CHAPTER XVI

t,andnothingmore!” “And—didsheevermentionme?”heasked,hesitating,asifhedreadedtheanswertohisquestionwouldintroducedetailsthathecouldnotbeartohear. “Hersensesneverreturned:sherecognisednobodyfromthetimeyoulefther,”Isaid.“Shelieswithasweetsmileonherfaceandherlatestideaswanderedbacktopleasantearlydays.Herlifeclosedinagentledream—mayshewakeaskindlyintheotherworld!” “Mayshewakeintorment!”hecried,withfrightfulvehemence,stampinghisfoot,andgroaninginasuddenparoxysmofungovernablepassion.“Why,she’saliartotheend!Whereisshe?Notthere—notinheaven—notperished—where?Oh!yousaidyoucarednothingformysufferings!AndIprayoneprayer—Irepeatittillmytonguestiffens—CatherineEarnshaw,mayyounotrestaslongasIamlivingyousaidIkilledyou—hauntme,then!Themurdereddohaunttheirmurderers,Ibelieve.Iknowthatghostshavewanderedonearth.Bewithmealways—takeanyform—drivememad!onlydonotleavemeinthisabyss,whereIcannotfindyou!Oh,God!itisunutterable!Icannotlivewithoutmylife!Icannotlivewithoutmysoul!” Hedashedhisheadagainsttheknottedtrunkand,liftinguphiseyes,howled,notlikeaman,butlikeasavagebeastbeinggoadedtodeathwithknivesandspears.Iobservedseveralsplashesofbloodaboutthebarkofthetree,andhishandandforeheadwerebothstainedprobablythesceneIwitnessedwasarepetitionofothersactedduringthenight.Ithardlymovedmycompassion—itappalledme:still,Ifeltreluctanttoquithimso.Butthemomentherecollectedhimselfenoughtonoticemewatching,hethunderedacommandformetogo,andIobeyed.Hewasbeyondmyskilltoquietorconsole! Mrs.Linton’sfuneralwasappointedtotakeplaceontheFridayfollowingherdeceaseandtillthenhercoffinremaineduncovered,an