CHAPTER VI

ghing,andburningtheireyesoutbeforethefire.Doyouthinktheydo?Orreadingsermons,andbeingcatechisedbytheirman-servant,andsettolearnacolumnofScripturenames,iftheydon’tanswerproperly?”“Probablynot,”Iresponded.“Theyaregoodchildren,nodoubt,anddon’tdeservethetreatmentyoureceive,foryourbadconduct.”“Don’tcant,Nelly,”hesaid:“nonsense!WeranfromthetopoftheHeightstothepark,withoutstopping—Catherinecompletelybeatenintherace,becauseshewasbarefoot.You’llhavetoseekforhershoesinthebogto-morrow.Wecreptthroughabrokenhedge,gropedourwayupthepath,andplantedourselvesonaflower-plotunderthedrawing-roomwindow.Thelightcamefromthencetheyhadnotputuptheshutters,andthecurtainswereonlyhalfclosed.Bothofuswereabletolookinbystandingonthebasement,andclingingtotheledge,andwesaw—ah!itwasbeautiful—asplendidplacecarpetedwithcrimson,andcrimson-coveredchairsandtables,andapurewhiteceilingborderedbygold,ashowerofglass-dropshanginginsilverchainsfromthecentre,andshimmeringwithlittlesofttapers.OldMr.andMrs.LintonwerenotthereEdgarandhissisterhaditentirelytothemselves.Shouldn’ttheyhavebeenhappy?Weshouldhavethoughtourselvesinheaven!Andnow,guesswhatyourgoodchildrenweredoing?Isabella—Ibelievesheiseleven,ayearyoungerthanCathy—layscreamingatthefartherendoftheroom,shriekingasifwitcheswererunningred-hotneedlesintoher.Edgarstoodonthehearthweepingsilently,andinthemiddleofthetablesatalittledog,shakingitspawandyelpingwhich,fromtheirmutualaccusations,weunderstoodtheyhadnearlypulledintwobetweenthem.Theidiots!Thatwastheirpleasure!toquarrelwhoshouldholdaheapofwarmhair,andeachbegintocrybecauseboth,afterstrugglingtogetit,refusedtotakeit.Welaughedoutrightatthepettedthingswediddespisethem!WhenwouldyoucatchmewishingtohavewhatCatherinewanted?orfindusbyourselves,seekingentertainmentinyelling,andsobbing,androllingontheground,dividedbythewholeroom?I’dnotexchange,forathousandlives,myconditionhere,forEdgarLinton’satThrushcrossGrange—notifImighthavetheprivilegeofflingingJosephoffthehighestgable,andpaintingthehouse-frontwithHindley’sblood!” “Hush,hush!”Iinterrupted.“Stillyouhavenottoldme,Heathcliff,howCatherineisleftbehind?” “Itoldyouwelaughed,”heanswered.“TheLintonsheardus,andwithoneaccordtheyshotlikearrowstothedoortherewassilence,andthenacry,‘Oh,mamma,mamma!Oh,papa!Oh,mamma,comehere.Oh,papa,oh!’Theyreallydidhowloutsomethinginthatway.Wemadefrightfulnoisestoterrifythemstillmore,andthenwedroppedofftheledge,becausesomebodywasdr