CHAPTER XXII

” “Comein,”saidI,takingCathybythearmandhalfforcinghertore-enterforshelingered,viewingwithtroubledeyesthefeaturesofthespeaker,toosterntoexpresshisinwarddeceit. Hepushedhishorseclose,and,bendingdown,observed— “MissCatherine,I’llowntoyouthatIhavelittlepatiencewithLintonandHaretonandJosephhaveless.I’llownthathe’swithaharshset.Hepinesforkindness,aswellasloveandakindwordfromyouwouldbehisbestmedicine.Don’tmindMrs.Dean’scruelcautionsbutbegenerous,andcontrivetoseehim.Hedreamsofyoudayandnight,andcannotbepersuadedthatyoudon’thatehim,sinceyouneitherwritenorcall.” Iclosedthedoor,androlledastonetoassisttheloosenedlockinholdingitandspreadingmyumbrella,Idrewmychargeunderneath:fortherainbegantodrivethroughthemoaningbranchesofthetrees,andwarnedustoavoiddelay.OurhurrypreventedanycommentontheencounterwithHeathcliff,aswestretchedtowardshomebutIdivinedinstinctivelythatCatherine’sheartwascloudednowindoubledarkness.Herfeaturesweresosad,theydidnotseemhers:sheevidentlyregardedwhatshehadheardaseverysyllabletrue. Themasterhadretiredtorestbeforewecamein.Cathystoletohisroomtoinquirehowhewashehadfallenasleep.Shereturned,andaskedmetositwithherinthelibrary.Wetookourteatogetherandafterwardsshelaydownontherug,andtoldmenottotalk,forshewasweary.Igotabook,andpretendedtoread.Assoonasshesupposedmeabsorbedinmyoccupation,sherecommencedhersilentweeping:itappeared,atpresent,herfavouritediversion.IsufferedhertoenjoyitawhilethenIexpostulated:deridingandridiculingallMr.Heathcliff’sassertionsabouthisson,asifIwerecertainshewouldcoincide.Alas!Ihadn’tskilltocounteracttheeffecthisaccounthadproduced:itwasjustwhatheintended. “Youmayberight,Ellen,”sheanswered“butIshallneverfeelateasetillIknow.AndImusttellLintonitisnotmyfaultthatIdon’twrite,andconvincehimthatIshallnotchange.” Whatusewereangerandprotestationsagainsthersillycredulity?Wepartedthatnight—hostilebutnextdaybeheldmeontheroadtoWutheringHeights,bythesideofmywilfulyoungmistress’spony.Icouldn’tbeartowitnesshersorrow:toseeherpale,dejectedcountenance,andheavyeyes:andIyielded,inthefainthopethatLintonhimselfmightprove,byhisreceptionofus,howlittleofthetalewasfoundedonfact.