CHAPTER XIV

atherineandEdgarareasfondofeachotherasanytwopeoplecanbe,”criedIsabella,withsuddenvivacity.“Noonehasarighttotalkinthatmanner,andIwon’thearmybrotherdepreciatedinsilence!” “Yourbrotheriswondrousfondofyoutoo,isn’the?”observedHeathcliff,scornfully.“Heturnsyouadriftontheworldwithsurprisingalacrity.” “HeisnotawareofwhatIsuffer,”shereplied.“Ididn’ttellhimthat.” “Youhavebeentellinghimsomething,then:youhavewritten,haveyou?” “TosaythatIwasmarried,Ididwrite—yousawthenote.” “Andnothingsince?” “No.” “Myyoungladyislookingsadlytheworseforherchangeofcondition,”Iremarked.“Somebody’slovecomesshortinhercase,obviouslywhose,Imayguessbut,perhaps,Ishouldn’tsay.” “Ishouldguessitwasherown,”saidHeathcliff.“Shedegeneratesintoamereslut!Sheistiredoftryingtopleasemeuncommonlyearly.You’dhardlycreditit,buttheverymorrowofourweddingshewasweepingtogohome.However,she’llsuitthishousesomuchthebetterfornotbeingovernice,andI’lltakecareshedoesnotdisgracemebyramblingabroad.” “Well,sir,”returnedI,“Ihopeyou’llconsiderthatMrs.Heathcliffisaccustomedtobelookedafterandwaitedonandthatshehasbeenbroughtuplikeanonlydaughter,whomeveryonewasreadytoserve.Youmustletherhaveamaidtokeepthingstidyabouther,andyoumusttreatherkindly.WhateverbeyournotionofMr.Edgar,youcannotdoubtthatshehasacapacityforstrongattachments,orshewouldn’thaveabandonedtheelegancies,andcomforts,andfriendsofherformerhome,tofixcontentedly,insuchawildernessasthis,withyou.” “Sheabandonedthemunderadelusion,”heanswered“picturinginmeaheroofromance,andexpectingunlimitedindulgencesfrommychivalrousdevotion.Icanhardlyregardherinthelightofarationalcreature,soobstinatelyhasshepersistedinformingafabulousnotionofmycharacterandactingonthefalseimpressionsshecherished.But,atlast,Ithinkshebeginstoknowme:Idon’tperceivethesillysmilesandgrimacesthatprovokedmeatfirstandthesenselessincapabilityofdiscerningthatIwasinearnestwhenIgavehermyopinionofherinfatuationandherself.ItwasamarvellouseffortofperspicacitytodiscoverthatIdidnotloveher.Ibelieved,atonetime,nolessonscouldteachherthat!Andyetitispoorlylearntforthismorningsheannounced,asapieceofappallingintelligence,thatIhadactuallysucceededinmakingherhateme!ApositivelabourofHercules,Iassureyou!Ifitbeachieved,Ihavecausetoreturnthanks.CanItrustyourassertion,Isabella?Areyousureyouhateme?IfIletyoualoneforhalfaday,won’tyoucomesighingandwheedlingtomeagain?IdaresayshewouldratherIhadseemedalltendernessbeforeyou:itwoundshervanitytohavethetruthexposed.ButIdon’tcarewhoknowsthatthepassionwaswhollyononeside:andInevertoldheralieaboutit.Shecannotaccusemeofshowingonebitofdeceitfulsoftness.Thefirstthingshesawmedo,oncomingoutoftheGrange,wastohangupherlittledogandwhenshepleadedforit,thefirstwordsIutteredwereawishthatIhadthehangingofeverybeingbelongingtoher,exceptone:possiblyshetookthatexceptionforherself.Butnobrutalitydisgustedher:Isupposeshehasaninnateadmirationofit,ifonlyherpreciouspersonweresecurefrominjury!Now,wasitnotthedepthofabsurdity—ofgenuineidiocy,forthatpitiful,slavish,mean-mindedbrachtodreamthatIcouldloveher?Tellyourmaster,Nelly,thatI