CHAPTER X

asinvisibleitratherdipsdownontheotherside.Boththeroomanditsoccupants,andthescenetheygazedon,lookedwondrouslypeaceful.Ishrankreluctantlyfromperformingmyerrandandwasactuallygoingawayleavingitunsaid,afterhavingputmyquestionaboutthecandles,whenasenseofmyfollycompelledmetoreturn,andmutter,“ApersonfromGimmertonwishestoseeyouma’am.” “Whatdoeshewant?”askedMrs.Linton. “Ididnotquestionhim,”Ianswered. “Well,closethecurtains,Nelly,”shesaid“andbringuptea.I’llbebackagaindirectly.” ShequittedtheapartmentMr.Edgarinquired,carelessly,whoitwas. “Someonemistressdoesnotexpect,”Ireplied.“ThatHeathcliff—yourecollecthim,sir—whousedtoliveatMr.Earnshaw’s.” “What!thegipsy—theploughboy?”hecried.“WhydidyounotsaysotoCatherine?” “Hush!youmustnotcallhimbythosenames,master,”Isaid.“She’dbesadlygrievedtohearyou.Shewasnearlyheartbrokenwhenheranoff.Iguesshisreturnwillmakeajubileetoher.” Mr.Lintonwalkedtoawindowontheothersideoftheroomthatoverlookedthecourt.Heunfastenedit,andleantout.Isupposetheywerebelow,forheexclaimedquickly:“Don’tstandthere,love!Bringthepersonin,ifitbeanyoneparticular.”Erelong,Iheardtheclickofthelatch,andCatherineflewupstairs,breathlessandwildtooexcitedtoshowgladness:indeed,byherface,youwouldratherhavesurmisedanawfulcalamity. “Oh,Edgar,Edgar!”shepanted,flingingherarmsroundhisneck.“Oh,Edgardarling!Heathcliff’scomeback—heis!”Andshetightenedherembracetoasqueeze. “Well,well,”criedherhusband,crossly,“don’tstranglemeforthat!Heneverstruckmeassuchamarvelloustreasure.Thereisnoneedtobefrantic!” “Iknowyoudidn’tlikehim,”sheanswered,repressingalittletheintensityofherdelight.“Yet,formysake,youmustbefriendsnow.ShallItellhimtocomeup?” “Here,”hesaid,“intotheparlour?” “Whereelse?”sheasked. Helookedvexed,andsuggestedthekitchenasamoresuitableplaceforhim.Mrs.Lintoneyedhimwithadrollexpression—halfangry,halflaughingathisfastidiousness. “No,”sheadded,afterawhile“Icannotsitinthekitchen.Settwotableshere,Ellen:oneforyourmasterandMissIsabella,beinggentrytheotherforHeathcliffandmyself,beingofthelowerorders.Willthatpleaseyou,dear?OrmustIhaveafirelightedelsewhere?Ifso,givedirections.I’llrundownandsecuremyguest.I’mafraidthejoyistoogreattobereal!” ShewasabouttodartoffagainbutEdgararrestedher. “Youbidhimstepup,”hesaid,addressingme“and,Catherine,trytobeglad,withoutbeingabsurd.Thewholehouseholdneednotwitnessthesightofyourwelcomingarunawayservantasabrother.” Idescended,andfoundHeathcliffwaitingundertheporch,evidentlyanticipatinganinvitationtoenter.Hefollowedmyguidancewithoutwasteofwords,andIusheredhimintothepresenceofthemasterandmistress,whoseflushedcheeksbetrayedsignsofwarmtalking.Butthelady’sglowedwithanotherfeelingwhenherfriendappearedatthedoor:shesprangforward,tookbothhishands,andledhimtoLintonandthensheseizedLinton’sreluctantfingersandcrushedthemintohis.Now,fullyrevealedbythefireandcandlelight,Iwasamazed,morethanever,tobeholdthetransformationofHeathcliff.Hehadgrownatall,athletic,well-formedmanbesidewhommymasterseemedquiteslenderandyouth-like.Hisuprightcarriagesuggestedtheideaofhishavingbeeninthearmy.HiscountenancewasmucholderinexpressionanddecisionoffeaturethanMr.Linton’sitlookedintelligent,andretainednomarksofformerdegradation.Ahalf-civilisedferocitylurkedyetinthedepressedbrowsandeyesfullofblackfire,butitwassubduedandhismannerwasevendignified:quitedivestedofroughness,thoughtoosternforgrace.Mymaster’ssurpriseequalledorexceededmine:heremainedforaminuteatalosshowtoaddresstheploughboy,ashehadcalledhim.Heathcliffdroppedhisslighthand,andstoodlookingathimcoollytillhechosetospeak. “Sitdown,sir,”hesaid,atlength.“Mrs.Linton,recallingoldtimes,wouldhavemegiveyouacordialreceptionand,ofcourse,Iamgratifiedwhenanythingoccurstopleaseher.” “AndIalso,”answeredHeathcliff,“especiallyifitbeanythinginwhichIhaveapart.Ishallstayanhourortwowillingly.” HetookaseatoppositeCatherine,whokepthergazefixedonhimasifshefearedhewouldvanishwereshetoremoveit.Hedidnotraisehistoheroften:aquickglancenowandthensufficedbutitflashedback,eachtimemoreconfidently,theundisguiseddelighthedrankfromhers.Theyweretoomuchabsorbedintheirmutualjoytosufferembarrassment.NotsoMr.Edgar:hegrewpalewithpureannoyance:afeelingthatreacheditsclimaxwhenhisladyrose,andsteppingacrosstherug,seizedHeathcliff’shandsagain,andlaughedlikeonebesideherself. “Ishallthinkitadreamto-morrow!”shecried.“IshallnotbeabletobelievethatIhaveseen,andtouched,andspokentoyouoncemore.Andyet,cruelHeathcliff!youdon’tdeservethiswelcome.Tobeabsentandsilentforthreeyears,andnevertothinkofme!” “Alittlemorethanyouhavethoughtofme,”hemurmured.“Iheardofyourmarriage,Cathy,notlongsinceand,whilewaitingintheyardbelow,Imeditatedthisplan—justtohaveoneglimpseofyourface,astareofsurprise,perhaps,andpretendedpleasureafterwardssettlemyscorewithHindleyandthenpreventthelawbydoingexecutiononmyself.Yourwelcomehasputtheseideasoutofmymindbutbewareofmeetingmewithanotheraspectnexttime!Nay,you’llnotdrivemeoffagain.Youwerereallysorryforme,wereyou?Well,therewascause.I’vefoughtthroughabitterlifesinceIlastheardyourvoiceandyoumustforgiveme,forIstruggledonlyforyou!” “Catherine,unlesswearetohavecoldtea,pleasetocometothetable,”interruptedLinton,strivingtopreservehisordinarytone,andaduemeasureofpoliteness.“Mr.Heathcliffwillhavealongwalk,whereverhemaylodgeto-nightandI’mthirsty.” ShetookherpostbeforetheurnandMissIsabellacame,summonedbythebellthen,havinghandedtheirchairsforward,Ilefttheroom.Themealhardlyenduredtenminutes.Catherine’scupwasneverfilled:shecouldneithereatnordrink.Edgarhadmadeaslopinhissaucer,andscarcelyswallowedamouthful.Theirguestdidnotprotracthisstaythateveningaboveanhourlonger.Iasked,ashedeparted,ifhewenttoGimmerton? “No,toWutheringHeights,”heanswered:“Mr.Earnshawinvitedme,whenIcalledthismorning.” Mr.Earnshawinvitedhim!andhecalledonMr.Earnshaw!Iponderedthissentencepainfully,afterhewasgone.Isheturningoutabitofahypocrite,andcomingintothecountrytoworkmischiefunderacloak?Imused:Ihadapresentimentintheb