CHAPTER XV

gewhenthetreeswereinleaf.AtWutheringHeightsitalwayssoundedonquietdaysfollowingagreatthaworaseasonofsteadyrain.AndofWutheringHeightsCatherinewasthinkingasshelistened:thatis,ifshethoughtorlistenedatallbutshehadthevague,distantlookImentionedbefore,whichexpressednorecognitionofmaterialthingseitherbyearoreye. “There’saletterforyou,Mrs.Linton,”Isaid,gentlyinsertingitinonehandthatrestedonherknee.“Youmustreaditimmediately,becauseitwantsananswer.ShallIbreaktheseal?”“Yes,”sheanswered,withoutalteringthedirectionofhereyes.Iopenedit—itwasveryshort.“Now,”Icontinued,“readit.”Shedrewawayherhand,andletitfall.Ireplaceditinherlap,andstoodwaitingtillitshouldpleasehertoglancedownbutthatmovementwassolongdelayedthatatlastIresumed—“MustIreadit,ma’am?ItisfromMr.Heathcliff.” Therewasastartandatroubledgleamofrecollection,andastruggletoarrangeherideas.Sheliftedtheletter,andseemedtoperuseitandwhenshecametothesignatureshesighed:yetstillIfoundshehadnotgathereditsimport,for,uponmydesiringtohearherreply,shemerelypointedtothename,andgazedatmewithmournfulandquestioningeagerness. “Well,hewishestoseeyou,”saidI,guessingherneedofaninterpreter.“He’sinthegardenbythistime,andimpatienttoknowwhatanswerIshallbring.” AsIspoke,Iobservedalargedoglyingonthesunnygrassbeneathraiseitsearsasifabouttobark,andthensmoothingthemback,announce,byawagofthetail,thatsomeoneapproachedwhomitdidnotconsiderastranger.Mrs.Lintonbentforward,andlistenedbreathlessly.TheminuteafterasteptraversedthehalltheopenhousewastootemptingforHeathclifftoresistwalkingin:mostlikelyhesupposedthatIwasinclinedtoshirkmypromise,andsoresolvedtotrusttohisownaudacity.WithstrainingeagernessCatherinegazedtowardstheentranceofherchamber.Hedidnothittherightroomdirectly:shemotionedmetoadmithim,buthefounditoutereIcouldreachthedoor,andinastrideortwowasatherside,andhadhergraspedinhisarms. Heneitherspokenorloosedhisholdforsomefiveminutes,duringwhichperiodhebestowedmorekissesthaneverhegaveinhislifebefore,Idaresay:butthenmymistresshadkissedhimfirst,andIplainlysawthathecouldhardlybear,fordownrightagony,tolookintoherface!Thesameconvictionhadstrickenhimasme,fromtheinstanthebeheldher,thattherewasnoprospectofultimaterecoverythere—shewasfated,suretodie. “Oh,Cathy!Oh,mylife!howcanIbearit?”wasthefirstsentenceheuttered,inatonethatdidnotseektodisguisehisdespair.AndnowhestaredathersoearnestlythatIthoughttheveryintensityofhisgazewouldbringtearsintohiseyesbuttheyburnedwithanguish:theydidnotmelt. “Whatnow?”saidCatherine,leaningback,andreturninghislookwithasuddenlycloudedbrow:herhumourwasamerevaneforconstantlyvaryingcaprices.“YouandEdgarhavebrokenmyheart,Heathcliff!Andyoubothcometobewailthedeedtome,asifyouwerethepeopletobepitied!Ishallnotpityyou,notI.Youhavekilledme—andthrivenonit,Ithink.Howstrongyouare!HowmanyyearsdoyoumeantoliveafterIamgone?” Heathcliffhadkneltononekneetoembrace