CHAPTER IV

“NoheisthelateMrs.Linton’snephew.” “Theyounglady’scousin,then?” “Yesandherhusbandwashercousinalso:oneonthemother’s,theotheronthefather’sside:HeathcliffmarriedMr.Linton’ssister.” “IseethehouseatWutheringHeightshas‘Earnshaw’carvedoverthefrontdoor.Aretheyanoldfamily?” “Veryold,sirandHaretonisthelastofthem,asourMissCathyisofus—Imean,oftheLintons.HaveyoubeentoWutheringHeights?IbegpardonforaskingbutIshouldliketohearhowsheis!” “Mrs.Heathcliff?shelookedverywell,andveryhandsomeyet,Ithink,notveryhappy.” “Ohdear,Idon’twonder!Andhowdidyoulikethemaster?” “Aroughfellow,rather,Mrs.Dean.Isnotthathischaracter?” “Roughasasaw-edge,andhardaswhinstone!Thelessyoumeddlewithhimthebetter.” “Hemusthavehadsomeupsanddownsinlifetomakehimsuchachurl.Doyouknowanythingofhishistory?” “It’sacuckoo’s,sir—Iknowallaboutit:exceptwherehewasborn,andwhowerehisparents,andhowhegothismoneyatfirst.AndHaretonhasbeencastoutlikeanunfledgeddunnock!Theunfortunateladistheonlyoneinallthisparishthatdoesnotguesshowhehasbeencheated.” “Well,Mrs.Dean,itwillbeacharitabledeedtotellmesomethingofmyneighbours:IfeelIshallnotrestifIgotobedsobegoodenoughtositandchatanhour.” “Oh,certainly,sir!I’lljustfetchalittlesewing,andthenI’llsitaslongasyouplease.Butyou’vecaughtcold:Isawyoushivering,andyoumusthavesomegrueltodriveitout.” Theworthywomanbustledoff,andIcrouchednearerthefiremyheadfelthot,andtherestofmechill:moreover,Iwasexcited,almosttoapitchoffoolishness,throughmynervesandbrain.Thiscausedmetofeel,notuncomfortable,butratherfearful(asIamstill)ofseriouseffectsfromtheincidentsofto-dayandyesterday.Shereturnedpresently,bringingasmokingbasinandabasketofworkand,havingplacedtheformeronthehob,drewinherseat,evidentlypleasedtofindmesocompanionable. ***** BeforeIcametolivehere,shecommenced—waitingnofartherinvitationtoherstory—IwasalmostalwaysatWutheringHeightsbecausemymotherhadnursedMr.HindleyEarnshaw,thatwasHareton’sfather,andIgotusedtoplayingwiththechildren:Iranerrandstoo,andhelpedtomakehay,andhungaboutthefarmreadyforanythingthatanybodywouldsetmeto.Onefinesummermorning—itwasthebeginningofharvest,Iremember—Mr.Earnshaw,theoldmaster,camedownstairs,dressedforajourneyand,afterhehadtoldJosephwhatwastobedoneduringtheday,heturnedtoHindley,andCathy,andme—forIsateatingmyporridgewiththem—andhesaid,speakingtohisson,“Now,mybonnyman,I’mgoingtoLiverpoolto-day,whatshallIbringyou?Youmaychoosewhatyoulike:onlyletitbelit