CHAPTER XXX

IhavepaidavisittotheHeights,butIhavenotseenhersincesheleft:JosephheldthedoorinhishandwhenIcalledtoaskafterher,andwouldn’tletmepass.HesaidMrs.Lintonwas“thrang,”andthemasterwasnotin.Zillahhastoldmesomethingofthewaytheygoon,otherwiseIshouldhardlyknowwhowasdeadandwholiving.ShethinksCatherinehaughty,anddoesnotlikeher,Icanguessbyhertalk.MyyoungladyaskedsomeaidofherwhenshefirstcamebutMr.Heathclifftoldhertofollowherownbusiness,andlethisdaughter-in-lawlookafterherselfandZillahwillinglyacquiesced,beinganarrow-minded,selfishwoman.Catherineevincedachild’sannoyanceatthisneglectrepaiditwithcontempt,andthusenlistedmyinformantamongherenemies,assecurelyasifshehaddonehersomegreatwrong.IhadalongtalkwithZillahaboutsixweeksago,alittlebeforeyoucame,onedaywhenweforegatheredonthemoorandthisiswhatshetoldme. “ThefirstthingMrs.Lintondid,”shesaid,“onherarrivalattheHeights,wastorunupstairs,withoutevenwishinggood-eveningtomeandJosephsheshutherselfintoLinton’sroom,andremainedtillmorning.Then,whilethemasterandEarnshawwereatbreakfast,sheenteredthehouse,andaskedallinaquiverifthedoctormightbesentfor?hercousinwasveryill. “‘Weknowthat!’answeredHeathcliff‘buthislifeisnotworthafarthing,andIwon’tspendafarthingonhim.’ “‘ButIcannottellhowtodo,’shesaid‘andifnobodywillhelpme,he’lldie!’ “‘Walkoutoftheroom,’criedthemaster,‘andletmeneverhearawordmoreabouthim!Noneherecarewhatbecomesofhimifyoudo,actthenurseifyoudonot,lockhimupandleavehim.’ “Thenshebegantobotherme,andIsaidI’dhadenoughplaguewiththetiresomethingweeachhadourtasks,andherswastowaitonLinton:Mr.Heathcliffbidmeleavethatlabourtoher. “Howtheymanagedtogether,Ican’ttell.Ifancyhefrettedagreatdeal,andmoanedhisselnnightanddayandshehadpreciouslittlerest:onecouldguessbyherwhitefaceandheavyeyes.Shesometimescameintothekitchenallwilderedlike,andlookedasifshewouldfainbegassistancebutIwasnotgoingtodisobeythemaster:Ineverdaredisobeyhim,Mrs.Deanand,thoughIthoughtitwrongthatKennethshouldnotbesentfor,itwasnoconcernofmineeithertoadviseorcomplain,andIalwaysrefusedtomeddle.Onceortwice,afterwehadgonetobed,I’vehappenedtoopenmydooragainandseenhersittingcryingon