CHAPTER XVI

erearthnorhellcanbreak,andIfeelanassuranceoftheendlessandshadowlesshereafter—theEternitytheyhaveentered—wherelifeisboundlessinitsduration,andloveinitssympathy,andjoyinitsfulness.InoticedonthatoccasionhowmuchselfishnessthereiseveninalovelikeMr.Linton’s,whenhesoregrettedCatherine’sblessedrelease!Tobesure,onemighthavedoubted,afterthewaywardandimpatientexistenceshehadled,whethershemeritedahavenofpeaceatlast.Onemightdoubtinseasonsofcoldreflectionbutnotthen,inthepresenceofhercorpse.Itasserteditsowntranquillity,whichseemedapledgeofequalquiettoitsformerinhabitant. Doyoubelievesuchpeoplearehappyintheotherworld,sir?I’dgiveagreatdealtoknow. IdeclinedansweringMrs.Dean’squestion,whichstruckmeassomethingheterodox.Sheproceeded: RetracingthecourseofCatherineLinton,Ifearwehavenorighttothinksheisbutwe’llleaveherwithherMaker. Themasterlookedasleep,andIventuredsoonaftersunrisetoquittheroomandstealouttothepurerefreshingair.Theservantsthoughtmegonetoshakeoffthedrowsinessofmyprotractedwatchinreality,mychiefmotivewasseeingMr.Heathcliff.Ifhehadremainedamongthelarchesallnight,hewouldhaveheardnothingofthestirattheGrangeunless,perhaps,hemightcatchthegallopofthemessengergoingtoGimmerton.Ifhehadcomenearer,hewouldprobablybeaware,fromthelightsflittingtoandfro,andtheopeningandshuttingoftheouterdoors,thatallwasnotrightwithin.Iwished,yetfeared,tofindhim.Ifelttheterriblenewsmustbetold,andIlongedtogetitoverbuthowtodoitIdidnotknow.Hewasthere—atleast,afewyardsfurtherintheparkleantagainstanoldash-tree,hishatoff,andhishairsoakedwiththedewthathadgatheredonthebuddedbranches,andfellpatteringroundhim.Hehadbeenstanding