| 1 |
SUMMER was already past its prime, when Edgar
reluctantly yielded his assent to their entreaties, and Catherine
and I set out on our first ride to join her cousin.
| 2 |
It was a close, sultry day; devoid of sunshine, but with a sky too
dappled and hazy to threaten rain; and our place of meeting had
been fixed at the guide-stone, by the crossroads.
On arriving there, however, a little herd-boy, despatched as a
messenger, told us that --
| | 3 |
"Maister Linton wer just ut this side th' Heights: and he'd be
mitch obleeged to us to gang on a bit further."
| | 4 |
"Then Master Linton has forgot the first injunction of his uncle,"
I observed: "he bid us keep on the Grange land, and here we are,
off at once."
| | 5 |
"Well, we'll turn our horses' heads round, when we reach him,"
answered my companion, "our excursion shall lie towards home."
| | 6 |
But when we reached him, and that was scarcely a quarter of a mile
from his own door, we found he had no horse, and we were forced to
dismount, and leave ours to graze.
| | 7 |
He lay on the heath, awaiting our approach, and did not rise till
we came within a few yards.
Then, he walked so feebly, and looked so pale, that I immediately
exclaimed --
| | 8 |
"Why, Master Heathcliff, you are not fit for enjoying a ramble,
this morning.
How ill you do look!"
| | 9 |
Catherine surveyed him with grief and astonishment; and changed the
ejaculation of joy on her lips, to one of alarm; and the
congratulation on their long postponed meeting, to an anxious
inquiry, whether he were worse than usual?
| | 10 |
"No -- better -- better!" he panted, trembling, and re
large blue eyes wandered timidly over her; the hollowness round
them, transforming to haggard wildness, the languid expression they
once possessed.
| | 11 |
"But you have been worse," persisted his cousin, "worse than when I
saw you last -- you are thinner, and -- -- "
| | 12 |
"I'm tired," he interrupted, hurriedly.
"It is too hot for walking, let us rest here.
And, in the morning, I often feel sick -- papa says I grow so
fast."
| | 13 |
Badly satisfied, Cathy sat down, and he reclined beside her.
| | 14 |
"This is something like your paradise," said she, making an effort
at cheerfulness.
"You recollect the two days we agreed to spend, in the place and
way, each thought pleasantest?
This is nearly yours, only there are clouds; but then, they are so
soft and mellow, it is nicer than sunshine.
Next week, if you can, we'll ride down to the Grange Park, and try
mine."
| | 15 |
Linton did not appear to remember what she talked of; and he had
evidently great difficulty in sustaining any kind of conversation.
His lack of interest in the subjects she started, and his equal
incapacity to contribute to her entertainment were so obvious, that
she could not conceal her disappointment.
An indefinite alteration had come over his whole person and manner.
The pettishness that might be caressed into fondness, had yielded
to a listless apathy; there was less of the peevish temper of a
child which frets and teases on purpose to be soothed, and more of
the self-absorbed moroseness of a confirmed invalid, repelling
consolation, and ready to regard the good-humoured mirth of others,
as an insult.
| | 16 |
Catherine perceived, as well as I did, that he held it rather a
punishment, than a gratification, to endure our company; and she
| | 17 |
That proposal, unexpectedly, roused Linton from his lethargy, and
threw him into a strange state of agitation.
He glanced fearfully towards the Heights, begging she would remain
another half-hour, at least.
| | 18 |
"But, I think," said Cathy, "you'd be more comfortable at home than
sitting here; and I cannot amuse you to-day, I see, by my tales,
and songs, and chatter; you have grown wiser than I, in these six
months; you have little taste for my diversions now; or else, if I
could amuse you, I'd willingly stay."
| | 19 |
"Stay to rest yourself," he replied.
"And, Catherine, don't think, or say that I'm very unwell
-- it is the heavy weather, and heat that make me dull; and I
walked about, before you came, a great deal, for me.
Tell uncle, I'm in tolerable health, will you?"
| | 20 |
"I'll tell him that you say so, Linton.
I couldn't affirm that you are," observed my young lady, wondering
at his pertinacious assertion of what was evidently an untruth.
| | 21 |
"And be here again next Thursday," continued he, shunning her
puzzled gaze.
"And give him my thanks for permitting you to come -- my best
thanks, Catherine.
And -- and, if you did meet my father, and he asked you
about me, don't lead him to suppose that I've been extremely silent
and stupid -- don't look silent and downcast, as you are
doing -- he'll be angry."
| | 22 |
"I care nothing for his anger," exclaimed Cathy, imagining she
would be its object.
| | 23 |
"But I do," said her cousin, shuddering.
"Don't provoke him against me, Catherine, for he is very
hard."
| | 24 |
"Is he severe to you, Master Heathcliff?" I inquired.
"Has he grown weary of indulgence, and passed from passive, to
active hatred?"
| | 25 |
Linton looked at me, but did not answer; and, after keeping her
his head fell drowsily on his breast, and he uttered nothing except
suppressed moans of exhaustion, or pain, Cathy began to seek solace
in looking for bilberries, and sharing the produce of her
researches with me: she did not offer them to him, for she saw
further notice would only weary and annoy.
| | 26 |
"Is it half an hour now, Ellen!" she whispered in my ear, at last.
"I can't tell why we should stay.
He's asleep, and papa will be wanting us back."
| | 27 |
"Well, we must not leave him asleep," I answered; "wait till he
wakes and be patient.
You are mighty eager to set off, but your longing to see poor
Linton has soon evaporated!"
| | 28 |
"Why did he wish to see me?" returned Catherine.
"In his crossest humours, formerly, I liked him better than I do in
his present curious mood.
It's just as if it were a task he was compelled to perform -- this
interview -- for fear his father should scold him.
But, I'm hardly going to come to give Mr Heathcliff pleasure;
whatever reason he may have for ordering Linton to undergo this
penance.
And, though I'm glad he's better in health, I'm sorry he's so much
less pleasant, and so much less affectionate to me."
| | 29 |
"You think he is better in health, then?" I said.
| | 30 |
"Yes," she answered; "because he always made such a great deal of
his sufferings, you know.
He is not tolerably well, as he told me to tell papa, but he's
better, very likely."
| | 31 |
"There you differ with me, Miss Cathy," I remarked; "I should
conjecture him to be far worse."
| | 32 |
Linton here started from his slumber in bewildered terror, and
asked if anyone had called his name.
| | 33 |
"No," said Catherine; "unless in dreams.
I cannot conceive how you manage to dose, out of doors, in the
morning."
| | 34 |
"I thought I heard my father," he gasped, glancing up to the
frowning nab above us.
| | 35 |
"Quite sure," replied his cousin.
"Only Ellen and I were disputing concerning your health.
Are you truly stronger, Linton, than when we separated in winter?
If you be, I'm certain one thing is not stronger -- your regard for
me -- speak, are you?"
| | 36 |
The tears gushed from Linton's eyes as he answered --
| | 37 |
"Yes, yes, I am!"
| | 38 |
And, still under the spell of the imaginary voice, his gaze
wandered up and down to detect its owner.
| | 39 |
Cathy rose.
| | 40 |
"For to-day we must part," she said.
"And I won't conceal that I have been sadly disappointed with our
meeting, though I'll mention it to nobody but you -- not that I
stand in awe of Mr Heathcliff!"
| | 41 |
"Hush," murmured Linton; "for God's sake, hush!
He's coming."
And he clung to Catherine's arm, striving to detain her; but, at
that announcement, she hastily disengaged herself, and whistled to
Minny, who obeyed her like a dog.
| | 42 |
"I'll be here next Thursday," she cried, springing to the saddle.
"Good-bye.
Quick, Ellen!"
| | 43 |
And so we left him, scarcely conscious of our departure, so
absorbed was he in anticipating his father's approach.
| | 44 |
Before we reached home, Catherine's displeasure softened into a
perplexed sensation of pity and regret, largely blended with vague,
uneasy doubts about Linton's actual circumstances, physical and
social; in which I partook, though I counselled her not to say
much, for a second journey would make us better judges.
| | 45 |
My master requested an account of our ongoings: his nephew's
offering of thanks was duly delivered, Miss Cathy gently touching
on the rest: I also, threw little lights on his inquiries, for I
hardly knew what to hide, and what to reveal.
| | 46 |
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