CHAPTER XXIII

natdistressingher. “Ishalllifthimontothesettle,”Isaid,“andhemayrollaboutashepleases:wecan’tstoptowatchhim.Ihopeyouaresatisfied,MissCathy,thatyouarenotthepersontobenefithimandthathisconditionofhealthisnotoccasionedbyattachmenttoyou.Now,then,thereheis!Comeaway:assoonasheknowsthereisnobodybytocareforhisnonsense,he’llbegladtoliestill.” Sheplacedacushionunderhishead,andofferedhimsomewaterherejectedthelatter,andtosseduneasilyontheformer,asifitwereastoneorablockofwood.Shetriedtoputitmorecomfortably. “Ican’tdowiththat,”hesaid“it’snothighenough.” Catherinebroughtanothertolayaboveit. “That’stoohigh,”murmuredtheprovokingthing. “HowmustIarrangeit,then?”sheaskeddespairingly. Hetwinedhimselfuptoher,asshehalfkneltbythesettle,andconvertedhershoulderintoasupport. “No,thatwon’tdo,”Isaid.“You’llbecontentwiththecushion,MasterHeathcliff.Misshaswastedtoomuchtimeonyoualready:wecannotremainfiveminuteslonger.” “Yes,yes,wecan!”repliedCathy.“He’sgoodandpatientnow.He’sbeginningtothinkIshallhavefargreatermiserythanhewillto-night,ifIbelieveheistheworseformyvisit:andthenIdarenotcomeagain.Tellthetruthaboutit,LintonforImustn’tcome,ifIhavehurtyou.” “Youmustcome,tocureme,”heanswered.“Yououghttocome,becauseyouhavehurtme:youknowyouhaveextremely!IwasnotasillwhenyouenteredasIamatpresent—wasI?” “Butyou’vemadeyourselfillbycryingandbeinginapassion.—Ididn’tdoitall,”saidhiscousin.“However,we’llbefriendsnow.Andyouwantme:youwouldwishtoseemesometimes,really?” “ItoldyouIdid,”herepliedimpatiently.“Sitonthesettleandletmeleanonyourknee.That’sasmammausedtodo,wholeafternoonstogether.Sitquitestillanddon’ttalk:butyoumaysingasong,ifyoucansingoryoumaysayanicelonginterestingballad—oneofthoseyoupromisedtoteachmeorastory.I’dratherhaveaballad,though:begin.” Catherinerepeatedthelongestshecouldremember.Theemploymentpleasedbothmightily.Lintonwouldhaveanother,andafterthatanother,notwithstandingmystrenuousobjectionsandsotheywentonuntiltheclockstrucktwelve,andweheardHaretoninthecourt,returningforhisdinner. “Andto-morrow,Catherine,willyoubehereto-morrow?”askedyoungHeathcliff,holdingherfrockassherosereluctantly. “No,”Ianswered,“nornextdayneither.”She,however,gaveadifferentresponseevidently,forhisforeheadclearedasshestoopedandwhisperedinhisear. “Youwon’tgoto-morrow,recollect,Miss!”Icommenced,whenwewereoutofthehouse.“Youarenotdreamingofit,areyou?” Shesmiled. “Oh,I’lltakegoodcare,”Icontinued:“I’llhavethatlockmended,andyoucanescapebynowayelse.” “Icangetoverthewall,”shesaidlaughing.“TheGrangeisnotaprison,Ellen,andyouarenotmygaoler.Andbesides,I’malmostseventeen:I’mawoman.AndI’mcertainLintonwouldrecoverquicklyifhehadmetolookafter