CHAPTER XXIII
關燈
小
中
大
Therainynighthadusheredinamistymorning—halffrost,halfdrizzle—andtemporarybrookscrossedourpath—gurglingfromtheuplands.MyfeetwerethoroughlywettedIwascrossandlowexactlythehumoursuitedformakingthemostofthesedisagreeablethings.Weenteredthefarm-housebythekitchenway,toascertainwhetherMr.Heathcliffwerereallyabsent:becauseIputslightfaithinhisownaffirmation.
Josephseemedsittinginasortofelysiumalone,besidearoaringfireaquartofaleonthetablenearhim,bristlingwithlargepiecesoftoastedoat-cakeandhisblack,shortpipeinhismouth.Catherinerantothehearthtowarmherself.Iaskedifthemasterwasin?Myquestionremainedsolongunanswered,thatIthoughttheoldmanhadgrowndeaf,andrepeateditlouder.
“Na—ay!”hesnarled,orratherscreamedthroughhisnose.“Na—ay!yahmuhgoabackwhearyahcoomfrough.”
“Joseph!”criedapeevishvoice,simultaneouslywithme,fromtheinnerroom.“HowoftenamItocallyou?Thereareonlyafewredashesnow.Joseph!comethismoment.”
Vigorouspuffs,andaresolutestareintothegrate,declaredhehadnoearforthisappeal.ThehousekeeperandHaretonwereinvisibleonegoneonanerrand,andtheotherathiswork,probably.WeknewLinton’stones,andentered.
“Oh,Ihopeyou’lldieinagarret,starvedtodeath!”saidtheboy,mistakingourapproachforthatofhisnegligentattendant.
Hestoppedonobservinghiserror:hiscousinflewtohim.
“Isthatyou,MissLinton?”hesaid,raisinghisheadfromthearmofthegreatchair,inwhichhereclined.“No—don’tkissme:ittakesmybreath.Dearme!Papasaidyouwouldcall,”continuedhe,afterrecoveringalittlefromCatherine’sembracewhileshestoodbylookingverycontrite.“Willyoushutthedoor,ifyouplease?youleftitopenandthose—thosedetestablecreatureswon’tbringcoalstothefire.It’ssocold!”
Istirredupthecinders,andfetchedascuttlefulmyself.Theinvalidcomplainedofbeingcoveredwithashesbuthehadatiresomecough,andlookedfeverishandill,soIdidnotrebukehistemper.
“Well,Linton,”murmuredCatherine,whenhiscorrugatedbrowrelaxed,“areyougladtoseeme?CanIdoyouanygood?”
“Whydidn’tyoucomebefore?”heasked.“Youshouldhavecome,insteadofwriting.Ittiredmedreadfullywritingthoselongletters.I’dfarratherhavetalkedtoyou.Now,Icanneitherbeartotalk,noranythingelse.IwonderwhereZillahis!Willyou”(lookingatme)“stepintothekitchenandsee?”
Ihadreceivednothanksformyotherserviceandbeingunwillingtoruntoandfroathisbehest,Ireplied—
“NobodyisouttherebutJoseph.”
“Iwanttodrink,”heexclaimedfretfully,turningaway.“ZillahisconstantlygaddingofftoGimmertonsincepapawent:it’smiserable!AndI’mobligedtocomedownhere—theyresolvednevertohearmeupstairs.”
“Isyourfatherattentivetoyou,MasterHeathcliff?”Iasked,perceivingCatherinetobecheckedinherfriendlyadvances.
“Attentive?Hemakesthemalittlemoreattentiveatleast,”hecried.“Thewretches!Doyouknow,MissLinton,tha
