CHAPTER XIV

letmeinunobserved,assoonasshewasalone,andwatchtillIdeparted,yourconsciencequitecalm:youwouldbehinderingmischief.” Iprotestedagainstplayingthattreacherouspartinmyemployer’shouse:and,besides,IurgedthecrueltyandselfishnessofhisdestroyingMrs.Linton’stranquillityforhissatisfaction.“Thecommonestoccurrencestartlesherpainfully,”Isaid.“She’sallnerves,andshecouldn’tbearthesurprise,I’mpositive.Don’tpersist,sir!orelseIshallbeobligedtoinformmymasterofyourdesignsandhe’lltakemeasurestosecurehishouseanditsinmatesfromanysuchunwarrantableintrusions!” “InthatcaseI’lltakemeasurestosecureyou,woman!”exclaimedHeathcliff“youshallnotleaveWutheringHeightstillto-morrowmorning.ItisafoolishstorytoassertthatCatherinecouldnotbeartoseemeandastosurprisingher,Idon’tdesireit:youmustprepareher—askherifImaycome.Yousayshenevermentionsmyname,andthatIamnevermentionedtoher.TowhomshouldshementionmeifIamaforbiddentopicinthehouse?Shethinksyouareallspiesforherhusband.Oh,I’venodoubtshe’sinhellamongyou!Iguessbyhersilence,asmuchasanything,whatshefeels.Yousaysheisoftenrestless,andanxious-looking:isthataproofoftranquillity?Youtalkofhermindbeingunsettled.Howthedevilcoulditbeotherwiseinherfrightfulisolation?Andthatinsipid,paltrycreatureattendingherfromdutyandhumanity!Frompityandcharity!Hemightaswellplantanoakinaflower-pot,andexpectittothrive,asimaginehecanrestorehertovigourinthesoilofhisshallowcares!Letussettleitatonce:willyoustayhere,andamItofightmywaytoCatherineoverLintonandhisfootman?Orwillyoubemyfriend,asyouhavebeenhitherto,anddowhatIrequest?Decide!becausethereisnoreasonformylingeringanotherminute,ifyoupersistinyourstubbornill-nature!” Well,Mr.Lockwood,Iarguedandcomplained,andflatlyrefusedhimfiftytimesbutinthelongrunheforcedmetoanagreement.Iengagedtocarryaletterfromhimtomymistressandshouldsheconsent,IpromisedtolethimhaveintelligenceofLinton’snextabsencefromhome,whenhemightcome,andgetinashewasable:Iwouldn’tbethere,andmyfellow-servantsshouldbeequallyoutoftheway.Wasitrightorwrong?Ifearitwaswrong,thoughexpedient.IthoughtIpreventedanotherexplosionbymycomplianceandIthought,too,itmightcreateafavourablecrisisinCatherine’smentalillness:andthenIrememberedMr.Edgar’ssternrebukeofmycarryingtalesandItriedtosmoothawayalldisquietudeonthesubject,byaffirming,withfrequentiteration,thatthatbetrayaloftrust,ifitmeritedsoharshanappellation,shouldbethelast.Notwithstanding,myjourneyhomewardwassadderthanmyjourneythitherandmanymisgivingsIhad,ereIcouldprevailonmyselftoputthemissiveintoMrs.Linton’shand. ButhereisKennethI’llgodown,andtellhimhowmuchbetteryouare.Myhistoryisdree,aswesay,andwillservetowhileawayanothermorning. ***** Dree,anddreary!Ireflectedasthegoodwomandescendedtoreceivethedoctor:andnotexactlyofthekindwhichIshouldhavechosentoamuseme.Butnevermind!I’llextractwholesomemedicinesfromMrs.Dean’sbitterherbsandfirstly,letmebewareofthefascinationthatlurksinCatherineHeathcliff’sbrillianteyes.IshouldbeinacurioustakingifIsurrenderedmyhearttothatyoungperson,andthedaughterturnedoutasecondeditionofthemother.