CHAPTER XIII

hinktheconcentratedessenceofallthemadnessintheworldtookupitsabodeinmybrainthedayIlinkedmyfatewiththeirs!However,thatisnottothepresentpurpose—thereareotherrooms.Forheaven’ssakebequick,andletmesettlesomewhere!” Hemadenoreplytothisadjurationonlyploddingdoggedlydownthewoodensteps,andhaltingbeforeanapartmentwhich,fromthathaltandthesuperiorqualityofitsfurniture,Iconjecturedtobethebestone.Therewasacarpet—agoodone,butthepatternwasobliteratedbydustafireplacehungwithcut-paper,droppingtopiecesahandsomeoak-bedsteadwithamplecrimsoncurtainsofratherexpensivematerialandmodernmakebuttheyhadevidentlyexperiencedroughusage:thevallanceshunginfestoons,wrenchedfromtheirrings,andtheironrodsupportingthemwasbentinanarcononeside,causingthedraperytotrailuponthefloor.Thechairswerealsodamaged,manyofthemseverelyanddeepindentationsdeformedthepanelsofthewalls.Iwasendeavouringtogatherresolutionforenteringandtakingpossession,whenmyfoolofaguideannounced,—“Thishereist’maister’s.”Mysupperbythistimewascold,myappetitegone,andmypatienceexhausted.Iinsistedonbeingprovidedinstantlywithaplaceofrefuge,andmeansofrepose. “Whearthedivil?”beganthereligiouselder.“TheLordblessus!TheLordforgieus!Whearthehellwoldyegang?yemarred,wearisomenowt!Ye’veseenallbutHareton’sbitofacham’er.There’snotanotherhoiletoligdownini’th’hahse!” Iwassovexed,Iflungmytrayanditscontentsonthegroundandthenseatedmyselfatthestairs’-head,hidmyfaceinmyhands,andcried. “Ech!ech!”exclaimedJoseph.“Weeldone,MissCathy!weeldone,MissCathy!Howsiver,t’maistersalljusttum’leo’erthembrockenpotsun’thenwe’shearsummutwe’shearhowit’stobe.Gooid-for-naughtmadling!yedesarvepiningfro’thistoChurstmas,flingingt’preciousgiftsuhGodunderfooiti’yerflaysomerages!ButI’mmista’enifyeshewyersperritlang.WillHathecliffbidesichbonnyways,thinkye?Inobbutwishhemaycatchyei’thatplisky.Inobbutwishhemay.” Andsohewentonscoldingtohisdenbeneath,takingthecandlewithhimandIremainedinthedark.Theperiodofreflectionsucceedingthissillyactioncompelledmetoadmitthenecessityofsmotheringmyprideandchokingmywrath,andbestirringmyselftoremoveitseffects.AnunexpectedaidpresentlyappearedintheshapeofThrottler,whomInowrecognisedasasonofouroldSkulker:ithadspentitswhelphoodattheGrange,andwasgivenbymyfathertoMr.Hindley.Ifancyitknewme:itpusheditsnoseagainstminebywayofsalute,andthenhastenedtodevourtheporridgewhileIgropedfromsteptostep,collectingtheshatteredearthenware,anddryingthespattersofmilkfromthebanisterwithmypocket-handkerchief.OurlabourswerescarcelyoverwhenIheardEarnshaw’streadinthepassagemyassistanttuckedinhistail,andpressedtothewallIstoleintothenearestdoorway.Thedog’sendeavourtoavoidhimwasunsuccessfulasIguessedbyascutterdownstairs,andaprolonged,piteousyelping.Ihadbetterluck:hepassedon,enteredhischamber,andshutthedoor.DirectlyafterJosephcameupwithHareton,toputhimtobed.IhadfoundshelterinHareton’sroom,andtheoldman,onseeingme,said,—“They’srahmforboathyeun’yerpride,now,Isudthinki’thehahse.It’semptyyemayhev’italltoyerseln,un’Himasallasmaksathird,i’sichillcompany!” GladlydidItakeadvantageofthisintimationandtheminuteIflungmyselfintoachair,bythefire,Inodded,andslept.Myslumberwasdeepandsweet,thoughoverfartoosoon.Mr.Heathcliffawokemehehadjustcomein,anddemanded,inhislovingmanner,whatIwasdoingthere?Itoldhimthecauseofmystayingupsolate—thathehadthekeyofourroominhispocket.Theadjectiveourgavemortaloffence.Hesworeitwasnot,norevershouldbe,mineandhe’d—butI’llnotrepeathislanguage,nordescribehishabitualconduct:heisingeniousandunrestinginseekingtogainmyabhorrence!Isometimeswonderathimwithanintensitythatdeadensmyfear:yet,Iassureyou,atigeroravenomousserpentcouldnotrouseterrorinmeequaltothatwhichhewakens.HetoldmeofCatherine’sillness,andaccusedmybrotherofcausingitpromisingthatIshouldbeEdgar’sproxyinsuffering,tillhecouldgetholdofhim. Idohatehim—Iamwretched—Ihavebeenafool!BewareofutteringonebreathofthistoanyoneattheGrange.Ishallexpectyoueveryday—don’tdisappointme!—ISABELLA.