30632819 Wuthering Heights

8/6/2019 30632819 Wuthering Heights

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Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

(1847)

Chapter 11801. - I have just returned from a visit to my landlord - the solitary neighbour that I shall

be troubled with. his is !ertainly a beautiful !ountry" In all #ngland$ I do not believethat I !ould have fi%ed on a situation so !om&letely removed from the stir of so!iety. '

&erfe!t misanthro&ists heaven and *r. +eath!liff and I are su!h a suitable &air to divide

the desolation between us. ' !a&ital fellow" +e little imagined how my heart warmedtowards him when I beheld his bla!, eyes withdraw so sus&i!iously under their brows$ as

I rode u&$ and when his fingers sheltered themselves$ with a jealous resolution$ still

further in his waist!oat$ as I announ!ed my name. *r. +eath!liff I said.

' nod was the answer.

*r. o!,wood$ your new tenant$ sir. I do myself the honour of !alling as soon as

&ossible after my arrival$ to e%&ress the ho&e that I have not in!onvenien!ed you by my

&erseveran!e in soli!iting the o!!u&ation of hrush!ross /range I heard yesterday you

had had some thoughts -

hrush!ross /range is my own$ sir$ he interru&ted$ win!ing. I should not allow any one

to in!onvenien!e me$ if I !ould hinder it - wal, in"

he wal, in was uttered with !losed teeth$ and e%&ressed the sentiment$ /o to the

eu!e even the gate over whi!h he leant manifested no sym&athising movement to the

words and I thin, that !ir!umstan!e determined me to a!!e&t the invitation I feltinterested in a man who seemed more e%aggeratedly reserved than myself.

2hen he saw my horses breast fairly &ushing the barrier$ he did &ut out his hand toun!hain it$ and then sullenly &re!eded me u& the !auseway$ !alling$ as we entered the

!ourt$ - 3ose&h$ ta,e *r. o!,woods horse and bring u& some wine.

+ere we have the whole establishment of domesti!s$ I su&&ose$ was the refle!tion

suggested by this !om&ound order. o wonder the grass grows u& between the flags$ and

!attle are the only hedge- !utters.

3ose&h was an elderly$ nay$ an old man very old$ &erha&s$ though hale and sinewy. he

ord hel& us" he solilo5uised in an undertone of &eevish dis&leasure$ while relieving meof my horse loo,ing$ meantime$ in my fa!e so sourly that I !haritably !onje!tured he

must have need of divine aid to digest his dinner$ and his &ious eja!ulation had no

referen!e to my une%&e!ted advent.

2uthering +eights is the name of *r. +eath!liffs dwelling. 2uthering being a

signifi!ant &rovin!ial adje!tive$ des!ri&tive of the atmos&heri! tumult to whi!h its station


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is e%&osed in stormy weather. 6ure$ bra!ing ventilation they must have u& there at all

times$ indeed one may guess the &ower of the north wind blowing over the edge$ by the

e%!essive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house and by a range of gauntthorns all stret!hing their limbs one way$ as if !raving alms of the sun. +a&&ily$ the

ar!hite!t had foresight to build it strong the narrow windows are dee&ly set in the wall$

and the !orners defended with large jutting stones.

efore &assing the threshold$ I &aused to admire a 5uantity of grotes5ue !arving lavished

over the front$ and es&e!ially about the &rin!i&al door above whi!h$ among a wildernessof !rumbling griffins and shameless little boys$ I dete!ted the date 100$ and the name

+areton #arnshaw. I would have made a few !omments$ and re5uested a short history of

the &la!e from the surly owner but his attitude at the door a&&eared to demand my

s&eedy entran!e$ or !om&lete de&arture$ and I had no desire to aggravate his im&atien!e&revious to ins&e!ting the &enetralium.

9ne sto& brought us into the family sitting-room$ without any introdu!tory lobby or

&assage they !all it here the house &re- eminently. It in!ludes ,it!hen and &arlour$generally but I believe at 2uthering +eights the ,it!hen is for!ed to retreat altogether

into another 5uarter at least I distinguished a !hatter of tongues$ and a !latter of !ulinaryutensils$ dee& within and I observed no signs of roasting$ boiling$ or ba,ing$ about the

huge fire&la!e nor any glitter of !o&&er sau!e&ans and tin !olanders on the walls. 9ne

end$ indeed$ refle!ted s&lendidly both light and heat from ran,s of immense &ewterdishes$ inters&ersed with silver jugs and tan,ards$ towering row after row$ on a vast oa,

dresser$ to the very roof. he latter had never been under-drawn its entire anatomy lay

bare to an in5uiring eye$ e%!e&t where a frame of wood laden with oat!a,es and !lusters

of legs of beef$ mutton$ and ham$ !on!ealed it. 'bove the !himney were sundry villainousold guns$ and a !ou&le of horse-&istols and$ by way of ornament$ three gaudily-&ainted

!anisters dis&osed along its ledge. he floor was of smooth$ white stone the !hairs$ high-

ba!,ed$ &rimitive stru!tures$ &ainted green one or two heavy bla!, ones lur,ing in theshade. In an ar!h under the dresser re&osed a huge$ liver-!oloured bit!h &ointer$

surrounded by a swarm of s5uealing &u&&ies and other dogs haunted other re!esses.

he a&artment and furniture would have been nothing e%traordinary as belonging to a

homely$ northern farmer$ with a stubborn !ountenan!e$ and stalwart limbs set out to

advantage in ,nee- bree!hes and gaiters. :u!h an individual seated in his arm-!hair$ his

mug of ale frothing on the round table before him$ is to be seen in any !ir!uit of five orsi% miles among these hills$ if you go at the right time after dinner. ut *r. +eath!liff

forms a singular !ontrast to his abode and style of living. +e is a dar,- s,inned gy&sy in

as&e!t$ in dress and manners a gentleman that is$ as mu!h a gentleman as many a !ountrys5uire rather slovenly$ &erha&s$ yet not loo,ing amiss with his negligen!e$ be!ause he

has an ere!t and handsome figure and rather morose. 6ossibly$ some &eo&le might

sus&e!t him of a degree of under-bred &ride I have a sym&atheti! !hord within that tellsme it is nothing of the sort I ,now$ by instin!t$ his reserve s&rings from an aversion to

showy dis&lays of feeling - to manifestations of mutual ,indliness. +ell love and hate

e5ually under !over$ and esteem it a s&e!ies of im&ertinen!e to be loved or hated again.

o$ Im running on too fast I bestow my own attributes over-liberally on him. *r.


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+eath!liff may have entirely dissimilar reasons for ,ee&ing his hand out of the way when

he meets a would-be a!5uaintan!e$ to those whi!h a!tuate me. et me ho&e my

!onstitution is almost &e!uliar my dear mother used to say I should never have a!omfortable home and only last summer I &roved myself &erfe!tly unworthy of one.

2hile enjoying a month of fine weather at the sea-!oast$ I was thrown into the !om&anyof a most fas!inating !reature a real goddess in my eyes$ as long as she too, no noti!e of

me. I never told my love vo!ally still$ if loo,s have language$ the merest idiot might

have guessed I was over head and ears she understood me at last$ and loo,ed a return -the sweetest of all imaginable loo,s. 'nd what did I do I !onfess it with shame - shrun,

i!ily into myself$ li,e a snail at every glan!e retired !older and farther till finally the

&oor inno!ent was led to doubt her own senses$ and$ overwhelmed with !onfusion at her

su&&osed mista,e$ &ersuaded her mamma to de!am&. y this !urious turn of dis&osition Ihave gained the re&utation of deliberate heartlessness how undeserved$ I alone !an

a&&re!iate.

I too, a seat at the end of the hearthstone o&&osite that towards whi!h my landlordadvan!ed$ and filled u& an interval of silen!e by attem&ting to !aress the !anine mother$

who had left her nursery$ and was snea,ing wolfishly to the ba!, of my legs$ her li&!urled u&$ and her white teeth watering for a snat!h. *y !aress &rovo,ed a long$ guttural

gnarl.

;oud better let the dog alone$ growled *r. +eath!liff in unison$ !he!,ing fier!er

demonstrations with a &un!h of his foot. :hes not a!!ustomed to be s&oiled - not ,e&t for

a &et. hen$ striding to a side door$ he shouted again$ 3ose&h"

3ose&h mumbled indistin!tly in the de&ths of the !ellar$ but gave no intimation of

as!ending so his master dived down to him$ leaving me vis-


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2hat the devil is the matter he as,ed$ eyeing me in a manner that I !ould ill endure$

after this inhos&itable treatment.

2hat the devil$ indeed" I muttered. he herd of &ossessed swine !ould have had no

worse s&irits in them than those animals of yours$ sir. ;ou might as well leave a strangerwith a brood of tigers"

hey wont meddle with &ersons who tou!h nothing$ he remar,ed$ &utting the bottlebefore me$ and restoring the dis&la!ed table. he dogs do right to be vigilant. a,e a

glass of wine

o$ than, you.

ot bitten$ are you

If I had been$ I would have set my signet on the biter. +eath!liffs !ountenan!e rela%edinto a grin.

>ome$ !ome$ he said$ you are flurried$ *r. o!,wood. +ere$ ta,e a little wine. /uests

are so e%!eedingly rare in this house that I and my dogs$ I am willing to own$ hardly

,now how to re!eive them. ;our health$ sir

I bowed and returned the &ledge beginning to &er!eive that it would be foolish to sit

sul,ing for the misbehaviour of a &a!, of !urs besides$ I felt loth to yield the fellow

further amusement at my e%&ense sin!e his humour too, that turn. +e - &robably swayedby &rudential !onsideration of the folly of offending a good tenant - rela%ed a little in the

la!oni! style of !hi&&ing off his &ronouns and au%iliary verbs$ and introdu!ed what he

su&&osed would be a subje!t of interest to me$ - a dis!ourse on the advantages anddisadvantages of my &resent &la!e of retirement. I found him very intelligent on the

to&i!s we tou!hed and before I went home$ I was en!ouraged so far as to volunteer

another visit to-morrow. +e evidently wished no re&etition of my intrusion. I shall go$notwithstanding. It is astonishing how so!iable I feel myself !om&ared with him.

Chapter 2

;esterday afternoon set in misty and !old. I had half a mind to s&end it by my study fire$instead of wading through heath and mud to 2uthering +eights. 9n !oming u& from

dinner$ however$ (.. - I dine between twelve and one o!lo!, the house,ee&er$ a

matronly lady$ ta,en as a fi%ture along with the house$ !ould not$ or would not$!om&rehend my re5uest that I might be served at five) - on mounting the stairs with this

la=y intention$ and ste&&ing into the room$ I saw a servant-girl on her ,nees surrounded

by brushes and !oal-s!uttles$ and raising an infernal dust as she e%tinguished the flameswith hea&s of !inders. his s&e!ta!le drove me ba!, immediately I too, my hat$ and$

after a four-miles wal,$ arrived at +eath!liffs garden-gate just in time to es!a&e the first

feathery fla,es of a snow-shower.


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9n that blea, hill-to& the earth was hard with a bla!, frost$ and the air made me shiver

through every limb. eing unable to remove the !hain$ I jum&ed over$ and$ running u&

the flagged !auseway bordered with straggling gooseberry-bushes$ ,no!,ed vainly foradmittan!e$ till my ,nu!,les tingled and the dogs howled.

2ret!hed inmates" I eja!ulated$ mentally$ you deserve &er&etual isolation from yours&e!ies for your !hurlish inhos&itality. 't least$ I would not ,ee& my doors barred in the

day-time. I dont !are - I will get in" :o resolved$ I gras&ed the lat!h and shoo, it

vehemently. ?inegar-fa!ed 3ose&h &roje!ted his head from a round window of the barn.

2hat are ye for he shouted. maisters down i t fowld. /o round by th end o t laith$

if ye went to s&a,e to him.

Is there nobody inside to o&en the door I hallooed$ res&onsively.

heres nobbut t missis and shooll not o&&en t an ye ma, yer flaysome dins till neeght.

2hy >annot you tell her whom I am$ eh$ 3ose&h

or-ne me" Ill hae no hend wit$ muttered the head$ vanishing.

he snow began to drive thi!,ly. I sei=ed the handle to essay another trial when a young

man without !oat$ and shouldering a &it!hfor,$ a&&eared in the yard behind. +e hailed me

to follow him$ and$ after mar!hing through a wash-house$ and a &aved area !ontaining a

!oal-shed$ &um&$ and &igeon-!ot$ we at length arrived in the huge$ warm$ !heerfula&artment where I was formerly re!eived. It glowed delightfully in the radian!e of an

immense fire$ !om&ounded of !oal$ &eat$ and wood and near the table$ laid for a &lentiful

evening meal$ I was &leased to observe the missis$ an individual whose e%isten!e I hadnever &reviously sus&e!ted. I bowed and waited$ thin,ing she would bid me ta,e a seat.

:he loo,ed at me$ leaning ba!, in her !hair$ and remained motionless and mute.

@ough weather" I remar,ed. Im afraid$ *rs. +eath!liff$ the door must bear the

!onse5uen!e of your servants leisure attendan!e I had hard wor, to ma,e them hear me.

:he never o&ened her mouth. I stared - she stared also at any rate$ she ,e&t her eyes on

me in a !ool$ regardless manner$ e%!eedingly embarrassing and disagreeable.

:it down$ said the young man$ gruffly. +ell be in soon.

I obeyed and hemmed$ and !alled the villain 3uno$ who deigned$ at this se!ond interview$to move the e%treme ti& of her tail$ in to,en of owning my a!5uaintan!e.

' beautiful animal" I !ommen!ed again. o you intend &arting with the little ones$

madam


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hey are not mine$ said the amiable hostess$ more re&ellingly than +eath!liff himself

!ould have re&lied.

'h$ your favourites are among these I !ontinued$ turning to an obs!ure !ushion full of

something li,e !ats.

' strange !hoi!e of favourites" she observed s!ornfully.

Anlu!,ily$ it was a hea& of dead rabbits. I hemmed on!e more$ and drew !loser to the

hearth$ re&eating my !omment on the wildness of the evening.

;ou should not have !ome out$ she said$ rising and rea!hing from the !himney-&ie!etwo of the &ainted !anisters.

+er &osition before was sheltered from the light now$ I had a distin!t view of her whole

figure and !ountenan!e. :he was slender$ and a&&arently s!ar!ely &ast girlhood anadmirable form$ and the most e%5uisite little fa!e that I have ever had the &leasure of

beholding small features$ very fair fla%en ringlets$ or rather golden$ hanging loose onher deli!ate ne!, and eyes$ had they been agreeable in e%&ression$ that would have been

irresistible fortunately for my sus!e&tible heart$ the only sentiment they evin!ed hovered

between s!orn and a ,ind of des&eration$ singularly unnatural to be dete!ted there. he!anisters were almost out of her rea!h I made a motion to aid her she turned u&on me as

a miser might turn if any one attem&ted to assist him in !ounting his gold.

I dont want your hel&$ she sna&&ed I !an get them for myself.

I beg your &ardon" I hastened to re&ly.

2ere you as,ed to tea she demanded$ tying an a&ron over her neat bla!, fro!,$ and

standing with a s&oonful of the leaf &oised over the &ot.

I shall be glad to have a !u&$ I answered.

2ere you as,ed she re&eated.

o$ I said$ half smiling. ;ou are the &ro&er &erson to as, me.

:he flung the tea ba!,$ s&oon and all$ and resumed her !hair in a &et her forehead!orrugated$ and her red under-li& &ushed out$ li,e a !hilds ready to !ry.

*eanwhile$ the young man had slung on to his &erson a de!idedly shabby u&&er garment$and$ ere!ting himself before the bla=e$ loo,ed down on me from the !orner of his eyes$

for all the world as if there were some mortal feud unavenged between us. I began to

doubt whether he were a servant or not his dress and s&ee!h were both rude$ entirely

devoid of the su&eriority observable in *r. and *rs. +eath!liff his thi!, brown !urls


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were rough and un!ultivated$ his whis,ers en!roa!hed bearishly over his !hee,s$ and his

hands were embrowned li,e those of a !ommon labourer still his bearing was free$

almost haughty$ and he showed none of a domesti!s assiduity in attending on the lady ofthe house. In the absen!e of !lear &roofs of his !ondition$ I deemed it best to abstain from

noti!ing his !urious !ondu!t and$ five minutes afterwards$ the entran!e of +eath!liff

relieved me$ in some measure$ from my un!omfortable state.

;ou see$ sir$ I am !ome$ a!!ording to &romise" I e%!laimed$ assuming the !heerful and

I fear I shall be weather-bound for half an hour$ if you !an afford me shelter during thats&a!e.

+alf an hour he said$ sha,ing the white fla,es from his !lothes I wonder you should

sele!t the thi!, of a snow-storm to ramble about in. o you ,now that you run a ris, ofbeing lost in the marshes 6eo&le familiar with these moors often miss their road on su!h

evenings and I !an tell you there is no !han!e of a !hange at &resent.

6erha&s I !an get a guide among your lads$ and he might stay at the /range till morning -!ould you s&are me one

o$ I !ould not.

9h$ indeed" 2ell$ then$ I must trust to my own saga!ity.

Am&h"

're you going to ma, the tea demanded he of the shabby !oat$ shifting his fero!iousga=e from me to the young lady.

Is he to have any she as,ed$ a&&ealing to +eath!liff.

/et it ready$ will you was the answer$ uttered so savagely that I started. he tone in

whi!h the words were said revealed a genuine bad nature. I no longer felt in!lined to !all+eath!liff a !a&ital fellow. 2hen the &re&arations were finished$ he invited me with -

ow$ sir$ bring forward your !hair. 'nd we all$ in!luding the rusti! youth$ drew round

the table an austere silen!e &revailing while we dis!ussed our meal.

I thought$ if I had !aused the !loud$ it was my duty to ma,e an effort to dis&el it. hey

!ould not every day sit so grim and ta!iturn and it was im&ossible$ however ill-tem&ered

they might be$ that the universal s!owl they wore was their every-day !ountenan!e.

It is strange$ I began$ in the interval of swallowing one !u& of tea and re!eiving another -

it is strange how !ustom !an mould our tastes and ideas many !ould not imagine thee%isten!e of ha&&iness in a life of su!h !om&lete e%ile from the world as you s&end$ *r.

+eath!liff yet$ Ill venture to say$ that$ surrounded by your family$ and with your amiable

lady as the &residing genius over your home and heart -


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*y amiable lady" he interru&ted$ with an almost diaboli!al sneer on his fa!e. 2here is

she - my amiable lady

*rs. +eath!liff$ your wife$ I mean.

2ell$ yes - oh$ you would intimate that her s&irit has ta,en the &ost of ministering angel$and guards the fortunes of 2uthering +eights$ even when her body is gone. Is that it

6er!eiving myself in a blunder$ I attem&ted to !orre!t it. I might have seen there was toogreat a dis&arity between the ages of the &arties to ma,e it li,ely that they were man and

wife. 9ne was about forty a &eriod of mental vigour at whi!h men seldom !herish the

delusion of being married for love by girls that dream is reserved for the sola!e of our

de!lining years. he other did not loo, seventeen.

hen it flashed on me - he !lown at my elbow$ who is drin,ing his tea out of a basin

and eating his broad with unwashed hands$ may be her husband +eath!liff junior$ of

!ourse. +ere is the !onse5uen!e of being buried alive she has thrown herself away u&onthat boor from sheer ignoran!e that better individuals e%isted" ' sad &ity - I must beware

how I !ause her to regret her !hoi!e. he last refle!tion may seem !on!eited it was not.*y neighbour stru!, me as bordering on re&ulsive I ,new$ through e%&erien!e$ that I

was tolerably attra!tive.

*rs. +eath!liff is my daughter-in-law$ said +eath!liff$ !orroborating my surmise. +e

turned$ as he s&o,e$ a &e!uliar loo, in her dire!tion a loo, of hatred unless he has a most

&erverse set of fa!ial mus!les that will not$ li,e those of other &eo&le$ inter&ret the

language of his soul.

'h$ !ertainly - I see now you are the favoured &ossessor of the benefi!ent fairy$ I

remar,ed$ turning to my neighbour.

his was worse than before the youth grew !rimson$ and !len!hed his fist$ with every

a&&earan!e of a meditated assault. ut he seemed to re!olle!t himself &resently$ andsmothered the storm in a brutal !urse$ muttered on my behalf whi!h$ however$ I too,

!are not to noti!e.

Anha&&y in your !onje!tures$ sir$ observed my host we neither of us have the &rivilegeof owning your good fairy her mate is dead. I said she was my daughter-in-law

therefore$ she must have married my son.

'nd this young man is -

ot my son$ assuredly.

+eath!liff smiled again$ as if it were rather too bold a jest to attribute the &aternity of that

bear to him.


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*y name is +areton #arnshaw$ growled the other and Id !ounsel you to res&e!t it"

Ive shown no disres&e!t$ was my re&ly$ laughing internally at the dignity with whi!h heannoun!ed himself.

+e fi%ed his eye on me longer than I !ared to return the stare$ for fear I might be tem&tedeither to bo% his ears or render my hilarity audible. I began to feel unmista,ably out of

&la!e in that &leasant family !ir!le. he dismal s&iritual atmos&here over!ame$ and more

than neutralised$ the glowing &hysi!al !omforts round me and I resolved to be !autioushow I ventured under those rafters a third time.

he business of eating being !on!luded$ and no one uttering a word of so!iable

!onversation$ I a&&roa!hed a window to e%amine the weather. ' sorrowful sight I sawdar, night !oming down &rematurely$ and s,y and hills mingled in one bitter whirl of

wind and suffo!ating snow.

I dont thin, it &ossible for me to get home now without a guide$ I !ould not hel&e%!laiming. he roads will be buried already and$ if they were bare$ I !ould s!ar!ely

distinguish a foot in advan!e.

+areton$ drive those do=en shee& into the barn &or!h. heyll be !overed if left in the

fold all night and &ut a &lan, before them$ said +eath!liff.

+ow must I do I !ontinued$ with rising irritation.

here was no re&ly to my 5uestion and on loo,ing round I saw only 3ose&h bringing in a&ail of &orridge for the dogs$ and *rs. +eath!liff leaning over the fire$ diverting herself

with burning a bundle of mat!hes whi!h had fallen from the !himney-&ie!e as she

restored the tea-!anister to its &la!e. he former$ when he had de&osited his burden$ too,a !riti!al survey of the room$ and in !ra!,ed tones grated out - 'w wonder how yah !an

fashion to stand thear i idleness un war$ when all on ems goan out" ud yahre a nowt$

and its no use tal,ing - yahll niver mend oyer ill ways$ but goa raight to t divil$ li,e yermother afore ye"

I imagined$ for a moment$ that this &ie!e of elo5uen!e was addressed to me and$

suffi!iently enraged$ ste&&ed towards the aged ras!al with an intention of ,i!,ing him outof the door. *rs. +eath!liff$ however$ !he!,ed me by her answer.

;ou s!andalous old hy&o!rite" she re&lied. 're you not afraid of being !arried awaybodily$ whenever you mention the devils name I warn you to refrain from &rovo,ing

me$ or Ill as, your abdu!tion as a s&e!ial favour" :to&" loo, here$ 3ose&h$ she !ontinued$

ta,ing a long$ dar, boo, from a shelf Ill show you how far Ive &rogressed in the la!,'rt I shall soon be !om&etent to ma,e a !lear house of it. he red !ow didnt die by

!han!e and your rheumatism !an hardly be re!,oned among &rovidential visitations"

9h$ wi!,ed$ wi!,ed" gas&ed the elder may the ord deliver us from evil"


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o$ re&robate" you are a !astaway - be off$ or Ill hurt you seriously" Ill have you all

modelled in wa% and !lay" and the first who &asses the limits I fi% shall - Ill not say whathe shall be done to - but$ youll see" /o$ Im loo,ing at you"

he little wit!h &ut a mo!, malignity into her beautiful eyes$ and 3ose&h$ trembling withsin!ere horror$ hurried out$ &raying$ and eja!ulating wi!,ed as he went. I thought her

!ondu!t must be &rom&ted by a s&e!ies of dreary fun and$ now that we were alone$ I

endeavoured to interest her in my distress.

*rs. +eath!liff$ I said earnestly$ you must e%!use me for troubling you. I &resume$

be!ause$ with that fa!e$ Im sure you !annot hel& being good-hearted. o &oint out some

landmar,s by whi!h I may ,now my way home I have no more idea how to get therethan you would have how to get to ondon"

a,e the road you !ame$ she answered$ ens!on!ing herself in a !hair$ with a !andle$ and

the long boo, o&en before her. It is brief advi!e$ but as sound as I !an give.

hen$ if you hear of me being dis!overed dead in a bog or a &it full of snow$ your!ons!ien!e wont whis&er that it is &artly your fault

+ow so I !annot es!ort you. hey wouldnt let me go to the end of the garden wall.

;ou" I should be sorry to as, you to !ross the threshold$ for my !onvenien!e$ on su!h a

night$ I !ried. I want you to tell me my way$ not to show it or else to &ersuade *r.

+eath!liff to give me a guide.

2ho here is himself$ #arnshaw$ Billah$ 3ose&h and I. 2hi!h would you have

're there no boys at the farm

o those are all.

hen$ it follows that I am !om&elled to stay.

hat you may settle with your host. I have nothing to do with it.

I ho&e it will be a lesson to you to ma,e no more rash journeys on these hills$ !ried

+eath!liffs stern voi!e from the ,it!hen entran!e. 's to staying here$ I dont ,ee&a!!ommodations for visitors you must share a bed with +areton or 3ose&h$ if you do.

I !an slee& on a !hair in this room$ I re&lied.

o$ no" ' stranger is a stranger$ be he ri!h or &oor it will not suit me to &ermit any one

the range of the &la!e while I am off guard" said the unmannerly wret!h.


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2ith this insult my &atien!e was at an end. I uttered an e%&ression of disgust$ and &ushed

&ast him into the yard$ running against #arnshaw in my haste. It was so dar, that I !ould

not see the means of e%it and$ as I wandered round$ I heard another s&e!imen of their!ivil behaviour amongst ea!h other. 't first the young man a&&eared about to befriend

me.

Ill go with him as far as the &ar,$ he said.

;oull go with him to hell" e%!laimed his master$ or whatever relation he bore. 'nd whois to loo, after the horses$ eh

' mans life is of more !onse5uen!e than one evenings negle!t of the horses somebody

must go$ murmured *rs. +eath!liff$ more ,indly than I e%&e!ted.

ot at your !ommand" retorted +areton. If you set store on him$ youd better be 5uiet.

hen I ho&e his ghost will haunt you and I ho&e *r. +eath!liff will never get anothertenant till the /range is a ruin$ she answered$ shar&ly.

+ear,en$ hear,en$ shoos !ursing on em" muttered 3ose&h$ towards whom I had been

steering.

+e sat within earshot$ mil,ing the !ows by the light of a lantern$ whi!h I sei=ed

un!eremoniously$ and$ !alling out that I would send it ba!, on the morrow$ rushed to the

nearest &ostern.

*aister$ maister$ hes staling t lanthern" shouted the an!ient$ &ursuing my retreat. +ey$

/nasher" +ey$ dog" +ey 2olf$ holld him$ holld him"

9n o&ening the little door$ two hairy monsters flew at my throat$ bearing me down$ and

e%tinguishing the light while a mingled guffaw from +eath!liff and +areton &ut the

!o&estone on my rage and humiliation. Cortunately$ the beasts seemed more bent onstret!hing their &aws$ and yawning$ and flourishing their tails$ than devouring me alive

but they would suffer no resurre!tion$ and I was for!ed to lie till their malignant masters

&leased to deliver me then$ hatless and trembling with wrath$ I ordered the mis!reants to

let me out - on their &eril to ,ee& me one minute longer - with several in!oherent threatsof retaliation that$ in their indefinite de&th of virulen!y$ sma!,ed of Ding ear.

he vehemen!e of my agitation brought on a !o&ious bleeding at the nose$ and still+eath!liff laughed$ and still I s!olded. I dont ,now what would have !on!luded the

s!ene$ had there not been one &erson at hand rather more rational than myself$ and more

benevolent than my entertainer. his was Billah$ the stout housewife who at lengthissued forth to in5uire into the nature of the u&roar. :he thought that some of them had

been laying violent hands on me and$ not daring to atta!, her master$ she turned her

vo!al artillery against the younger s!oundrel.


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2ell$ *r. #arnshaw$ she !ried$ I wonder what youll have agait ne%t 're we going to

murder fol, on our very door-stones I see this house will never do for me - loo, at t

&oor lad$ hes fair !ho,ing" 2isht$ wisht you munnt go on so. >ome in$ and Ill !urethat there now$ hold ye still.

2ith these words she suddenly s&lashed a &int of i!y water down my ne!,$ and &ulled meinto the ,it!hen. *r. +eath!liff followed$ his a!!idental merriment e%&iring 5ui!,ly in his

habitual moroseness.

I was si!, e%!eedingly$ and di==y$ and faint and thus !om&elled &erfor!e to a!!e&t

lodgings under his roof. +e told Billah to give me a glass of brandy$ and then &assed on

to the inner room while she !ondoled with me on my sorry &redi!ament$ and having

obeyed his orders$ whereby I was somewhat revived$ ushered me to bed.

Chapter 3

2hile leading the way u&stairs$ she re!ommended that I should hide the !andle$ and not

ma,e a noise for her master had an odd notion about the !hamber she would &ut me in$and never let anybody lodge there willingly. I as,ed the reason. :he did not ,now$ she

answered she had only lived there a year or two and they had so many 5ueer goings on$she !ould not begin to be !urious.

oo stu&efied to be !urious myself$ I fastened my door and glan!ed round for the bed.he whole furniture !onsisted of a !hair$ a !lothes-&ress$ and a large oa, !ase$ with

s5uares !ut out near the to& resembling !oa!h windows. +aving a&&roa!hed this

stru!ture$ I loo,ed inside$ and &er!eived it to be a singular sort of old- fashioned !ou!h$

very !onveniently designed to obviate the ne!essity for every member of the familyhaving a room to himself. In fa!t$ it formed a little !loset$ and the ledge of a window$

whi!h it en!losed$ served as a table. I slid ba!, the &anelled sides$ got in with my light$

&ulled them together again$ and felt se!ure against the vigilan!e of +eath!liff$ and everyone else.

he ledge$ where I &la!ed my !andle$ had a few mildewed boo,s &iled u& in one !ornerand it was !overed with writing s!rat!hed on the &aint. his writing$ however$ was

nothing but a name re&eated in all ,inds of !hara!ters$ large and small - >atherine

#arnshaw$ here and there varied to >atherine +eath!liff$ and then again to >atherine

inton.

In va&id listlessness I leant my head against the window$ and !ontinued s&elling over

>atherine #arnshaw - +eath!liff - inton$ till my eyes !losed but they had not rested fiveminutes when a glare of white letters started from the dar,$ as vivid as s&e!tres - the air

swarmed with >atherines and rousing myself to dis&el the obtrusive name$ I dis!overed

my !andle-wi!, re!lining on one of the anti5ue volumes$ and &erfuming the &la!e with anodour of roasted !alf-s,in. I snuffed it off$ and$ very ill at ease under the influen!e of !old

and lingering nausea$ sat u& and s&read o&en the injured tome on my ,nee. It was a

estament$ in lean ty&e$ and smelling dreadfully musty a fly-leaf bore the ins!ri&tion -

>atherine #arnshaw$ her boo,$ and a date some 5uarter of a !entury ba!,. I shut it$ and


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too, u& another and another$ till I had e%amined all. >atherines library was sele!t$ and its

state of dila&idation &roved it to have been well used$ though not altogether for a

legitimate &ur&ose s!ar!ely one !ha&ter had es!a&ed$ a &en-and-in, !ommentary - atleast the a&&earan!e of one - !overing every morsel of blan, that the &rinter had left.

:ome were deta!hed senten!es other &arts too, the form of a regular diary$ s!rawled in

an unformed$ !hildish hand. 't the to& of an e%tra &age (5uite a treasure$ &robably$ whenfirst lighted on) I was greatly amused to behold an e%!ellent !ari!ature of my friend

3ose&h$ - rudely$ yet &owerfully s,et!hed. 'n immediate interest ,indled within me for

the un,nown >atherine$ and I began forthwith to de!i&her her faded hierogly&hi!s.

'n awful :unday$ !ommen!ed the &aragra&h beneath. I wish my father were ba!,

again. +indley is a detestable substitute - his !ondu!t to +eath!liff is atro!ious - +. and I

are going to rebel - we too, our initiatory ste& this evening.

'll day had been flooding with rain we !ould not go to !hur!h$ so 3ose&h must needs get

u& a !ongregation in the garret and$ while +indley and his wife bas,ed downstairs before

a !omfortable fire - doing anything but reading their ibles$ Ill answer for it - +eath!liff$myself$ and the unha&&y &loughboy were !ommanded to ta,e our &rayer-boo,s$ and

mount we were ranged in a row$ on a sa!, of !orn$ groaning and shivering$ and ho&ingthat 3ose&h would shiver too$ so that he might give us a short homily for his own sa,e. '

vain idea" he servi!e lasted &re!isely three hours and yet my brother had the fa!e to

e%!laim$ when he saw us des!ending$ E2hat$ done alreadyE 9n :unday evenings weused to be &ermitted to &lay$ if we did not ma,e mu!h noise now a mere titter is

suffi!ient to send us into !orners.

E;ou forget you have a master here$E says the tyrant. EIll demolish the first who &uts meout of tem&er" I insist on &erfe!t sobriety and silen!e. 9h$ boy" was that you Cran!es

darling$ &ull his hair as you go by I heard him sna& his fingers.E Cran!es &ulled his hair

heartily$ and then went and seated herself on her husbands ,nee$ and there they were$ li,etwo babies$ ,issing and tal,ing nonsense by the hour - foolish &alaver that we should be

ashamed of. 2e made ourselves as snug as our means allowed in the ar!h of the dresser. I

had just fastened our &inafores together$ and hung them u& for a !urtain$ when in !omes3ose&h$ on an errand from the stables. +e tears down my handiwor,$ bo%es my ears$ and

!roa,s

E maister nobbut just buried$ and :abbath not oered$ und t sound o t gos&el still i yerlugs$ and ye darr be lai,ing" :hame on ye" sit ye down$ ill !hilder" theres good boo,s

eneugh if yell read em sit ye down$ and thin, o yer sowls"E

:aying this$ he !om&elled us so to s5uare our &ositions that we might re!eive from the

far-off fire a dull ray to show us the te%t of the lumber he thrust u&on us. I !ould not bear

the em&loyment. I too, my dingy volume by the s!roo&$ and hurled it into the dog-,ennel$ vowing I hated a good boo,. +eath!liff ,i!,ed his to the same &la!e. hen there

was a hubbub"

E*aister +indley"E shouted our !ha&lain. E *aister$ !oom hither" *iss >athys riven th


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ba!, off h +elmet o :alvation$ un +eath!liffs &awsed his fit into t first &art o

rooad 2ay to estru!tion" Its fair flaysome that ye let em go on this gait. #!h" th owd

man wad ha la!ed em &ro&erly - but hes goan"E

+indley hurried u& from his &aradise on the hearth$ and sei=ing one of us by the !ollar$

and the other by the arm$ hurled both into the ba!,-,it!hen where$ 3ose&h asseverated$Eowd i!, would fet!h us as sure as we were living and$ so !omforted$ we ea!h sought a

se&arate noo, to await his advent. I rea!hed this boo,$ and a &ot of in, from a shelf$ and

&ushed the house-door ajar to give me light$ and I have got the time on with writing fortwenty minutes but my !om&anion is im&atient$ and &ro&oses that we should a&&ro&riate

the dairywomans !loa,$ and have a s!am&er on the moors$ under its shelter. ' &leasant

suggestion - and then$ if the surly old man !ome in$ he may believe his &ro&he!y verified

- we !annot be dam&er$ or !older$ in the rain than we are here.

F F F F F F

I su&&ose >atherine fulfilled her &roje!t$ for the ne%t senten!e too, u& another subje!t

she wa%ed la!hrymose.

+ow little did I dream that +indley would ever ma,e me !ry so" she wrote. *y head

a!hes$ till I !annot ,ee& it on the &illow and still I !ant give over. 6oor +eath!liff"+indley !alls him a vagabond$ and wont let him sit with us$ nor eat with us any more

and$ he says$ he and I must not &lay together$ and threatens to turn him out of the house if

we brea, his orders. +e has been blaming our father (how dared he) for treating +. too

liberally and swears he will redu!e him to his right &la!e -

F F F F F F

I began to nod drowsily over the dim &age my eye wandered from manus!ri&t to &rint. I

saw a red ornamented title - :eventy imes :even$ and the Cirst of the :eventy-Cirst. '6ious is!ourse delivered by the @everend 3abe= randerham$ in the >ha&el of

/immerden :ough. 'nd while I was$ half-!ons!iously$ worrying my brain to guess what

3abe= randerham would ma,e of his subje!t$ I san, ba!, in bed$ and fell aslee&. 'las$

for the effe!ts of bad tea and bad tem&er" 2hat else !ould it be that made me &ass su!h aterrible night I dont remember another that I !an at all !om&are with it sin!e I was

!a&able of suffering.

I began to dream$ almost before I !eased to be sensible of my lo!ality. I thought it was

morning and I had set out on my way home$ with 3ose&h for a guide. he snow lay yards

dee& in our road and$ as we floundered on$ my !om&anion wearied me with !onstantre&roa!hes that I had not brought a &ilgrims staff telling me that I !ould never get into

the house without one$ and boastfully flourishing a heavy-headed !udgel$ whi!h I

understood to be so denominated. Cor a moment I !onsidered it absurd that I should need

su!h a wea&on to gain admittan!e into my own residen!e. hen a new idea flashed a!ross


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me. I was not going there we were journeying to hear the famous 3abe= randerham

&rea!h$ from the te%t - :eventy imes :even and either 3ose&h$ the &rea!her$ or I had

!ommitted the Cirst of the :eventy-Cirst$ and were to be &ubli!ly e%&osed ande%!ommuni!ated.

2e !ame to the !ha&el. I have &assed it really in my wal,s$ twi!e or thri!e it lies in ahollow$ between two hills an elevated hollow$ near a swam&$ whose &eaty moisture is

said to answer all the &ur&oses of embalming on the few !or&ses de&osited there. he

roof has been ,e&t whole hitherto but as the !lergymans sti&end is only twenty &ounds&er annum$ and a house with two rooms$ threatening s&eedily to determine into one$ no

!lergyman will underta,e the duties of &astor es&e!ially as it is !urrently re&orted that

his flo!, would rather let him starve than in!rease the living by one &enny from their own

&o!,ets. +owever$ in my dream$ 3abe= had a full and attentive !ongregation and he&rea!hed - good /od" what a sermon divided into four hundred and ninety &arts$ ea!h

fully e5ual to an ordinary address from the &ul&it$ and ea!h dis!ussing a se&arate sin"

2here he sear!hed for them$ I !annot tell. +e had his &rivate manner of inter&reting the

&hrase$ and it seemed ne!essary the brother should sin different sins on every o!!asion.hey were of the most !urious !hara!ter odd transgressions that I never imagined

&reviously.

9h$ how weary I grow. +ow I writhed$ and yawned$ and nodded$ and revived" +ow I

&in!hed and &ri!,ed myself$ and rubbed my eyes$ and stood u&$ and sat down again$ andnudged 3ose&h to inform me if he would ever have done. I was !ondemned to hear all

out finally$ he rea!hed the first of the seventy-first. 't that !risis$ a sudden ins&iration

des!ended on me I was moved to rise and denoun!e 3abe= randerham as the sinner of

the sin that no >hristian need &ardon.

:ir$ I e%!laimed$ sitting here within these four walls$ at one stret!h$ I have endured and

forgiven the four hundred and ninety heads of your dis!ourse. :eventy times seven timeshave I &lu!,ed u& my hat and been about to de&art - :eventy times seven times have you

&re&osterously for!ed me to resume my seat. he four hundred and ninety-first is too

mu!h. Cellow-martyrs$ have at him" rag him down$ and !rush him to atoms$ that the&la!e whi!h ,nows him may ,now him no more"

hou art the man" !ried 3abe=$ after a solemn &ause$ leaning over his !ushion. :eventy

times seven times didst thou ga&ingly !ontort thy visage - seventy times seven did I ta,e!ounsel with my soul - o$ this is human wea,ness this also may be absolved" he Cirst

of the :eventy-Cirst is !ome. rethren$ e%e!ute u&on him the judgement written. :u!h

honour have all +is saints"

2ith that !on!luding word$ the whole assembly$ e%alting their &ilgrims staves$ rushed

round me in a body and I$ having no wea&on to raise in self-defen!e$ !ommen!edgra&&ling with 3ose&h$ my nearest and most fero!ious assailant$ for his. In the !onfluen!e

of the multitude$ several !lubs !rossed blows$ aimed at me$ fell on other s!on!es.

6resently the whole !ha&el resounded with ra&&ings and !ounter ra&&ings every mans

hand was against his neighbour and randerham$ unwilling to remain idle$ &oured forth


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his =eal in a shower of loud ta&s on the boards of the &ul&it$ whi!h res&onded so smartly

that$ at last$ to my uns&ea,able relief$ they wo,e me. 'nd what was it that had suggested

the tremendous tumult 2hat had &layed 3abe=s &art in the row *erely the bran!h of afir-tree that tou!hed my latti!e as the blast wailed by$ and rattled its dry !ones against the

&anes" I listened doubtingly an instant dete!ted the disturber$ then turned and do=ed$ and

dreamt again if &ossible$ still more disagreeably than before.

his time$ I remembered I was lying in the oa, !loset$ and I heard distin!tly the gusty

wind$ and the driving of the snow I heard$ also$ the fir bough re&eat its teasing sound$and as!ribed it to the right !ause but it annoyed me so mu!h$ that I resolved to silen!e it$

if &ossible and$ I thought$ I rose and endeavoured to unhas& the !asement. he hoo, was

soldered into the sta&le a !ir!umstan!e observed by me when awa,e$ but forgotten. I

must sto& it$ nevertheless" I muttered$ ,no!,ing my ,nu!,les through the glass$ andstret!hing an arm out to sei=e the im&ortunate bran!h instead of whi!h$ my fingers

!losed on the fingers of a little$ i!e-!old hand" he intense horror of nightmare !ame over

me I tried to draw ba!, my arm$ but the hand !lung to it$ and a most melan!holy voi!e

sobbed$ et me in - let me in" 2ho are you I as,ed$ struggling$ meanwhile$ todisengage myself. >atherine inton$ it re&lied$ shiveringly (why did I thin, of inton I

had read #arnshaw twenty times for inton) - Im !ome home Id lost my way on themoor" 's it s&o,e$ I dis!erned$ obs!urely$ a !hilds fa!e loo,ing through the window.

error made me !ruel and$ finding it useless to attem&t sha,ing the !reature off$ I &ulled

its wrist on to the bro,en &ane$ and rubbed it to and fro till the blood ran down andsoa,ed the bed!lothes still it wailed$ et me in" and maintained its tena!ious gri&e$

almost maddening me with fear. +ow !an I" I said at length. et me go$ if you want me

to let you in" he fingers rela%ed$ I snat!hed mine through the hole$ hurriedly &iled the

boo,s u& in a &yramid against it$ and sto&&ed my ears to e%!lude the lamentable &rayer. Iseemed to ,ee& them !losed above a 5uarter of an hour yet$ the instant I listened again$

there was the doleful !ry moaning on" egone" I shouted. Ill never let you in$ not if you

beg for twenty years. It is twenty years$ mourned the voi!e twenty years. Ive been awaif for twenty years" hereat began a feeble s!rat!hing outside$ and the &ile of boo,s

moved as if thrust forward. I tried to jum& u& but !ould not stir a limb and so yelled

aloud$ in a fren=y of fright. o my !onfusion$ I dis!overed the yell was not ideal hastyfootste&s a&&roa!hed my !hamber door somebody &ushed it o&en$ with a vigorous hand$

and a light glimmered through the s5uares at the to& of the bed. I sat shuddering yet$ and

wi&ing the &ers&iration from my forehead the intruder a&&eared to hesitate$ and muttered

to himself. 't last$ he said$ in a half-whis&er$ &lainly not e%&e!ting an answer$ Is any onehere I !onsidered it best to !onfess my &resen!e for I ,new +eath!liffs a!!ents$ and

feared he might sear!h further$ if I ,e&t 5uiet. 2ith this intention$ I turned and o&ened the

&anels. I shall not soon forget the effe!t my a!tion &rodu!ed. +eath!liff stood near theentran!e$ in his shirt and trousers with a !andle dri&&ing over his fingers$ and his fa!e as

white as the wall behind him. he first !rea, of the oa, startled him li,e an ele!tri!

sho!, the light lea&ed from his hold to a distan!e of some feet$ and his agitation was soe%treme$ that he !ould hardly &i!, it u&.

It is only your guest$ sir$ I !alled out$ desirous to s&are him the humiliation of e%&osing

his !owardi!e further. I had the misfortune to s!ream in my slee&$ owing to a frightful


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nightmare. Im sorry I disturbed you.

9h$ /od !onfound you$ *r. o!,wood" I wish you were at the - !ommen!ed my host$setting the !andle on a !hair$ be!ause he found it im&ossible to hold it steady. 'nd who

showed you u& into this room he !ontinued$ !rushing his nails into his &alms$ and

grinding his teeth to subdue the ma%illary !onvulsions. 2ho was it Ive a good mind toturn them out of the house this moment

It was your servant Billah$ I re&lied$ flinging myself on to the floor$ and ra&idlyresuming my garments. I should not !are if you did$ *r. +eath!liff she ri!hly deserves

it. I su&&ose that she wanted to get another &roof that the &la!e was haunted$ at my

e%&ense. 2ell$ it is - swarming with ghosts and goblins" ;ou have reason in shutting it

u&$ I assure you. o one will than, you for a do=e in su!h a den"

2hat do you mean as,ed +eath!liff$ and what are you doing ie down and finish out

the night$ sin!e you are here but$ for heavens sa,e" dont re&eat that horrid noise

nothing !ould e%!use it$ unless you were having your throat !ut"

If the little fiend had got in at the window$ she &robably would have strangled me" Ireturned. Im not going to endure the &erse!utions of your hos&itable an!estors again.

2as not the @everend 3abe= randerham a,in to you on the mothers side 'nd that

min%$ >atherine inton$ or #arnshaw$ or however she was !alled - she must have been a!hangeling - wi!,ed little soul" :he told me she had been wal,ing the earth these twenty

years a just &unishment for her mortal transgressions$ Ive no doubt"

:!ar!ely were these words uttered when I re!olle!ted the asso!iation of +eath!liffs with>atherines name in the boo,$ whi!h had !om&letely sli&&ed from my memory$ till thus

awa,ened. I blushed at my in!onsideration but$ without showing further !ons!iousness

of the offen!e$ I hastened to add - he truth is$ sir$ I &assed the first &art of the night in - +ere I sto&&ed afresh - I was about to say &erusing those old volumes$ then it would

have revealed my ,nowledge of their written$ as well as their &rinted$ !ontents so$

!orre!ting myself$ I went on - in s&elling over the name s!rat!hed on that window-ledge.' monotonous o!!u&ation$ !al!ulated to set me aslee&$ li,e !ounting$ or -

2hat >' you mean by tal,ing in this way to me" thundered +eath!liff with savage

vehemen!e. +ow - how dare you$ under my roof - /od" hes mad to s&ea, so" 'nd hestru!, his forehead with rage.

I did not ,now whether to resent this language or &ursue my e%&lanation but he seemedso &owerfully affe!ted that I too, &ity and &ro!eeded with my dreams affirming I had

never heard the a&&ellation of >atherine inton before$ but reading it often over

&rodu!ed an im&ression whi!h &ersonified itself when I had no longer my imaginationunder !ontrol. +eath!liff gradually fell ba!, into the shelter of the bed$ as I s&o,e finally

sitting down almost !on!ealed behind it. I guessed$ however$ by his irregular and

inter!e&ted breathing$ that he struggled to van5uish an e%!ess of violent emotion. ot

li,ing to show him that I had heard the !onfli!t$ I !ontinued my toilette rather noisily$


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loo,ed at my wat!h$ and solilo5uised on the length of the night ot three o!lo!, yet" I

!ould have ta,en oath it had been si%. ime stagnates here we must surely have retired to

rest at eight"

'lways at nine in winter$ and rise at four$ said my host$ su&&ressing a groan and$ as I

fan!ied$ by the motion of his arms shadow$ dashing a tear from his eyes. *r. o!,wood$he added$ you may go into my room youll only be in the way$ !oming down- stairs so

early and your !hildish out!ry has sent slee& to the devil for me.

'nd for me$ too$ I re&lied. Ill wal, in the yard till daylight$ and then Ill be off and you

need not dread a re&etition of my intrusion. Im now 5uite !ured of see,ing &leasure in

so!iety$ be it !ountry or town. ' sensible man ought to find suffi!ient !om&any in

himself.

elightful !om&any" muttered +eath!liff. a,e the !andle$ and go where you &lease. I

shall join you dire!tly. Dee& out of the yard$ though$ the dogs are un!hained and the

house - 3uno mounts sentinel there$ and - nay$ you !an only ramble about the ste&s and&assages. ut$ away with you" Ill !ome in two minutes"

I obeyed$ so far as to 5uit the !hamber when$ ignorant where the narrow lobbies led$ I

stood still$ and was witness$ involuntarily$ to a &ie!e of su&erstition on the &art of my

landlord whi!h belied$ oddly$ his a&&arent sense. +e got on to the bed$ and wren!hedo&en the latti!e$ bursting$ as he &ulled at it$ into an un!ontrollable &assion of tears. >ome

in" !ome in" he sobbed. >athy$ do !ome. 9h$ do - on!e more" 9h" my hearts darling"

hear me this time$ >atherine$ at last" he s&e!tre showed a s&e!tres ordinary !a&ri!e it

gave no sign of being but the snow and wind whirled wildly through$ even rea!hing mystation$ and blowing out the light.

here was su!h anguish in the gush of grief that a!!om&anied this raving$ that my!om&assion made me overloo, its folly$ and I drew off$ half angry to have listened at all$

and ve%ed at having related my ridi!ulous nightmare$ sin!e it &rodu!ed that agony

though why was beyond my !om&rehension. I des!ended !autiously to the lower regions$and landed in the ba!,-,it!hen$ where a gleam of fire$ ra,ed !om&a!tly together$ enabled

me to re,indle my !andle. othing was stirring e%!e&t a brindled$ grey !at$ whi!h !re&t

from the ashes$ and saluted me with a 5uerulous mew.

wo ben!hes$ sha&ed in se!tions of a !ir!le$ nearly en!losed the hearth on one of these I

stret!hed myself$ and /rimal,in mounted the other. 2e were both of us nodding ere any

one invaded our retreat$ and then it was 3ose&h$ shuffling down a wooden ladder thatvanished in the roof$ through a tra& the as!ent to his garret$ I su&&ose. +e !ast a sinister

loo, at the little flame whi!h I had enti!ed to &lay between the ribs$ swe&t the !at from its

elevation$ and bestowing himself in the va!an!y$ !ommen!ed the o&eration of stuffing athree-in!h &i&e with toba!!o. *y &resen!e in his san!tum was evidently esteemed a &ie!e

of im&uden!e too shameful for remar, he silently a&&lied the tube to his li&s$ folded his

arms$ and &uffed away. I let him enjoy the lu%ury unannoyed and after su!,ing out his

last wreath$ and heaving a &rofound sigh$ he got u&$ and de&arted as solemnly as he !ame.


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' more elasti! footste& entered ne%t and now I o&ened my mouth for a good-morning$but !losed it again$ the salutation una!hieved for +areton #arnshaw was &erforming his

orison sotto vo!e$ in a series of !urses dire!ted against every obje!t he tou!hed$ while he

rummaged a !orner for a s&ade or shovel to dig through the drifts. +e glan!ed over theba!, of the ben!h$ dilating his nostrils$ and thought as little of e%!hanging !ivilities with

me as with my !om&anion the !at. I guessed$ by his &re&arations$ that egress was

allowed$ and$ leaving my hard !ou!h$ made a movement to follow him. +e noti!ed this$and thrust at an inner door with the end of his s&ade$ intimating by an inarti!ulate sound

that there was the &la!e where I must go$ if I !hanged my lo!ality.

It o&ened into the house$ where the females were already astir Billah urging fla,es offlame u& the !himney with a !olossal bellows and *rs. +eath!liff$ ,neeling on the

hearth$ reading a boo, by the aid of the bla=e. :he held her hand inter&osed between the

furna!e-heat and her eyes$ and seemed absorbed in her o!!u&ation desisting from it only

to !hide the servant for !overing her with s&ar,s$ or to &ush away a dog$ now and then$that snoo=led its nose overforwardly into her fa!e. I was sur&rised to see +eath!liff there

also. +e stood by the fire$ his ba!, towards me$ just finishing a stormy s!ene with &oorBillah who ever and anon interru&ted her labour to &lu!, u& the !orner of her a&ron$ and

heave an indignant groan.

'nd you$ you worthless - he bro,e out as I entered$ turning to his daughter-in-law$ and

em&loying an e&ithet as harmless as du!,$ or shee&$ but generally re&resented by a dash

- . here you are$ at your idle tri!,s again" he rest of them do earn their bread - you live

on my !harity" 6ut your trash away$ and find something to do. ;ou shall &ay me for the&lague of having you eternally in my sight - do you hear$ damnable jade

Ill &ut my trash away$ be!ause you !an ma,e me if I refuse$ answered the young lady$!losing her boo,$ and throwing it on a !hair. ut Ill not do anything$ though you should

swear your tongue out$ e%!e&t what I &lease"

+eath!liff lifted his hand$ and the s&ea,er s&rang to a safer distan!e$ obviously

a!5uainted with its weight. +aving no desire to be entertained by a !at-and-dog !ombat$ I

ste&&ed forward bris,ly$ as if eager to &arta,e the warmth of the hearth$ and inno!ent of

any ,nowledge of the interru&ted dis&ute. #a!h had enough de!orum to sus&end furtherhostilities +eath!liff &la!ed his fists$ out of tem&tation$ in his &o!,ets *rs. +eath!liff

!urled her li&$ and wal,ed to a seat far off$ where she ,e&t her word by &laying the &art of

a statue during the remainder of my stay. hat was not long. I de!lined joining theirbrea,fast$ and$ at the first gleam of dawn$ too, an o&&ortunity of es!a&ing into the free

air$ now !lear$ and still$ and !old as im&al&able i!e.

*y landlord halloed for me to sto& ere I rea!hed the bottom of the garden$ and offered to

a!!om&any me a!ross the moor. It was well he did$ for the whole hill-ba!, was one

billowy$ white o!ean the swells and falls not indi!ating !orres&onding rises and

de&ressions in the ground many &its$ at least$ were filled to a level and entire ranges of


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mounds$ the refuse of the 5uarries$ blotted from the !hart whi!h my yesterdays wal, left

&i!tured in my mind. I had remar,ed on one side of the road$ at intervals of si% or seven

yards$ a line of u&right stones$ !ontinued through the whole length of the barren thesewere ere!ted and daubed with lime on &ur&ose to serve as guides in the dar,$ and also

when a fall$ li,e the &resent$ !onfounded the dee& swam&s on either hand with the firmer

&ath but$ e%!e&ting a dirty dot &ointing u& here and there$ all tra!es of their e%isten!e hadvanished and my !om&anion found it ne!essary to warn me fre5uently to steer to the

right or left$ when I imagined I was following$ !orre!tly$ the windings of the road.

2e e%!hanged little !onversation$ and he halted at the entran!e of hrush!ross 6ar,$

saying$ I !ould ma,e no error there. 9ur adieu% were limited to a hasty bow$ and then I

&ushed forward$ trusting to my own resour!es for the &orters lodge is untenanted as yet.

he distan!e from the gate to the grange is two miles I believe I managed to ma,e itfour$ what with losing myself among the trees$ and sin,ing u& to the ne!, in snow a

&redi!ament whi!h only those who have e%&erien!ed it !an a&&re!iate. 't any rate$

whatever were my wanderings$ the !lo!, !himed twelve as I entered the house and that

gave e%a!tly an hour for every mile of the usual way from 2uthering +eights.

*y human fi%ture and her satellites rushed to wel!ome me e%!laiming$ tumultuously$they had !om&letely given me u& everybody !onje!tured that I &erished last night and

they were wondering how they must set about the sear!h for my remains. I bid them be

5uiet$ now that they saw me returned$ and$ benumbed to my very heart$ I dragged u&-stairs when!e$ after &utting on dry !lothes$ and &a!ing to and fro thirty or forty minutes$

to restore the animal heat$ I adjourned to my study$ feeble as a ,itten almost too mu!h so

to enjoy the !heerful fire and smo,ing !offee whi!h the servant had &re&ared for my

refreshment.

Chapter 4

2hat vain weather!o!,s we are" I$ who had determined to hold myself inde&endent of allso!ial inter!ourse$ and than,ed my stars that$ at length$ I had lighted on a s&ot where it

was ne%t to im&ra!ti!able - I$ wea, wret!h$ after maintaining till dus, a struggle with low

s&irits and solitude$ was finally !om&elled to stri,e my !olours and under &reten!e ofgaining information !on!erning the ne!essities of my establishment$ I desired *rs. ean$

when she brought in su&&er$ to sit down while I ate it ho&ing sin!erely she would &rove a

regular gossi&$ and either rouse me to animation or lull me to slee& by her tal,.

;ou have lived here a !onsiderable time$ I !ommen!ed did you not say si%teen years

#ighteen$ sir I !ame when the mistress was married$ to wait on her after she died$ themaster retained me for his house,ee&er.

Indeed.

here ensued a &ause. :he was not a gossi&$ I feared unless about her own affairs$ and

those !ould hardly interest me. +owever$ having studied for an interval$ with a fist on

either ,nee$ and a !loud of meditation over her ruddy !ountenan!e$ she eja!ulated - 'h$


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times are greatly !hanged sin!e then"

;es$ I remar,ed$ youve seen a good many alterations$ I su&&ose

I have and troubles too$ she said.

9h$ Ill turn the tal, on my landlords family" I thought to myself. ' good subje!t to

start" 'nd that &retty girl-widow$ I should li,e to ,now her history whether she be a

native of the !ountry$ or$ as is more &robable$ an e%oti! that the surly indgenae will notre!ognise for ,in. 2ith this intention I as,ed *rs. ean why +eath!liff let hrush!ross

/range$ and &referred living in a situation and residen!e so mu!h inferior. Is he not ri!h

enough to ,ee& the estate in good order I in5uired.

@i!h$ sir" she returned. +e has nobody ,nows what money$ and every year it in!reases.

;es$ yes$ hes ri!h enough to live in a finer house than this but hes very near - !lose-

handed and$ if he had meant to flit to hrush!ross /range$ as soon as he heard of a good

tenant he !ould not have borne to miss the !han!e of getting a few hundreds more. It isstrange &eo&le should be so greedy$ when they are alone in the world"

+e had a son$ it seems

;es$ he had one - he is dead.

'nd that young lady$ *rs. +eath!liff$ is his widow

;es.

2here did she !ome from originally

2hy$ sir$ she is my late masters daughter >atherine inton was her maiden name. I

nursed her$ &oor thing" I did wish *r. +eath!liff would remove here$ and then we might

have been together again.

2hat" >atherine inton I e%!laimed$ astonished. ut a minutes refle!tion !onvin!ed

me it was not my ghostly >atherine. hen$ I !ontinued$ my &rede!essors name was

inton

It was.

'nd who is that #arnshaw +areton #arnshaw$ who lives with *r. +eath!liff 're they

relations

o he is the late *rs. intons ne&hew.

he young ladys !ousin$ then ;es and her husband was her !ousin also one on the

mothers$ the other on the fathers side +eath!liff married *r. intons sister.


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I see the house at 2uthering +eights has E#arnshawE !arved over the front door. 're

they an old family

?ery old$ sir and +areton is the last of them$ as our *iss >athy is of us - I mean$ of the

intons. +ave you been to 2uthering +eights I beg &ardon for as,ing but I should li,eto hear how she is"

*rs. +eath!liff she loo,ed very well$ and very handsome yet$ I thin,$ not very ha&&y.

9h dear$ I dont wonder" 'nd how did you li,e the master

' rough fellow$ rather$ *rs. ean. Is not that his !hara!ter

@ough as a saw-edge$ and hard as whinstone" he less you meddle with him the better.

+e must have had some u&s and downs in life to ma,e him su!h a !hurl. o you ,nowanything of his history

Its a !u!,oos$ sir - I ,now all about it e%!e&t where he was born$ and who were his

&arents$ and how he got his money at first. 'nd +areton has been !ast out li,e an

unfledged dunno!," he unfortunate lad is the only one in all this &arish that does notguess how he has been !heated.

2ell$ *rs. ean$ it will be a !haritable 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 !hat an hour.

9h$ !ertainly$ sir" Ill just fet!h a little sewing$ and then Ill sit as long as you &lease. ut

youve !aught !old I saw you shivering$ and you must have some gruel to drive it out.

he worthy woman bustled off$ and I !rou!hed nearer the fire my head felt hot$ and the

rest of me !hill moreover$ I was e%!ited$ almost to a &it!h of foolishness$ through mynerves and brain. his !aused me to feel$ not un!omfortable$ but rather fearful (as I am

still) of serious effe!ts from the in!idents of to-day and yesterday. :he returned &resently$

bringing a smo,ing basin and a bas,et of wor, and$ having &la!ed the former on the hob$

drew in her seat$ evidently &leased to find me so !om&anionable.

efore I !ame to live here$ she !ommen!ed - waiting no farther invitation to her story - I

was almost always at 2uthering +eights be!ause my mother had nursed *r. +indley#arnshaw$ that was +aretons father$ and I got used to &laying with the !hildren I ran

errands too$ and hel&ed to ma,e hay$ and hung about the farm ready for anything that

anybody would set me to. 9ne fine summer morning - it was the beginning of harvest$ Iremember - *r. #arnshaw$ the old master$ !ame down-stairs$ dressed for a journey and$

after he had told 3ose&h what was to be done during the day$ he turned to +indley$ and

>athy$ and me - for I sat eating my &orridge with them - and he said$ s&ea,ing to his son$

ow$ my bonny man$ Im going to iver&ool to-day$ what shall I bring you ;ou may


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!hoose what you li,e only let it be little$ for I shall wal, there and ba!, si%ty miles ea!h

way$ that is a long s&ell" +indley named a fiddle$ and then he as,ed *iss >athy she was

hardly si% years old$ but she !ould ride any horse in the stable$ and she !hose a whi&. +edid not forget me for he had a ,ind heart$ though he was rather severe sometimes. +e

&romised to bring me a &o!,etful of a&&les and &ears$ and then he ,issed his !hildren$

said good-bye$ and set off.

It seemed a long while to us all - the three days of his absen!e - and often did little >athy

as, when he would be home. *rs. #arnshaw e%&e!ted him by su&&er-time on the thirdevening$ and she &ut the meal off hour after hour there were no signs of his !oming$

however$ and at last the !hildren got tired of running down to the gate to loo,. hen it

grew dar, she would have had them to bed$ but they begged sadly to be allowed to stay

u& and$ just about eleven o!lo!,$ the door-lat!h was raised 5uietly$ and in ste&&ed themaster. +e threw himself into a !hair$ laughing and groaning$ and bid them all stand off$

for he was nearly ,illed - he would not have su!h another wal, for the three ,ingdoms.

'nd at the end of it to be flighted to death" he said$ o&ening his great-!oat$ whi!h he

held bundled u& in his arms. :ee here$ wife" I was never so beaten with anything in mylife but you must een ta,e it as a gift of /od though its as dar, almost as if it !ame

from the devil.

2e !rowded round$ and over *iss >athys head I had a &ee& at a dirty$ ragged$ bla!,-

haired !hild big enough both to wal, and tal, indeed$ its fa!e loo,ed older than>atherines yet when it was set on its feet$ it only stared round$ and re&eated over and

over again some gibberish that nobody !ould understand. I was frightened$ and *rs.

#arnshaw was ready to fling it out of doors she did fly u&$ as,ing how he !ould fashion

to bring that gy&sy brat into the house$ when they had their own bairns to feed and fendfor 2hat he meant to do with it$ and whether he were mad he master tried to e%&lain

the matter but he was really half dead with fatigue$ and all that I !ould ma,e out$

amongst her s!olding$ was a tale of his seeing it starving$ and houseless$ and as good asdumb$ in the streets of iver&ool$ where he &i!,ed it u& and in5uired for its owner. ot a

soul ,new to whom it belonged$ he said and his money and time being both limited$ he

thought it better to ta,e it home with him at on!e$ than run into vain e%&enses therebe!ause he was determined he would not leave it as he found it. 2ell$ the !on!lusion

was$ that my mistress grumbled herself !alm and *r. #arnshaw told me to wash it$ and

give it !lean things$ and let it slee& with the !hildren.

+indley and >athy !ontented themselves with loo,ing and listening till &ea!e was

restored then$ both began sear!hing their fathers &o!,ets for the &resents he had

&romised them. he former was a boy of fourteen$ but when he drew out what had been afiddle$ !rushed to morsels in the great-!oat$ he blubbered aloud and >athy$ when she

learned the master had lost her whi& in attending on the stranger$ showed her humour by

grinning and s&itting at the stu&id little thing earning for her &ains a sound blow from herfather$ to tea!h her !leaner manners. hey entirely refused to have it in bed with them$ or

even in their room and I had no more sense$ so I &ut it on the landing of the stairs$

ho&ing it might he gone on the morrow. y !han!e$ or else attra!ted by hearing his voi!e$

it !re&t to *r. #arnshaws door$ and there he found it on 5uitting his !hamber. In5uiries


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were made as to how it got there I was obliged to !onfess$ and in re!om&ense for my

!owardi!e and inhumanity was sent out of the house.

his was +eath!liffs first introdu!tion to the family. 9n !oming ba!, a few days

afterwards (for I did not !onsider my banishment &er&etual)$ I found they had !hristened

him +eath!liff it was the name of a son who died in !hildhood$ and it has served himever sin!e$ both for >hristian and surname. *iss >athy and he were now very thi!, but

+indley hated him and to say the truth I did the same and we &lagued and went on with

him shamefully for I wasnt reasonable enough to feel my injusti!e$ and the mistressnever &ut in a word on his behalf when she saw him wronged.

+e seemed a sullen$ &atient !hild hardened$ &erha&s$ to ill- treatment he would stand

+indleys blows without win,ing or shedding a tear$ and my &in!hes moved him only todraw in a breath and o&en his eyes$ as if he had hurt himself by a!!ident$ and nobody was

to blame. his enduran!e made old #arnshaw furious$ when he dis!overed his son

&erse!uting the &oor fatherless !hild$ as he !alled him. +e too, to +eath!liff strangely$

believing all he said (for that matter$ he said &re!ious little$ and generally the truth)$ and&etting him u& far above >athy$ who was too mis!hievous and wayward for a favourite.

:o$ from the very beginning$ he bred bad feeling in the house and at *rs. #arnshaws

death$ whi!h ha&&ened in less than two years after$ the young master had learned to

regard his father as an o&&ressor rather than a friend$ and +eath!liff as a usur&er of his&arents affe!tions and his &rivileges and he grew bitter with brooding over these

injuries. I sym&athised a while but when the !hildren fell ill of the measles$ and I had to

tend them$ and ta,e on me the !ares of a woman at on!e$ I !hanged my idea. +eath!liff

was dangerously si!, and while he lay at the worst he would have me !onstantly by his&illow I su&&ose he felt I did a good deal for him$ and he hadnt wit to guess that I was

!om&elled to do it. +owever$ I will say this$ he was the 5uietest !hild that ever nurse

wat!hed over. he differen!e between him and the others for!ed me to be less &artial.>athy and her brother harassed me terribly he was as un!om&laining as a lamb though

hardness$ not gentleness$ made him give little trouble.

+e got through$ and the do!tor affirmed it was in a great measure owing to me$ and

&raised me for my !are. I was vain of his !ommendations$ and softened towards the being

by whose means I earned them$ and thus +indley lost his last ally still I !ouldnt dote on

+eath!liff$ and I wondered often what my master saw to admire so mu!h in the sullenboy who never$ to my re!olle!tion$ re&aid his indulgen!e by any sign of gratitude. +e

was not insolent to his benefa!tor$ he was sim&ly insensible though ,nowing &erfe!tly

the hold he had on his heart$ and !ons!ious he had only to s&ea, and all the house wouldbe obliged to bend to his wishes. 's an instan!e$ I remember *r. #arnshaw on!e bought

a !ou&le of !olts at the &arish fair$ and gave the lads ea!h one. +eath!liff too, the

handsomest$ but it soon fell lame$ and when he dis!overed it$ he said to +indley -

;ou must e%!hange horses with me I dont li,e mine and if you wont I shall tell your

father of the three thrashings youve given me this wee,$ and show him my arm$ whi!h is

bla!, to the shoulder. +indley &ut out his tongue$ and !uffed him over the ears. ;oud


25/100

better do it at on!e$ he &ersisted$ es!a&ing to the &or!h (they were in the stable) you will

have to and if I s&ea, of these blows$ youll get them again with interest. 9ff$ dog" !ried

+indley$ threatening him with an iron weight used for weighing &otatoes and hay. hrowit$ he re&lied$ standing still$ and then Ill 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 dire!tly. +indley

threw it$ hitting him on the breast$ and down he fell$ but staggered u& immediately$breathless and white and$ had not I &revented it$ he would have gone just so to the

master$ and got full revenge by letting his !ondition &lead for him$ intimating who had

!aused it. a,e my !olt$ /y&sy$ then" said young #arnshaw. 'nd I &ray that he maybrea, your ne!, ta,e him$ and he damned$ you beggarly interlo&er" and wheedle my

father out of all he has only afterwards show him what you are$ im& of :atan. - 'nd ta,e

that$ I ho&e hell ,i!, out your brains"

+eath!liff had gone to loose the beast$ and shift it to his own stall he was &assing behind

it$ when +indley finished his s&ee!h by ,no!,ing him under its feet$ and without sto&&ing

to e%amine whether his ho&es were fulfilled$ ran away as fast as he !ould. I was sur&rised

to witness how !oolly the !hild gathered himself u&$ and went on with his intentione%!hanging saddles and all$ and then sitting down on a bundle of hay to over!ome the

5ualm whi!h the violent blow o!!asioned$ before he entered the house. I &ersuaded himeasily to let me lay the blame of his bruises on the horse he minded little what tale was

told sin!e he had what he wanted. +e !om&lained so seldom$ indeed$ of su!h stirs as

these$ that I really thought him not vindi!tive I was de!eived !om&letely$ as you willhear.

Chapter 5

In the !ourse of time *r. #arnshaw began to fail. +e had been a!tive and healthy$ yet hisstrength left him suddenly and when he was !onfined to the !himney-!orner he grew

grievously irritable. ' nothing ve%ed him and sus&e!ted slights of his authority nearly

threw him into fits. his was es&e!ially to be remar,ed if any one attem&ted to im&oseu&on$ or domineer over$ his favourite he was &ainfully jealous lest a word should be

s&o,en amiss to him seeming to have got into his head the notion that$ be!ause he li,ed

+eath!liff$ all hated$ and longed to do him an ill-turn. It was a disadvantage to the lad forthe ,inder among us did not wish to fret the master$ so we humoured his &artiality and

that humouring was ri!h nourishment to the !hilds &ride and bla!, tem&ers. :till it

be!ame in a manner ne!essary twi!e$ or thri!e$ +indleys manifestation of s!orn$ while

his father was near$ roused the old man to a fury he sei=ed his sti!, to stri,e him$ andshoo, with rage that he !ould not do it.

't last$ our !urate (we had a !urate then who made the living answer by tea!hing the littleintons and #arnshaws$ and farming his bit of land himself) advised that the young man

should be sent to !ollege and *r. #arnshaw agreed$ though with a heavy s&irit$ for he

said - +indley was nought$ and would never thrive as where he wandered.

I ho&ed heartily we should have &ea!e now. It hurt me to thin, the master should be made

un!omfortable by his own good deed. I fan!ied the dis!ontent of age and disease arose

from his family disagreements as he would have it that it did really$ you ,now$ sir$ it


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was in his sin,ing frame. 2e might have got on tolerably$ notwithstanding$ but for two

&eo&le - *iss >athy$ and 3ose&h$ the servant you saw him$ I daresay$ u& yonder. +e was$

and is yet most li,ely$ the wearisomest self-righteous 6harisee that ever ransa!,ed a ibleto ra,e the &romises to himself and fling the !urses to his neighbours. y his ,na!, of

sermonising and &ious dis!oursing$ he !ontrived to ma,e a great im&ression on *r.

#arnshaw and the more feeble the master be!ame$ the more influen!e he gained. +e wasrelentless in worrying him about his souls !on!erns$ and about ruling his !hildren rigidly.

+e en!ouraged him to regard +indley as a re&robate and$ night after night$ he regularly

grumbled out a long string of tales against +eath!liff and >atherine always minding toflatter #arnshaws wea,ness by hea&ing the heaviest blame on the latter.

>ertainly she had ways with her su!h as I never saw a !hild ta,e u& before and she &ut

all of us &ast our &atien!e fifty times and oftener in a day from the hour she !ame down-stairs till the hour she went to bed$ we had not a minutes se!urity that she wouldnt be in

mis!hief. +er s&irits were always at high-water mar,$ her tongue always going - singing$

laughing$ and &laguing everybody who would not do the same. ' wild$ wi!,ed sli& she

was - but she had the bonniest eye$ the sweetest smile$ and lightest foot in the &arish and$after all$ I believe she meant no harm for when on!e she made you !ry in good earnest$ it

seldom ha&&ened that she would not ,ee& you !om&any$ and oblige you to be 5uiet thatyou might !omfort her. :he was mu!h too fond of +eath!liff. he greatest &unishment

we !ould invent for her was to ,ee& her se&arate from him yet she got !hided more than

any of us on his a!!ount. In &lay$ she li,ed e%!eedingly to a!t the little mistress using herhands freely$ and !ommanding her !om&anions she did so to me$ but I would not bear

sla&&ing and ordering and so I let her ,now.

ow$ *r. #arnshaw did not understand jo,es from his !hildren he had always been stri!tand grave with them and >atherine$ on her &art$ had no idea why her father should be

!rosser and less &atient in his ailing !ondition than he was in his &rime. +is &eevish

re&roofs wa,ened in her a naughty delight to &rovo,e him she was never so ha&&y aswhen we were all s!olding her at on!e$ and she defying us with her bold$ sau!y loo,$ and

her ready words turning 3ose&hs religious !urses into ridi!ule$ baiting me$ and doing just

what her father hated most - showing how her &retended insolen!e$ whi!h he thoughtreal$ had more &ower over +eath!liff than his ,indness how the boy would do her

bidding in anything$ and his only when it suited his own in!lination. 'fter behaving as

badly as &ossible all day$ she sometimes !ame fondling to ma,e it u& at night. ay$

>athy$ the old man would say$ I !annot love thee$ thourt worse than thy brother. /o$ saythy &rayers$ !hild$ and as, /ods &ardon. I doubt thy mother and I must rue that we ever

reared thee" hat made her !ry$ at first and then being re&ulsed !ontinually hardened

her$ and she laughed if I told her to say she was sorry for her faults$ and beg to beforgiven.

ut the hour !ame$ at last$ that ended *r. #arnshaws troubles on earth. +e died 5uietlyin his !hair one 9!tober evening$ seated by the fire-side. ' high wind blustered round the

house$ and roared in the !himney it sounded wild and stormy$ yet it was not !old$ and we

were all together - I$ a little removed from the hearth$ busy at my ,nitting$ and 3ose&h

reading his ible near the table (for the servants generally sat in the house then$ after


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their wor, was done). *iss >athy had been si!,$ and that made her still she leant against

her fathers ,nee$ and +eath!liff was lying on the floor with his head in her la&. I

remember the master$ before he fell into a do=e$ stro,ing her bonny hair - it &leased himrarely to see her gentle - and saying$ 2hy !anst thou not always be a good lass$ >athy

'nd she turned her fa!e u& to his$ and laughed$ and answered$ 2hy !annot you always

be a good man$ father ut as soon as she saw him ve%ed again$ she ,issed his hand$ andsaid she would sing him to slee&. :he began singing very low$ till his fingers dro&&ed

from hers$ and his head san, on his breast. hen I told her to hush$ and not stir$ for fear

she should wa,e him. 2e all ,e&t as mute as mi!e a full half-hour$ and should have doneso longer$ only 3ose&h$ having finished his !ha&ter$ got u& and said that he must rouse the

master for &rayers and bed. +e ste&&ed forward$ and !alled him by name$ and tou!hed his

shoulder but he would not move so he too, the !andle and loo,ed at him. I thought there

was something wrong as he set down the light and sei=ing the !hildren ea!h by an arm$whis&ered them to frame u&- stairs$ and ma,e little din - they might &ray alone that

evening - he had summut to do.

I shall bid father good-night first$ said >atherine$ &utting her arms round his ne!,$ beforewe !ould hinder her. he &oor thing dis!overed her loss dire!tly - she s!reamed out - 9h$

hes dead$ +eath!liff" hes dead" 'nd they both set u& a heart-brea,ing !ry.

I joined my wail to theirs$ loud and bitter but 3ose&h as,ed what we !ould be thin,ing of

to roar in that way over a saint in heaven. +e told me to &ut on my !loa, and run to/immerton for the do!tor and the &arson. I !ould not guess the use that either would be

of$ then. +owever$ I went$ through wind and rain$ and brought one$ the do!tor$ ba!, with

me the other said he would !ome in the morning. eaving 3ose&h to e%&lain matters$ I

ran to the !hildrens room their door was ajar$ I saw they had never lain down$ though itwas &ast midnight but they were !almer$ and did not need me to !onsole them. he little

souls were !omforting ea!h other with better thoughts than I !ould have hit on no &arson

in the world ever &i!tured heaven so beautifully as they did$ in their inno!ent tal, and$while I sobbed and listened$ I !ould not hel& wishing we were all there safe together.

Chapter 6

*r. +indley !ame home to the funeral and - a thing that ama=ed us$ and set the

neighbours gossi&ing right and left - he brought a wife with him. 2hat she was$ and

where she was born$ he never informed us &robably$ she had neither money nor name to

re!ommend her$ or he would s!ar!ely have ,e&t the union from his father.

:he was not one that would have disturbed the house mu!h on her own a!!ount. #very

obje!t she saw$ the moment she !rossed the threshold$ a&&eared to delight her and every!ir!umstan!e that too, &la!e about her e%!e&t the &re&aring for the burial$ and the

&resen!e of the mourners. I thought she was half silly$ from her behaviour while that

went on she ran into her !hamber$ and made me !ome with her$ though I should havebeen dressing the !hildren and there she sat shivering and !las&ing her hands$ and as,ing

re&eatedly - 're they gone yet hen she began des!ribing with hysteri!al emotion the

effe!t it &rodu!ed on her to see bla!, and started$ and trembled$ and$ at last$ fell a-

wee&ing - and when I as,ed what was the matter$ answered$ she didnt ,now but she felt


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so afraid of dying" I imagined her as little li,ely to die as myself. :he was rather thin$ but

young$ and fresh-!om&le%ioned$ and her eyes s&ar,led as bright as diamonds. I did

remar,$ to be sure$ that mounting the stairs made her breathe very 5ui!, that the leastsudden noise set her all in a 5uiver$ and that she !oughed troublesomely sometimes but I

,new nothing of what these sym&toms &ortended$ and had no im&ulse to sym&athise with

her. 2e dont in general ta,e to foreigners here$ *r. o!,wood$ unless they ta,e to usfirst.

;oung #arnshaw was altered !onsiderably in the three years of his absen!e. +e hadgrown s&arer$ and lost his !olour$ and s&o,e and dressed 5uite differently and$ on the

very day of his return$ he told 3ose&h and me we must then!eforth 5uarter ourselves in

the ba!,-,it!hen$ and leave the house for him. Indeed$ he would have !ar&eted and

&a&ered a small s&are room for a &arlour but his wife e%&ressed su!h &leasure at thewhite floor and huge glowing fire&la!e$ at the &ewter dishes and delf-!ase$ and dog-

,ennel$ and the wide s&a!e there was to move about in where they usually sat$ that he

thought it unne!essary to her !omfort$ and so dro&&ed the inte

30632819 Wuthering Heights

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