CHAPTER VIII

sawhimhealthyandneverheardhimcry,wascontented,asfarasregardedhim.Forhimself,hegrewdesperate:hissorrowwasofthatkindthatwillnotlament.Heneitherweptnorprayedhecursedanddefied:execratedGodandman,andgavehimselfuptorecklessdissipation.Theservantscouldnotbearhistyrannicalandevilconductlong:JosephandIweretheonlytwothatwouldstay.Ihadnotthehearttoleavemychargeandbesides,youknow,Ihadbeenhisfoster-sister,andexcusedhisbehaviourmorereadilythanastrangerwould.Josephremainedtohectorovertenantsandlabourersandbecauseitwashisvocationtobewherehehadplentyofwickednesstoreprove. Themaster’sbadwaysandbadcompanionsformedaprettyexampleforCatherineandHeathcliff.Histreatmentofthelatterwasenoughtomakeafiendofasaint.And,truly,itappearedasiftheladwerepossessedofsomethingdiabolicalatthatperiod.HedelightedtowitnessHindleydegradinghimselfpastredemptionandbecamedailymorenotableforsavagesullennessandferocity.Icouldnothalftellwhataninfernalhousewehad.Thecuratedroppedcalling,andnobodydecentcamenearus,atlastunlessEdgarLinton’svisitstoMissCathymightbeanexception.Atfifteenshewasthequeenofthecountry-sideshehadnopeerandshedidturnoutahaughty,headstrongcreature!IownIdidnotlikeher,afterinfancywaspastandIvexedherfrequentlybytryingtobringdownherarrogance:shenevertookanaversiontome,though.Shehadawondrousconstancytooldattachments:evenHeathcliffkepthisholdonheraffectionsunalterablyandyoungLinton,withallhissuperiority,founditdifficulttomakeanequallydeepimpression.Hewasmylatemaster:thatishisportraitoverthefireplace.Itusedtohangononeside,andhiswife’sontheotherbuthershasbeenremoved,orelseyoumightseesomethingofwhatshewas.Canyoumakethatout? Mrs.Deanraisedthecandle,andIdiscernedasoft-featuredface,exceedinglyresemblingtheyoungladyattheHeights,butmorepensiveandamiableinexpression.Itformedasweetpicture.Thelonglighthaircurledslightlyonthetemplestheeyeswerelargeandseriousthefigurealmosttoograceful.IdidnotmarvelhowCatherineEarnshawcouldforgetherfirstfriendforsuchanindividual.Imarvelledmuchhowhe,withamindtocorrespondwithhisperson,couldfancymyideaofCatherineEarnshaw. “Averyagreeableportrait,”Iobservedtothehouse-keeper.“Isitlike?” “Yes,”sheanswered“buthelookedbetterwhenhewasanimatedthatishiseverydaycountenance:hewantedspiritingeneral.” CatherinehadkeptupheracquaintancewiththeLintonssinceherfive-weeks’residenceamongthemandasshehadnotemptationtoshowherroughsideintheircompany,andhadthesensetobeashamedofbeingrudewheresheexperiencedsuchinvariablecourtesy,sheimposedunwittinglyontheoldladyandgentlemanbyheringeniouscordialitygainedtheadmirationofIsabella,andtheheartandsoulofherbrother:acquisitionsthatflatteredherfromthefirst—forshewasfullofambition—andledhertoadoptadoublecharacterwithoutexactlyintendingtodeceiveanyone.IntheplacewheresheheardHeathclifftermeda“vulgaryoungruffian,”and“worsethanabrute,”shetookcarenottoactlikehimbutathomeshehadsmallinclinationtopractisepolitenessthatwouldonlybelaughedat,andrestrainanunrulynaturewhenitwouldbringherneithercreditnorpraise. Mr.EdgarseldommusteredcouragetovisitWutheringHeightsopenly.HehadaterrorofEarnshaw’sreputation,andshrunkfromencounteringhimandyethewasalwaysreceivedwithourbestattemptsatcivility:themasterhimselfavoidedoffe