CHAPTER XXIII

tbruteHaretonlaughsatme!Ihatehim!indeed,Ihatethemall:theyareodiousbeings.” Cathybegansearchingforsomewatershelightedonapitcherinthedresser,filledatumbler,andbroughtit.Hebidheraddaspoonfulofwinefromabottleonthetableandhavingswallowedasmallportion,appearedmoretranquil,andsaidshewasverykind. “Andareyougladtoseeme?”askedshe,reiteratingherformerquestion,andpleasedtodetectthefaintdawnofasmile. “Yes,Iam.It’ssomethingnewtohearavoicelikeyours!”hereplied.“ButIhavebeenvexed,becauseyouwouldn’tcome.Andpapasworeitwasowingtome:hecalledmeapitiful,shuffling,worthlessthingandsaidyoudespisedmeandifhehadbeeninmyplace,hewouldbemorethemasteroftheGrangethanyourfatherbythistime.Butyoudon’tdespiseme,doyou,Miss—?” “IwishyouwouldsayCatherine,orCathy,”interruptedmyyounglady.“Despiseyou?No!NexttopapaandEllen,Iloveyoubetterthananybodyliving.Idon’tloveMr.Heathcliff,thoughandIdarenotcomewhenhereturns:willhestayawaymanydays?” “Notmany,”answeredLinton“buthegoesontothemoorsfrequently,sincetheshootingseasoncommencedandyoumightspendanhourortwowithmeinhisabsence.Dosayyouwill.IthinkIshouldnotbepeevishwithyou:you’dnotprovokeme,andyou’dalwaysbereadytohelpme,wouldn’tyou?” “Yes,”saidCatherine,strokinghislongsofthair,“ifIcouldonlygetpapa’sconsent,I’dspendhalfmytimewithyou.PrettyLinton!Iwishyouweremybrother.” “Andthenyouwouldlikemeaswellasyourfather?”observedhe,morecheerfully.“Butpapasaysyouwouldlovemebetterthanhimandalltheworld,ifyouweremywifesoI’dratheryouwerethat.” “No,Ishouldneverloveanybodybetterthanpapa,”shereturnedgravely.“Andpeoplehatetheirwives,sometimesbutnottheirsistersandbrothers:andifyouwerethelatter,youwouldlivewithus,andpapawouldbeasfondofyouasheisofme.” LintondeniedthatpeopleeverhatedtheirwivesbutCathyaffirmedtheydid,and,inherwisdom,instancedhisownfather’saversiontoheraunt.Iendeavouredtostopherthoughtlesstongue.Icouldn’tsucceedtilleverythingsheknewwasout.MasterHeathcliff,muchirritated,assertedherrelationwasfalse. “Papatoldmeandpapadoesnottellfalsehoods,”sheansweredpertly. “Mypapascornsyours!”criedLinton.“Hecallshimasneakingfool.” “Yoursisawickedman,”retortedCatherine“andyouareverynaughtytodaretorepeatwhathesays.HemustbewickedtohavemadeAuntIsabellaleavehimasshedid.” “Shedidn’tleavehim,”saidtheboy“yousha’n’tcontradictme.” “Shedid,”criedmyyounglady. “Well,I’lltellyousomething!”saidLinton.“Yourmotherhatedyourfather:nowthen.” “Oh!”exclaimedCatherine,tooenragedtocontinue. “Andshelovedmine,”addedhe. “Youlittleliar!Ihateyounow!”shepanted,andherfacegrewredwithpassion. “Shedid!shedid!”sangLinton,sinkingintotherecessofhischair,andleaningbackhisheadtoenjoytheagitationoftheotherdisputant,whostood