CHAPTER IV

Hegotthrough,andthedoctoraffirmeditwasinagreatmeasureowingtome,andpraisedmeformycare.Iwasvainofhiscommendations,andsoftenedtowardsthebeingbywhosemeansIearnedthem,andthusHindleylosthislastally:stillIcouldn’tdoteonHeathcliff,andIwonderedoftenwhatmymastersawtoadmiresomuchinthesullenboywhonever,tomyrecollection,repaidhisindulgencebyanysignofgratitude.Hewasnotinsolenttohisbenefactor,hewassimplyinsensiblethoughknowingperfectlytheholdhehadonhisheart,andconscioushehadonlytospeakandallthehousewouldbeobligedtobendtohiswishes.Asaninstance,IrememberMr.Earnshawonceboughtacoupleofcoltsattheparishfair,andgavetheladseachone.Heathclifftookthehandsomest,butitsoonfelllame,andwhenhediscoveredit,hesaidtoHindley— “Youmustexchangehorseswithme:Idon’tlikemineandifyouwon’tIshalltellyourfatherofthethreethrashingsyou’vegivenmethisweek,andshowhimmyarm,whichisblacktotheshoulder.”Hindleyputouthistongue,andcuffedhimovertheears.“You’dbetterdoitatonce,”hepersisted,escapingtotheporch(theywereinthestable):“youwillhaveto:andifIspeakoftheseblows,you’llgetthemagainwithinterest.”“Off,dog!”criedHindley,threateninghimwithanironweightusedforweighingpotatoesandhay.“Throwit,”hereplied,standingstill,“andthenI’lltellhowyouboastedthatyouwouldturnmeoutofdoorsassoonashedied,andseewhetherhewillnotturnyououtdirectly.”Hindleythrewit,hittinghimonthebreast,anddownhefell,butstaggeredupimmediately,breathlessandwhiteand,hadnotIpreventedit,hewouldhavegonejustsotothemaster,andgotfullrevengebylettinghisconditionpleadforhim,intimatingwhohadcausedit.“Takemycolt,Gipsy,then!”saidyoungEarnshaw.“AndIpraythathemaybreakyourneck:takehim,andbedamned,youbeggarlyinterloper!andwheedlemyfatheroutofallhehas:onlyafterwardsshowhimwhatyouare,impofSatan.—Andtakethat,Ihopehe’llkickoutyourbrains!” Heathcliffhadgonetoloosethebeast,andshiftittohisownstallhewaspassingbehindit,whenHindleyfinishedhisspeechbyknockinghimunderitsfeet,andwithoutstoppingtoexaminewhetherhishopeswerefulfilled,ranawayasfastashecould.Iwassurprisedtowitnesshowcoollythechildgatheredhimselfup,andwentonwithhisintentionexchangingsaddlesandall,andthensittingdownonabundleofhaytoovercomethequalmwhichtheviolentblowoccasioned,beforeheenteredthehouse.Ipersuadedhimeasilytoletmelaytheblameofhisbruisesonthehorse:hemindedlittlewhattalewastoldsincehehadwhathewanted.Hecomplainedsoseldom,indeed,ofsuchstirsasthese,thatIreallythoughthimnotvindictive:Iwasdeceivedcompletely,asyouwillhear.