CHAPTER XXXIV

Forsomedaysafterthatevening,Mr.HeathcliffshunnedmeetingusatmealsyethewouldnotconsentformallytoexcludeHaretonandCathy.Hehadanaversiontoyieldingsocompletelytohisfeelings,choosingrathertoabsenthimselfandeatingonceintwenty-fourhoursseemedsufficientsustenanceforhim. Onenight,afterthefamilywereinbed,Iheardhimgodownstairs,andoutatthefrontdoor.Ididnothearhimre-enter,andinthemorningIfoundhewasstillaway.WewereinAprilthen:theweatherwassweetandwarm,thegrassasgreenasshowersandsuncouldmakeit,andthetwodwarfapple-treesnearthesouthernwallinfullbloom.Afterbreakfast,Catherineinsistedonmybringingachairandsittingwithmyworkunderthefir-treesattheendofthehouseandshebeguiledHareton,whohadperfectlyrecoveredfromhisaccident,todigandarrangeherlittlegarden,whichwasshiftedtothatcornerbytheinfluenceofJoseph’scomplaints.Iwascomfortablyrevellinginthespringfragrancearound,andthebeautifulsoftblueoverhead,whenmyyounglady,whohadrundownnearthegatetoprocuresomeprimroserootsforaborder,returnedonlyhalfladen,andinformedusthatMr.Heathcliffwascomingin.“Andhespoketome,”sheadded,withaperplexedcountenance. “Whatdidhesay?”askedHareton. “HetoldmetobegoneasfastasIcould,”sheanswered.“ButhelookedsodifferentfromhisusuallookthatIstoppedamomenttostareathim.” “How?”heinquired. “Why,almostbrightandcheerful.No,almostnothing—verymuchexcited,andwild,andglad!”shereplied. “Night-walkingamuseshim,then,”Iremarked,affectingacarelessmanner:inrealityassurprisedasshewas,andanxioustoascertainthetruthofherstatementfortoseethemasterlookinggladwouldnotbeanevery-dayspectacle.Iframedanexcusetogoin.Heathcliffstoodattheopendoorhewaspale,andhetrembled:yet,certainly,hehadastrangejoyfulglitterinhiseyes,thatalteredtheaspectofhiswholeface. “Willyouhavesomebreakfast?”Isaid.“Youmustbehungry,ramblingaboutallnight!”Iwantedtodiscoverwherehehadbeen,butIdidnotliketoaskdirectly. “No,I’mnothungry,”heanswered,avertinghishead,andspeakingrathercontemptuously,asifheguessedIwastryingtodivinetheoccasionofhisgoodhumour. Ifeltperplexed:Ididn’tknowwhetheritwerenotaproperopportunitytoofferabitofadmonition. “Idon’tthinkitrighttowanderoutofdoors,”Iobserved,“insteadofbeinginbed:itisnotwise,atanyratethismoistseason.Idaresayyou’llcatchabadcold,orafever:youhavesomethingthematterwithyounow!” “NothingbutwhatIcanbear,”hereplied“andwiththegreatestpleasure,providedyou’llleavemealone:getin,anddon’tannoyme.” Iobeyed:and,inpassing,Inoticedhebreathedasfastasacat. “Yes!”Ireflectedtomyself,“weshallhaveafitofillness.Icannotconceivewhathehasbeendoing.” Thatnoonhesatdowntodinnerwithus,andreceivedaheaped-upplatefrommyhands,asifheintendedtomakeamendsforpreviousfasting. “I’veneithercoldnorfever,Nelly,”heremarked,inallusiontomymorning’sspeech“andI’mreadytodojusticetothefoodyougiveme.” Hetookhisknifeandfork,andwasgoingtocommenceeating,whentheinclinationappearedtobecomesuddenlyextinct.Helaidthemonthetable,lookedeagerlytowardsthewindow,thenroseandwentout.Wesawhimwalkingtoandfrointhegardenwhileweconcludedourmeal,andEarnshawsaidhe’dgoandaskwhyhewouldnotdine:hethoughtwehadgrievedhimsomeway. “Well,ishecoming?”criedCatherine,whenhercousinreturned. “Nay,”heanswered“buthe’snotangry:heseemedrarelypleasedindeedonlyImadehimimpatientbyspeakingtohimtwiceandthenhebidmebeofftoyou:hewonderedhowIcouldwantthecompanyofanybodyelse.” Isethisplatetokeepwarmonthefenderandafteranhourortwohere-entered,whentheroomwasclear,innodegreecalmer:thesameunnatural—itwasunnatural—appearanceofjoyunderhisblackbrowsthesamebloodlesshue,andhisteethvisible,nowandthen,inakindofsmilehisframeshivering,notasoneshiverswithchillorweakness,butasatight-stretchedcordvibrates—astrongthrilling,ratherthantrembling. Iwillaskwhatisthematter,Ithoughtorwhoshould?AndIexclaimed—“Haveyouheardanygoodnews,Mr.Heathcliff?Youlookuncommonlyanimated.” “Whereshouldgoodnewscomefromtome?”hesaid.“I’manimatedwithhungerand,seemingly,Imustnoteat.” “Yourdinnerishere,”Ireturned“whywon’tyougetit?” “Idon’twantitnow,”hemuttered,hastily:“I’llwaittillsupper.