CHAPTER XI

llowyourselftobebeaten.Itwillcorrectyouoffeigningmorevalourthanyoupossess.No,I’llswallowthekeybeforeyoushallgetit!I’mdelightfullyrewardedformykindnesstoeach!Afterconstantindulgenceofone’sweaknature,andtheother’sbadone,Iearnforthankstwosamplesofblindingratitude,stupidtoabsurdity!Edgar,IwasdefendingyouandyoursandIwishHeathcliffmayflogyousick,fordaringtothinkanevilthoughtofme!” Itdidnotneedthemediumofafloggingtoproducethateffectonthemaster.HetriedtowrestthekeyfromCatherine’sgrasp,andforsafetysheflungitintothehottestpartofthefirewhereuponMr.Edgarwastakenwithanervoustrembling,andhiscountenancegrewdeadlypale.Forhislifehecouldnotavertthatexcessofemotion:mingledanguishandhumiliationovercamehimcompletely.Heleantonthebackofachair,andcoveredhisface. “Oh,heavens!Inolddaysthiswouldwinyouknighthood!”exclaimedMrs.Linton.“Wearevanquished!wearevanquished!Heathcliffwouldassoonliftafingeratyouasthekingwouldmarchhisarmyagainstacolonyofmice.Cheerup!yousha’n’tbehurt!Yourtypeisnotalamb,it’sasuckingleveret.” “Iwishyoujoyofthemilk-bloodedcoward,Cathy!”saidherfriend.“Icomplimentyouonyourtaste.Andthatistheslavering,shiveringthingyoupreferredtome!Iwouldnotstrikehimwithmyfist,butI’dkickhimwithmyfoot,andexperienceconsiderablesatisfaction.Isheweeping,orishegoingtofaintforfear?” ThefellowapproachedandgavethechaironwhichLintonrestedapush.He’dbetterhavekepthisdistance:mymasterquicklysprangerect,andstruckhimfullonthethroatablowthatwouldhavelevelledaslighterman.Ittookhisbreathforaminuteandwhilehechoked,Mr.Lintonwalkedoutbythebackdoorintotheyard,andfromthencetothefrontentrance. “There!you’vedonewithcominghere,”criedCatherine.“Getaway,nowhe’llreturnwithabraceofpistolsandhalf-a-dozenassistants.Ifhedidoverhearus,ofcoursehe’dneverforgiveyou.You’veplayedmeanillturn,Heathcliff!Butgo—makehaste!I’dratherseeEdgaratbaythanyou.” “DoyousupposeI’mgoingwiththatblowburninginmygullet?”hethundered.“Byhell,no!I’llcrushhisribsinlikearottenhazel-nutbeforeIcrossthethreshold!IfIdon’tfloorhimnow,Ishallmurderhimsometimeso,asyouvaluehisexistence,letmegetathim!” “Heisnotcoming,”Iinterposed,framingabitofalie.“There’sthecoachmanandthetwogardenersyou’llsurelynotwaittobethrustintotheroadbythem!Eachhasabludgeonandmasterwill,verylikely,bewatchingfromtheparlour-windowstoseethattheyfulfilhisorders.” Thegardenersandcoachmanwerethere:butLintonwaswiththem.Theyhadalreadyenteredthecourt.Heathcliff,onthesecondthoughts,resolvedtoavoidastruggleagainstthreeunderlings:heseizedthepoker,smashedthelockfromtheinnerdoor,andmadehisescapeastheytrampedin. Mrs.Linton,whowasverymuchexcited,bademeaccompanyherupstairs.Shedidnotknowmyshareincontributingtothedisturbance,andIwasanxioustokeepherinignorance. “I’mnearlydistracted,Nelly!”sheexclaimed,throwingherselfonthesofa.“Athousandsmiths’hammersarebeatinginmyhead!TellIsabellatoshunmethisuproarisowingtoherandshouldsheoranyoneelseaggravatemyangeratpresent,Ishallgetwild.And,Nelly,saytoEdgar,ifyouseehimagainto-night,thatI’mindangerofbeingseriouslyill.Iwishitmayprovetrue.Hehasstartledanddistressedmeshockingly!Iwanttofrightenhim.Besides,hemightcomeandbeginastringofabuseorcomplainingsI’mcertainIshouldrecriminate,andGodknowswhereweshouldend!Willyoudoso,mygoodNelly?YouareawarethatIamnowayblamableinthismatter.Whatpossessedhimtoturnlistener?Heathcliff’stalkwasoutrageous,afteryouleftusbutIcouldsoonhavedivertedhimfromIsabella,andtherestmeantnothing.Nowallisdashedwrongbythefool’scravingtohearevilofself,thathauntssomepeoplelikeademon!HadEdgarnevergatheredourconversation,hewouldneverhavebeentheworseforit.Really,whenheopenedonmeinthatunreasonabletoneofdispleasureafterIhadscoldedHeathclifftillIwashoarseforhimIdidnotcarehardlywhattheydidtoeachotherespeciallyasIfeltthat,howeverthesceneclosed,weshouldallbedrivenasunderfornobodyknowshowlon