CHAPTER XVIII

romhereyes,thoughtheywerejusthisown. “Whosethen—yourmaster’s?”sheasked. Hecoloureddeeper,withadifferentfeeling,mutteredanoath,andturnedaway. “Whoishismaster?”continuedthetiresomegirl,appealingtome.“Hetalkedabout‘ourhouse,’and‘ourfolk.’Ithoughthehadbeentheowner’sson.AndheneversaidMiss:heshouldhavedone,shouldn’the,ifhe’saservant?” Haretongrewblackasathunder-cloudatthischildishspeech.Isilentlyshookmyquestioner,andatlastsucceededinequippingherfordeparture. “Now,getmyhorse,”shesaid,addressingherunknownkinsmanasshewouldoneofthestable-boysattheGrange.“Andyoumaycomewithme.Iwanttoseewherethegoblin-hunterrisesinthemarsh,andtohearaboutthefairishes,asyoucallthem:butmakehaste!What’sthematter?Getmyhorse,Isay.” “I’llseetheedamnedbeforeIbethyservant!”growledthelad. “You’llseemewhat?”askedCatherineinsurprise. “Damned—thousaucywitch!”hereplied. “There,MissCathy!youseeyouhavegotintoprettycompany,”Iinterposed.“Nicewordstobeusedtoayounglady!Praydon’tbegintodisputewithhim.Come,letusseekforMinnyourselves,andbegone.” “But,Ellen,”criedshe,staringfixedinastonishment,“howdarehespeaksotome?Mustn’thebemadetodoasIaskhim?Youwickedcreature,Ishalltellpapawhatyousaid.—Now,then!” Haretondidnotappeartofeelthisthreatsothetearssprangintohereyeswithindignation.“Youbringthepony,”sheexclaimed,turningtothewoman,“andletmydogfreethismoment!” “Softly,Miss,”answeredtheaddressed.“You’lllosenothingbybeingcivil.ThoughMr.Hareton,there,benotthemaster’sson,he’syourcousin:andIwasneverhiredtoserveyou.” “Hemycousin!”criedCathy,withascornfullaugh. “Yes,indeed,”respondedherreprover. “Oh,Ellen!don’tletthemsaysuchthings,”shepursuedingreattrouble.“PapaisgonetofetchmycousinfromLondon:mycousinisagentleman’sson.Thatmy—”shestopped,andweptoutrightupsetatthebarenotionofrelationshipwithsuchaclown. “Hush,hush!”Iwhispered“peoplecanhavemanycousinsandofallsorts,MissCathy,withoutbeinganytheworseforitonlytheyneedn’tkeeptheircompany,iftheybedisagreeableandbad.” “He’snot—he’snotmycousin,Ellen!”shewenton,gatheringfreshgrieffromreflection,andflingingherselfintomyarmsforrefugefromtheidea. IwasmuchvexedatherandtheservantfortheirmutualrevelationshavingnodoubtofLinton’sapproachingarrival,communicatedbytheformer,beingreportedtoMr.HeathcliffandfeelingasconfidentthatCatherine’sfirstthoughtonherfather’sreturnwouldbetoseekanexplanationofthelatter’sassertionconcerningherrude-bredkindred.Hareton,recoveringfromhisdisgustatbeingtakenforaservant,seemedmovedbyherdistressand,havingfetchedtheponyroundtothedoor,hetook,topropitiateher,afinecrooked-leggedterrierwhelpfromthekennel,andputtingitintoherhand,bidherwhist!forhemeantnought.Pausinginherlamentations,shesurveyedhimwithaglanceofaweandhorror,thenburstforthanew. Icouldscarcelyrefrainfromsmilingatthisantipathytothepoorfellowwhowasawell-made,athleticyouth,good-lookinginfeatures,andstoutandhealthy,butattiredingarmentsbefittinghisdailyoccupationsofworkingonthefarmandloungingamongthemoorsafterrabbitsandgame.Still,IthoughtIcoulddetectinhisphysiognomyamindowningbetterqualitiesthanhisfathereverpossessed.Goodthingslostamidawildernessofweeds,tobesure,whoseranknessfarover-toppedtheirneglectedgrowthyet,notwithstanding,evidenceofawealthysoil,thatmightyieldluxuriantcropsunderotherandfavourablecircumstances.Mr.Heathcliff,Ibelieve,hadnottreatedhimphysica