CHAPTER XVIII

ebyWutheringHeights.Edgarhadnotthehearttopassitsoshereceivedasconstantlytheanswer,“Notyet,love:notyet.” IsaidMrs.Heathclifflivedaboveadozenyearsafterquittingherhusband.Herfamilywereofadelicateconstitution:sheandEdgarbothlackedtheruddyhealththatyouwillgenerallymeetintheseparts.Whatherlastillnesswas,Iamnotcertain:Iconjecture,theydiedofthesamething,akindoffever,slowatitscommencement,butincurable,andrapidlyconsuminglifetowardstheclose.Shewrotetoinformherbrotheroftheprobableconclusionofafour-months’indispositionunderwhichshehadsuffered,andentreatedhimtocometoher,ifpossibleforshehadmuchtosettle,andshewishedtobidhimadieu,anddeliverLintonsafelyintohishands.HerhopewasthatLintonmightbeleftwithhim,ashehadbeenwithher:hisfather,shewouldfainconvinceherself,hadnodesiretoassumetheburdenofhismaintenanceoreducation.Mymasterhesitatednotamomentincomplyingwithherrequest:reluctantashewastoleavehomeatordinarycalls,heflewtoanswerthiscommendingCatherinetomypeculiarvigilance,inhisabsence,withreiteratedordersthatshemustnotwanderoutofthepark,evenundermyescort:hedidnotcalculateonhergoingunaccompanied. Hewasawaythreeweeks.Thefirstdayortwomychargesatinacornerofthelibrary,toosadforeitherreadingorplaying:inthatquietstateshecausedmelittletroublebutitwassucceededbyanintervalofimpatient,fretfulwearinessandbeingtoobusy,andtoooldthen,torunupanddownamusingher,Ihitonamethodbywhichshemightentertainherself.Iusedtosendheronhertravelsroundthegrounds—nowonfoot,andnowonaponyindulgingherwithapatientaudienceofallherrealandimaginaryadventureswhenshereturned. Thesummershoneinfullprimeandshetooksuchatasteforthissolitaryramblingthatsheoftencontrivedtoremainoutfrombreakfasttillteaandthentheeveningswerespentinrecountingherfancifultales.Ididnotfearherbreakingboundsbecausethegatesweregenerallylocked,andIthoughtshewouldscarcelyventureforthalone,iftheyhadstoodwideopen.Unluckily,myconfidenceprovedmisplaced.Catherinecametome,onemorning,ateighto’clock,andsaidshewasthatdayanArabianmerchant,goingtocrosstheDesertwithhiscaravanandImustgiveherplentyofprovisionforherselfandbeasts:ahorse,andthreecamels,personatedbyalargehoundandacoupleofpointers.Igottogethergoodstoreofdainties,andslungtheminabasketononesideofthesaddleandshesprangupasgayasafairy,shelteredbyherwide-brimmedhatandgauzeveilfromtheJulysun,andtrottedoffwithamerrylaugh,mockingmycautiouscounseltoavoidgalloping,andcomebackearly.Thenaughtythingnevermadeherappearanceattea.Onetraveller,thehound,beinganolddogandfondofitsease,returnedbutneitherCathy,northepony,northetwopointerswerevisibleinanydirection:Idespatchedemissariesdownthispath,andthatpath,andatlastwentwanderinginsearchofhermyself.Therewasalabourerworkingatafenceroundaplantation,onthebordersofthegrounds.Iinquiredofhimifhehadseenouryounglady. “Isawheratmorn,”hereplied:“shewouldhavemetocutherahazelswitch,andthensheleaptherGallowayoverthehedgeyonder,whereitislowest,andgallopedoutofsight.” YoumayguesshowIfeltathearingthisnews.ItstruckmedirectlyshemusthavestartedforPenistoneCrags.“Whatwillbecomeofher?”Iejaculated,pushingthroughagapwhichthemanwasrepairing,andmakingstraighttothehigh-road.Iwalkedasifforawager,mileaftermile,tillaturnbroughtmeinviewoftheHeightsbutnoCatherinecouldIdetect,farornear.TheCragslieaboutamileandahalfbeyondMr.Heathcliff’splace,andthatisfourfromtheGrange,soIbegantofearnightwouldfallereIcouldreachthem.“Andwha