CHAPTER XV

herheattemptedtorise,butsheseizedhishair,andkepthimdown. “IwishIcouldholdyou,”shecontinued,bitterly,“tillwewerebothdead!Ishouldn’tcarewhatyousuffered.Icarenothingforyoursufferings.Whyshouldn’tyousuffer?Ido!Willyouforgetme?WillyoubehappywhenIamintheearth?Willyousaytwentyyearshence,‘That’sthegraveofCatherineEarnshaw?Ilovedherlongago,andwaswretchedtoloseherbutitispast.I’velovedmanyotherssince:mychildrenaredearertomethanshewasand,atdeath,IshallnotrejoicethatIamgoingtoher:IshallbesorrythatImustleavethem!’Willyousayso,Heathcliff?” “Don’ttorturemetillI’masmadasyourself,”criedhe,wrenchinghisheadfree,andgrindinghisteeth. Thetwo,toacoolspectator,madeastrangeandfearfulpicture.WellmightCatherinedeemthatheavenwouldbealandofexiletoher,unlesswithhermortalbodyshecastawayhermoralcharacteralso.Herpresentcountenancehadawildvindictivenessinitswhitecheek,andabloodlesslipandscintillatingeyeandsheretainedinherclosedfingersaportionofthelocksshehadbeengrasping.Astohercompanion,whileraisinghimselfwithonehand,hehadtakenherarmwiththeotherandsoinadequatewashisstockofgentlenesstotherequirementsofhercondition,thatonhislettinggoIsawfourdistinctimpressionsleftblueinthecolourlessskin. “Areyoupossessedwithadevil,”hepursued,savagely,“totalkinthatmannertomewhenyouaredying?Doyoureflectthatallthosewordswillbebrandedinmymemory,andeatingdeepereternallyafteryouhaveleftme?YouknowyoulietosayIhavekilledyou:and,Catherine,youknowthatIcouldassoonforgetyouasmyexistence!Isitnotsufficientforyourinfernalselfishness,thatwhileyouareatpeaceIshallwritheinthetormentsofhell?” “Ishallnotbeatpeace,”moanedCatherine,recalledtoasenseofphysicalweaknessbytheviolent,unequalthrobbingofherheart,whichbeatvisiblyandaudiblyunderthisexcessofagitation.Shesaidnothingfurthertilltheparoxysmwasoverthenshecontinued,morekindly— “I’mnotwishingyougreatertormentthanIhave,Heathcliff.Ionlywishusnevertobeparted:andshouldawordofminedistressyouhereafter,thinkIfeelthesamedistressunderground,andformyownsake,forgiveme!Comehereandkneeldownagain!Youneverharmedmeinyourlife.Nay,ifyounurseanger,thatwillbeworsetorememberthanmyharshwords!Won’tyoucomehereagain?Do!” Heathcliffwenttothebackofherchair,andleantover,butnotsofarastoletherseehisface,whichwaslividwithemotion.Shebentroundtolookathimhewouldnotpermitit:turningabruptly,hewalkedtothefireplace,wherehestood,silent,withhisbacktowardsus.Mrs.Linton’sglancefollowedhimsuspiciously:everymovementwokeanewsentimentinher.Afterapauseandaprolongedgaze,sheresumedaddressingmeinaccentsofindignantdisappointment:— “Oh,yousee,Nelly,hewouldnotrelentamomenttokeepmeoutofthegrave.ThatishowI’mloved!Well,nevermind.ThatisnotmyHeathcliff.Ishalllovemineyetandtakehimwithme:he’sinmysoul.And,”addedshemusingly,“thethingthatirksmemostisthisshatteredprison,afterall.I’mtiredofbeingenclosedhere.I’mwearyingtoescapeintothatglori