CHAPTER V

milydisagreementsashewouldhaveitthatitdid:really,youknow,sir,itwasinhissinkingframe.Wemighthavegotontolerably,notwithstanding,butfortwopeople—MissCathy,andJoseph,theservant:yousawhim,Idaresay,upyonder.Hewas,andisyetmostlikely,thewearisomestself-righteousPhariseethateverransackedaBibletorakethepromisestohimselfandflingthecursestohisneighbours.Byhisknackofsermonisingandpiousdiscoursing,hecontrivedtomakeagreatimpressiononMr.Earnshawandthemorefeeblethemasterbecame,themoreinfluencehegained.Hewasrelentlessinworryinghimabouthissoul’sconcerns,andaboutrulinghischildrenrigidly.HeencouragedhimtoregardHindleyasareprobateand,nightafternight,heregularlygrumbledoutalongstringoftalesagainstHeathcliffandCatherine:alwaysmindingtoflatterEarnshaw’sweaknessbyheapingtheheaviestblameonthelatter. CertainlyshehadwayswithhersuchasIneversawachildtakeupbeforeandsheputallofuspastourpatiencefiftytimesandoftenerinaday:fromthehourshecamedownstairstillthehourshewenttobed,wehadnotaminute’ssecuritythatshewouldn’tbeinmischief.Herspiritswerealwaysathigh-watermark,hertonguealwaysgoing—singing,laughing,andplaguingeverybodywhowouldnotdothesame.Awild,wickedslipshewas—butshehadthebonniesteye,thesweetestsmile,andlightestfootintheparish:and,afterall,Ibelieveshemeantnoharmforwhen