CHAPTER XIII

disthereatthismoment,fullofwarmfeelingsforhim,andCatherine!Ican’tfollowitthough—(thesewordsareunderlined)—theyneednotexpectme,andtheymaydrawwhatconclusionstheypleasetakingcare,however,tolaynothingatthedoorofmyweakwillordeficientaffection. Theremainderoftheletterisforyourselfalone.Iwanttoaskyoutwoquestions:thefirstis,—Howdidyoucontrivetopreservethecommonsympathiesofhumannaturewhenyouresidedhere?Icannotrecogniseanysentimentwhichthosearoundsharewithme. ThesecondquestionIhavegreatinterestinitisthis—IsMr.Heathcliffaman?Ifso,ishemad?Andifnot,isheadevil?Isha’n’ttellmyreasonsformakingthisinquirybutIbeseechyoutoexplain,ifyoucan,whatIhavemarried:thatis,whenyoucalltoseemeandyoumustcall,Ellen,verysoon.Don’twrite,butcome,andbringmesomethingfromEdgar. Now,youshallhearhowIhavebeenreceivedinmynewhome,asIamledtoimaginetheHeightswillbe.ItistoamusemyselfthatIdwellonsuchsubjectsasthelackofexternalcomforts:theyneveroccupymythoughts,exceptatthemomentwhenImissthem.Ishouldlaughanddanceforjoy,ifIfoundtheirabsencewasthetotalofmymiseries,andtherestwasanunnaturaldream! ThesunsetbehindtheGrangeasweturnedontothemoorsbythat,Ijudgedittobesixo’clockandmycompanionhaltedhalfanhour,toinspectthepark,andthegardens,and,probably,theplaceitself,aswellashecouldsoitwasdarkwhenwedismountedinthepavedyardofthefarmhouse,andyouroldfellow-servant,Joseph,issuedouttoreceiveusbythelightofadipcandle.Hediditwithacourtesythatredoundedtohiscredit.Hisfirstactwastoelevatehistorchtoalevelwithmyface,squintmalignantly,projecthisunder-lip,andturnaway.Thenhetookthetwohorses,andledthemintothestablesreappearingforthepurposeoflockingtheoutergate,asifwelivedinanancientcastle. Heathcliffstayedtospeaktohim,andIenteredthekitchen—adingy,untidyholeIdaresayyouwouldnotknowit,itissochangedsinceitwasinyourcharge.Bythefirestoodaruffianlychild,stronginlimbanddirtyingarb,withalookofCatherineinhiseyesandabouthismouth. “ThisisEdgar’slegalnephew,”Ireflected—“mineinamannerImustshakehands,and—yes—Imustkisshim.Itisrighttoestablishagoodunderstandingatthebeginning.” Iapproached,and,attemptingtotakehischubbyfist,said—“Howdoyoudo,mydear?” HerepliedinajargonIdidnotcomprehend. “ShallyouandIbefriends,Hareton?”wasmynextessayatconversation. Anoath,andathreattosetThrottleronmeifIdidnot“frameoff”rewardedmyperseverance. “Hey,Throttler,lad!”whisperedthelittlewretch,rousingahalf-bredbull-dogfromitslairinacorner.“Now,wiltthoubeganging?”heaskedauthoritatively. LoveformylifeurgedacomplianceIsteppedoverthethresholdtowaittilltheothersshouldenter.Mr.HeathcliffwasnowherevisibleandJoseph,whomIfollowedtothestables,andrequestedtoaccompanymein,afterstaringandmutteringtohimself,screweduphisnoseandreplied—“Mim!mim!mim!DidiverChristianbodyhearaughtlikeit?Mincingun’munching!HowcanItellwhetyesay?” “Isay,Iwishyoutocomewithmeintothehouse!”Icried,thinkinghimdeaf,yethighlydisgustedathisrudeness. “Noneo’me!Igettensummutelsetodo,”heanswered,andcontinuedhisworkmovinghislanternjawsmeanwhile,andsurveyingmydressandcountenance(theformeragreatdealtoofine,butthelatter,I’msure,assadashecoulddesire)withsovereigncontempt. Iwalkedroundtheyard,andthroughawicket,toanotherdoor,atwhichItookthelibertyofknocking,inhopessomemorecivilservantmightshowhimself.Afterashortsuspense,itwasopenedbyatall,gauntman,withoutneckerchief,andotherwiseextremelyslovenlyhisfeatureswerelostinmassesofshaggyhairthathungonhisshouldersandhiseyes,too,werelikeaghostlyCatherine’swithalltheirbeautyannihilated. “What’syourbusinesshere?”hedemanded,grimly.“Whoareyou?” “MynamewasIsabellaLinton,”Ireplied.“You’veseenmebefore,sir.I’mlatelymarriedtoMr.Heathcliff,andhehasbroughtmehere—Isupposebyyourpermission.” “Ishecomeback,then?”askedthehermit,glaringlikeahungrywolf. “Yes—wecamejustnow,”Isaid“butheleftmebythekitchendoorandwhenIwouldhavegonein,yourlittleboyplayedsentinelovertheplace,andfrightenedmeoffbythehelpofabull-dog.” “It’swellthehellishvillainh