CHAPTER V

onceshemadeyoucryingoodearnest,itseldomhappenedthatshewouldnotkeepyoucompany,andobligeyoutobequietthatyoumightcomforther.ShewasmuchtoofondofHeathcliff.Thegreatestpunishmentwecouldinventforherwastokeepherseparatefromhim:yetshegotchidedmorethananyofusonhisaccount.Inplay,shelikedexceedinglytoactthelittlemistressusingherhandsfreely,andcommandinghercompanions:shedidsotome,butIwouldnotbearslappingandorderingandsoIletherknow. Now,Mr.Earnshawdidnotunderstandjokesfromhischildren:hehadalwaysbeenstrictandgravewiththemandCatherine,onherpart,hadnoideawhyherfathershouldbecrosserandlesspatientinhisailingconditionthanhewasinhisprime.Hispeevishreproofswakenedinheranaughtydelighttoprovokehim:shewasneversohappyaswhenwewereallscoldingheratonce,andshedefyinguswithherbold,saucylook,andherreadywordsturningJoseph’sreligiouscursesintoridicule,baitingme,anddoingjustwhatherfatherhatedmost—showinghowherpretendedinsolence,whichhethoughtreal,hadmorepoweroverHeathcliffthanhiskindness:howtheboywoulddoherbiddinginanything,andhisonlywhenitsuitedhisowninclination.Afterbehavingasbadlyaspossibleallday,shesometimescamefondlingtomakeitupatnight.“Nay,Cathy,”theoldmanwouldsay,“Icannotlovethee,thou’rtworsethanthybrother.Go,saythyprayers,child,andaskGod’spardon.Id