CHAPTER VII

ouldersyoucouldknockhimdowninatwinklingdon’tyoufeelthatyoucould?” Heathcliff’sfacebrightenedamomentthenitwasovercastafresh,andhesighed. “But,Nelly,ifIknockedhimdowntwentytimes,thatwouldn’tmakehimlesshandsomeormemoreso.IwishIhadlighthairandafairskin,andwasdressedandbehavedaswell,andhadachanceofbeingasrichashewillbe!” “Andcriedformammaateveryturn,”Iadded,“andtrembledifacountryladheavedhisfistagainstyou,andsatathomealldayforashowerofrain.Oh,Heathcliff,youareshowingapoorspirit!Cometotheglass,andI’llletyouseewhatyoushouldwish.Doyoumarkthosetwolinesbetweenyoureyesandthosethickbrows,that,insteadofrisingarched,sinkinthemiddleandthatcoupleofblackfiends,sodeeplyburied,whoneveropentheirwindowsboldly,butlurkglintingunderthem,likedevil’sspies?Wishandlearntosmoothawaythesurlywrinkles,toraiseyourlidsfrankly,andchangethefiendstoconfident,innocentangels,suspectinganddoubtingnothing,andalwaysseeingfriendswheretheyarenotsureoffoes.Don’tgettheexpressionofaviciouscurthatappearstoknowthekicksitgetsareitsdesert,andyethatesalltheworld,aswellasthekicker,forwhatitsuffers.” “Inotherwords,ImustwishforEdgarLinton’sgreatblueeyesandevenforehead,”hereplied.“Ido—andthatwon’thelpmetothem.” “Agoodheartwillhelpyoutoabonnyface,mylad,”Icontinued,“ifyouwerearegularblackandabadonewillturnthebonniestintosomethingworsethanugly.Andnowthatwe’vedonewashing,andcombing,andsulking—tellmewhetheryoudon’tthinkyourselfratherhandsome?I’lltellyou,Ido.You’refitforaprinceindisguise.WhoknowsbutyourfatherwasEmperorofChina,andyourmotheranIndianqueen,eachofthemabletobuyup,withoneweek’sincome,WutheringHeightsandThrushcrossGrangetogether?AndyouwerekidnappedbywickedsailorsandbroughttoEngland.WereIinyourplace,IwouldframehighnotionsofmybirthandthethoughtsofwhatIwasshouldgivemecourageanddignitytosupporttheoppressionsofalittlefarmer!” SoIchatteredonandHeathcliffgraduallylosthisfrownandbegantolookquitepleasant,whenallatonceourconversationwasinterruptedbyarumblingsoundmovinguptheroadandenteringthecourt.HerantothewindowandItothedoor,justintimetobeholdthetwoLintonsdescendfromthefamilycarriage,smotheredincloaksandfurs,andtheEarnshawsdismountfromtheirhorses:theyoftenrodetochurchinwinter.Catherinetookahandofeachofthechildren,andbroughtthemintothehouseandsetthembeforethefire,whichquicklyputcolourintotheirwhitefaces. Iurgedmycompaniontohastennowandshowhisamiablehumour,andhewillinglyobeyedbutillluckwouldhaveitthat,asheopenedthedoorleadingfromthekitchenononeside,Hindleyopeneditontheother.Theymet,andthemaster,irritatedatseeinghimcleanandcheerful,or,perhaps,eagertokeephispromisetoMrs.Linton,shovedhimbackwithasuddenthrust,andangrilybadeJoseph“keepthefellowoutoftheroom—sendhimintothegarrettilldinnerisover.He’llbecramminghisfingersinthetartsandstealingthefruit,ifleftalonewiththemaminute.” “Nay,sir,”Icouldnotavoidanswering,“he’lltouchnothing,nothe:andIsupposehemusthavehisshareofthedaintiesaswellaswe.” “Heshallhavehisshareofmyhand,ifIcatchhimdownstairstilldark,”criedHindley.“Begone,youvagabond!What!youareattemptingthecoxcomb,areyou?WaittillIgetholdofthoseelegantlocks—seeifIwon’tpullthemabitlonger!” “Theyarelongenoughalready,”observedMasterLinton,peepingfromthedoorway“Iwondertheydon’tmakehisheadache.It’slikeacolt’smaneoverhiseyes!” HeventuredthisremarkwithoutanyintentiontoinsultbutHeathcliff’sviolentnaturewasnotpreparedtoenduretheappearanceofimpertinencefromonewhomheseemedtohate,eventhen,asarival.Heseizedatureenofhotapplesauce,thefirstthingthatcameunderhisgripe,anddasheditfullagainstthespeaker’sfaceandneckwhoinstantlycommencedalamentthatbroughtIsabellaandCatherinehurryingtotheplace.Mr.Earnshawsnatcheduptheculpritdirectlyandconveyedhimtohischamberwhere,doubtless,headministeredaroughre