CHAPTER XV

Heathcliffgroanedacurse,andstrainedCatherinecloser:shenevermoved. ErelongIperceivedagroupoftheservantspassinguptheroadtowardsthekitchenwing.Mr.Lintonwasnotfarbehindheopenedthegatehimselfandsaunteredslowlyup,probablyenjoyingthelovelyafternoonthatbreathedassoftassummer. “Nowheishere,”Iexclaimed.“Forheaven’ssake,hurrydown!You’llnotmeetanyoneonthefrontstairs.Dobequickandstayamongthetreestillheisfairlyin.” “Imustgo,Cathy,”saidHeathcliff,seekingtoextricatehimselffromhiscompanion’sarms.“ButifIlive,I’llseeyouagainbeforeyouareasleep.Iwon’tstrayfiveyardsfromyourwindow.” “Youmustnotgo!”sheanswered,holdinghimasfirmlyasherstrengthallowed.“Youshallnot,Itellyou.” “Foronehour,”hepleadedearnestly. “Notforoneminute,”shereplied. “Imust—Lintonwillbeupimmediately,”persistedthealarmedintruder. Hewouldhaverisen,andunfixedherfingersbytheact—sheclungfast,gasping:therewasmadresolutioninherface. “No!”sheshrieked.“Oh,don’t,don’tgo.Itisthelasttime!Edgarwillnothurtus.Heathcliff,Ishalldie!Ishalldie!” “Damnthefool!Thereheis,”criedHeathcliff,sinkingbackintohisseat.“Hush,mydarling!Hush,hush,Catherine!I’llstay.Ifheshotmeso,I’dexpirewithablessingonmylips.” Andtheretheywerefastagain.Iheardmymastermountingthestairs—thecoldsweatranfrommyforehead:Iwashorrified. “Areyougoingtolistentoherravings?”Isaid,passionately.“Shedoesnotknowwhatshesays.Willyouruinher,becauseshehasnotwittohelpherself?Getup!Youcouldbefreeinstantly.Thatisthemostdiabolicaldeedthateveryoudid.Wearealldonefor—master,mistress,andservant.” Iwrungmyhands,andcriedoutandMr.Lintonhastenedhisstepatthenoise.Inthemidstofmyagitation,IwassincerelygladtoobservethatCatherine’sarmshadfallenrelaxed,andherheadhungdown. “She’sfainted,ordead,”Ithought:“somuchthebetter.Farbetterthatsheshouldbedead,thanlingeringaburdenandamisery-makertoallabouther.” Edgarsprangtohisunbiddenguest,blanchedwithastonishmentandrage.WhathemeanttodoIcannottellhowever,theotherstoppedalldemonstrations,atonce,byplacingthelifeless-lookingforminhisarms. “Lookthere!”hesaid.“Unlessyoubeafiend,helpherfirst—thenyoushallspeaktome!” Hewalkedintotheparlour,andsatdown.Mr.Lintonsummonedme,andwithgreatdifficulty,andafterresortingtomanymeans,wemanagedtorestorehertosensationbutshewasallbewilderedshesighed,andmoaned,andknewnobody.Edgar,inhisanxietyforher,forgotherhatedfriend.Ididnot.Iwent,attheearliestopportunity,andbesoughthimtodepartaffirmingthatCatherinewasbetter,andheshouldhearfrommeinthemorninghowshepassedthenight. “Ishallnotrefusetogooutofdoors,”heanswered“butIshallstayinthegarden:and,Nelly,mindyoukeepyourwordto-morrow.Ishallbeunderthoselarch-trees.Mind!orIpayanothervisit,whetherLintonbeinornot.” Hesentarapidglancethroughthehalf-opendoorofthechamber,and,ascertainingthatwhatIstatedwasapparentlytrue,deliveredthehouseofhislucklesspresence.