CHAPTER XI

pthewalk,andenteredthehousebut,insteadofHindley,Heathcliffappearedonthedoor-stonesandIturneddirectlyandrandowntheroadashardaseverIcouldrace,makingnohalttillIgainedtheguide-post,andfeelingasscaredasifIhadraisedagoblin.ThisisnotmuchconnectedwithMissIsabella’saffair:exceptthatiturgedmetoresolvefurtheronmountingvigilantguard,anddoingmyutmosttocheckthespreadofsuchbadinfluenceattheGrange:eventhoughIshouldwakeadomesticstorm,bythwartingMrs.Linton’spleasure. ThenexttimeHeathcliffcamemyyoungladychancedtobefeedingsomepigeonsinthecourt.Shehadneverspokenawordtohersister-in-lawforthreedaysbutshehadlikewisedroppedherfretfulcomplaining,andwefounditagreatcomfort.HeathcliffhadnotthehabitofbestowingasingleunnecessarycivilityonMissLinton,Iknew.Now,assoonashebeheldher,hisfirstprecautionwastotakeasweepingsurveyofthehouse-front.Iwasstandingbythekitchen-window,butIdrewoutofsight.Hethensteppedacrossthepavementtoher,andsaidsomething:sheseemedembarrassed,anddesirousofgettingawaytopreventit,helaidhishandonherarm.Sheavertedherface:heapparentlyputsomequestionwhichshehadnomindtoanswer.Therewasanotherrapidglanceatthehouse,andsupposinghimselfunseen,thescoundrelhadtheimpudencetoembraceher. “Judas!Traitor!”Iejaculated.“Youareahypocrite,too,areyou?Adeliberatedeceiver.” “Whois,Nelly?”saidCatherine’svoiceatmyelbow:Ihadbeenover-intentonwatchingthepairoutsidetomarkherentrance. “Yourworthlessfriend!”Ianswered,warmly:“thesneakingrascalyonder.Ah,hehascaughtaglimpseofus—heiscomingin!IwonderwillhehavethehearttofindaplausibleexcuseformakinglovetoMiss,whenhetoldyouhehatedher?” Mrs.LintonsawIsabellatearherselffree,andrunintothegardenandaminuteafter,Heathcliffopenedthedoor.Icouldn’twithholdgivingsomeloosetomyindignationbutCatherineangrilyinsistedonsilence,andthreatenedtoordermeoutofthekitchen,ifIdaredtobesopresumptuousastoputinmyinsolenttongue. “Tohearyou,peoplemightthinkyouwerethemistress!”shecried.“Youwantsettingdowninyourrightplace!Heathcliff,whatareyouabout,raisingthisstir?IsaidyoumustletIsabellaalone!—Ibegyouwill,unlessyouaretiredofbeingreceivedhere,andwishLintontodrawtheboltsagainstyou!” “Godforbidthatheshouldtry!”answeredtheblackvillain.Idetestedhimjustthen.“Godkeephimmeekandpatient!EverydayIgrowmadderaftersendinghimtoheaven!” “Hush!”saidCatherine,shuttingtheinnerdoor.“Don’tvexme.Whyhaveyoudisregardedmyrequest?Didshecomeacrossyouonpurpose?” “Whatisittoyou?”hegrowled.“Ihavearighttokissher,ifshechoosesandyouhavenorighttoobject.Iamnotyourhusband:youneedn’tbejealousofme!” “I’mnotjealousofyou,”repliedthemistress“I’mjealousforyou.Clearyourface:yousha’n’tscowlatme!IfyoulikeIsabella,youshallmarryher.Butdoyoulikeher?Tellthetruth,Heathcliff!There,youwon’tanswer.I’mcertainyoudon’t.” “AndwouldMr.Lintonapproveofhissistermarryingthatman?”Iinquired. “Mr.Lintonshouldapprove,”returnedmylady,decisively. “Hemightsparehimselfthetrouble,”saidHeathcliff:“Icoulddoaswellwithouthisapprobation.Andastoyou,Catherine,Ihaveamindtospeakafewwordsnow,whileweareatit.IwantyoutobeawarethatIknowyouhavetreatedmeinfernally—infernally!Doyouhear?AndifyouflatteryourselfthatIdon’tperceiveit,youareafoolandifyouthinkIcanbeconsoledbysweetwords,youareanidiot:andifyoufancyI’llsufferunrevenged,I’llconvinceyouofthecontrary,inaverylittlewhile!Meantime,thankyoufortellingmeyoursister-in-law’ssecret:IswearI’llmakethemostofit.Andstandyouaside!” “Whatnewphaseofhischaracteristhis?”exclaimedMrs.Linton,inamazement.“I’vetreatedyouinfernally—andyou’lltakeyourrevenge!Howwillyoutakeit,ungratefulbrute?HowhaveItreatedyouinfernally?” “Iseeknorevengeonyou,”repliedHeathcliff,lessvehemently.“That’snottheplan.Thetyrantgrindsdownhisslavesandtheydon’tturnagainsthimtheycrushthosebeneaththem.Youarewelcometotorturemetodeathforyouramusement,onlyallowmetoamusemyselfali