CHAPTER XXII

Summerdrewtoanend,andearlyautumn:itwaspastMichaelmas,buttheharvestwaslatethatyear,andafewofourfieldswerestilluncleared.Mr.Lintonandhisdaughterwouldfrequentlywalkoutamongthereapersatthecarryingofthelastsheavestheystayedtilldusk,andtheeveninghappeningtobechillanddamp,mymastercaughtabadcold,thatsettledobstinatelyonhislungs,andconfinedhimindoorsthroughoutthewholeofthewinter,nearlywithoutintermission. PoorCathy,frightenedfromherlittleromance,hadbeenconsiderablysadderanddullersinceitsabandonmentandherfatherinsistedonherreadingless,andtakingmoreexercise.ShehadhiscompanionshipnolongerIesteemeditadutytosupplyitslack,asmuchaspossible,withmine:aninefficientsubstituteforIcouldonlysparetwoorthreehours,frommynumerousdiurnaloccupations,tofollowherfootsteps,andthenmysocietywasobviouslylessdesirablethanhis. OnanafternooninOctober,orthebeginningofNovember—afreshwateryafternoon,whentheturfandpathswererustlingwithmoist,witheredleaves,andthecoldblueskywashalfhiddenbyclouds—darkgreystreamers,rapidlymountingfromthewest,andbodingabundantrain—Irequestedmyyoungladytoforegoherramble,becauseIwascertainofshowers.SherefusedandIunwillinglydonnedacloak,andtookmyumbrellatoaccompanyheronastrolltothebottomofthepark:aformalwalkwhichshegenerallyaffectediflow-spirited—andthatsheinvariablywaswhenMr.Edgarhadbeenworsethanordinary,athingneverknownfromhisconfession,butguessedbothbyherandmefromhisincreasedsilenceandthemelancholyofhiscountenance.Shewentsadlyon:therewasnorunningorboundingnow,thoughthechillwindmightwellhavetemptedhertorace.Andoften,fromthesideofmyeye,Icoulddetectherraisingahand,andbrushingsomethingoffhercheek.Igazedroundforameansofdivertingherthoughts.Ononesideoftheroadroseahigh,roughbank,wherehazelsandstuntedoaks,withtheirrootshalfexposed,helduncertaintenure:thesoilwastoolooseforthelatterandstrongwindshadblownsomenearlyhorizontal.InsummerMissCatherinedelightedtoclimbalongthesetrunks,andsitinthebranches,swingingtwentyfeetabovethegroundandI,pleasedwithheragilityandherlight,childishheart,stillconsidereditpropertoscoldeverytimeIcaughtheratsuchanelevation,butsothatsheknewtherewasnonecessityfordescending.Fromdinnertoteas