CHAPTER VII

CathystayedatThrushcrossGrangefiveweeks:tillChristmas.Bythattimeheranklewasthoroughlycured,andhermannersmuchimproved.Themistressvisitedheroftenintheinterval,andcommencedherplanofreformbytryingtoraiseherself-respectwithfineclothesandflattery,whichshetookreadilysothat,insteadofawild,hatlesslittlesavagejumpingintothehouse,andrushingtosqueezeusallbreathless,therelightedfromahandsomeblackponyaverydignifiedperson,withbrownringletsfallingfromthecoverofafeatheredbeaver,andalongclothhabit,whichshewasobligedtoholdupwithbothhandsthatshemightsailin.Hindleyliftedherfromherhorse,exclaimingdelightedly,“Why,Cathy,youarequiteabeauty!Ishouldscarcelyhaveknownyou:youlooklikealadynow.IsabellaLintonisnottobecomparedwithher,isshe,Frances?”“Isabellahasnothernaturaladvantages,”repliedhiswife:“butshemustmindandnotgrowwildagainhere.Ellen,helpMissCatherineoffwithherthings—Stay,dear,youwilldisarrangeyourcurls—letmeuntieyourhat.” Iremovedthehabit,andthereshoneforthbeneathagrandplaidsilkfrock,whitetrousers,andburnishedshoesand,whilehereyessparkledjoyfullywhenthedogscameboundinguptowelcomeher,shedaredhardlytouchthemlesttheyshouldfawnuponhersplendidgarments.Shekissedmegently:IwasallflourmakingtheChristmascake,anditwouldnothavedonetogivemeahugandthenshelookedroundforHeathcliff.Mr.andMrs.Earnshawwatchedanxiouslytheirmeetingthinkingitwouldenablethemtojudge,insomemeasure,whatgroundstheyhadforhopingtosucceedinseparatingthetwofriends. Heathcliffwashardtodiscover,atfirst.Ifhewerecareless,anduncaredfor,beforeCatherine’sabsence,hehadbeententimesmoresosince.NobodybutIevendidhimthekindnesstocallhimadirtyboy,andbidhimwashhimself,onceaweekandchildrenofhisageseldomhaveanaturalpleasureinsoapandwater.Therefore,nottomentionhisclothes,whichhadseenthreemonths’serviceinmireanddust,andhisthickuncombedhair,thesurfaceofhisfaceandhandswasdismallybeclouded.Hemightwellskulkbehindthesettle,onbeholdingsuchabright,gracefuldamselenterthehouse,insteadofarough-headedcounterpartofhimself,asheexpected.“IsHeathcliffnothere?”shedemanded,pullingoffhergloves,anddisplayingfingerswonderfullywhitenedwithdoingnothingandstayingindoors. “Heathcliff,youmaycomeforward,”criedMr.Hindley,enjoyinghisdiscomfiture,andgratifiedtoseewhataforbiddingyoungblackguardhewouldbecompelledtopresenthimself.“YoumaycomeandwishMissCatherinewelcome,liketheotherservants.” Cathy,catchingaglimpseofherfriendinhisconcealment,flewtoembracehimshebestowedsevenoreightkissesonhischeekwithinthesecond,andthenstopped,anddrawingback,burstintoalaugh,exclaiming,“Why,howveryblackandcrossyoulook!andhow—howfunnyandgrim!Butthat’sbecauseI’musedtoEdgarandIsabellaLinton.Well,Heathcliff,haveyouforgottenme?” Shehadsomereasontoputthequestion,forshameandpridethrewdoublegloomoverhiscountenance,andkepthimimmovable. “Shakehands,Heathcliff,”saidMr.Earnshaw,condescendingly“onceinaway,thatispermitted.” “Ishallnot,”repliedtheboy,findinghistongueatlast“Ishallnotstandtobelaughedat.Ishallnotbearit!” Andhewouldhavebrokenfromthecircle,butMissCathyseizedhimagain. “Ididnotmeantolaughatyou,”shesaid“Icouldnothindermyself:Heathcliff,shakehandsatleast!Whatareyousulkyfor?Itwasonlythatyoulookedodd.Ifyouwashyourfaceandbrushyourhair,itwillbeallright:butyouaresodirty!” Shegazedconcernedlyattheduskyfingerssheheldinherown,andalsoatherdresswhichshefearedhadgainednoembellishmentfromitscontactwithhis. “Youneedn’thavetouchedme!”heanswered,followinghereyeandsnatchingawayhishand.“IshallbeasdirtyasIplease:andIliketobedirty,andIwillbedirty.” Withthathedashedheadforemostoutoftheroom,amidthemerrimentofthemasterandmistress,andtotheseriousdisturbanceofCatherinewhocouldnotcomprehendhowherremarksshouldhaveproducedsuchanexhibitionofbadtemper. Afterplayinglad