 
 possibility oi overtakicg tkem if pursued in- 
 stantly. / could not pursue them, however ; 
 and I dare not rouse the family, and fill the 
 place with confusion ; still less unfold the busi- 
 ness to ray master, absorbed as he was in his 
 present calamity, and having no heart to spare 
 for a second grief! 
 
 I saw nothing for it, but to hold my tongue, 
 and suffei; matters to take their course : and 
 Kenneth being arrived, I went with a badly 
 composed countenance to aunouijce him. 
 
 Catherine lay in a troubled sleep; her hus- 
 band had succeeded in suothing the access of 
 
296 WUTHKRIN.i HEIGHTS. 
 
 frcDzy ; he now hung over her pillow, watching 
 every shade, and every change of her painfully 
 expressive features. 
 
 The doctor, on examining the case for him- 
 self, spoke hopefully to him of its having a 
 favourable termination, if we could only pre- 
 serve around her perfect and constant tran- 
 quillity. To me, he signified the threatening 
 danger was, not so much death, as- permanent 
 alienation of intellect. 
 
 I did not close my eyes that night, nor did 
 Mr. Linton ; indeed, we never went to bed : 
 and the servants were all up long before the 
 usual hour, moving through the house with 
 stealthy tread, and exchanging whispers as 
 they encountered each other in their vocations. 
 Every one was active, but Miss Isabella; and 
 they began to remark how sound she slept — 
 her brother too asked if she had risen, and 
 seemed impatient for her presence, and hurt 
 that she showed so little anxiety for her sister- 
 in-law. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 297 
 
 I trembled lest he should send me to call 
 her ; but I was spared the pain of being the 
 first proclaimant of her flight. One of the 
 maids, a thoughtless girl, who had been on an 
 early errand to Gimmerton, came panting up 
 stairs, open-mouthed, and dashed into the 
 chamber, crying. 
 
 " Oh, dear, dear ! What mun we have 
 next ? Master, master, our young lady — " 
 
 " Hold your noise !" cried I hastily, enraged 
 at her clamorous manner. 
 
 ** Speak lower, Mary — What is the matter?" 
 said Mr. Linton. " What ails your young 
 lady ?" 
 
 " She's gone, she's gone ! Yon' HeathclifF's 
 run offwi' her!" gasped the girL 
 
 *' That is not true !" exclaimed Linton, rising 
 in agitation. ** It cannot be— how has the 
 idea entered your head ? Ellen Dean, go and 
 seek her — it is incredible — it cannot be." 
 
 As he spoke he took the servant to the door, 
 o 5 
 
298 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 and, then, repeated his demand to know her 
 reasons for such an assertion. 
 
 " Why, I met on the road a lad that fetches 
 milk here,*' she stammered, " and he asked 
 whether we wern't in trouble at the Grange — 
 I thought he meant for Missis's sickness, so I 
 answered, yes. Then says he, they's some- 
 body gone after 'em, I guess?" I stared. He 
 saw I knew naught about it, and he told how 
 a gentleman and lady had stopped to have a 
 horse's shoe fastened at a blacksmith's shop, 
 two miles out of Gimmerton, not very long 
 after midnight ! and how the blacksmith's lass 
 had got up to spy who they were : she knew 
 them both directly — And she noticed the man, 
 Heathcliff it was, she felt certain, nob'dy 
 could mistake him, besides — put a sovereign 
 in her father's hand for payment. The lady 
 had a cloak about her face ; but having desired 
 a sup of water, while she drank, it fell back, 
 and she saw her very plain — HeathclifF held 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 299 
 
 both bridles as they rode on, and they set 
 their faces from the village, and went as fas ** 
 as the rough roads would let them. The lass 
 said nothing to her father, but she told it al 
 over Gimmerton this morning." 
 
 I ran and peeped, for form's sake into Isa- 
 bella's room : confirming, when I returned, the 
 servant's statement — Mr. Linton had resumed 
 his seat by the bed ; on my re-entrance, he 
 raised his eyes, read the meaning of my blank 
 aspect, and dropped them without giving an 
 order, or uttering a word. 
 
 " Are we to try any measures for overtaking 
 and bringing her back," I inquired. " How 
 should we do ?" 
 
 " She went of her own accord," answered 
 the master ; *' she had a right to go if she 
 pleased — Trouble me no more about her — 
 Hereafter she ia only my sister in name ; not 
 because I disown her, but because she has dis- 
 owned me." 
 
 And that was all he said on the subject ; ht 
 
300 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 did not make a single inquiry further, or men- 
 tion her in any way, except directing me to 
 send what property she had in the house to 
 her fresh home, wherever it was, when I knew 
 it. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 301 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 For two months the fugitives remained absent, 
 in those two months, Mrs. Linton encountered 
 and conquered the worst shock of what was 
 denominated a brain fever. No mother could 
 have nursed an only child more devotedly than 
 Edgar tended her. Day and night, he was 
 watching, and patiently enduring all the an- 
 noyances that irritable nerves and a shaken 
 reason could inflict : and, though Kenneth re- 
 marked that what he saved from the grave 
 
302 WCTHEHING HEIGHTS. 
 
 would only recompense his care by forming 
 the source of constant future anxiety, in fact, 
 that his health and strength were being sacri- 
 ficed to preserve a mere ruin of humanity, he 
 knew no limits in gratitude and joy, when 
 Catherine's life was declared out of danger; 
 and hour after hour, he would sit beside her, 
 tracing the gradual return to bodily health, 
 and flattering his too sanguine hopes with the 
 illusion that her mind would settle back to its 
 right balance also, and she would soon be en- 
 tirely her former self. 
 
 The first time she left her chamber, was at 
 the commencement of the folio winor March. 
 Mr. Linton had put on her pillow, in the 
 morning, a handful of golden crocuses; her 
 eye, long stranger to any gleam of pleasure, 
 caught them in waking, and shone delighted as 
 she gathered them eagerly together. 
 
 '* These are the earliest flowers at the 
 Heights I" she exclaimed. " They remind me 
 of soft thaw winds, and warm sunshine, and 
 
WUTHFRING HEIGHTS. 303 
 
 nearly melted snow — Edgar, is there not a 
 south wind, and is not the snow almost gone ?" 
 
 " The snow is quite gone ; down here, dar- 
 ling !" replied her husband, " and I only see 
 two white spots on the whole range of moors — 
 The sky is blue, and the larks are singing, and the 
 becks and brooks are all brim full. Catherine ; 
 last spring at this time, I was longing to have 
 you under this roof— now, I wish you were a 
 mile or two up those hills, the air blows so 
 sweetly, I feel that it would cure you." 
 
 ** I shall never be there, but once more ! ' 
 .'aid the invalid ; "and then you'll leave me, 
 and I shall remain, for ever. Next spring 
 you'll long again to have mc under this roof, 
 and you'll look back and think you were happy 
 tO'day." 
 
 Linton lavished on her the kindest caresses, 
 and tried to cheer her by the fondest words; 
 but vaguely regarding the flowers, she let 
 the tears collect on her lashes, and stream 
 down her cheeks unheeding. 
 
304 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 We knew she was really better, and there- 
 fore, decided that long confinement to a single 
 place produced much of this despondency, and 
 it might be partially removed by a change of 
 scene. 
 
 The master told me to light a fire in the 
 many-week's deserted parlour, and to set an 
 easy-chair in the sunshine by the window ; 
 and then he brought her down, and she sat a 
 long while enjoying the genial heat, and, as 
 we expected, revived by the objects round her, 
 which, though familiar, were free from the 
 dreary associations investing her hated sick- 
 chamber. By evening, she seemed greatly ex- 
 hausted ; yet no arguments could persuade her 
 to return to that apartment, and I had to ar- 
 range the parlour sofa for her bed, till another 
 room could be prepared. 
 
 To obviate the fatigue of mounting and de- 
 scending the stairs, we fitted up this, where 
 you lie at present ; on the same floor with the 
 parlour : and she was soon strong enough to 
 
WUTHERIN« HEIGHTS. 305 
 
 move from one to the other, leaning on Elgar's 
 arm. 
 
 Ah, I thought myself, she might recover, 
 80 waited on as she was. And there was dou- 
 ble cause to desire it, for on her existence de- 
 pended that of another ; we cherished the hope 
 that in a little while, Mr. Linton's heart would 
 be gladdened, and his lands secured from a 
 stranger's gripe, by the birth of an heir. 
 
 I should mention that Isabella sent to her 
 brother, some six weeks from her departure a 
 short note, announcing her marriage with 
 HeathclifF. It appeared dry and cold ; but at 
 the bottom, was dotted in with pencil, an ob- 
 scure apology, and an entreaty for kind remem- 
 brance, and reconciliation, if her proceeding 
 had offended him ; asserting that she could not 
 help it then, and being done, she had now no 
 power to repeal it. 
 
 Linton did not reply to this, I believe; and, 
 in a fortnight more, I got a long letter which 
 I considered odd coming from the pen of a 
 
306 WUTSERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 bride just out of the honeymoon. I'll read if, 
 for I keep it yet. Any relic of the dead is 
 precious, if they were valued living. 
 
 *' Dear Ellen," it begins. 
 
 ** I came, last night, to Wuthering Heights, 
 and heard, for the first time, that Catherine 
 has been, and is yet, very ill. I must not 
 write to her I suppose, and my brother is ei- 
 ther too angry, or too distressed to answer 
 what I send him. Still, I must write to some- 
 body, and the only choice left me is you. 
 
 Inform Edgar that I'd give the world to see 
 his face again — that my heart returned to 
 Thrushcross Grange in twenty-four hours 
 after I left it, and is there at this moment, full 
 of warm feelings for him, and Catherine ! / 
 caret follow it though — (those words are under- 
 lined) they need not expect me, and they may 
 draw what conclusions they please ; taking 
 care ho^vever, to lay nothinij at the door of 
 my weak will, or deficient affection. 
 
WUTHKRING HEIGHTS. 307 
 
 The remainder of the letter is for yourself, 
 alone. I want to ask you two questions : the 
 first is. 
 
 How did you contrive to preserve the com- 
 mon sympathies of human nature when you 
 resided here? I cannot recognise any senti- 
 ment which those around, share with me. 
 
 The second question, I have great interest 
 in ; it is this— 
 
 Is Mr. Heathcliflf a man ? If so, is he mad ? 
 And if not, is he a devil? I shan't tell my 
 reasons for making this inquiry ; but, I be- 
 seech you to explain, if you can, what I have 
 married — that is, when you call to see me ; 
 and 30U must call Ellen, very soon. Don't 
 write, but come, and bring me something from 
 Edgar. 
 
 Now, you shall hear how I have been re- 
 ceived in my new home, as I am led to ima- 
 gine the Heights will be. It is to amuse my- 
 self that I dwell on such subjects as the lack 
 of external comforts ; they never occupy my 
 
308 WUTUERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 thoughts, except at the moment when I miss 
 them — I should lau^h and dance for joy, if I 
 found their absence was the total of my mise- 
 ries, and the rest was an unnatural dream ! 
 
 The sun set behind the Grange, as we 
 turned on to the moors ; by that, I judged it 
 to be six o'clock; and my companion halted 
 half-an-hour, to inspect the park, and the 
 gardens, and, probably, the place itself, as 
 well as he could ; so it was dark when we 
 / dismounted in the paved yard of the farm- 
 house, and your old fellovv-servant, Joseph, 
 issued out to receive us by the light of a dip 
 candle. He did it with a courtesy that re- 
 dounded to his credit. His first act was to 
 elevate his torch to a level with my face, squint 
 malignantly, project his under lip, and turn 
 away. 
 
 Then he took the two horses, and led them 
 into the stables ; reappearing for the purpose 
 of locking the outer gate, as if we lived in an 
 ancient castle. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 309 
 
 HeathcllfF stayed to speak to him, and I 
 entered the kitchen — a dingy, untidy hole ; I 
 dare say you would not know it, it is so 
 changed since it was in your charge. 
 
 By the fire stood a ruffianly child, strong 
 in limb, and dirty in garb, with a look of 
 Catherine in his eyes, and about his mouth. 
 
 " This is Edgar's legal nephew," I reflected 
 — " mine in a manner; I must shake hands, 
 and— yes -I must kiss him. It is right to 
 establish a good understanding at the begin- 
 ning." 
 
 1 approached, and, attempting to take his 
 chubby fist, said — 
 
 *' How do you do, my dear?" 
 
 He replied in a jargon I did not comprehend. 
 
 '' Shall you and I be friends, Hareton?" was 
 my next essay at conversation. 
 
 An oath, and a threat to set Throttler on me 
 if I did not " frame off" rewarded my perse- 
 verance. 
 
 " Hey, Throttler, lad!'* whispered the little 
 
310 WUTttERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 wretcli, rousing a half-bred bull-dog from its 
 lair in a corner. " Now, wilt tub be ganging ?" 
 he asked authoritatively. 
 
 Love for my life urged a compliance ; I 
 stepped over the threshold to wait till the 
 others should enter. Mr. Heathcliff was no- 
 where visible ; and Joseph, whom 1 followed 
 to the stables, and requested to accompany me 
 in, after staring and muttering to himself, 
 screwed up his nose and replied — 
 
 '* Mim ! mim ! mim ! Did iver Christian 
 body hear owt like it? Minching un' munch- 
 ing ! Hah can Aw tell whet ye say?" 
 
 *' I say, I wish you to come with me into 
 the house !" I cried, thinking him deaf, yet 
 highly disgusted at his rudeness. 
 
 " Nor nub me ! Aw getten summut else to 
 do," he answered, and continued his work, mov- 
 ing his lantern jaws meanwhile, and surveying 
 my dress and countenance (the former a great 
 deal too fine, but the latter, I'm sure, as sad 
 as he could desire) with sovereign contempt. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 311 
 
 I walked round the yard, and through a 
 wicket, to another door, at which I took the 
 liberty of knocking, in hopes some more civil 
 servant might shew himself. 
 
 After a short suspense it was opened by a 
 tall, gaunt man, without neckerchief, and 
 otherwise extremely slovenly; his features 
 were lost in masses of shaggy hair that hung 
 on his shoulders ; and his eyes, too, were like 
 a ghostly Catherine's, with all their beauty 
 annihilated. 
 
 '* What's your business here?" he demanded, 
 grimly. " Who are you ?' 
 
 *' My name teas Isabeni Linton," I replied. 
 " You've seen me before, sir. I'm lately 
 married to Mr. He-^thcliff ; and he has brought 
 me here — I suppose by your permission." 
 
 '* Is he come back, then?*' asked the hermit, 
 glaring like a hungry wolf. 
 
 "Yes — we came just now," 1 said; "but 
 he left me by the kitchen door ; and when I 
 would have gone in, your little boy played 
 
312 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 sentinel over the place, and frightened me off 
 by the help of a bull-dog." 
 
 " It's well the hellish villain has kept his 
 word!" growled my future host, searching the 
 darkness beyond me in expectation of discover- 
 ing HeathclifF, and then he indulged in a 
 soliloquy of execrations, and threats of what 
 he would have done had the " fiend" deceived 
 him. 
 
 I repented having tried this second entrance ; 
 and was almost Inclined to slip way before 
 he finished cursing, but ere I could execute 
 that intention, he ordered me in, and shut and 
 re-fastened the door. 
 
 There was a great fire, and that was all the 
 light in the huge apartment, whose floor had 
 grown a uniform grey ; and the once brilliant 
 pewter dishes which used to attract my gaze 
 when I was a girl partook of a similar obscurity, 
 created by tarnish and dust. 
 
 I inquired whether I might call the maid, 
 and be conducted to a bed-room ? Mr. Earn- 
 
WUTHERTNG HEIGHTS. 313 
 
 sbaw vouchsafed no answer. He walked u[) 
 and down, with his hands in his pockets, ap- 
 parently quite forjijetting my presence ; and 
 his abstraction was evidently so deep, and his 
 whole aspect so misanthropical, that I shrank 
 from dislurbinor him again. 
 
 " You'll not be surprised, Ellen, at my feeling 
 particularly cheerless, seated in worce than 
 solitude, on that inhospitable hearth, and re- 
 membering that four miles distant lay my 
 delightful home, containing the only people I 
 loved on earth : and there might as well be 
 the Atlantic to part us, instead of those four 
 miles, I could not overpass them ! 
 
 I questioned with myself — where must I 
 turn for comfort ? and — mind you don't tell 
 Edgar, or Catherine — above every sorrow 
 beside, this rose pre-eminent — despair at find- 
 ing nobody who could or would be my ally 
 against Heathcliff I 
 
 I had sought shelter at "Wuthering Heights, 
 almost gladly, because I was secured by tliat 
 
 VOL. I. p 
 
SI 4 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 arrangement from living alone with him ; but 
 he knew the people we were coming amongst' 
 and he did not fear their intermeddling. 
 
 I sat and thought a doleful time ; the clock 
 struck eight, and nine, and still my companion 
 paced to and fro, his head bent on his breast, 
 and perfectly silent, unless a groan, or a bitter 
 ejaculation forced itself out at intervals. 
 
 I listened to detect a woman's voice in the 
 house, and filled the interim with wild regrets, 
 and dismal anticipations, which, at last, spoke 
 audibly in irrepressible sighing, and weepinof. 
 
 I was not aware how openly I grieved, till 
 Earnshaw halted opposite, in his measured 
 walk, and gave me a stare of newly awakened 
 surprise. Taking advantage of his recovered 
 attention, I exclaimed — 
 
 *' I'm tired with my journey, and I want to 
 go to bed ! Where is the maid-servant ? 
 Direct me to her, as she wont come to to me !" 
 
 *' We have none," he answered ; '* you must 
 wait on yourself !" 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 315 
 
 *' Where must I sleep, then?" I sobbed— I 
 was beyond regarding self-respect, weighed 
 down by fatigue and wretchedness. 
 
 Joseph will show you HeathclifTs chamber,'* 
 paid he; '^ open that door — ^he's in there." 
 
 " I was going to obey, but he suddenly 
 arrested me, and added in the strangest tone — 
 
 " Be so good as to turn your lock, and draw 
 your bolt — don't omit it !" 
 
 ** Well !" I said. '" But why, Mr. Earn- 
 shaw ?'' I did not relish the notion of deli- 
 berately fastening myself in with Heathcliff. 
 
 " Look here !" he replied, pulling from his 
 waistcoat a curiously constructed pistol, having 
 a double edged spring knife attached to the 
 barrel. " That's a great tempter to a despe- 
 rate man, is it not ? I cannot resist going up 
 with this, every night, and trying his door, 
 if once I find it open he's done for! I do it 
 invariably, even though the minute before I 
 have been recalling a hundred reasons that 
 
 should make me refrain — it is some devil that 
 p 3 
 
316 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 urges me to thwart my own schemes by killing 
 hira~you fight against that devil, for love, as 
 as long as you may ; when the time comes, not 
 all the angels in heaven shall save him ! 
 
 I surveyed the weapon inquisitively; a hi- 
 deous notion struck me. How powerful I 
 should be possessing such an instrument ! I 
 took it from his hand, and touched the blade. 
 He looked astonished at the expression my 
 face assumed during a brief second. It was 
 not horror, it was covetousness. He snatched 
 the pistol back, jealously ; shut the knife, and 
 returned it to its concealment. 
 
 " I don't care if you tell him," said he. 
 Put him on his gurrd, and watch for him. 
 You know the terms we are on, I see ; his 
 danger does not shock you." 
 
 "What has Heathcliff done to jou ?" I 
 asked. *' In what has he wronged you to 
 warrant this appalling hatred? Wouldn't it 
 be wiser to bid him quit the house?" 
 
 " No," tl mdered Earnshaw^ " should he 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 317 
 
 offer to leave me, he's a dead man, persuade 
 hitu to attempt it, and you are a murderess ! 
 Ami to lose ally without a chance of retrieval? 
 Is Hareton to be a beggar ? Oh, damnation ! 
 1 will have it back ; and I'll have his gold too ; 
 and then his blood; and hell shall have his 
 soul ! It will be ten times blacker with that 
 guest than ever it was before !" 
 
 " You've acquainted me, Ellen, with your 
 old master's habits. He is clearly on the 
 verge of madness — he was so. last night, at 
 least. I shuddered to be near him, aid 
 thought on the servant's ill-bred moroseness as 
 comparatively agreeable. 
 
 He now recommenced his moody walk, and 
 I raised the latch, and escaped into the kitchen. 
 
 Joseph was bending over the lire, peering 
 into a large pan that svvuag above it ; and a 
 wooden bowl of oatmeal stood oa the settle 
 close by. The contents of the pan began to 
 boil, and he turned to plunge his hand into the 
 bowl ; I conjectured that this preparation was 
 
318 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 probably for our supper, and, being hungry, I 
 resolved it should be eatable — so crying out, 
 sharply — " III make the porridge !" I removed 
 the vessel out of his reach, and proceeded to 
 take off my hat and riding habit. " Mr. 
 Earnshaw," I continued, '' directs me to wait 
 on myself — I will — I'm not going to act the 
 lady among you, for fear I should starve." 
 
 " Gooid Lord!" he muttered, sitting down, 
 and stroking his ribbed stockings from the 
 knee to the ankle. ** If they's tub be fresh 
 ortherings — just when Aw gotten used tub two 
 maisters, if aw mun hev a mistress set o'er my 
 heead, it's loike time tub be flitting. Aw 
 niver did think tub say t' day ut aw mud lave 
 th' owld place — but aw daht it's nigh at 
 hend I" 
 
 This lamentation drew no notice from me ; I 
 went briskly to work ; sighing to remember a 
 period when it would have been all merry fun ; 
 but compelled speedily to drive off the re- 
 membrance. It racked me to recall past hap- 
 
WUTUERING HEIGHTS. 319 
 
 piness, and the greater peril there was of con- 
 juring up its apparition, the quicker the thible 
 ran round, and the faster the handfuls of meal 
 fell into the water. 
 
 Joseph beheld my style of cookery with 
 growing indignation. 
 
 '* Ttear !'' he ejaculated. *' Hareton, thah 
 willut sup thy porridge tuh neeght ; they'll be 
 nowt bud lumps as big as maw nave. Thear, 
 agean ! Aw'd fling in bowl un all, if aw wer 
 yah ! Thear, pale t' gull[> off, un' then yah'll 
 hae done wi't. Bang, bang. It's a marcy t' 
 bothom isn't deaved aht!" 
 
 It was rather a rough mess, I own, when 
 poured into the basins; four had been pro- 
 vided, and a gallon pitcher of new milk was 
 brought from the dairy, which HaretoD seized 
 and commenced drinking and spiUing from 
 the expansive lip. 
 
 I expostulated, and desired that he should 
 have his in a mug ; affirming that I could not 
 taste the liquid treated so dirtily. The old 
 
320 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 cynic chose to be vastly offended at this nicety ; 
 assuring me, repeatedly, that '' the barn was 
 every bit as gooid " as I, "and every bit as 
 woUsome," and wondering how I could fashion 
 to be so conceited ; meanwhile, the infant ruf- 
 fian continued sucking; and glowered up at 
 me defyingly, as he slavered into the jug. 
 
 *' I shall have my supper in another room," 
 I said. " Have you no place you call a par- 
 lour ?" 
 
 ** Parlour /" he echoed, sneeringly, '' par- 
 lour! Nay, we've noa parlours. If yah dun- 
 nut loike wer company, they's maister's; un' 
 if yah dunnut loike maister, they's us." 
 
 ** Then I shall go up-stairs,^' I answered ; 
 " shew me a chamber !" 
 
 I put my basin on a tray, and went myself 
 to fetch some more milk. 
 
 With great grumblings, the fellow rose, and 
 preceded me in my ascent : we mounted to the 
 garrets ; he opening a door, now and then, to 
 look into the apartments we passed. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 32 i 
 
 " Here's a rahrn," he said, at last, flinging 
 back a cranky board on hinges. " It's weel 
 eneugh tuh ate a few porridge in. They's a 
 pack uh corn i' t' corner, thear, meeterJy clane ; 
 if yah're feared uh muckying yer grand silk 
 does, spread yer hankerchir ut t' top on't." 
 
 The " rahm" was a kind of lumber-hole 
 smelling strong of malt and grain; various 
 sacks of which articles were piled around, 
 leaving a wide, bare space in the middle. 
 
 " Why, man !" I exclaimed, facing him an- 
 grily, " this is not a place to sleep in. 1 wish 
 to see my bed-room." 
 
 " Bed-rume !" he repeated, in a tone of 
 mockery. " Yah's see all t' bed-rumes thear 
 is — yon's mine." 
 
 He pointed into the second garret, only dif- 
 fering from the first in being more naked about 
 the walls, and having a large, low, curtainless 
 bed, with an indigo -coloured quilt, at one end. 
 
 " What do 1 want with yours?" I retorted. 
 p 5 
 
322 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 ** I suppose Mr. Heathcliff does not lodge at 
 the top of the house, does he ?' 
 
 " Oh I it's Maister HathecUff's yah're went- 
 ing?" cried he, as if making a new discovery. 
 *' Couldn't ye uh said soa, at onst ? un then, 
 aw mud uh telled ye, baht all this wark, ut 
 that's just one yah cannut sea — he alias keeps 
 it locked, un' nob'dy iver mells on't but his- 
 seln." 
 
 " You've a nice house, Josej)h," I could not 
 refraia from observing, " and pleasant inmates; 
 and I think the concentrated essence of all the 
 madness in the world took up its abode in my 
 brain the day I linked my fate with theirs ! 
 However that is not to the present purpose — 
 there are other rooms. For heaven's sake, be 
 quick, and let me settle somewhere !" 
 
 He made no reply to this adjuration ; only 
 plodding doggedly down the wooden steps, and 
 halting before an apartment which, from that 
 halt, and the superior quality of its furniture, 
 I conjectured to be the best one. 
 
WuTHERiNG Heights. 323 
 
 There was a carpet, a good one ; but the 
 paitern was obliterated by dust ; a fire-place 
 hung with cut paper dropping to pieces; a 
 handsome oak-bedstead with ample crimson 
 curtains of rather expensive material, and 
 modern make. But they had evidently expe- 
 rienced rough usage, the valances hung in 
 festoons, wrenched from their rings; and the 
 iron rod supporting them was bent in an arc, 
 on one side, causing the drapery to trail upon 
 the floor. The chairs were also damaged, 
 many of them severely ; and deep indentations 
 deformed the panels of the walls. 
 
 I was endeavouring to gather resolution for 
 entering, and taking possession, when my fool 
 of a guide announced — 
 
 " This here is t' maister's." 
 
 My supper by this time was cold, ray appe- 
 tite gone, and my patience exhausted. 1 in- 
 sisted on being provided instantly with a place 
 of refuge, and means of repose. 
 
 " Whear the divil," began the religious 
 
324 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 elder. " The Lord bless us I The Lord forgie 
 us ! Whear the hell, wold ye gang ? ye mar- 
 red, wearisome nowt ! Yah seen all bud Hare- 
 ton's bit uf a chamber. They's nut another 
 boile tuh lig dahn in i' th* hahse!" 
 
 1 was so vexed, I flung my tray, and its 
 contents on the ground ; and then seated my- 
 self at the stairs-head, hid my face in my 
 hands, and cried. 
 
 '* Ech ! ech !" exclaimed Joseph. " Weel 
 done, Miss Cathy ! weel done. Miss Cathy ! 
 Hahsiver, t' maister sail just tum'le o'er them 
 brocken pots; un' then we's hear summut; 
 we's hear hah it's tuh be. Gooid-fur-nowt 
 madling ! yah desarve pining froo this tuh 
 Churstmas, flinging t' precious gifts uh God 
 under fooit i' yer flaysome rages ! Bud, aw'm 
 mista'en if yah shew yer sperrit lang. Will 
 Hatheclift" bide sich bonny ways, think ye ? 
 Aw nobbut wish he muh cotch ye i' that 
 plisky. Aw nobbut wish he may." 
 
 And so he went scolding to his den beneath. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 325 
 
 taking the candle with him, and I remained in 
 the dark. 
 
 The period of reflection succeeding this silly 
 action, compelled me to admit the necessity of 
 smothering my pride, and choking my wrath, 
 and bestirring myself to remove its effects. 
 
 An unexpected aid presently appeared in 
 the shape of Throttler, whom I now recog- 
 nised as a son of our old Skulker; it had spent 
 its whelphood at the Grange, and was given 
 by my father to Mr. Hindley. I fancy it knew 
 me — it pushed its nose against mine by way of 
 salute, and then hastened to devour the por- 
 ridge, while I groped from step to step, collect- 
 ing the shattered earthenware, and drying the 
 spatters of milk from the bannister with my 
 pocket- handherchief. 
 
 Our labours were scarcely over when I heard 
 Earnshaw's tread in the passage ; my assistant 
 tucked in his tail, and pressed to the wall ; 1 
 stole into the nearest doorway. The dog's en- 
 deavour to avoid him was unsuccessful ; as I 
 
3i6 WUTHERING HEIGHTS* 
 
 guessed by a scutter down stairs, and a pro- 
 longed, piteous yelping. I had better luck. 
 He passed on, entered his chamber, and shut 
 the door. 
 
 Directly after Joseph came up with Hare- 
 ton, to put him to bed. I had found shelter in 
 Hareton's room, and the old man on seeing me, 
 said — 
 
 " They's rahm fur boath yah, un yer pride, 
 nah, aw sud think i' th hahse. It's empty ; 
 yah muh hev it all tub yerseln, un Him as alias 
 maks a third, i' sich ill company !" 
 
 Gladly did 1 take advantage of this intima- 
 tion; and the minute I flung myself into a 
 chair, by the fire, I nodded, and slept. 
 
 My slumber was deep, and sweet ; though 
 over far too soon. Mr. Heathcliff awoke me ; 
 he had just come in, and demanded, in his 
 loving manner, what I was doing there ? 
 
 I told him tiie cause of my staying up so 
 late — that he had the key of our room in his 
 pocket. 
 
WUTilERING HEIGHTS. 327 
 
 The adjective our gave mortal offence. He 
 swore it was not, nor ever should be mine ; and 
 he'd — but I'll not repeat his language, nor des- 
 cribe his habitual conduct ; he is ingjeuious and 
 unresting in teeking to gain mj abhorrence ! I 
 sometimes wonder at him with an intensity 
 that deadens my fear : yet, I assure you, a 
 tiger, or a venumuus Sc-rpent could not rouse 
 terror in me equal to that wliich he wakens. 
 He told me of Catherine's illness, and accused 
 ii;y brother of causing it ; promising that I 
 should be Edgar's proxy in suffering, till he 
 could get a hold of him. 
 
 " I do hate him — I am wretched — 
 I have been a fool I Beware of uttering one 
 breath of this to any one at the Grange. I 
 shall expect you every day — don't disappoint 
 me ! 
 
 "ISABELLA." 
 
32^ WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 CHAPTEE Xiy. 
 
 As soon as I had perused this epistle, I went to 
 the master, and informed him that his sister 
 had arrived at the Heights, and sent me a 
 a letter expressing her sorrow for Mrs. Linton's 
 situation, and her ardent desire to see him ; 
 with a wish that he would transmit to her, as 
 early as possible, some token of forgiveness by 
 me. 
 
 *•' Forgiveness ?" said Linton. " I have 
 nothing to forgive her, Ellen — you may call at 
 Wuthering Heights this afternoon, if you like, 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 329 
 
 and say that I am not angry ^ but I'm sorry to 
 have lost her : especially as I can never think 
 she'll be happy. It is out of the question my 
 going to see her, however ; we are eternally 
 divided ; and should she really wish to oblige 
 me, let her persuade the villain she has mar- 
 ried to leave the country." 
 
 " And you wont write her a little note, 
 sir ?" I asked, imploringly. 
 
 *' No,*' he answered. " It is needless. My 
 communication with Heathcliff's family shall 
 be as sparing as his with mine. It shall not 
 exist !" 
 
 Mr. Edgar's coldness depressed me exceed- 
 ingly; and all the way from the Grange, I 
 puzzled my brains how to put more heart into 
 what he said, when I repeated it; and how to 
 soften his refusal of even a few lines to con- 
 sole Isabella. 
 
 I dare say she had been on tho watch for 
 me since morning : I saw her looking through 
 the lattice, as I came up the garden causeway 
 
330 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 and I nodded to her ; but she drew back, as if 
 afraid of being observed. 
 
 I entered without knocking. There never 
 was such a dreary, dismal scene as the formerly 
 cheerful house presented ! I must confess 
 that, if I had been in the young lady's place , 
 I would, at least, have swept the hearth, and 
 wiped the tables with a duster. But she al- 
 ready partook of the pervading spirit of neglect 
 which encompassed her. Her pretty face was 
 wan and listless ; her hair uncurled ; some 
 locks hanging lankly down, and some care- 
 lessly twisted round her head. Probably she 
 had not touched her dress since yester evening. 
 
 Hindley was not there. Mr. Heathcliff sat 
 at a table, turning over some papers in his 
 pocket-book ; but he rose when I appeared, 
 asked me how I did, quite friendly, and offered 
 me a chair. 
 
 He was the only thing there that seemed 
 decent, and I thought he never looked better- 
 So much had circumstancea altered their posi- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 331 
 
 tlons, that he would certainly have struck a 
 stranger as a born and bred gentleman, and his 
 wife as a thorough little slattern ! 
 
 She came forward eagerly to gre^t me; and 
 held out one hand to take the expected letter. 
 
 I shook my head. She wouldn^t under- 
 stand the hint, but followed me to a side- 
 board, where I went to lay my bonnet, and 
 importuned me in a whisper to give her di- 
 rectly what I had brought. 
 
 Heathcliff guessed the meaning of her 
 manoeuvres, and said — 
 
 " If you have got anything for Isabella, as 
 no doubt you have, Nelly, give it to her. You 
 needn't make a secret of it ; we have no secrets 
 between us." 
 
 " Oh, I have nothing," I replied, thinking 
 it best to speak the truth at once. " My 
 master bid me tell his sister that she must not 
 expect either a letter or a visit from him at 
 present. He sends his love, ma'am, and his 
 wishes for your haj)piness, and his pardon for 
 
332 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 the grief you have occasioned ; but he thinks 
 that after this time, his household, and the 
 household here, should drop intercommunica- 
 tion ; as nothing good could come of keeping 
 it up. 
 
 Mrs, Heathcliff's lip quivered slightly, and 
 she returned to her seat in the window. Her 
 husband took his stand on the hearthstone, 
 near me, and began to put questions concern- 
 ing Catherine. 
 
 1 told him as much as I thought proper of 
 her illness, and he extorted from me, by cross- 
 examination, most of the facts connected with 
 its origin. 
 
 I blamed her, as she deserved, for bringing 
 it all on herself; and ended by hoping that he 
 would follow Mr. Linton's example, and avoid 
 future interference with his family, for good or 
 evil. 
 
 "Mrs Linton is now just recovering," I 
 said, ** she'll never be like she was, but her 
 life is spared, and if you really have a regard 
 for her, you'll shun crossing her way again. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 333 
 
 Nay you'll move out of this country entirely : 
 and that you may not regret it, I'll inform 
 you Catherine Linton is as different now, from 
 your old friend Catherine Earnshaw, as that 
 young lady is different from me ! Her appear- 
 ance is changed greatly, her character much 
 more so; and the person, who is compelled, of 
 necessity, to be her companion, will only sus- 
 tain his affection hereafter, by the remembrance 
 of what she once wns, by common humanity, 
 and a sense of duty !" 
 
 " That is quite possible," remarked Heath- 
 cliff forcing himself to seem calm, "quite pos- 
 sible that your master should have notliing but 
 common humanity, and a sense of duty to fall 
 back upon. But do you imagine that I shall 
 leave Catherine to his duty and humanity'/ and 
 can you compare my feelings respecting Cathe- 
 rine, to liis ? Before you leave this hou^e, I 
 must exact a promise from you, that you'll get 
 me an interview with her — consent, or refuse, 
 I will see her ! What do you say ?" 
 
 " I say Mr. Heathcliff," I replied, '' jou 
 
334 WL'THERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 must not — you never shall through my means. 
 Another encounter between you and the mas- 
 ter, would kill her altogether I" 
 
 *' With your aid that may be avoided ;" he 
 continued, ''and should there be danger of 
 such an event — should he be the cause of add- 
 ing a single trouble more to her existence — 
 Why, I think, I shall be justified in going to 
 extremes! I wish you had sincerity enough 
 to tell me whether Catherine would suffer 
 greatly from his Iosp. The fear that she would 
 restrains me : and there you see the distinction 
 between our feelings — Had he been in my 
 place, and I in his, though I hated him with a 
 hatred that turned my life to gall, I never 
 w^ould have raised a hand against him. You 
 may look incredulous, if you please ! I never 
 would have banished him from her society, as 
 long as she desired his. 1 he moment her re- 
 gard ceased, I would have torn his heart out, 
 and drank his blood I But, till then, it you 
 don't believe me, you don't know me — till then. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 335 
 
 I would have died by inches before I touched 
 a single hair of his head !" 
 
 " And yet, I interrupted, you have no scru- 
 ples in completely ruining all hopes of her per- 
 fect restoration, by thrusting yourself in to 
 her remembrance, now, when she has nearly 
 forgotten you, and involving her in a new tu- 
 mult of discord, and distress." 
 
 **You suppose she has nearly forgotten 
 Tr.e ?'* he said. '* Oh Nelly ! you know she 
 has not ! You know as well as I do, that for 
 every thought she spends on Linton, she 
 spends a thousand on me I At a most misera- 
 ble period of my life, T had a notion of the 
 kind, it haunted me on my return to the 
 neighbourhoor?, last summer, but only her own 
 assurance, could make me admit the horrible 
 idea again. And then, Linton would be no- 
 thing, nor Hindley, nor all the dreams that 
 ever I dreamt. Two words would comprehend 
 my future death and hell — existence, after losing 
 her would be hell. 
 
336 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 ** Yet I was a fool to fancy for a moment 
 that she valued Edgar Linton's attachment 
 more than mine — If he loved with all the 
 powers of his puny being, he couldn't love as 
 much in eighty years, as I could in a day. 
 And Catherine has a heart as deep as 1 have ; 
 the sea could be as readily contained in that 
 horse- trough, as her whole affection be mo- 
 nopoHzed by him — Tush ! He is scarcely a 
 degree dearer Ho her than her dog, or her 
 horse — It is not in him to be loved like me, 
 how can she love in him what he has not ? 
 
 " Catherine and Edgar are as fond of each 
 other, as any two people can be !" cried Isa- 
 bella with sudden vivacity. '"' No one has a 
 right to talk in that manner, and I won't hear 
 my brother depreciated in silence!" 
 
 *' Your brother is wondrous fond of you 
 too, isn't le?" ot served Heathcliff scornfully. 
 ** He turns you adrift on the world with sur- 
 prising alacrity." 
 
 " He is not aware of what 1 suffer," she re- 
 plied. *' I didn't tell him that." 
 
WUTHEBING HEIGHTS. 337 
 
 "You have been telling him something, 
 then — you have written, have you ?" 
 
 *' To say that I was married, I did write — 
 you saw the note." 
 
 " And nothing since ?" 
 
 ^' My young lady is looking sadly the worse, 
 for her change of condition," I remarked. 
 '•' Somebody's love comes short in her case, 
 obviously — whose I may guess ; but, perhaps, 
 I shouldn't say." 
 
 " I should guess it was her own,'* said 
 HeathclifF. " She degenerates into a mere 
 slut I She is tired of trying to please me, 
 uncommonly early — You'd hardly credit it, 
 but the very morrow of our wedding, she was 
 weeping to go home. However, she'll suit 
 this house so much the better for not being 
 over nice, and I'll take care she does not dis- 
 grace me by rambling abroad." 
 
 "Well, sir;" returned I, "I hope you'll 
 consider that Mrs. Heathcliflf is accustomed to 
 
 VOL. I. Q 
 
3^8 WUTHERTNG HEIGHTS, 
 
 be looked after, and waited on; and that she 
 has been brought up like an only daughter 
 whom every one was ready to serve — You 
 must let her have a maid to keep things tidy 
 about her, and you must treat her kindly — 
 "Whatever be your notion of Mr. Edgar, you 
 caonot doubt that she has a capacity for strong 
 attachments or she wouldn't have abandoned 
 the elegancies, and comforts, and friends of 
 her former home, to fix contentedly, in such a 
 wilderness as this, with you." 
 
 "She abandoned them under a delusion ;" 
 he answered, " picturing in me a hero of ro- 
 mance, and expecting unlimited indulgences 
 from my chivalrous devotion. I can hardly 
 regard her in the light of a rational creature, 
 so obstinately has she persisted in forming a 
 fabulous notion of my character, and acting on 
 the false impressions she cherished. But at 
 last, I think she begins to know me — I don't 
 perceive the silly smiles and grimaces that pro- 
 voked me, at first ; and the senseless incapa- 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 339 
 
 bility of discerning that I was in earnest when 
 I gave her my opinion of her infatuation, and 
 berself — It was a marvellous effort of perspic- 
 acity to discover that I did not love her. I 
 believed at one time, no lessons could teach 
 her that! aud yet it is poorly learnt ; for this 
 morning she announced, as a piece of appal- 
 ling intelligence, that I had actually succeed- 
 ed in making her hate me ! A positive labour 
 of Hercules, I assure you ! If it be achieved, 
 Ihavecauseto return thanks — Can I trust your 
 assertion, Isabella, are you sure you hate me ? 
 If I let you alone for half-a-day, won't you 
 come sicrhinor and wheedlinoj to me aorain ? I 
 
 Do O O 
 
 dare say she would rather I had seemed all 
 tenderness before you ; it wounds her vanity 
 to have the truth exposed. But, I don't care 
 who knows that the passion was wholly on 
 one side, and I never told her a lie about it. 
 She cannot accuse me of showing a bit of de- 
 ceitful softness. The first thing she saw me 
 
 do, on coming out of the Grange, was to hang 
 Q 3 
 
340 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 up her little dog , and when she pleaded for it 
 the first words I uttered, were a wish that I 
 had the hanging of every being belonging to 
 her, except one : possibly, she took that ex- 
 ception for herself — But no brutality disgusted 
 her — I suppose, she has an innate admiration 
 of it, if only her precious person were secure 
 from injury ! Now, was it not the depth of 
 absurdity — of genuine idiocy, for that pitiful 
 slavish, mean- minded brach to dream that I 
 could love her ? Tell your master, Nelly, that 
 I never, in all my life, met with such an ab- 
 ject thing as she is — She even disgraces the name 
 of Linton ; and I've sometimes relented, from 
 pure lack of invention, in my experiments on 
 what she could endure, and still creep shame- 
 fully cringing back ! But tell him also, to set 
 his fraternal and magisterial heart at ease, that 
 I keep strictly within the limits of the law — I 
 have avoided, up to this period, giving her the 
 slightest right to claim a separation; and 
 what's more, she'd thank nobodj' for dividing 
 
WUrHERING HEIGHTS. 341 
 
 U8 — if she desired to go she might — the nui- 
 sance of her presence outweighs the gratifica- 
 tion to be derived from tormenting her P' 
 
 **Mr. Heathcliff," said I, " this is the talk 
 of a madman, and your wife, most likely is con- 
 vinced you are mad ; and, for that reason, she 
 has borne with you hitherto: but now that 
 you say she may go, she'll doubtless avail her- 
 self of the permission — You are not so be- 
 witched ma'am, are you, as to remain with him, 
 of your own accord ?" 
 
 "Take care, Ellen!" answered Isabella, her 
 eyes sparkling irefully — there was no mis- 
 doubting by their expression, the full success 
 of her partner's endeavours to make himself 
 detested, " Don't put faith in a single 
 word he speaks. He^s a lying fiend, a mon- 
 ster, and not a human being! I've been told 
 I might leave him before ; and I've made the 
 attempt, but I dare not repeat it ! Only 
 Ellen, promise you'll not mention a syllable of 
 
242 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 his infamous conversation to my brother or 
 Catherine — whatever he may pretend, he 
 wishes to provoke Edgar to desperation — he 
 says he has married me on purpose to obtain 
 power over him ; and he shanH obtain it— I'll 
 die first I I just hope, I pray that he may 
 forget his diabolical prudence, and kill me! 
 The single pleasure I can imagine is, is to die, 
 or to see him dead !" 
 
 " There— that will do for the present !" said 
 Heathcliff. " If you are called upon in a court 
 of law, you'll remember her language, Nelly ! 
 And take a good look at that countenance — 
 she's near the point which would suit m>. 
 No, you're not fit to be your own guardian, 
 Isabella now ; and I, being your legal pro- 
 tector, must retain you in my custody, how- 
 ever distasteful the obligation may be— Go up 
 stairs ; I have something to say to Ellen Dean, 
 in private. That's not the way — up-stairs, I 
 tell you! Why this is the road up-stairs, 
 child!" 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 343 
 
 He seized, and thrust her from the room ; 
 and returned muttering, 
 
 " I have no pity ! I have no pity I The 
 worms writhe, the more I yearn to crush out 
 their entrails ! It is a moral teething, and I 
 grind with greater energy, in proportion to the 
 increase of pain." 
 
 "Do you understand what the word pity 
 means ?" I said hastening to resume my bon- 
 net. " Did you ever feel a touch of it in your 
 
 life r 
 
 " Put that down !" he interrupted, perceiving 
 my intention to depart. " You are not going 
 yet — Come here now, Nelly — I must either 
 persuade, or compel you to aid me in fulfilling 
 my determination to see Catherine, and that 
 without delay — I swear that I meditate no 
 harm; I don't desire to cause any disturbance, 
 or to exasperate, or insult Mr. Linton ; I only 
 wish to hear from herself how she is, and 
 why she has been ill ; and to ask, if anything 
 that I could do would be of use to her. Last 
 
344 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 night, I was in the Grange garden six hours, 
 and I'll return there to-night ; and every night 
 I'll haunt the place, and every day, till I find 
 an opportunity of entering. If Edgar Linton 
 meets me, I shall not hesitate to knock him 
 down, and give him enough to ensure his qui- 
 escence while I stay — If his servants oppose 
 me, I shall threaten them off with these pistols 
 — But wouldn't it be better to prevent my 
 coming in contact with them, or their master. 
 And you could do it so easily ! I'd warn you 
 when I came, and then you might let me in 
 unobserved, as soon as she was alone, and 
 watch till I departed — your conscience quite 
 calm, you would be hindering mischief." 
 
 I protested against playing that treacherous 
 part in my employer's house ; and besides, I 
 urged the cruelty, and selfishness of his destroy- 
 ing Mrs. Linton's tranquillity, for his satisfac- 
 tion. 
 
 *' The commonest occurrence startles her 
 painfully," I said. " She's all nerves, and she 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 345 
 
 couldn't bear the surprise, I'm positive — Don't 
 persist, sir ! or else, I shall be obliged to in- 
 form my master of your designs, and he'll take 
 measures to secure his house and its inmates 
 from any such unwarrantable intrusions ! 
 
 In that case, I'll take measures to secure 
 you, woman !" exclaimed HeathclifF, '* you 
 shall not leave Wuthering Heights till to-mor- 
 row morning. It is a foolish story to assert 
 that Catherine could not bear to see me ; and 
 as to surprising her, I don't desire it, you must 
 prepare her — ask her if I may come. You say 
 she never mentions my name, and that I am 
 never mentioned to her. To whom should 
 she mention me if I am a forbidden topic in 
 the house ? She thinks you are all spies for 
 her husband— Oh, I've no doubt she's in hell 
 among you ! I guess, by her silence as much 
 as any thing, what she feels. You say she is 
 often restless, and anxious looking — is that a 
 proof of tranquillity ? You talk of her mind, 
 being unsettled — How the devil could it be 
 
346 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 otherwise, in her frightful isolation. And that 
 insipid, paltry creature attending her from 
 duty and humanity \ From 'pity and charity. 
 He might as well plant an oak in a flower- 
 pot, and expect it to thrive, as imagine he 
 can restore her to vigour in the soil of hid 
 shallow cares I Let us settle it at once ; will 
 ,you stay here, and am I to fight my way to 
 Catherine over Linton, and his footmen ? Or 
 will you be my friend, as you have been hi- 
 therto, and do what 1 request ? Decide ! be- 
 cause there is no reason for my lingering ano- 
 ther minute, if you persist in your stubborn 
 ill-nature 1" 
 
 Well, Mr. Lock wood, I argued, and com- 
 plained, and flatly jefused him fifty times ; but 
 in the long run he forced me to an agreement 
 — I engaged to carry a letter from him to my 
 mistress; and should she consent, I promised 
 to let him have intelligence of Linton's next 
 absence from home, when he might come, and 
 get in as he was able — I wouldn't be there. 
 
WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 347 
 
 and my fellow servants should be equally out 
 of the way. 
 
 Was it right, or wrong? I fear it was 
 wrons:, though expedient. I thought I pre- 
 vented another explosion by my compliance ; 
 and I thought too, it might create a favourable 
 crisis in Catherine's mental illness : and then 
 I remembered Mr. Edgar's stern rebuke of my 
 carrying tales ; and I tried to smooth away all 
 disquietude on the subject, by affirming, with 
 frequent iteration, that, that betrayal of trust, 
 if it merited so harsh an appellation, should 
 be the last. 
 
 Notwithstanding my journey homeward was 
 sadder than my journey thither ; and many 
 misgivings I had, ere I could prevail on my- 
 self to put the missive into Mrs. Linton's 
 hand. 
 
 But here is Kenneth — I'll go down, and tell 
 him how much better you are. My history 
 is drei as we say, and will serve to wile away 
 another morning. 
 
348 WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 
 
 Dree, and dreary ! I reflected as the good 
 woman descended to receive the doctor ; and 
 not exactly of tbe kind which I should have 
 chosen to amuse me ; but never mind ! I'll ex- 
 tract wholesome medicines from Mrs. Dean's 
 bitter herbs ; and firstly, let me beware of the 
 fascination that lurks in Catherine HeathclifF's 
 brilliant eyes. I should be in a curious taking 
 if I surrendered my heart to that young per- 
 son, and the daughter turned out a second edi- 
 tion of tbe mother ! 
 
 THE END OF VOL. I. 
 
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