CHAPTER VI

herladonthefarm. Heathcliffborehisdegradationprettywellatfirst,becauseCathytaughthimwhatshelearnt,andworkedorplayedwithhiminthefields.Theybothpromisedfairtogrowupasrudeassavagestheyoungmasterbeingentirelynegligenthowtheybehaved,andwhattheydid,sotheykeptclearofhim.HewouldnotevenhaveseenaftertheirgoingtochurchonSundays,onlyJosephandthecuratereprimandedhiscarelessnesswhentheyabsentedthemselvesandthatremindedhimtoorderHeathcliffaflogging,andCatherineafastfromdinnerorsupper.Butitwasoneoftheirchiefamusementstorunawaytothemoorsinthemorningandremainthereallday,andtheafterpunishmentgrewamerethingtolaughat.ThecuratemightsetasmanychaptersashepleasedforCatherinetogetbyheart,andJosephmightthrashHeathclifftillhisarmachedtheyforgoteverythingtheminutetheyweretogetheragain:atleasttheminutetheyhadcontrivedsomenaughtyplanofrevengeandmanyatimeI’vecriedtomyselftowatchthemgrowingmorerecklessdaily,andInotdaringtospeakasyllable,forfearoflosingthesmallpowerIstillretainedovertheunfriendedcreatures.OneSundayevening,itchancedthattheywerebanishedfromthesitting-room,formakinganoise,oralightoffenceofthekindandwhenIwenttocallthemtosupper,Icoulddiscoverthemnowhere.Wesearchedthehouse,aboveandbelow,andtheyardandstablestheywereinvisible:and,atlast,Hindleyinapassiontoldustoboltthedoors,andsworenobodyshouldlettheminthatnight.ThehouseholdwenttobedandI,tooanxioustoliedown,openedmylatticeandputmyheadouttohearken,thoughitrained:determinedtoadmittheminspiteoftheprohibition,shouldtheyreturn.Inawhile,Idistinguishedstepscominguptheroad,andthelightofalanternglimmeredthroughthegate.IthrewashawlovermyheadandrantopreventthemfromwakingMr.Earnshawbyknocking.TherewasHeathcliff,byhimself:itgavemeastarttoseehimalone. “WhereisMissCatherine?”Icriedhurriedly.“Noaccident,Ihope?”“AtThrushcrossGrange,”heanswered“andIwouldhavebeentheretoo,buttheyhadnotthemannerstoaskmetostay.”“Well,youwillcatchit!”Isaid:“you’llneverbecontenttillyou’resentaboutyourbusiness.WhatintheworldledyouwanderingtoThrushcrossGrange?”“Letmegetoffmywetclothes,andI’lltellyouallaboutit,Nelly,”hereplied.Ibidhimbewareofrousingthemaster,andwhileheundressedandIwaitedtoputoutthecandle,hecontinued—“CathyandIescapedfromthewash-housetohavearambleatliberty,andgettingaglimpseoftheGrangelights,wethoughtwewouldjustgoandseewhethertheLintonspassedtheirSundayeveningsstandingshiveringincorners,whiletheirfatherandmothersateatinganddrinking,andsingingandlau