CHAPTER XVIII

Thetwelveyears,continuedMrs.Dean,followingthatdismalperiodwerethehappiestofmylife:mygreatesttroublesintheirpassagerosefromourlittlelady’striflingillnesses,whichshehadtoexperienceincommonwithallchildren,richandpoor.Fortherest,afterthefirstsixmonths,shegrewlikealarch,andcouldwalkandtalktoo,inherownway,beforetheheathblossomedasecondtimeoverMrs.Linton’sdust.Shewasthemostwinningthingthateverbroughtsunshineintoadesolatehouse:arealbeautyinface,withtheEarnshaws’handsomedarkeyes,buttheLintons’fairskinandsmallfeatures,andyellowcurlinghair.Herspiritwashigh,thoughnotrough,andqualifiedbyaheartsensitiveandlivelytoexcessinitsaffections.Thatcapacityforintenseattachmentsremindedmeofhermother:stillshedidnotresembleher:forshecouldbesoftandmildasadove,andshehadagentlevoiceandpensiveexpression:herangerwasneverfuriousherloveneverfierce:itwasdeepandtender.However,itmustbeacknowledged,shehadfaultstofoilhergifts.Apropensitytobesaucywasoneandaperversewill,thatindulgedchildreninvariablyacquire,whethertheybegoodtemperedorcross.Ifaservantchancedtovexher,itwasalways—“Ishalltellpapa!”Andifhereprovedher,evenbyalook,youwouldhavethoughtitaheart-breakingbusiness:Idon’tbelieveheeverdidspeakaharshwordtoher.Hetookhereducationentirelyonhimself,andmadeitanamusement.Fortunately,curiosityandaquickintellectmadeheranaptscholar:shelearnedrapidlyandeagerly,anddidhonourtohisteaching. Tillshereachedtheageofthirteenshehadnotoncebeenbeyondtherangeoftheparkbyherself.Mr.Lintonwouldtakeherwithhimamileorsooutside,onrareoccasionsbuthetrustedhertonooneelse.Gimmertonwasanunsubstantialnameinherearsthechapel,theonlybuildingshehadapproachedorentered,exceptherownhome.WutheringHeightsandMr.Heathcliffdidnotexistforher:shewasaperfectrecluseand,apparently,perfectlycontented.Sometimes,indeed,whilesurveyingthecountryfromhernurserywindow,shewouldobserve— “Ellen,howlongwillitbebeforeIcanwalktothetopofthosehills?Iwonderwhatliesontheotherside—isitthesea?” “No,MissCathy,”Iwouldanswer“itishillsagain,justlikethese.” “Andwhatarethosegoldenrockslikewhenyoustandunderthem?”sheonceasked. TheabruptdescentofPenistoneCragsparticularlyattractedhernoticeespeciallywhenthesettingsunshoneonitandthetopmostheights,andthewholeextentoflandscapebesideslayinshadow.Iexplainedthattheywerebaremassesofstone,withhardlyenoughearthintheircleftstonourishastuntedtree. “Andwhyaretheybrightsolongafteritiseveninghere?”shepursued. “Becausetheyareagreatdealhigherupthanweare,”repliedI“youcouldnotclimbthem,theyaretoohighandsteep.InwinterthefrostisalwaystherebeforeitcomestousanddeepintosummerIhavefoundsnowunderthatblackhollowonthenorth-eastside!” “Oh,youhavebeenonthem!”shecriedgleefully.“ThenIcango,too,whenIamawoman.Haspapabeen,Ellen?” “Papawouldtellyou,Miss,”Ianswered,hastily,“thattheyarenotworththetroubleofvisiting.Themoors,whereyouramblewithhim,aremuchnicerandThrushcrossParkisthefinestplaceintheworld.” “ButIknowthepark,andIdon’tknowthose,”shemurmuredtoherself.“AndIshoulddelighttolookroundmefromthebrowofthattallestpoint:mylittleponyMinnyshalltakemesometime.” OneofthemaidsmentioningtheFairyCave,quiteturnedherheadwithadesiretofulfilthisproject:sheteasedMr.Lintonaboutitandhepromisedsheshouldhavethejourneywhenshegotolder.ButMissCatherinemeasuredheragebymonths,and,“Now,amIoldenoughtogotoPenistoneCrags?”wastheconstantquestioninhermouth.Theroadthitherwoundclos