CHAPTER IV

Whatvainweather-cocksweare!I,whohaddeterminedtoholdmyselfindependentofallsocialintercourse,andthankedmystarsthat,atlength,Ihadlightedonaspotwhereitwasnexttoimpracticable—I,weakwretch,aftermaintainingtillduskastrugglewithlowspiritsandsolitude,wasfinallycompelledtostrikemycoloursandunderpretenceofgaininginformationconcerningthenecessitiesofmyestablishment,IdesiredMrs.Dean,whenshebroughtinsupper,tositdownwhileIateithopingsincerelyshewouldprovearegulargossip,andeitherrousemetoanimationorlullmetosleepbyhertalk. “Youhavelivedhereaconsiderabletime,”Icommenced“didyounotsaysixteenyears?” “Eighteen,sir:Icamewhenthemistresswasmarried,towaitonheraftershedied,themasterretainedmeforhishousekeeper.” “Indeed.” Thereensuedapause.Shewasnotagossip,Ifearedunlessaboutherownaffairs,andthosecouldhardlyinterestme.However,havingstudiedforaninterval,withafistoneitherknee,andacloudofmeditationoverherruddycountenance,sheejaculated—“Ah,timesaregreatlychangedsincethen!” “Yes,”Iremarked,“you’veseenagoodmanyalterations,Isuppose?” “Ihave:andtroublestoo,”shesaid. “Oh,I’llturnthetalkonmylandlord’sfamily!”Ithoughttomyself.“Agoodsubjecttostart!Andthatprettygirl-widow,Ishouldliketoknowherhistory:whethershebeanativeofthecountry,or,asismoreprobable,anexoticthatthesurlyindigenaewillnotrecogniseforkin.”WiththisintentionIaskedMrs.DeanwhyHeathcliffletThrushcrossGrange,andpreferredlivinginasituationandresidencesomuchinferior.“Ishenotrichenoughtokeeptheestateingoodorder?”Iinquired. “Rich,sir!”shereturned.“Hehasnobodyknowswhatmoney,andeveryyearitincreases.Yes,yes,he’srichenoughtoliveinafinerhousethanthis:buthe’sverynear—close-handedand,ifhehadmeanttoflittoThrushcrossGrange,assoonasheheardofagoodtenanthecouldnothavebornetomissthechanceofgettingafewhundredsmore.Itisstrangepeopleshouldbesogreedy,whentheyarealoneintheworld!” “Hehadason,itseems?” “Yes,hehadone—heisdead.” “Andthatyounglady,Mrs.Heathcliff,ishiswidow?” “Yes.” “Wheredidshecomefromoriginally?” “Why,sir,sheismylatemaster’sdaughter:CatherineLintonwashermaidenname.Inursedher,poorthing!IdidwishMr.Heathcliffwouldremovehere,andthenwemighthavebeentogetheragain.” “What!CatherineLinton?”Iexclaimed,astonished.Butaminute’sreflectionconvincedmeitwasnotmyghostlyCatherine.“Then,”Icontinued,“mypredecessor’snamewasLinton?” “Itwas.” “AndwhoisthatEarnshaw:HaretonEarnshaw,wholiveswithMr.Heathcliff?Aretheyrelations?”