CHAPTER XXIV

retchedallthetime.NowandthenIwashappy:onceinaweekperhaps.Atfirst,IexpectedtherewouldbesadworkpersuadingyoutoletmekeepmywordtoLinton:forIhadengagedtocallagainnextday,whenwequittedhimbut,asyoustayedupstairsonthemorrow,Iescapedthattrouble.WhileMichaelwasrefasteningthelockoftheparkdoorintheafternoon,Igotpossessionofthekey,andtoldhimhowmycousinwishedmetovisithim,becausehewassick,andcouldn’tcometotheGrangeandhowpapawouldobjecttomygoing:andthenInegotiatedwithhimaboutthepony.Heisfondofreading,andhethinksofleavingsoontogetmarriedsoheoffered,ifIwouldlendhimbooksoutofthelibrary,todowhatIwished:butIpreferredgivinghimmyown,andthatsatisfiedhimbetter. “OnmysecondvisitLintonseemedinlivelyspiritsandZillah(thatistheirhousekeeper)madeusacleanroomandagoodfire,andtoldusthat,asJosephwasoutataprayer-meetingandHaretonEarnshawwasoffwithhisdogs—robbingourwoodsofpheasants,asIheardafterwards—wemightdowhatweliked.Shebroughtmesomewarmwineandgingerbread,andappearedexceedinglygood-naturedandLintonsatinthearm-chair,andIinthelittlerockingchaironthehearth-stone,andwelaughedandtalkedsomerrily,andfoundsomuchtosay:weplannedwherewewouldgo,andwhatwewoulddoinsummer.Ineedn’trepeatthat,becauseyouwouldcallitsilly. “Onetime,however,wewerenearquarrelling.HesaidthepleasantestmannerofspendingahotJulydaywaslyingfrommorningtilleveningonabankofheathinthemiddleofthemoors,withthebeeshummingdreamilyaboutamongthebloom,andthelarkssinginghighupoverhead,andtheblueskyandbrightsunshiningsteadilyandcloudlessly.Thatwashismostperfectideaofheaven’shappiness:minewasrockinginarustlinggreentree,withawestwindblowing,andbrightwhitecloudsflittingrapidlyaboveandnotonlylarks,butthrostles,andblackbirds,andlinnets,andcuckoospouringoutmusiconeveryside,andthemoorsseenatadistance,brokenintocoolduskydellsbutclosebygreatswellsoflonggrassundulatinginwavestothebreezeandwoodsandsoundingwater,andthewholeworldawakeandwildwithjoy.HewantedalltolieinanecstasyofpeaceIwantedalltosparkleanddanceinagloriousjubilee.Isaidhisheavenwouldbeonlyhalfaliveandhesaidminewouldbedrunk:IsaidIshouldfallasleepinhisandhesaidhecouldnotbreatheinmine,andbegantogrowverysnappish.Atlast,weagreedtotryboth,assoonastherightweathercameandthenwekissedeachotherandwerefriends. “Aftersittingstillanhour,Ilookedatthegreatroomwithitssmoothuncarpetedfloor,andthoughthowniceitwouldbetoplayin,ifweremovedthetableandIaskedLintontocallZillahintohelpus,andwe’dhaveagameatblindman’s-buffsheshouldtrytocatchus:youusedto,youknow,Ellen.Hewouldn’t:therewasnopleasureinit,hesaidbutheconsentedtoplayatballwithme.Wefoundtwoinacupboard,amongaheapofoldtoys,tops,andhoops,andbattledoresandshuttlecocks.OnewasmarkedC.,andtheotherH.IwishedtohavetheC.,becausethatstoodforCatherine,andtheH.mightbeforHeathcliff,hisnamebutthebrancameoutofH.,andLintondidn’tlikeit.Ibeathimconstantlyandhegotcrossagain,andcoughed,andreturnedtohischair.Thatnight,though,heeasilyrecoveredhisgoodhumour:hewascharmedwithtwoorthreeprettysongs—yoursongs,EllenandwhenIwasobligedtogo,hebeggedandentreatedmetocomethefollowingeveningandIpromised.MinnyandIwentflyinghomeaslightasairandIdreamtofWutheringHeightsandmysweet,darlingcousin,tillmorning. “OnthemorrowIwassadpartlybecauseyouwerepoorly,andpartlythatIwishedmyfatherknew,andapprovedofmyexcursions:butitwasbeautifulmoonlightafterteaand,asIrodeon,thegloomcleared.Ishallhaveanotherhappyevening,Ithoughttomyselfandwhatdelightsmemore,myprettyLintonwill.Itrotteduptheirgarden,andwasturningroundtotheback,whenthatfellowEarnshawm