________________________________________________
_ SEVEN days glided away, every one marking its course by the
henceforth rapid alteration of Edgar Linton's state. The havoc
that months had previously wrought was now emulated by the inroads
of hours. Catherine we would fain have deluded yet; but her own
quick spirit refused to delude her: it divined in secret, and
brooded on the dreadful probability, gradually ripening into
certainty. She had not the heart to mention her ride, when
Thursday came round; I mentioned it for her, and obtained
permission to order her out of doors: for the library, where her
father stopped a short time daily - the brief period he could bear
to sit up - and his chamber, had become her whole world. She
grudged each moment that did not find her bending over his pillow,
or seated by his side. Her countenance grew wan with watching and
sorrow, and my master gladly dismissed her to what he flattered
himself would be a happy change of scene and society; drawing
comfort from the hope that she would not now be left entirely alone
after his death.
He had a fixed idea, I guessed by several observations he let fall,
that, as his nephew resembled him in person, he would resemble him
in mind; for Linton's letters bore few or no indications of his
defective character. And I, through pardonable weakness, refrained
from correcting the error; asking myself what good there would be
in disturbing his last moments with information that he had neither
power nor opportunity to turn to account.
We deferred our excursion till the afternoon; a golden afternoon of
August: every breath from the hills so full of life, that it
seemed whoever respired it, though dying, might revive.
Catherine's face was just like the landscape - shadows and sunshine
flitting over it in rapid succession; but the shadows rested
longer, and the sunshine was more transient; and her poor little
heart reproached itself for even that passing forgetfulness of its
cares.
We discerned Linton watching at the same spot he had selected
before. My young mistress alighted, and told me that, as she was
resolved to stay a very little while, I had better hold the pony
and remain on horseback; but I dissented: I wouldn't risk losing
sight of the charge committed to me a minute; so we climbed the
slope of heath together. Master Heathcliff received us with
greater animation on this occasion: not the animation of high
spirits though, nor yet of joy; it looked more like fear.
'It is late!' he said, speaking short and with difficulty. 'Is not
your father very ill? I thought you wouldn't come.'
'WHY won't you be candid?' cried Catherine, swallowing her
greeting. 'Why cannot you say at once you don't want me? It is
strange, Linton, that for the second time you have brought me here
on purpose, apparently to distress us both, and for no reason
besides!'
Linton shivered, and glanced at her, half supplicating, half
ashamed; but his cousin's patience was not sufficient to endure
this enigmatical behaviour.
'My father IS very ill,' she said; 'and why am I called from his
bedside? Why didn't you send to absolve me from my promise, when
you wished I wouldn't keep it? Come! I desire an explanation:
playing and trifling are completely banished out of my mind; and I
can't dance attendance on your affectations now!'
'My affectations!' he murmured; 'what are they? For heaven's sake,
Catherine, don't look so angry! Despise me as much as you please;
I am a worthless, cowardly wretch: I can't be scorned enough; but
I'm too mean for your anger. Hate my father, and spare me for
contempt.'
'Nonsense!' cried Catherine in a passion. 'Foolish, silly boy!
And there! he trembles: as if I were really going to touch him!
You needn't bespeak contempt, Linton: anybody will have it
spontaneously at your service. Get off! I shall return home: it
is folly dragging you from the hearth-stone, and pretending - what
do we pretend? Let go my frock! If I pitied you for crying and
looking so very frightened, you should spurn such pity. Ellen,
tell him how disgraceful this conduct is. Rise, and don't degrade
yourself into an abject reptile - DON'T!'
With streaming face and an expression of agony, Linton had thrown
his nerveless frame along the ground: he seemed convulsed with
exquisite terror.
'Oh!' he sobbed, 'I cannot bear it! Catherine, Catherine, I'm a
traitor, too, and I dare not tell you! But leave me, and I shall
be killed! DEAR Catherine, my life is in your hands: and you have
said you loved me, and if you did, it wouldn't harm you. You'll
not go, then? kind, sweet, good Catherine! And perhaps you WILL
consent - and he'll let me die with you!'
My young lady, on witnessing his intense anguish, stooped to raise
him. The old feeling of indulgent tenderness overcame her
vexation, and she grew thoroughly moved and alarmed.
'Consent to what?' she asked. 'To stay! tell me the meaning of
this strange talk, and I will. You contradict your own words, and
distract me! Be calm and frank, and confess at once all that
weighs on your heart. You wouldn't injure me, Linton, would you?
You wouldn't let any enemy hurt me, if you could prevent it? I'll
believe you are a coward, for yourself, but not a cowardly betrayer
of your best friend.'
'But my father threatened me,' gasped the boy, clasping his
attenuated fingers, 'and I dread him - I dread him! I DARE not
tell!'
'Oh, well!' said Catherine, with scornful compassion, 'keep your
secret: I'M no coward. Save yourself: I'm not afraid!'
Her magnanimity provoked his tears: he wept wildly, kissing her
supporting hands, and yet could not summon courage to speak out. I
was cogitating what the mystery might be, and determined Catherine
should never suffer to benefit him or any one else, by my good
will; when, hearing a rustle among the ling, I looked up and saw
Mr. Heathcliff almost close upon us, descending the Heights. He
didn't cast a glance towards my companions, though they were
sufficiently near for Linton's sobs to be audible; but hailing me
in the almost hearty tone he assumed to none besides, and the
sincerity of which I couldn't avoid doubting, he said -
'It is something to see you so near to my house, Nelly. How are
you at the Grange? Let us hear. The rumour goes,' he added, in a
lower tone, 'that Edgar Linton is on his death-bed: perhaps they
exaggerate his illness?'
'No; my master is dying,' I replied: 'it is true enough. A sad
thing it will be for us all, but a blessing for him!'
'How long will he last, do you think?' he asked.
'I don't know,' I said.
'Because,' he continued, looking at the two young people, who were
fixed under his eye - Linton appeared as if he could not venture to
stir or raise his head, and Catherine could not move, on his
account - 'because that lad yonder seems determined to beat me; and
I'd thank his uncle to be quick, and go before him! Hallo! has the
whelp been playing that game long? I DID give him some lessons
about snivelling. Is he pretty lively with Miss Linton generally?'
'Lively? no - he has shown the greatest distress,' I answered. 'To
see him, I should say, that instead of rambling with his sweetheart
on the hills, he ought to be in bed, under the hands of a doctor.'
'He shall be, in a day or two,' muttered Heathcliff. 'But first -
get up, Linton! Get up!' he shouted. 'Don't grovel on the ground
there up, this moment!'
Linton had sunk prostrate again in another paroxysm of helpless
fear, caused by his father's glance towards him, I suppose: there
was nothing else to produce such humiliation. He made several
efforts to obey, but his little strength was annihilated for the
time, and he fell back again with a moan. Mr. Heathcliff advanced,
and lifted him to lean against a ridge of turf.
'Now,' said he, with curbed ferocity, 'I'm getting angry and if you
don't command that paltry spirit of yours - DAMN you! get up
directly!'
'I will, father,' he panted. 'Only, let me alone, or I shall
faint. I've done as you wished, I'm sure. Catherine will tell you
that I - that I - have been cheerful. Ah! keep by me, Catherine;
give me your hand.'
'Take mine,' said his father; 'stand on your feet. There now -
she'll lend you her arm: that's right, look at her. You would
imagine I was the devil himself, Miss Linton, to excite such
horror. Be so kind as to walk home with him, will you? He
shudders if I touch him.'
'Linton dear!' whispered Catherine, 'I can't go to Wuthering
Heights: papa has forbidden me. He'll not harm you: why are you
so afraid?'
'I can never re-enter that house,' he answered. 'I'm NOT to re-
enter it without you!'
'Stop!' cried his father. 'We'll respect Catherine's filial
scruples. Nelly, take him in, and I'll follow your advice
concerning the doctor, without delay.'
'You'll do well,' replied I. 'But I must remain with my mistress:
to mind your son is not my business.'
'You are very stiff,' said Heathcliff, 'I know that: but you'll
force me to pinch the baby and make it scream before it moves your
charity. Come, then, my hero. Are you willing to return, escorted
by me?'
He approached once more, and made as if he would seize the fragile
being; but, shrinking back, Linton clung to his cousin, and
implored her to accompany him, with a frantic importunity that
admitted no denial. However I disapproved, I couldn't hinder her:
indeed, how could she have refused him herself? What was filling
him with dread we had no means of discerning; but there he was,
powerless under its gripe, and any addition seemed capable of
shocking him into idiotcy. We reached the threshold; Catherine
walked in, and I stood waiting till she had conducted the invalid
to a chair, expecting her out immediately; when Mr. Heathcliff,
pushing me forward, exclaimed - 'My house is not stricken with the
plague, Nelly; and I have a mind to be hospitable to-day: sit
down, and allow me to shut the door.'
He shut and locked it also. I started.
'You shall have tea before you go home,' he added. 'I am by
myself. Hareton is gone with some cattle to the Lees, and Zillah
and Joseph are off on a journey of pleasure; and, though I'm used
to being alone, I'd rather have some interesting company, if I can
get it. Miss Linton, take your seat by HIM. I give you what I
have: the present is hardly worth accepting; but I have nothing
else to offer. It is Linton, I mean. How she does stare! It's
odd what a savage feeling I have to anything that seems afraid of
me! Had I been born where laws are less strict and tastes less
dainty, I should treat myself to a slow vivisection of those two,
as an evening's amusement.'
He drew in his breath, struck the table, and swore to himself, 'By
hell! I hate them.'
'I am not afraid of you!' exclaimed Catherine, who could not hear
the latter part of his speech. She stepped close up; her black
eyes flashing with passion and resolution. 'Give me that key: I
will have it!' she said. 'I wouldn't eat or drink here, if I were
starving.'
Heathcliff had the key in his hand that remained on the table. He
looked up, seized with a sort of surprise at her boldness; or,
possibly, reminded, by her voice and glance, of the person from
whom she inherited it. She snatched at the instrument, and half
succeeded in getting it out of his loosened fingers: but her
action recalled him to the present; he recovered it speedily.
'Now, Catherine Linton,' he said, 'stand off, or I shall knock you
down; and, that will make Mrs. Dean mad.'
Regardless of this warning, she captured his closed hand and its
contents again. 'We will go!' she repeated, exerting her utmost
efforts to cause the iron muscles to relax; and finding that her
nails made no impression, she applied her teeth pretty sharply.
Heathcliff glanced at me a glance that kept me from interfering a
moment. Catherine was too intent on his fingers to notice his
face. He opened them suddenly, and resigned the object of dispute;
but, ere she had well secured it, he seized her with the liberated
hand, and, pulling her on his knee, administered with the other a
shower of terrific slaps on both sides of the head, each sufficient
to have fulfilled his threat, had she been able to fall.'
At this diabolical violence I rushed on him furiously. 'You
villain!' I began to cry, 'you villain!' A touch on the chest
silenced me: I am stout, and soon put out of breath; and, what
with that and the rage, I staggered dizzily back and felt ready to
suffocate, or to burst a blood-vessel. The scene was over in two
minutes; Catherine, released, put her two hands to her temples, and
looked just as if she were not sure whether her ears were off or
on. She trembled like a reed, poor thing, and leant against the
table perfectly bewildered.
'I know how to chastise children, you see,' said the scoundrel,
grimly, as he stooped to repossess himself of the key, which had
dropped to the floor. 'Go to Linton now, as I told you; and cry at
your ease! I shall be your father, to-morrow - all the father
you'll have in a few days - and you shall have plenty of that. You
can bear plenty; you're no weakling: you shall have a daily taste,
if I catch such a devil of a temper in your eyes again!'
Cathy ran to me instead of Linton, and knelt down and put her
burning cheek on my lap, weeping aloud. Her cousin had shrunk into
a corner of the settle, as quiet as a mouse, congratulating
himself, I dare say, that the correction had alighted on another
than him. Mr. Heathcliff, perceiving us all confounded, rose, and
expeditiously made the tea himself. The cups and saucers were laid
ready. He poured it out, and handed me a cup.
'Wash away your spleen,' he said. 'And help your own naughty pet
and mine. It is not poisoned, though I prepared it. I'm going out
to seek your horses.'
Our first thought, on his departure, was to force an exit
somewhere. We tried the kitchen door, but that was fastened
outside: we looked at the windows - they were too narrow for even
Cathy's little figure.
'Master Linton,' I cried, seeing we were regularly imprisoned, 'you
know what your diabolical father is after, and you shall tell us,
or I'll box your ears, as he has done your cousin's.'
'Yes, Linton, you must tell,' said Catherine. 'It was for your
sake I came; and it will be wickedly ungrateful if you refuse.'
'Give me some tea, I'm thirsty, and then I'll tell you,' he
answered. 'Mrs. Dean, go away. I don't like you standing over me.
Now, Catherine, you are letting your tears fall into my cup. I
won't drink that. Give me another.' Catherine pushed another to
him, and wiped her face. I felt disgusted at the little wretch's
composure, since he was no longer in terror for himself. The
anguish he had exhibited on the moor subsided as soon as ever he
entered Wuthering Heights; so I guessed he had been menaced with an
awful visitation of wrath if he failed in decoying us there; and,
that accomplished, he had no further immediate fears.
'Papa wants us to be married,' he continued, after sipping some of
the liquid. 'And he knows your papa wouldn't let us marry now; and
he's afraid of my dying if we wait; so we are to be married in the
morning, and you are to stay here all night; and, if you do as he
wishes, you shall return home next day, and take me with you.'
'Take you with her, pitiful changeling!' I exclaimed. 'YOU marry?
Why, the man is mad! or he thinks us fools, every one. And do you
imagine that beautiful young lady, that healthy, hearty girl, will
tie herself to a little perishing monkey like you? Are you
cherishing the notion that anybody, let alone Miss Catherine
Linton, would have you for a husband? You want whipping for
bringing us in here at all, with your dastardly puling tricks: and
- don't look so silly, now! I've a very good mind to shake you
severely, for your contemptible treachery, and your imbecile
conceit.'
I did give him a slight shaking; but it brought on the cough, and
he took to his ordinary resource of moaning and weeping, and
Catherine rebuked me.
'Stay all night? No,' she said, looking slowly round. 'Ellen,
I'll burn that door down but I'll get out.'
And she would have commenced the execution of her threat directly,
but Linton was up in alarm for his dear self again. He clasped her
in his two feeble arms sobbing:- 'Won't you have me, and save me?
not let me come to the Grange? Oh, darling Catherine! you mustn't
go and leave, after all. You MUST obey my father - you MUST!'
'I must obey my own,' she replied, 'and relieve him from this cruel
suspense. The whole night! What would he think? He'll be
distressed already. I'll either break or burn a way out of the
house. Be quiet! You're in no danger; but if you hinder me -
Linton, I love papa better than you!' The mortal terror he felt of
Mr. Heathcliff's anger restored to the boy his coward's eloquence.
Catherine was near distraught: still, she persisted that she must
go home, and tried entreaty in her turn, persuading him to subdue
his selfish agony. While they were thus occupied, our jailor re-
entered.
'Your beasts have trotted off,' he said, 'and - now Linton!
snivelling again? What has she been doing to you? Come, come -
have done, and get to bed. In a month or two, my lad, you'll be
able to pay her back her present tyrannies with a vigorous hand.
You're pining for pure love, are you not? nothing else in the
world: and she shall have you! There, to bed! Zillah won't be
here to-night; you must undress yourself. Hush! hold your noise!
Once in your own room, I'll not come near you: you needn't fear.
By chance, you've managed tolerably. I'll look to the rest.'
He spoke these words, holding the door open for his son to pass,
and the latter achieved his exit exactly as a spaniel might which
suspected the person who attended on it of designing a spiteful
squeeze. The lock was re-secured. Heathcliff approached the fire,
where my mistress and I stood silent. Catherine looked up, and
instinctively raised her hand to her cheek: his neighbourhood
revived a painful sensation. Anybody else would have been
incapable of regarding the childish act with sternness, but he
scowled on her and muttered - 'Oh! you are not afraid of me? Your
courage is well disguised: you seem damnably afraid!'
'I AM afraid now,' she replied, 'because, if I stay, papa will be
miserable: and how can I endure making him miserable - when he -
when he - Mr. Heathcliff, let ME go home! I promise to marry
Linton: papa would like me to: and I love him. Why should you
wish to force me to do what I'll willingly do of myself?'
'Let him dare to force you,' I cried. 'There's law in the land,
thank God! there is; though we be in an out-of-the-way place. I'd
inform if he were my own son: and it's felony without benefit of
clergy!'
'Silence!' said the ruffian. 'To the devil with your clamour! I
don't want YOU to speak. Miss Linton, I shall enjoy myself
remarkably in thinking your father will be miserable: I shall not
sleep for satisfaction. You could have hit on no surer way of
fixing your residence under my roof for the next twenty-four hours
than informing me that such an event would follow. As to your
promise to marry Linton, I'll take care you shall keep it; for you
shall not quit this place till it is fulfilled.'
'Send Ellen, then, to let papa know I'm safe!' exclaimed Catherine,
weeping bitterly. 'Or marry me now. Poor papa! Ellen, he'll
think we're lost. What shall we do?'
'Not he! He'll think you are tired of waiting on him, and run off
for a little amusement,' answered Heathcliff. 'You cannot deny
that you entered my house of your own accord, in contempt of his
injunctions to the contrary. And it is quite natural that you
should desire amusement at your age; and that you would weary of
nursing a sick man, and that man ONLY your father. Catherine, his
happiest days were over when your days began. He cursed you, I
dare say, for coming into the world (I did, at least); and it would
just do if he cursed you as HE went out of it. I'd join him. I
don't love you! How should I? Weep away. As far as I can see, it
will be your chief diversion hereafter; unless Linton make amends
for other losses: and your provident parent appears to fancy he
may. His letters of advice and consolation entertained me vastly.
In his last he recommended my jewel to be careful of his; and kind
to her when he got her. Careful and kind - that's paternal. But
Linton requires his whole stock of care and kindness for himself.
Linton can play the little tyrant well. He'll undertake to torture
any number of cats, if their teeth be drawn and their claws pared.
You'll be able to tell his uncle fine tales of his KINDNESS, when
you get home again, I assure you.'
'You're right there!' I said; 'explain your son's character. Show
his resemblance to yourself: and then, I hope, Miss Cathy will
think twice before she takes the cockatrice!'
'I don't much mind speaking of his amiable qualities now,' he
answered; 'because she must either accept him or remain a prisoner,
and you along with her, till your master dies. I can detain you
both, quite concealed, here. If you doubt, encourage her to
retract her word, and you'll have an opportunity of judging!'
'I'll not retract my word,' said Catherine. 'I'll marry him within
this hour, if I may go to Thrushcross Grange afterwards. Mr.
Heathcliff, you're a cruel man, but you're not a fiend; and you
won't, from MERE malice, destroy irrevocably all my happiness. If
papa thought I had left him on purpose, and if he died before I
returned, could I bear to live? I've given over crying: but I'm
going to kneel here, at your knee; and I'll not get up, and I'll
not take my eyes from your face till you look back at me! No,
don't turn away! DO LOOK! you'll see nothing to provoke you. I
don't hate you. I'm not angry that you struck me. Have you never
loved ANYBODY in all your life, uncle? NEVER? Ah! you must look
once. I'm so wretched, you can't help being sorry and pitying me.'
'Keep your eft's fingers off; and move, or I'll kick you!' cried
Heathcliff, brutally repulsing her. 'I'd rather be hugged by a
snake. How the devil can you dream of fawning on me? I DETEST
you!'
He shrugged his shoulders: shook himself, indeed, as if his flesh
crept with aversion; and thrust back his chair; while I got up, and
opened my mouth, to commence a downright torrent of abuse. But I
was rendered dumb in the middle of the first sentence, by a threat
that I should be shown into a room by myself the very next syllable
I uttered. It was growing dark - we heard a sound of voices at the
garden-gate. Our host hurried out instantly: HE had his wits
about him; WE had not. There was a talk of two or three minutes,
and he returned alone.
'I thought it had been your cousin Hareton,' I observed to
Catherine. 'I wish he would arrive! Who knows but he might take
our part?'
'It was three servants sent to seek you from the Grange,' said
Heathcliff, overhearing me. 'You should have opened a lattice and
called out: but I could swear that chit is glad you didn't. She's
glad to be obliged to stay, I'm certain.'
At learning the chance we had missed, we both gave vent to our
grief without control; and he allowed us to wail on till nine
o'clock. Then he bid us go upstairs, through the kitchen, to
Zillah's chamber; and I whispered my companion to obey: perhaps we
might contrive to get through the window there, or into a garret,
and out by its skylight. The window, however, was narrow, like
those below, and the garret trap was safe from our attempts; for we
were fastened in as before. We neither of us lay down: Catherine
took her station by the lattice, and watched anxiously for morning;
a deep sigh being the only answer I could obtain to my frequent
entreaties that she would try to rest. I seated myself in a chair,
and rocked to and fro, passing harsh judgment on my many
derelictions of duty; from which, it struck me then, all the
misfortunes of my employers sprang. It was not the case, in
reality, I am aware; but it was, in my imagination, that dismal
night; and I thought Heathcliff himself less guilty than I.
At seven o'clock he came, and inquired if Miss Linton had risen.
She ran to the door immediately, and answered, 'Yes.' 'Here,
then,' he said, opening it, and pulling her out. I rose to follow,
but he turned the lock again. I demanded my release.
'Be patient,' he replied; 'I'll send up your breakfast in a while.'
I thumped on the panels, and rattled the latch angrily and
Catherine asked why I was still shut up? He answered, I must try
to endure it another hour, and they went away. I endured it two or
three hours; at length, I heard a footstep: not Heathcliff's.
'I've brought you something to eat,' said a voice; 'oppen t' door!'
Complying eagerly, I beheld Hareton, laden with food enough to last
me all day.
'Tak' it,' he added, thrusting the tray into my hand.
'Stay one minute,' I began.
'Nay,' cried he, and retired, regardless of any prayers I could
pour forth to detain him.
And there I remained enclosed the whole day, and the whole of the
next night; and another, and another. Five nights and four days I
remained, altogether, seeing nobody but Hareton once every morning;
and he was a model of a jailor: surly, and dumb, and deaf to every
attempt at moving his sense of justice or compassion. _
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