CHAPTER VI

awingthebars,andwefeltwehadbetterflee.IhadCathybythehand,andwasurgingheron,whenallatonceshefelldown.‘Run,Heathcliff,run!’shewhispered.‘Theyhaveletthebull-dogloose,andheholdsme!’Thedevilhadseizedherankle,Nelly:Iheardhisabominablesnorting.Shedidnotyellout—no!shewouldhavescornedtodoit,ifshehadbeenspittedonthehornsofamadcow.Idid,though:IvociferatedcursesenoughtoannihilateanyfiendinChristendomandIgotastoneandthrustitbetweenhisjaws,andtriedwithallmymighttocramitdownhisthroat.Abeastofaservantcameupwithalantern,atlast,shouting—‘Keepfast,Skulker,keepfast!’Hechangedhisnote,however,whenhesawSkulker’sgame.Thedogwasthrottledoffhishuge,purpletonguehanginghalfafootoutofhismouth,andhispendentlipsstreamingwithbloodyslaver.ThemantookCathyupshewassick:notfromfear,I’mcertain,butfrompain.HecarriedherinIfollowed,grumblingexecrationsandvengeance.‘Whatprey,Robert?’hallooedLintonfromtheentrance.‘Skulkerhascaughtalittlegirl,sir,’hereplied‘andthere’saladhere,’headded,makingaclutchatme,‘wholooksanout-and-outer!Veryliketherobberswereforputtingthemthroughthewindowtoopenthedoorstothegangafterallwereasleep,thattheymightmurderusattheirease.Holdyourtongue,youfoul-mouthedthief,you!youshallgotothegallowsforthis.Mr.Linton,sir,don’tlaybyyourgun.’‘No,no,Robert,’saidtheoldfool.‘Therascalsknewthatyesterdaywasmyrent-day:theythoughttohavemecleverly.ComeinI’llfurnishthemareception.There,John,fastenthechain.GiveSkulkersomewater,Jenny.Tobeardamagistrateinhisstronghold,andontheSabbath,too!Wherewilltheirinsolencestop?Oh,mydearMary,lookhere!Don’tbeafraid,itisbutaboy—yetthevillainscowlssoplainlyinhisfacewoulditnotbeakindnesstothecountrytohanghimatonce,beforeheshowshisnatureinactsaswellasfeatures?’Hepulledmeunderthechandelier,andMrs.Lintonplacedherspectaclesonhernoseandraisedherhandsinhorror.Thecowardlychildrencreptneareralso,Isabellalisping—‘Frightfulthing!Puthiminthecellar,papa.He’sexactlylikethesonofthefortune-tellerthatstolemytamepheasant.Isn’the,Edgar?’ “Whiletheyexaminedme,Cathycameroundsheheardthelastspeech,andlaughed.EdgarLinton,afteraninquisitivestare,collectedsufficientwittorecogniseher.Theyseeusatchurch,youknow,thoughweseldommeetthemelsewhere.‘That’sMissEarnshaw!’hewhisperedtohismother,‘andlookhowSkulkerhasbittenher—howherfootbleeds!’ “‘MissEarnshaw?Nonsense!’criedthedame‘MissEarnshawscouringthecountrywithagipsy!Andyet,mydear,thechildisinmourning—surelyitis—andshemaybelamedforlife!’