CHAPTER VIII

ndinghim,knowingwhyhecameandifhecouldnotbegracious,keptoutoftheway.IratherthinkhisappearancetherewasdistastefultoCatherineshewasnotartful,neverplayedthecoquette,andhadevidentlyanobjectiontohertwofriendsmeetingatallforwhenHeathcliffexpressedcontemptofLintoninhispresence,shecouldnothalfcoincide,asshedidinhisabsenceandwhenLintonevinceddisgustandantipathytoHeathcliff,shedarednottreathissentimentswithindifference,asifdepreciationofherplaymatewereofscarcelyanyconsequencetoher.I’vehadmanyalaughatherperplexitiesanduntoldtroubles,whichshevainlystrovetohidefrommymockery.Thatsoundsill-natured:butshewassoproud,itbecamereallyimpossibletopityherdistresses,tillsheshouldbechastenedintomorehumility.Shedidbringherself,finally,toconfess,andtoconfideinme:therewasnotasoulelsethatshemightfashionintoanadviser. Mr.Hindleyhadgonefromhomeoneafternoon,andHeathcliffpresumedtogivehimselfaholidayonthestrengthofit.Hehadreachedtheageofsixteenthen,Ithink,andwithouthavingbadfeatures,orbeingdeficientinintellect,hecontrivedtoconveyanimpressionofinwardandoutwardrepulsivenessthathispresentaspectretainsnotracesof.Inthefirstplace,hehadbythattimelostthebenefitofhisearlyeducation:continualhardwork,begunsoonandconcludedlate,hadextinguishedanycuriosityheoncepossessedinpursuitofknowledge,andanyloveforbooksorlearning.Hischildhood’ssenseofsuperiority,instilledintohimbythefavoursofoldMr.Earnshaw,wasfadedaway.HestruggledlongtokeepupanequalitywithCatherineinherstudies,andyieldedwithpoignantthoughsilentregret:butheyieldedcompletelyandtherewasnoprevailingonhimtotakeastepinthewayofmovingupward,whenhefoundhemust,necessarily,sinkbeneathhisformerlevel.Thenpersonalappearancesympathisedwithmentaldeterioration:heacquiredaslouchinggaitandignoblelookhisnaturallyreserveddispositionwasexaggeratedintoanalmostidioticexcessofunsociablemorosenessandhetookagrimpleasure,apparently,inexcitingtheaversionratherthantheesteemofhisfewacquaintance. Catherineandhewereconstantcompanionsstillathisseasonsofrespitefromlabourbuthehadceasedtoexpresshisfondnessforherinwords,andrecoiledwithangrysuspicionfromhergirlishcaresses,asifconscioustherecouldbenogratificationinlavishingsuchmarksofaffectiononhim.Onthebefore-namedoccasionhecameintothehousetoannouncehisintentionofdoingnothing,whileIwasassistingMissCathytoarrangeherdress:shehadnotreckonedonhistakingitintohisheadtobeidleandimaginingshewouldhavethewholeplacetoherself,shemanaged,bysomemeans,toinformMr.Edgarofherbrother’sabsence,andwasthenpreparingtoreceivehim. “Cathy,areyoubusythisafternoon?”askedHeathcliff.“Areyougoinganywhere?” “No,itisraining,”sheanswered. “Whyhaveyouthatsilkfrockon,then?”hesaid.“Nobodycominghere,Ihope?” “NotthatIknowof,”stammeredMiss:“butyoushouldbeinthefieldnow,Heathcliff.ItisanhourpastdinnertimeIthoughtyouweregone.” “Hindleydoesnotoftenfreeusfromhisaccursedpresence,”observedtheboy.“I’llnotworkanymoreto-day:I’llstaywithyou.” “Oh,butJosephwilltell,”shesuggested“you’dbettergo!” “JosephisloadinglimeonthefurthersideofPenistoneCragsitwilltakehimtilldark,andhe’llneverknow.” Sosaying,heloungedtothefire,andsatdown.Catherinereflectedaninstant,withknittedbrows—shefounditneedfultosmooththewayforanintrusion.“I