CHAPTER XVI

Abouttwelveo’clockthatnightwasborntheCatherineyousawatWutheringHeights:apuny,seven-months’childandtwohoursafterthemotherdied,havingneverrecoveredsufficientconsciousnesstomissHeathcliff,orknowEdgar.Thelatter’sdistractionathisbereavementisasubjecttoopainfultobedweltonitsafter-effectsshowedhowdeepthesorrowsunk.Agreataddition,inmyeyes,washisbeingleftwithoutanheir.Ibemoanedthat,asIgazedonthefeebleorphanandImentallyabusedoldLintonfor(whatwasonlynaturalpartiality)thesecuringhisestatetohisowndaughter,insteadofhisson’s.Anunwelcomedinfantitwas,poorthing!Itmighthavewailedoutoflife,andnobodycaredamorsel,duringthosefirsthoursofexistence.Weredeemedtheneglectafterwardsbutitsbeginningwasasfriendlessasitsendislikelytobe. Nextmorning—brightandcheerfuloutofdoors—stolesoftenedinthroughtheblindsofthesilentroom,andsuffusedthecouchanditsoccupantwithamellow,tenderglow.EdgarLintonhadhisheadlaidonthepillow,andhiseyesshut.Hisyoungandfairfeatureswerealmostasdeathlikeasthoseoftheformbesidehim,andalmostasfixed:buthiswasthehushofexhaustedanguish,andhersofperfectpeace.Herbrowsmooth,herlidsclosed,herlipswearingtheexpressionofasmilenoangelinheavencouldbemorebeautifulthansheappeared.AndIpartookoftheinfinitecalminwhichshelay:mymindwasneverinaholierframethanwhileIgazedonthatuntroubledimageofDivinerest.Iinstinctivelyechoedthewordsshehadutteredafewhoursbefore:“Incomparablybeyondandaboveusall!Whetherstillonearthornowinheaven,herspiritisathomewithGod!” Idon’tknowifitbeapeculiarityinme,butIamseldomotherwisethanhappywhilewatchinginthechamberofdeath,shouldnofrenziedordespairingmournersharethedutywithme.Iseeareposethatneith