CHAPTER VII

medytocoolthefitofpassion,forheappearedredandbreathless.Igotthedish-cloth,andratherspitefullyscrubbedEdgar’snoseandmouth,affirmingitservedhimrightformeddling.Hissisterbeganweepingtogohome,andCathystoodbyconfounded,blushingforall. “Youshouldnothavespokentohim!”sheexpostulatedwithMasterLinton.“Hewasinabadtemper,andnowyou’vespoiltyourvisitandhe’llbeflogged:Ihatehimtobeflogged!Ican’teatmydinner.Whydidyouspeaktohim,Edgar?” “Ididn’t,”sobbedtheyouth,escapingfrommyhands,andfinishingtheremainderofthepurificationwithhiscambricpocket-handkerchief.“IpromisedmammathatIwouldn’tsayonewordtohim,andIdidn’t.” “Well,don’tcry,”repliedCatherine,contemptuously“you’renotkilled.Don’tmakemoremischiefmybrotheriscoming:bequiet!Hush,Isabella!Hasanybodyhurtyou?” “There,there,children—toyourseats!”criedHindley,bustlingin.“Thatbruteofaladhaswarmedmenicely.Nexttime,MasterEdgar,takethelawintoyourownfists—itwillgiveyouanappetite!” Thelittlepartyrecovereditsequanimityatsightofthefragrantfeast.Theywerehungryaftertheirride,andeasilyconsoled,sincenorealharmhadbefallenthem.Mr.Earnshawcarvedbountifulplatefuls,andthemistressmadethemmerrywithlivelytalk.Iwaitedbehindherchair,andwaspainedtobeholdCatherine,withdryeyesandanindifferentair,commencecuttingupthewingofagoosebeforeher.“Anunfeelingchild,”Ithoughttomyself“howlightlyshedismissesheroldplaymate’stroubles.Icouldnothaveimaginedhertobesoselfish.”Sheliftedamouthfultoherlips:thenshesetitdownagain:hercheeksflushed,andthetearsgushedoverthem.Sheslippedherforktothefloor,andhastilydivedundertheclothtoconcealheremotion.IdidnotcallherunfeelinglongforIperceivedshewasinpurgatorythroughouttheday,andwearyingtofindanopportunityofgettingbyherself,orpayingavisittoHeathcliff,whohadbeenlockedupbythemaster:asIdiscovered,onendeavouringtointroducetohimaprivatemessofvictuals. Intheeveningwehadadance.Cathybeggedthathemightbeliberatedthen,asIsabellaLintonhadnopartner:herentreatieswerevain,andIwasappointedtosupplythedeficiency.Wegotridofallgloomintheexcitementoftheexercise,andourpleasurewasincreasedbythearrivaloftheGimmertonband,musteringfifteenstrong:atrumpet,atrombone,clarionets,bassoons,Frenchhorns,andabassviol,besidessingers.Theygotheroundsofalltherespectablehouses,andreceivecontributionseveryChristmas,andweesteemeditafirst-ratetreattohearthem.Aftertheusualcarolshadbeensung,wesetthemtosongsandglees.Mrs.Earnshawlovedthemusic,andsotheygaveusplenty. Catherinelovedittoo:butshesaiditsoundedsweetestatthetopofthesteps,andshewentupinthedark:Ifollowed.Theyshutthehousedoorbelow,nevernotingourabsence,itwassofullofpeople.Shemadenostayatthestairs’-head,butmountedfarther,tothegarretwhereHeathcliffwasconfined,andcalledhim.Hestubbornlydeclinedansweringforawhile:shepersevered,andfinallypersuadedhimtoholdcommunionwithherthroughtheboards.Iletthepoorthingsconverseunmolested,tillIsupposedthesongsweregoingtocease,andthesingerstogetsomerefreshment:thenIclambereduptheladdertowarnher.Insteadoffindingheroutside,Iheardhervoicewithin.Thelittlemonkeyhadcreptbytheskylightofonegarret,alongtheroof,intotheskylightoftheother,anditwaswiththeutmostdifficultyIcouldcoaxheroutagain.Whenshedidcome,Heathcliffcamewithher,andsheinsistedthatIshouldtakehimintothekitchen,asmyfellow-servanthadgonetoaneighbour’s,toberemovedfromthesoundofour“devil’spsalmody,”asitpleasedhimtocallit.ItoldthemIintendedbynomeanstoencouragetheirtricks:butastheprisonerhadneverbrokenhisfastsinceyesterday’sdinner,IwouldwinkathischeatingMr.Hindleythatonce.Hewentdown:Isethimastoolbythefire,andofferedhimaquantityofgoodthings:buthewassickandcouldeatlittle,andmyattemptstoentertainhimwerethrownaway.Heleanthistwoelbowsonhisknees,andhischinonhishands,andremainedraptindumbmeditation.Onmyinquiringth