CHAPTER XXI

ntothestabletoseeyourhorse.” “Wouldn’tyourathersithere?”askedLinton,addressingCathyinatonewhichexpressedreluctancetomoveagain. “Idon’tknow,”shereplied,castingalonginglooktothedoor,andevidentlyeagertobeactive. Hekepthisseat,andshrankclosertothefire.Heathcliffrose,andwentintothekitchen,andfromthencetotheyard,callingoutforHareton.Haretonresponded,andpresentlythetwore-entered.Theyoungmanhadbeenwashinghimself,aswasvisiblebytheglowonhischeeksandhiswettedhair. “Oh,I’llaskyou,uncle,”criedMissCathy,recollectingthehousekeeper’sassertion.“Thatisnotmycousin,ishe?” “Yes,”hereplied,“yourmother’snephew.Don’tyoulikehim?” Catherinelookedqueer. “Ishenotahandsomelad?”hecontinued. Theuncivillittlethingstoodontiptoe,andwhisperedasentenceinHeathcliff’sear.HelaughedHaretondarkened:Iperceivedhewasverysensitivetosuspectedslights,andhadobviouslyadimnotionofhisinferiority.Buthismasterorguardianchasedthefrownbyexclaiming— “You’llbethefavouriteamongus,Hareton!Shesaysyouarea—Whatwasit?Well,somethingveryflattering.Here!yougowithherroundthefarm.Andbehavelikeagentleman,mind!Don’tuseanybadwordsanddon’tstarewhentheyoungladyisnotlookingatyou,andbereadytohideyourfacewhensheisand,whenyouspeak,sayyourwordsslowly,andkeepyourhandsoutofyourpockets.Beoff,andentertainherasnicelyasyoucan.” Hewatchedthecouplewalkingpastthewindow.Earnshawhadhiscountenancecompletelyavertedfromhiscompanion.Heseemedstudyingthefamiliarlandscapewithastranger’sandanartist’sinterest.Catherinetookaslylookathim,expressingsmalladmiration.Shethenturnedherattentiontoseekingoutobjectsofamusementforherself,andtrippedmerrilyon,liltingatunetosupplythelackofconversation. “I’vetiedhistongue,”observedHeathcliff.“He’llnotventureasinglesyllableallthetime!Nelly,yourecollectmeathisage—nay,someyearsyounger.DidIeverlooksostupid:so‘gaumless,’asJosephcallsit?” “Worse,”Ireplied,“becausemoresullenwithit.” “I’veapleasureinhim,”hecontinued,reflectingaloud.“Hehassatisfiedmyexpectations.IfhewereabornfoolIshouldnotenjoyithalfsomuch.Buthe’snofoolandIcansympathisewithallhisfeelings,havingfeltthemmyself.Iknowwhathesuffersnow,forinstance,exactly:itismerelyabeginningofwhatheshallsuffer,though.Andhe’llneverbeabletoemergefromhisbathosofcoarsenessandignorance.I’vegothimfasterthanhisscoundrelofafathersecuredme,andlowerforhetakesaprideinhisbrutishness.I’vetaughthimtoscorneverythingextra-animalassillyandweak.Don’tyouthinkHindleywouldbeproudofhisson,ifhecouldseehim?almostasproudasIamofmine.Butthere’sthisdifferenceoneisgoldputtotheuseofpaving-stones,andtheotheristinpolishedtoapeaserviceofsilver.MinehasnothingvaluableaboutityetIshallhavethemeritofmakingitgoasfarassuchpoorstuffcango.Hishadfirst-ratequalities,andtheyarelost:renderedworsethanunavailing.Ihavenothingtoregrethewouldhavemorethanany,butI,areawareof.Andthebestofitis,Haretonisdamnablyfondofme!You’llownthatI’veoutmatchedHindleythere.Ifthedeadvillaincouldrisefromhisgravetoabusemeforhisoffspring’swrongs,Ishouldhavethefunofseeingthesaidoffspringfighthimbackagain,indignantthatheshoulddaretorailattheonefriendhehasintheworld!” Heathcliffchuckledafiendishlaughattheidea.Imadenoreply,becauseIsawthatheexpectednone.Meantime,ouryoungcompanion,whosattooremovedfromustohearwhatwassaid,begantoevincesymptomsofuneasiness,probablyrepentingthathehaddeniedhimselfthetreatofCatherine’ssocietyforfearofalittlefatigue.Hisfatherremarkedtherestlessglanceswanderingtothewindow,andthehandirresolutelyextendedtowardshiscap. “Getup,youidleboy!”heexclaimed,withassumedheartiness.“Awayafterthem!theyarejustatthecorner,bythestandofhives.” Lintongatheredhisenergies,andleftthehearth.Thelatticewasopen,and,ashesteppedout,IheardCathyinquiringofherunsociableattendantwhatwasthatinscriptionoverthedoor?Haretonstaredup,andscratchedhisheadlikeatrueclown. “It’ssomedamnablewriting,”heanswered.“Icannotreadit.” “Can’treadit?”criedCatherine“Icanreadit:it’sEnglish.ButIwanttoknowwhyitisthere.” Lintongiggled:thefirstappearanceofmirthhehadexhibited. “Hedoesnotknowhisletters,”hesaidtohiscousin.“Couldyoubelieveintheexistenceofsuchacolossaldunce?” “Isheallasheshouldbe?”askedMissCathy,seriously“orishesimple:notright?I’vequestionedhimtwicenow,andeachtimehelookedsostupidIthinkhedoesnotunderstandme.Icanhardlyunderstandhim,I’msure!” Lintonrepeatedhislaugh,andglancedatHaretontauntinglywhocertainlydidnotseemquiteclearofcomprehensionatthatmoment. “There’snothingthematterbutlazinessisthere,Earnshaw?”hesaid.“Mycousinfanciesyouareanidiot.Thereyouexperiencetheconsequenceofscorning‘book-larning,’asyouwouldsay.Haveyounoticed,Catherine,hisfrightfulYorkshirepronunciation?” “Why,wherethedevilistheuseon’t?”growledHareton,morereadyinansweringhisdailycompanion.Hewasabouttoenlargefurther,butthetwoyoungstersbrokeintoanoisyfitofmerriment:mygiddymissbeingdelightedtodiscoverthatshemightturnhisstrangetalktomatterofamusement. “Whereistheuseofthedevilinthatsentence?”titteredLinton.“Papatoldyounottosayanybadwords,andyoucan’topenyourmouthwithoutone.Dotrytobehavelikeagentleman,nowdo!” “Ifthouweren’tmorealassthanalad,I’dfelltheethisminute,Iwouldpitifullathofacrater!”retortedtheangryboor,retreating,whilehisfaceburntwithmingledrageandmortificationforhewasconsciousofbeinginsulted,andembarrassedhowtoresentit. Mr.Heathcliffhavingoverheardtheconversation,aswellasI,smiledwhenhesawhimgobutimmediatelyafterwardscastalookofsingularaversionontheflippantpair,whoremainedchatteringinthedoorway:theboyfindinganimationenoughwhilediscussingHareton’sfaultsanddeficiencies,andrelatinganecdotesofhisgoingsonandthegirlrelishinghispertandspitefulsayings,withoutconsideringtheill-naturetheyevinced.Ibegantodislike,morethantocompassionateLinton,andtoexcusehisfatherinsomemeasureforholdinghimcheap. Westayedtillafternoon:IcouldnottearMissCathyawaysoonerbuthappilymymasterhadnotquittedhisapartment,andremainedignorantof