CHAPTER XIV

AssoonasIhadperusedthisepistleIwenttothemaster,andinformedhimthathissisterhadarrivedattheHeights,andsentmealetterexpressinghersorrowforMrs.Linton’ssituation,andherardentdesiretoseehimwithawishthathewouldtransmittoher,asearlyaspossible,sometokenofforgivenessbyme. “Forgiveness!”saidLinton.“Ihavenothingtoforgiveher,Ellen.YoumaycallatWutheringHeightsthisafternoon,ifyoulike,andsaythatIamnotangry,butI’msorrytohavelostherespeciallyasIcanneverthinkshe’llbehappy.Itisoutofthequestionmygoingtoseeher,however:weareeternallydividedandshouldshereallywishtoobligeme,letherpersuadethevillainshehasmarriedtoleavethecountry.” “Andyouwon’twriteheralittlenote,sir?”Iasked,imploringly. “No,”heanswered.“Itisneedless.MycommunicationwithHeathcliff’sfamilyshallbeassparingashiswithmine.Itshallnotexist!” Mr.Edgar’scoldnessdepressedmeexceedinglyandallthewayfromtheGrangeIpuzzledmybrainshowtoputmoreheartintowhathesaid,whenIrepeateditandhowtosoftenhisrefusalofevenafewlinestoconsoleIsabella.Idaresayshehadbeenonthewatchformesincemorning:IsawherlookingthroughthelatticeasIcameupthegardencauseway,andInoddedtoherbutshedrewback,asifafraidofbeingobserved.Ienteredwithoutknocking.Thereneverwassuchadreary,dismalsceneastheformerlycheerfulhousepresented!Imustconfess,thatifIhadbeenintheyounglady’splace,Iwould,atleast,havesweptthehearth,andwipedthetableswithaduster.Butshealreadypartookofthepervadingspiritofneglectwhichencompassedher.Herprettyfacewaswanandlistlessherhairuncurled:somelockshanginglanklydown,andsomecarelesslytwistedroundherhead.Probablyshehadnottouchedherdresssinceyesterevening.Hindleywasnotthere.Mr.Heathcliffsatatatable,turningoversomepapersinhispocket-bookbutherosewhenIappeared,askedmehowIdid,quitefriendly,andofferedmeachair.HewastheonlythingtherethatseemeddecentandIthoughtheneverlookedbetter.Somuchhadcircumstancesalteredtheirpositions,thathewouldcertainlyhavestruckastrangerasabornandbredgentlemanandhiswifeasathoroughlittleslattern!Shecameforwardeagerlytogreetme,andheldoutonehandtotaketheexpectedletter.Ishookmyhead.Shewouldn’tunderstandthehint,butfollowedmetoasideboard,whereIwenttolaymybonnet,andimportunedmeinawhispertogiveherdirectlywhatIhadbrought.Heathcliffguessedthemeaningofherman?uvres,andsaid—“IfyouhavegotanythingforIsabella(asnodoubtyouhave,Nelly),giveittoher.Youneedn’tmakeasecretofit:wehavenosecretsbetweenus.” “Oh,Ihavenothing,”Ireplied,thinkingitbesttospeakthetruthatonce.“Mymasterbidmetellhissisterthatshemustnotexpecteitheraletteroravisitfromhimatpresent.Hesendshislove,ma’am,andhiswishesforyourhappiness,andhispardonforthegriefyouhaveoccasionedbuthethinksthatafterthistimehishouseholdandthehouseholdhereshoulddropintercommunication,asnothingcouldcomeofkeepingitup.” Mrs.Heathcliff’slipquiveredslightly,andshereturnedtoherseatinthewindow.Herhusbandtookhisstandonthehearthstone,nearme,andbegantoputquestionsconcerningCatherine.ItoldhimasmuchasIthoughtproperofherillness,andheextortedfromme,bycross-examination,mostofthefactsconnectedwithitsorigin.Iblamedher,asshedeserved,forbringingitallonhe