CHAPTER IX

alfheaddedthatnightaspecialprayertotheusualquarter-of-an-hour’ssupplicationbeforemeat,andwouldhavetackedanothertotheendofthegrace,hadnothisyoungmistressbrokeninuponhimwithahurriedcommandthathemustrundowntheroad,and,whereverHeathcliffhadrambled,findandmakehimre-enterdirectly! “Iwanttospeaktohim,andImust,beforeIgoupstairs,”shesaid.“Andthegateisopen:heissomewhereoutofhearingforhewouldnotreply,thoughIshoutedatthetopofthefoldasloudasIcould.” Josephobjectedatfirstshewastoomuchinearnest,however,tosuffercontradictionandatlastheplacedhishatonhishead,andwalkedgrumblingforth.Meantime,Catherinepacedupanddownthefloor,exclaiming—“Iwonderwhereheis—Iwonderwherehecanbe!WhatdidIsay,Nelly?I’veforgotten.Washevexedatmybadhumourthisafternoon?Dear!tellmewhatI’vesaidtogrievehim?Idowishhe’dcome.Idowishhewould!” “Whatanoisefornothing!”Icried,thoughratheruneasymyself.“Whatatriflescaresyou!It’ssurelynogreatcauseofalarmthatHeathcliffshouldtakeamoonlightsaunteronthemoors,orevenlietoosulkytospeaktousinthehay-loft.I’llengagehe’slurkingthere.SeeifIdon’tferrethimout!” Idepartedtorenewmysearchitsresultwasdisappointment,andJoseph’squestendedinthesame. “Yonladgetswarundwar!”observedheonre-entering.“He’sleftth’gateatt’fullswing,andMiss’sponyhastroddendahntworigso’corn,andplotteredthrough,raighto’erintot’meadow!Hahsomdiver,t’maister’ullplayt’devilto-morn,andhe’lldoweel.He’spatienceitsselnwi’sichcareless,offaldcraters—patienceitsselnheis!Budhe’llnotbesoaallus—yah’ssee,allonye!Yahmun’n’tdrivehimoutofhisheeadfornowt!” “HaveyoufoundHeathcliff,youass?”interruptedCatherine.“Haveyoubeenlookingforhim,asIordered?” “Isudmorelikkerlookforth’horse,”hereplied.“It’udbetomoresense.BudIcanlookfornortherhorsenurmanofaneeghtloikethis—asblackast’chimbley!undHeathcliff’snoant’chaptocoomatmywhistle—happenhe’llbelesshardo’hearingwi’ye!” Itwasaverydarkeveningforsummer:thecloudsappearedinclinedtothunder,andIsaidwehadbetterallsitdowntheapproachingrainwouldbecertaintobringhimhomewithoutfurthertrouble.However,Catherinewouldnotbepersuadedintotranquillity.Shekeptwanderingtoandfro,fromthegatetothedoor,inastateofagitationwhichpermittednoreposeandatlengthtookupapermanentsituationononesideofthewall,neartheroad:where,heedlessofmyexpostulationsandthegrowlingthunder,andthegreatdropsthatbegantoplasharoundher,sheremained,callingatintervals,andthenlistening,andthencryingoutright.ShebeatHareton,oranychild,atagoodpassionatefitofcrying. Aboutmidnight,whilewestillsatup,thestormcamerattlingovertheHeightsinfullfury.Therewasaviolentwind,aswellasthunder,andeitheroneortheothersplitatreeoffatthecornerofthebuilding:ahugeboughfellacrosstheroof,andknockeddownaportionoftheeastchimney-stack,sendingaclatterofstonesandsootintothekitchen-fire.WethoughtabolthadfalleninthemiddleofusandJosephswungontohisknees,beseechingtheLordtorememberthepatriarchsNoahandLot,and,asinformertimes,sparetherighteous,thoughhesmotetheungodly.Ifeltsomesentimentthatitmustbeajudgmentonusalso.TheJonah,inmymind,wasMr.EarnshawandIshookthehandleofhisdenthatImightascertainifhewereyetliving.Herepliedaudiblyenough,inafashionwhichmademycompanionvociferate,moreclamorouslythanbefore,thatawidedistinctionmightbedrawnbetweensaintslikehimselfandsinnerslikehismaster.Buttheuproarpassedawayintwentyminutes,leavingusallunharmedexceptingCathy,whogotthoroughlydrenchedforherobstinacyinrefusingtotakeshelter,andstandingbonnetlessandshawllesstocatchasmuchwaterasshecouldwithherhairandclothes.Shecameinandlaydownonthesettle,allsoakedasshewas,turningherfacetotheback,andputtingherhandsbeforeit. “Well,Miss!”Iexclaimed,touchinghershoulder“youarenotbentongettingyourdeath,areyou?Doyouknowwhato’clockitis?Half-pasttwelve.Come,cometobed!there’snousewaitinganylongeronthatfoolishboy:he’llbegonetoGimmerton,andhe’llstaytherenow.Heguessesweshouldn’twaitforhimtillthislatehour:atleast,heguessesthatonlyMr.Hindleywouldbeupandhe’dratheravoidhavingthedooropenedbythemaster.” “Nay,nay,he’snoanatGimmerton,”saidJoseph.“I’sniverwonderbuthe’satt’bothomofabog-hoile.Thisvisitationworn’tfornowt,andIwodhev’yetolookout,Miss—yahmuhbet’next.ThankHivinforall!Allwarkstogitherforgooidtothemasischozzen,andpikedoutfro’th’rubbidge!Yahknawwhett’Scriptureses.”Andhebeganquotingseveraltexts,referringustochaptersandverseswherewemightfindthem. I,havingvainlybeggedthewilfulgirltoriseandremoveherwetthings,lefthimpreachingandhershivering,andbetookmyselftobedwithlittleHareton,whosleptasfastasifeveryonehadbeensleepingroundhim.IheardJosephreadonawhileafterwardsthenIdistinguishedhisslowstepontheladder,andthenIdroppedasleep. Comingdownsomewhatlaterthanusual,Isaw,bythesunbeamspiercingthechinksoftheshutters,MissCatherinestillseatednearthefireplace.Thehouse-doorwasajar,toolightenteredfromitsunclosedwindowsHindleyhadcomeout,andstoodonthekitchenhearth,haggardanddrowsy. “Whatailsyou,Cathy?”hewassayingwhenIentered:“youlookasdismalasadrownedwhelp.Whyareyousodampandpale,child?” “I’vebeenwet,”sheansweredreluctantly,“andI’mcold,that’sall.” “Oh,sheisnaughty!”Icried,perceivingthemastertobetolerablysober.“Shegotsteepedintheshowerofyesterdayevening,andthereshehassatthenightthrough,andIcouldn’tprevailonhertostir.” Mr.Earnshawstaredatusinsurprise.“Thenightthrough,”herepeated.“Whatkeptherup?notfearofthethunder,surely?Thatwasoverhourssince.” NeitherofuswishedtomentionHeathcliff’sabsence,aslongaswecouldconcealitsoIreplied,Ididn’tknowhowshetookitintoherheadtositupandshesaidnothing.ThemorningwasfreshandcoolIthrewbackthelattice,andpresentlytheroomfilledwithsweet