CHAPTER XXIV

AtthecloseofthreeweeksIwasabletoquitmychamberandmoveaboutthehouse.AndonthefirstoccasionofmysittingupintheeveningIaskedCatherinetoreadtome,becausemyeyeswereweak.Wewereinthelibrary,themasterhavinggonetobed:sheconsented,ratherunwillingly,Ifanciedandimaginingmysortofbooksdidnotsuither,Ibidherpleaseherselfinthechoiceofwhatsheperused.Sheselectedoneofherownfavourites,andgotforwardsteadilyaboutanhourthencamefrequentquestions. “Ellen,arenotyoutired?Hadn’tyoubetterliedownnow?You’llbesick,keepingupsolong,Ellen.” “No,no,dear,I’mnottired,”Ireturned,continually. Perceivingmeimmovable,sheessayedanothermethodofshowingherdisrelishforheroccupation.Itchangedtoyawning,andstretching,and— “Ellen,I’mtired.” “Giveoverthenandtalk,”Ianswered. Thatwasworse:shefrettedandsighed,andlookedatherwatchtilleight,andfinallywenttoherroom,completelyoverdonewithsleepjudgingbyherpeevish,heavylook,andtheconstantrubbingsheinflictedonhereyes.Thefollowingnightsheseemedmoreimpatientstillandonthethirdfromrecoveringmycompanyshecomplainedofaheadache,andleftme.Ithoughtherconductoddandhavingremainedalonealongwhile,Iresolvedongoingandinquiringwhethershewerebetter,andaskinghertocomeandlieonthesofa,insteadofupstairsinthedark.NoCatherinecouldIdiscoverupstairs,andnonebelow.Theservantsaffirmedtheyhadnotseenher.IlistenedatMr.Edgar’sdoorallwassilence.Ireturnedtoherapartment,extinguishedmycandle,andseatedmyselfinthewindow. Themoonshonebrightasprinklingofsnowcoveredtheground,andIreflectedthatshemight,possibly,havetakenitintoherheadtowalkaboutthegarden,forrefreshment.Ididdetectafigurecreepingalongtheinnerfenceoftheparkbutitwasnotmyyoungmistress:onitsemergingintothelight,Irecognisedoneofthegrooms.Hestoodaconsiderableperiod,viewingthecarriage-roadthroughthegroundsthenstartedoffatabriskpace,asifhehaddetectedsomething,andreappearedpresently,leadingMiss’sponyandthereshewas,justdismounted,andwalkingbyitsside.Themantookhischargestealthilyacrossthegrasstowardsthestable.Cathyenteredbythecasement-windowofthedrawing-room,andglidednoiselesslyuptowhereIawaitedher.Sheputthedoorgentlyto,slippedoffhersnowyshoes,untiedherhat,andwasproceeding,unconsciousofmyespionage,tolayasidehermantle,whenIsuddenlyroseandrevealedmyself.Thesurprisepetrifiedheraninstant:sheutteredaninarticulateexclamation,andstoodfixed. “MydearMissCatherine,”Ibegan,toovividlyimpressedbyherrecentkindnesstobreakintoascold,“wherehaveyoubeenridingoutatthishour?Andwhyshouldyoutrytodeceivemebytellingatale?Wherehaveyoubeen?Speak!” “Tothebottomofthepark,”shestammered.“Ididn’ttellatale.” “Andnowhereelse?”Idemanded. “No,”wasthemutteredreply. “Oh,Catherine!”Icried,sorrowfully.“Youknowyouhavebeendoingwrong,oryouwouldn’tbedriventoutteringanuntruthtome.Thatdoesgrieveme.I’dratherbethreemonthsill,thanhearyouframeadeliberatelie.” Shesprangforward,andburstingintotears,threwherarmsroundmyneck. “Well,Ellen,I’msoafraidofyoubeingangry,”shesaid.“Promisenottobeangry,andyoushallknowtheverytruth:Ihatetohideit.” Wesatdowninthewindow-seatIassuredherIwouldnotscold,whateverhersecretmightbe,andIguessedit,ofcoursesoshecommenced— “I’vebeentoWutheringHeights,Ellen,andI’venevermissedgoingadaysinceyoufellillexceptthricebefore,andtwiceafteryouleftyourroom.IgaveMichaelbooksandpicturestoprepareMinnyeveryevening,andtoputherbackinthestable:youmustn’tscoldhimeither,mind.IwasattheHeightsbyhalf-pastsix,andgenerallystayedtillhalf-pasteight,andthengallopedhome.ItwasnottoamusemyselfthatIwent:Iwasoftenw