CHAPTER VII

y’s-maidtothenew-comer,andputtingmycakesintheoven,andmakingthehouseandkitchencheerfulwithgreatfires,befittingChristmas-eve,Ipreparedtositdownandamusemyselfbysingingcarols,allaloneregardlessofJoseph’saffirmationsthatheconsideredthemerrytunesIchoseasnextdoortosongs.Hehadretiredtoprivateprayerinhischamber,andMr.andMrs.EarnshawwereengagingMissy’sattentionbysundrygaytriflesboughtforhertopresenttothelittleLintons,asanacknowledgmentoftheirkindness.TheyhadinvitedthemtospendthemorrowatWutheringHeights,andtheinvitationhadbeenaccepted,ononecondition:Mrs.Lintonbeggedthatherdarlingsmightbekeptcarefullyapartfromthat“naughtyswearingboy.” UnderthesecircumstancesIremainedsolitary.Ismelttherichscentoftheheatingspicesandadmiredtheshiningkitchenutensils,thepolishedclock,deckedinholly,thesilvermugsrangedonatrayreadytobefilledwithmulledaleforsupperandaboveall,thespecklesspurityofmyparticularcare—thescouredandwell-sweptfloor.Igavedueinwardapplausetoeveryobject,andthenIrememberedhowoldEarnshawusedtocomeinwhenallwastidied,andcallmeacantlass,andslipashillingintomyhandasaChristmas-boxandfromthatIwentontothinkofhisfondnessforHeathcliff,andhisdreadlestheshouldsufferneglectafterdeathhadremovedhim:andthatnaturallyledmetoconsiderthepoorlad’ssituationnow,andfromsingingIchangedmymindtocrying.Itstruckmesoon,however,therewouldbemoresenseinendeavouringtorepairsomeofhiswrongsthansheddingtearsoverthem:Igotupandwalkedintothecourttoseekhim.HewasnotfarIfoundhimsmoothingtheglossycoatofthenewponyinthestable,andfeedingtheotherbeasts,accordingtocustom. “Makehaste,Heathcliff!”Isaid,“thekitchenissocomfortableandJosephisupstairs:makehaste,andletmedressyousmartbeforeMissCathycomesout,andthenyoucansittogether,withthewholehearthtoyourselves,andhavealongchattertillbedtime.” Heproceededwithhistask,andneverturnedhisheadtowardsme. “Come—areyoucoming?”Icontinued.“There’salittlecakeforeachofyou,nearlyenoughandyou’llneedhalf-an-hour’sdonning.” Iwaitedfiveminutes,butgettingnoanswerlefthim.Catherinesuppedwithherbrotherandsister-in-law:JosephandIjoinedatanunsociablemeal,seasonedwithreproofsononesideandsaucinessontheother.Hiscakeandcheeseremainedonthetableallnightforthefairies.Hemanagedtocontinueworktillnineo’clock,andthenmarcheddumbanddourtohischamber.Cathysatuplate,havingaworldofthingstoorderforthereceptionofhernewfriends:shecameintothekitchenoncetospeaktoheroldonebuthewasgone,andsheonlystayedtoaskwhatwasthematterwithhim,andthenwentback.Inthemorningheroseearlyand,asitwasaholiday,carriedhisill-humourontothemoorsnotre-appearingtillthefamilyweredepartedforchurch.Fastingandreflectionseemedtohavebroughthimtoabetterspirit.Hehungaboutmeforawhile,andhavingscreweduphiscourage,exclaimedabruptly—“Nelly,makemedecent,I’mgoingtobegood.” “Hightime,Heathcliff,”Isaid“youhavegrievedCatherine:she’ssorrysheevercamehome,Idaresay!Itlooksasifyouenviedher,becausesheismorethoughtofthanyou.” ThenotionofenvyingCatherinewasincomprehensibletohim,butthenotionofgrievingherheunderstoodclearlyenough. “Didshesayshewasgrieved?”heinquired,lookingveryserious. “ShecriedwhenItoldheryouwereoffagainthismorning.” “Well,Icriedlastnight,”hereturned,“andIhadmorereasontocrythanshe.” “Yes:youhadthereasonofgoingtobedwithaproudheartandanemptystomach,”saidI.“Proudpeoplebreedsadsorrowsforthemselves.But,ifyoubeashamedofyourtouchiness,youmustaskpardon,mind,whenshecomesin.Youmustgoupandoffertokissher,andsay—youknowbestwhattosayonlydoitheartily,andnotasifyouthoughtherconvertedintoastrangerbyhergranddress.Andnow,thoughIhavedinnertogetready,I’llstealtimetoarrangeyousothatEdgarLintonshalllookquiteadollbesideyou:andthathedoes.Youareyounger,andyet,I’llbebound,youaretallerandtwiceasbroadacrossthesh