CHAPTER VIII
關燈
小
中
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on,italwayssetherwholecomplexioninablaze.
“What’sthat,then?”Iretorted,showingadecidedpurplewitnesstorefuteher.
Shestampedherfoot,waveredamoment,andthen,irresistiblyimpelledbythenaughtyspiritwithinher,slappedmeonthecheek:astingingblowthatfilledbotheyeswithwater.
“Catherine,love!Catherine!”interposedLinton,greatlyshockedatthedoublefaultoffalsehoodandviolencewhichhisidolhadcommitted.
“Leavetheroom,Ellen!”sherepeated,tremblingallover.
LittleHareton,whofollowedmeeverywhere,andwassittingnearmeonthefloor,atseeingmytearscommencedcryinghimself,andsobbedoutcomplaintsagainst“wickedauntCathy,”whichdrewherfuryontohisunluckyhead:sheseizedhisshoulders,andshookhimtillthepoorchildwaxedlivid,andEdgarthoughtlesslylaidholdofherhandstodeliverhim.Inaninstantonewaswrungfree,andtheastonishedyoungmanfeltitappliedoverhisownearinawaythatcouldnotbemistakenforjest.Hedrewbackinconsternation.IliftedHaretoninmyarms,andwalkedofftothekitchenwithhim,leavingthedoorofcommunicationopen,forIwascurioustowatchhowtheywouldsettletheirdisagreement.Theinsultedvisitormovedtothespotwherehehadlaidhishat,paleandwithaquiveringlip.
“That’sright!”Isaidtomyself.“Takewarningandbegone!It’sakindnesstoletyouhaveaglimpseofhergenuinedisposition.”
“Whereareyougoing?”demandedCatherine,advancingtothedoor.
Heswervedaside,andattemptedtopass.
“Youmustnotgo!”sheexclaimed,energetically.
“Imustandshall!”herepliedinasubduedvoice.
“No,”shepersisted,graspingthehandle“notyet,EdgarLinton:sitdownyoushallnotleavemeinthattemper.Ishouldbemiserableallnight,andIwon’tbemiserableforyou!”
“CanIstayafteryouhavestruckme?”askedLinton.
Catherinewasmute.
“You’vemademeafraidandashamedofyou,”hecontinued“I’llnotcomehereagain!”
Hereyesbegantoglistenandherlidstotwinkle.
“Andyoutoldadeliberateuntruth!”hesaid.
“Ididn’t!”shecried,recoveringherspeech“Ididnothingdeliberately.Well,go,ifyouplease—getaway!AndnowI’llcry—I’llcrymyselfsick!”
Shedroppeddownonherkneesbyachair,andsettoweepinginseriousearnest.Edgarperseveredinhisresolutionasfarasthecourttherehelingered.Iresolvedtoencouragehim.
“Missisdreadfullywayward,sir,”Icalledout.“Asbadasanymarredchild:you’dbetterberidinghome,orelseshewillbesick,onlytogrieveus.”
Thesoftthinglookedaskancethroughthewindow:hepossessedthepowertodepartasmuchasacatpossessesthepowertoleaveamousehalfkilled,orabirdhalfeaten.Ah,Ithought,therewillbenosavinghim:he’sdoomed,andfliestohisfate!Andsoitwas:heturnedabruptly,hastenedintothehouseagain,shutthedoorbehindhimandwhenIwentinawhileaftertoinformthemthatEarnshawhadcomehomerabiddrunk,readytopullthewholeplaceaboutourears(hisordinaryframeofmindinthatcondition),Isawthequarrelhadmerelyeffectedacloserintimacy—hadbrokentheoutworksofyouthfultimidity,andenabledthemtoforsakethedisguiseoffriendship,andconfessthemselveslovers.
IntelligenceofMr.Hindley’sarrivaldroveLintonspeedilytohishorse,andCatherinetoherchamber.IwenttohidelittleHareton,andtotaketheshotoutofthemaster’sfowling-piece,whichhewasfondofplayingwithinhisinsaneexcitement,tothehazardofthelivesofanywhoprovoked,orevenattractedhisnoticetoomuchandIhadhitupontheplanofremovingit,thathemightdolessmischiefifhedidgothelengthoffiringthegun.
