CHAPTER VIII

OnthemorningofafineJunedaymyfirstbonnylittlenursling,andthelastoftheancientEarnshawstock,wasborn.Wewerebusywiththehayinafar-awayfield,whenthegirlthatusuallybroughtourbreakfastscamerunninganhourtoosoonacrossthemeadowandupthelane,callingmeassheran. “Oh,suchagrandbairn!”shepantedout.“Thefinestladthateverbreathed!Butthedoctorsaysmissismustgo:hesaysshe’sbeeninaconsumptionthesemanymonths.IheardhimtellMr.Hindley:andnowshehasnothingtokeepher,andshe’llbedeadbeforewinter.Youmustcomehomedirectly.You’retonurseit,Nelly:tofeeditwithsugarandmilk,andtakecareofitdayandnight.IwishIwereyou,becauseitwillbeallyourswhenthereisnomissis!” “Butissheveryill?”Iasked,flingingdownmyrakeandtyingmybonnet. “Iguesssheisyetshelooksbravely,”repliedthegirl,“andshetalksasifshethoughtoflivingtoseeitgrowaman.She’soutofherheadforjoy,it’ssuchabeauty!IfIwereherI’mcertainIshouldnotdie:Ishouldgetbetteratthebaresightofit,inspiteofKenneth.Iwasfairlymadathim.DameArcherbroughtthecherubdowntomaster,inthehouse,andhisfacejustbegantolightup,whentheoldcroakerstepsforward,andsayshe—‘Earnshaw,it’sablessingyourwifehasbeensparedtoleaveyouthisson.Whenshecame,Ifeltconvincedweshouldn’tkeepherlongandnow,Imusttellyou,thewinterwillprobablyfinishher.Don’ttakeon,andfretaboutittoomuch:itcan’tbehelped.Andbesides,youshouldhaveknownbetterthantochoosesucharushofalass!’” “Andwhatdidthemasteranswer?”Iinquired. “Ithinkheswore:butIdidn’tmindhim,Iwasstrainingtoseethebairn,”andshebeganagaintodescribeitrapturously.I,aszealousasherself,hurriedeagerlyhometoadmire,onmypartthoughIwasverysadforHindley’ssake.Hehadroominhisheartonlyfortwoidols—hiswifeandhimself:hedotedonboth,andadoredone,andIcouldn’tconceivehowhewouldbeartheloss. WhenwegottoWutheringHeights,therehestoodatthefrontdoorand,asIpassedin,Iasked,“howwasthebaby?” “Nearlyreadytorunabout,Nell!”hereplied,puttingonacheerfulsmile. “Andthemistress?”Iventuredtoinquire“thedoctorsaysshe’s—” “Damnthedoctor!”heinterrupted,reddening.“Francesisquiteright:she’llbeperfectlywellbythistimenextweek.Areyougoingupstairs?willyoutellherthatI’llcome,ifshe’llpromisenottotalk.Ileftherbecauseshewouldnotholdhertongueandshemust—tellherMr.Kennethsaysshemustbequiet.” IdeliveredthismessagetoMrs.Earnshawsheseemedinflightyspirits,andrepliedmerrily,“Ihardlyspokeaword,Ellen,andtherehehasgoneouttwice,crying.Well,sayIpromiseIwon’tspeak:butthatdoesnotbindmenottolaughathim!” Poorsoul!Tillwithinaweekofherdeaththatgayheartneverfailedherandherhusbandpersisteddoggedly,nay,furiously,inaffirmingherhealthimprovedeveryday.WhenKennethwarnedhimthathismedicineswereuselessatthatstageofthemalady,andheneedn’tputhimtofurtherexpensebyattendingher,heretorted,“Iknowyouneednot—she’swell—shedoesnotwantanymoreattendancefromyou!Sheneverwasinaconsumption.Itwasafeveranditisgone:herpulseisasslowasminenow,andhercheekascool.” Hetoldhiswifethesamestory,andsheseemedtobelievehimbutonenight,whileleaningonhisshoulder,intheactofsayingshethoughtsheshouldbeabletogetupto-morrow,afitofcoughingtookher—averyslightone—heraisedherinhisarmssheputhertwohandsabouthisneck,herfacechanged,andshewasdead. Asthegirlhadanticipated,thechildHaretonfellwhollyintomyhands.Mr.Earnshaw,providedhe