CHAPTER XXII

disguisebutyoumightkillhimifyouwerewildandreckless,andcherishedafoolish,fancifulaffectionforthesonofapersonwhowouldbegladtohavehiminhisgraveandallowedhimtodiscoverthatyoufrettedovertheseparationhehasjudgeditexpedienttomake.” “Ifretaboutnothingonearthexceptpapa’sillness,”answeredmycompanion.“Icarefornothingincomparisonwithpapa.AndI’llnever—never—oh,never,whileIhavemysenses,doanactorsayawordtovexhim.Ilovehimbetterthanmyself,EllenandIknowitbythis:IprayeverynightthatImayliveafterhimbecauseIwouldratherbemiserablethanthatheshouldbe:thatprovesIlovehimbetterthanmyself.” “Goodwords,”Ireplied.“Butdeedsmustproveitalsoandafterheiswell,rememberyoudon’tforgetresolutionsformedinthehouroffear.” Aswetalked,wenearedadoorthatopenedontheroadandmyyounglady,lighteningintosunshineagain,climbedupandseatedherselfonthetopofthewall,reachingovertogathersomehipsthatbloomedscarletonthesummitbranchesofthewild-rosetreesshadowingthehighwayside:thelowerfruithaddisappeared,butonlybirdscouldtouchtheupper,exceptfromCathy’spresentstation.Instretchingtopullthem,herhatfelloffandasthedoorwaslocked,sheproposedscramblingdowntorecoverit.Ibidherbecautiouslestshegotafall,andshenimblydisappeared.Butthereturnwasnosucheasymatter:thestonesweresmoothandneatlycemented,andtherosebushesandblackberrystragglerscouldyieldnoassistanceinre-ascending.I,likeafool,didn’trecollectthat,tillIheardherlaughingandexclaiming—“Ellen!you’llhavetofetchthekey,orelseImustrunroundtotheporter’slodge.Ican’tscaletherampartsonthisside!” “Staywhereyouare,”Ianswered“Ihavemybundleofkeysinmypocket:perhapsImaymanagetoopenitifnot,I’llgo.” Catherineamusedherselfwithdancingtoandfrobeforethedoor,whileItriedallthelargekeysinsuccession.Ihadappliedthelast,andfoundthatnonewoulddoso,repeatingmydesirethatshewouldremainthere,IwasabouttohurryhomeasfastasIcould,whenanapproachingsoundarrestedme.ItwasthetrotofahorseCathy’sdancestoppedalso. “Whoisthat?”Iwhispered. “Ellen,Iwishyoucouldopenthedoor,”whisperedbackmycompanion,anxiously. “Ho,MissLinton!”criedadeepvoice(therider’s),“I’mgladtomeetyou.Don’tbeinhastetoenter,forIhaveanexplanationtoaskandobtain.” “Isha’n’tspe