| 1 |
AT the close of three weeks, I was able to quit my
chamber, and move about the house.
| 2 |
And on the first occasion of my sitting up in the evening, I asked
Catherine to read to me, because my eyes were weak.
We were in the library, the master having gone to bed: she
consented, rather unwillingly, I fancied; and imagining my sort of
books did not suit her, I bid her please herself in the choice of
what she perused.
| | 3 |
She selected one of her own favourites, and got forward steadily
about an hour; then came frequent questions.
| | 4 |
"Ellen, are not you tired?
Hadn't you better lie down now?
You'll be sick, keeping up so long, Ellen."
| | 5 |
"No, no, dear, I'm not tired," I returned, continually.
| | 6 |
Perceiving me immovable, she essayed another method of showing her
dis-relish for her occupation.
It changed to yawning, and stretching, and --
| | 7 |
"Ellen, I'm tired."
| | 8 |
"Give over then and talk," I answered.
| | 9 |
That was worse; she fretted and sighed, and looked at her watch
till eight; and finally went to her room, completely overdone with
sleep, judging by her peevish, heavy look, and the constant rubbing
she inflicted on her eyes.
| | 10 |
The following night she seemed more impatient still; and on the
third from recovering my company, she complained of a head-ache,
and left me.
| | 11 |
I thought her conduct odd; and having remained alone a long while,
I resolved on going, and inquiring whether she were better, and
asking her to come and lie on the sofa, instead of up stairs, in
the dark.
| | 12 |
No Catherine could I discover up stairs, and none below.
The servants affirmed they had not seen her.
I listened at Mr Edgar's door -- all was silence.
I returned to her apartment, extinguished my candle, and seated
myself in the window.
| | 13 |
The moon shone bright; a sprinkling of snow covered the ground, and
I reflected that she might, possibly, have taken it into her head
to walk about the garden, for refreshment.
I did detect a figure creeping along the inner fence of the park;
but it was not my young mistress; on its emerging into the light, I
recognized one of the grooms.
| | 14 |
He stood a considerable period, viewing the carriage road through
the grounds; then started off at a brisk pace, as if he had
detected something, and reappeared, presently, leading Miss's pony;
and there she was, just dismounted, and walking by its side.
| | 15 |
The man took his charge stealthily across the grass towards the
stable.
Cathy entered by the casement-window of the drawing-room, and
glided noiselessly up to where I awaited her.
| | 16 |
She put the door gently to, slipped off her snowy shoes, untied her
hat, and was proceeding, unconscious of my espionage, to lay aside
her mantle, when I suddenly rose, and revealed myself.
The surprise petrified her an instant: she uttered an inarticulate
exclamation, and stood fixed.
| | 17 |
"My dear Miss Catherine," I began, too vividly impressed by her
recent kindness to break into a scold, "where have you been riding
out at this hour?
And why should you try to deceive me, by telling a tale.
Where have you been?
Speak!"
| | 18 |
"To the bottom of the park," she stammered.
"I didn't tell a tale."
| | 19 |
"And no where else?" I demanded.
| | 20 |
"No," was the muttered reply.
| | 21 |
"Oh, Catherine," I cried, sorrowfully.
be driven to uttering an untruth to me.
That does grieve me.
I'd rather be three months ill, than hear you frame a deliberate
lie."
| | 22 |
She sprang forward, and bursting into tears, threw her arms round
my neck.
| | 23 |
"Well Ellen, I'm so afraid of you being angry," she said.
"Promise not to be angry, and you shall know the very truth.
I hate to hide it."
| | 24 |
We sat down in the window-seat; I assured her I would not scold,
whatever her secret might be, and I guessed it, of course, so she
commenced --
| | 25 |
"I've been to Wuthering Heights, Ellen, and I've never missed going
a day since you fell ill; except thrice before, and twice after you
left your room.
I gave Michael books and pictures to prepare Minny every evening,
and to put her back in the stable; you mustn't scold him
either, mind.
I was at the Heights by half-past six, and generally stayed till
half-past eight, and then gallopped home.
It was not to amuse myself that I went; I was often wretched all
the time.
Now and then, I was happy, once in a week perhaps.
At first, I expected there would be sad work persuading you to let
me keep my word to Linton, for I had engaged to call again next
day, when we quitted him; but, as you stayed up stairs on the
morrow, I escaped that trouble; while Michael was refastening the
lock of the park door in the afternoon, I got possession of the
key, and told him how my cousin wished me to visit him, because he
was sick, and couldn't come to the Grange: and how papa would
object to my going.
And then I negotiated with him about the pony.
He is fond of reading, and he thinks of leaving soon to get
married, so he offered, if I would lend him books out of the
library, to do what I wished; but I preferred giving him my own,
and that satisfied him better.
| | 26 |
"On my second visit, Linton seemed in lively spirits; and
and a good fire, and told us that as Joseph was out at a prayer-
meeting, and Hareton Earnshaw was off with his dogs, robbing our
woods of pheasants, as I heard afterwards, we might do what we
liked.
| | 27 |
"She brought me some warm wine and gingerbread; and appeared
exceedingly good-natured; and Linton sat in the arm-chair, and I in
the little rocking chair, on the hearth-stone, and we laughed and
talked so merrily, and found so much to say; we planned where we
would go, and what we would do in summer.
I needn't repeat that, because you would call it silly.
| | 28 |
"One time, however, we were near quarrelling.
He said the pleasantest manner of spending a hot July day was lying
from morning till evening on a bank of heath in the middle of the
moors, with the bees humming dreamily about among the bloom, and
the larks singing high up over head, and the blue sky, and bright
sun shining steadily and cloudlessly.
That was his most perfect idea of heaven's happiness -- mine was
rocking in a rustling green tree, with a west wind blowing, and
bright, white clouds flitting rapidly above; and not only larks,
but throstles, and blackbirds, and linnets, and cuckoos pouring out
music on every side, and the moors seen at a distance, broken into
cool dusky dells; but close by great swells of long grass
undulating in waves to the breeze; and woods and sounding water,
and the whole world awake and wild with joy.
He wanted all to lie in an ecstacy of peace; I wanted all to
sparkle, and dance in a glorious jubilee.
| | 29 |
I said his heaven would be only half alive, and he said mine would
be drunk; I said I should fall asleep in his, and he said he could
not breathe in mine, and began to grow very snappish.
At last, we agreed to try both as soon as the right weather came;
After sitting still an hour, I looked at the great room with its
smooth, uncarpeted floor; and thought how nice it would be to play
in, if we removed the table; and I asked Linton to call Zillah in
to help us -- and we'd have a game at blind-man's buff -- she
should try to catch us -- you used to, you know, Ellen.
He wouldn't, there was no pleasure in it, he said; but he consented
to play ball with me.
We found two, in a cupboard, among a heap of old toys; tops, and
hoops, and battledoors, and shuttlecocks.
One was marked C., and the other H; I wished to have the C.,
because that stood for Catherine, and the H. might be for
Heathcliff, his name; but the bran came out of H., and Linton
didn't like it.
| | 30 |
I beat him constantly; and he got cross again, and coughed, and
returned to his chair: that night, though, he easily recovered his
good humour; he was charmed with two or three pretty songs --
your songs, Ellen; and when I was obliged to go, he begged
and entreated me to come the following evening, and I promised.
| | 31 |
Minny and I went flying home as light as air: and I dreamt of
Wuthering Heights, and my sweet, darling cousin, till morning.
| | 32 |
"On the morrow, I was sad; partly because you were poorly, and
partly that I wished my father knew, and approved of my excursions:
but it was beautiful moonlight after tea; and, as I rode on, the
gloom cleared.
| | 33 |
I shall have another happy evening, I thought to myself; and what
delights me more, my pretty Linton will.
| | 34 |
"I trotted up their garden, and was turning round to the back, when
that fellow Earnshaw met me, took my bridle, and bid me go in by
the front entrance.
He patted Minny's neck, and said she was a bonny beast, and
appeared as if he wanted me to speak to him.
I only told him to leave my horse alone, or else it would kick him.
| | 35 |
| | 36 |
" 'It wouldn't do mitch hurt if it did;' and surveyed its legs with
a smile.
| | 37 |
"I was half inclined to make it try; however, he moved off to open
the door, and, as he raised the latch, he looked up to the
inscription above, and said, with a stupid mixture of awkwardness,
and elation:
| | 38 |
" 'Miss Catherine!
I can read yon, nah.'
| | 39 |
" 'Wonderful,' I exclaimed.
'Pray let us hear you -- you are grown clever!'
| | 40 |
"He spelt, and drawled over by syllables, the name --
| | 41 |
" 'Hareton Earnshaw.'
| | 42 |
" 'And the figures?' I cried, encouragingly, perceiving that he
came to a dead halt.
| | 43 |
" 'I cannot tell them yet,' he answered.
| | 44 |
" 'Oh, you dunce!' I said, laughing heartily at his failure.
| | 45 |
"The fool stared, with a grin hovering about his lips, and a scowl
gathering over his eyes, as if uncertain whether he might not join
in my mirth; whether it were not pleasant familiarity, or what it
really was, contempt.
| | 46 |
I settled his doubts by suddenly retrieving my gravity, and
desiring him to walk away, for I came to see Linton not him.
| | 47 |
He reddened -- I saw that by the moonlight -- dropped his hand from
the latch, and skulked off, a picture of mortified vanity.
He imagined himself to be as accomplished as Linton, I suppose,
because he could spell his own name; and was marvellously
discomfited that I didn't think the same."
| | 48 |
"Stop Miss Catherine, dear!" I interrupted.
"I shall not scold, but I don't like your conduct there.
If you had remembered that Hareton was your cousin, as much as
Master Heathcliff, you would have felt how improper it was to
behave in that way.
At least, it was praiseworthy ambition for him to desire to be as
learn merely to show off; you had made him ashamed of his
ignorance, before: I have no doubt; and he wished to remedy it and
please you.
To sneer at his imperfect attempt was very bad breeding -- had
you been brought up in his circumstances, would you be less
rude? he was as quick and as intelligent a child as ever you were,
and I'm hurt that he should be despised now, because that base
Heathcliff has treated him so unjustly."
| | 49 |
"Well, Ellen, you won't cry about it, will you?" she exclaimed,
surprised at my earnestness.
"But wait, and you shall hear if he conned his a b c, to please me;
and if it were worth while being civil to the brute.
I entered, Linton was lying on the settle and half got up to
welcome me.
| | 50 |
" 'I'm ill to-night, Catherine, love;' he said, 'and you must have
all the talk, and let me listen.
Come, and sit by me -- I was sure you wouldn't break your word, and
I'll make you promise again, before you go.'
| | 51 |
"I knew now that I mustn't tease him, as he was ill; and I spoke
softly and put no questions, and avoided irritating him in any way.
I had brought some of my nicest books for him; he asked me to read
a little of one, and I was about to comply, when Earnshaw burst the
door open, having gathered venom with reflection.
He advanced direct to us; seized Linton by the arm, and swung him
off the seat.
| | 52 |
" 'Get to thy own room!' he said, in a voice almost inarticulate
with passion, and his face looked swelled and furious.
'Take her there if she comes to see thee -- thou shalln't keep me
out of this.
Begone, wi' ye both!'
| | 53 |
"He swore at us, and left Linton no time to answer, nearly throwing
him into the kitchen; and he clenched his fist, as I followed,
seemingly longing to knock me down.
I was afraid, for a moment, and I let one volume fall; he kicked it
after me, and shut us out.
| | 54 |
"I heard a malignant, crackly laugh by the fire, and turn
hands, and quivering.
| | 55 |
" 'Aw wer sure he'd sarve ye eht!
He's a grand lad!
He's getten t' raight sperrit in him!
He knaws -- Aye, he knaws, as weel as Aw do, who sud be
t' maister yonder -- Ech, ech, ech!
He made ye skift properly!
Ech, ech, ech!'
| | 56 |
" 'Where must we go?' I said to my cousin, disregarding the old
wretch's mockery.
| | 57 |
"Linton was white and trembling.
He was not pretty then -- Ellen, Oh! no, he looked frightful! for
his thin face, and large eyes were wrought into an expression of
frantic, powerless fury.
He grasped the handle of the door, and shook it -- it was fastened
inside.
| | 58 |
" 'If you don't let me in I'll kill you; If you don't let me in
I'll kill you!' he rather shrieked than said.
'Devil! devil!
I'll kill you, I'll kill you!'
| | 59 |
"Joseph uttered his croaking laugh again.
| | 60 |
" 'Thear, that's t' father!' he cried.
'That's father!
We've allas summat uh orther side in us -- Niver heed Hareton, lad
-- dunnut be 'feared -- he cannot get at thee!'
| | 61 |
"I took hold of Linton's hands, and tried to pull him away; but he
shrieked so shockingly that I dared not proceed.
At last, his cries were choked by a dreadful fit of coughing; blood
gushed from his mouth, and he fell on the ground.
| | 62 |
"I ran into the yard, sick with terror; and called for Zillah, as
loud as I could.
She soon heard me; she was milking the cows in a shed behind the
barn; and hurrying from her work, she inquired what there was to
do?
| | 63 |
"I hadn't breath to explain; dragging her in, I looked about for
Linton.
Earnshaw had come out to examine the mischief he had caused, and he
was then conveying the poor thing up-stairs.
Zillah and I ascended after him; but, he stopped me, at the top of
the steps, and said I shouldn't go in, I must go home.
| | 64 |
"I exclaimed that he had killed Linton and I would enter.
| | 65 |
"Joseph locked the door, and declared I should do 'no sich stuff,'
and asked me whether I were 'bahn to be as mad as him.'
| | 66 |
"I stood crying, till the housekeeper re-appeared; she affirmed
that he would be better in a bit; but he couldn't do with that
shrieking, and din, and she took me, and nearly, carried me into
the house.
| | 67 |
"Ellen, I was ready to tear my hair off my head!
I sobbed and wept so that my eyes were almost blind: and the
ruffian you have such sympathy with, stood opposite; presuming
every now and then, to bid me 'wisht,' and denying that it was his
fault; and finally, frightened by my assertions that I would tell
papa, and that he should be put in prison, and hanged, he commenced
blubbering himself, and hurried out to hide his cowardly agitation.
| | 68 |
"Still, I was not rid of him: when at length they compelled me to
depart, and I had got some hundred yards off the premises, he
suddenly issued from the shadow of the road-side, and checked Minny
and took hold of me.
| | 69 |
" 'Miss Catherine, I'm ill grieved,' he began, 'but it's rayther
too bad -- -- '
| | 70 |
"I gave him a cut with my whip, thinking, perhaps he would murder
me -- He let go, thundering one of his horrid curses, and I
gallopped home more than half out of my senses.
| | 71 |
"I didn't bid you good-night, that evening; and I didn't go to
Wuthering Heights, the next -- I wished to, exceedingly; but I was
strangely excited, and dreaded to hear that Linton was dead,
sometimes; and sometimes shuddered at the thought of encountering
Hareton.
| | 72 |
"On the third day I took courage; at least, I couldn't bear longer
suspense and stole off, once more.
manage to creep into the house, and up to Linton's room,
unobserved.
However, the dogs gave notice of my approach: Zillah received me,
and saying 'the lad was mending nicely,' showed me into a small,
tidy, carpeted apartment, where, to my inexpressible joy, I beheld
Linton laid on a little sofa, reading one of my books.
But he would neither speak to me, nor look at me, through a whole
hour, Ellen -- He has such an unhappy temper -- and what quite
confounded me, when he did open his mouth it was to utter the
falsehood, that I had occasioned the uproar, and Hareton was not to
blame!"
| | 73 |
"Unable to reply, except passionately, I got up, and walked from
the room.
He sent after me a faint 'Catherine!' he did not reckon on being
answered so -- but I wouldn't turn back; and the morrow was the
second day on which I stayed at home, nearly determined to visit
him no more.
| | 74 |
"But it was so miserable going to bed, and getting up, and never
hearing anything about him, that my resolution again melted into
air, before it was properly formed.
It had appeared wrong to take the journey once; now it
seemed wrong to refrain.
Michael came to ask if he must saddle Minny; I said 'Yes,' and
considered myself doing a duty as she bore me over the hills.
| | 75 |
"I was forced to pass the front windows to get to the court; it was
no use trying to conceal my presence.
| | 76 |
" 'Young master is in the house,' said Zillah, as she saw me making
for the parlour.
| | 77 |
"I went in, Earnshaw was there also, but he quitted the room
directly.
Linton sat in the great arm chair half asleep; walking up to the
fire, I began in a serious tone, partly meaning it to be true.
| | 78 |
" 'As you don't like me Linton, and as you think I come on purpose
this is our last meeting -- let us say good-bye; and tell Mr
Heathcliff that you have no wish to see me, and that he mustn't
invent any more falsehoods on the subject.'
| | 79 |
" 'Sit down and take your hat off, Catherine,' he answered.
'You are so much happier than I am, you ought to be better.
Papa talks enough of my defects, and shows enough scorn of me, to
make it natural I should doubt myself -- I doubt whether I am not
altogether as worthless as he calls me, frequently; and then I feel
so cross and bitter, I hate everybody!
I am worthless, and bad in temper, and bad in spirit,
almost always -- and if you choose, you may say good-bye
-- you'll get rid of an annoyance -- Only, Catherine, do me this
justice; believe that if I might be as sweet, and as kind, and as
good as you are, I would be, as willingly, and more so, than as
happy and as healthy.
And, believe that your kindness has made me love you deeper than if
I deserved your love, and though I couldn't, and cannot help
showing my nature to you, I regret it, and repent it, and shall
regret, and repent it, till I die!'
| | 80 |
"I felt he spoke the truth; and I felt I must forgive him; and,
though he should quarrel the next moment, I must forgive him again.
We were reconciled, but we cried, both of us, the whole time I
stayed.
Not entirely for sorrow, yet I was sorry Linton had that
distorted nature.
He'll never let his friends be at ease, and he'll never be at ease
himself!
| | 81 |
"I have always gone to his little parlour, since that night;
because his father returned the day after.
About three times, I think, we have been merry, and hopeful, as we
were the first evening; the rest of my visits were dreary and
troubled -- now, with his selfishness and spite; and now with his
sufferings: but I've learned to endure the former with nearly as
little resentment as the latter.
| | 82 |
"Mr Heathcliff purposely avoids me.
I have hardly seen him at all.
Last Sunday, indeed, coming earlier than usual, I
the night before.
I can't tell how he knew of it, unless he listened.
Linton had certainly behaved provokingly; however, it was the
business of nobody but me; and I interrupted Mr Heathcliff's
lecture, by entering, and telling him so.
He burst into a laugh, and went away, saying he was glad I took
that view of the matter.
Since then, I've told Linton he must whisper his bitter things.
| | 83 |
"Now, Ellen, you have heard all; and I can't be prevented from
going to Wuthering Heights, except by inflicting misery on two
people -- whereas, if you'll only not tell papa, my going need
disturb the tranquillity of none.
You'll not tell, will you?
It will be very heartless if you do."
| | 84 |
"I'll make up my mind on that point by to-morrow, Miss Catherine,"
I replied.
"It requires some study; and so I'll leave you to your rest, and go
think it over."
| | 85 |
I thought it over aloud, in my master's presence; walking straight
from her room to his, and relating the whole story, with the
exception of her conversations with her cousin, and any mention of
Hareton.
| | 86 |
Mr Linton was alarmed and distressed more than he would acknowledge
to me.
In the morning, Catherine learnt my betrayal of her confidence, and
she learnt also that her secret visits were to end.
| | 87 |
In vain she wept and writhed against the interdict; and implored
her father to have pity on Linton: all she got to comfort her was a
promise that he would write, and give him leave to come to the
Grange when he pleased; but explaining that he must no longer
expect to see Catherine at Wuthering Heights.
Perhaps, had he been aware of his nephew's disposition and state of
health, he would have seen fit to withhold even that slight
consolation.
| | 88 |
| |
