CHAPTER XXVIII

Onthefifthmorning,orratherafternoon,adifferentstepapproached—lighterandshorterand,thistime,thepersonenteredtheroom.ItwasZillahdonnedinherscarletshawl,withablacksilkbonnetonherhead,andawillow-basketswungtoherarm. “Eh,dear!Mrs.Dean!”sheexclaimed.“Well!thereisatalkaboutyouatGimmerton.IneverthoughtbutyouweresunkintheBlackhorsemarsh,andmissywithyou,tillmastertoldmeyou’dbeenfound,andhe’dlodgedyouhere!What!andyoumusthavegotonanisland,sure?Andhowlongwereyouinthehole?Didmastersaveyou,Mrs.Dean?Butyou’renotsothin—you’venotbeensopoorly,haveyou?” “Yourmasterisatruescoundrel!”Ireplied.“Butheshallanswerforit.Heneedn’thaveraisedthattale:itshallallbelaidbare!” “Whatdoyoumean?”askedZillah.“It’snothistale:theytellthatinthevillage—aboutyourbeinglostinthemarshandIcallstoEarnshaw,whenIcomein—‘Eh,they’squeerthings,Mr.Hareton,happenedsinceIwentoff.It’sasadpityofthatlikelyyounglass,andcantNellyDean.’Hestared.Ithoughthehadnotheardaught,soItoldhimtherumour.Themasterlistened,andhejustsmiledtohimself,andsaid,‘Iftheyhavebeeninthemarsh,theyareoutnow,Zillah.NellyDeanislodged,atthisminute,inyourroom.Youcantellhertoflit,whenyougouphereisthekey.Thebog-watergotintoherhead,andshewouldhaverunhomequiteflighty,butIfixedhertillshecameroundtohersenses.YoucanbidhergototheGrangeatonce,ifshebeable,andcarryamessagefromme,thatheryoungladywillfollowintimetoattendthesquire’sfuneral.’” “Mr.Edgarisnotdead?”Igasped.“Oh!Zillah,Zillah!” “No,nosityoudown,mygoodmistress,”shereplied“you’rerightsicklyyet.He’snotdeadDoctorKenneththinkshemaylastanotherday.Imethimontheroadandasked.” Insteadofsittingdown,Isnatchedmyoutdoorthings,andhastenedbelow,forthewaywasfree.Onenteringthehouse,IlookedaboutforsomeonetogiveinformationofCatherine.Theplacewasfilledwithsunshine,andthedoorstoodwideopenbutnobodyseemedathand.AsIhesitatedwhethertogooffatonce,orreturnandseekmymistress,aslightcoughdrewmyattentiontothehearth.Lintonlayonthesettle,soletenant,suckingastickofsugar-candy,andpursuingmymovementswithapatheticeyes.“WhereisMissCatherine?”Idemandedsternly,supposingIcouldfrightenhimintogivingintelligence,bycatchinghimthus,alone.Hesuckedonlikeaninnocent. “Isshegone?”Isaid. “No,”hereplied“she’supstairs:she’snottogowewon’tlether.” “Youwon’tlether,littleidiot!”Iexclaimed.“Directmetoherroomimmediately,orI’llmakeyousingoutsharply.” “Papawouldmakeyousingout,ifyou