CHAPTER XXIV

etme,tookmybridle,andbidmegoinbythefrontentrance.HepattedMinny’sneck,andsaidshewasabonnybeast,andappearedasifhewantedmetospeaktohim.Ionlytoldhimtoleavemyhorsealone,orelseitwouldkickhim.Heansweredinhisvulgaraccent,‘Itwouldn’tdomitchhurtifitdid’andsurveyeditslegswithasmile.Iwashalfinclinedtomakeittryhowever,hemovedofftoopenthedoor,and,asheraisedthelatch,helookeduptotheinscriptionabove,andsaid,withastupidmixtureofawkwardnessandelation:‘MissCatherine!Icanreadyon,now.’ “‘Wonderful,’Iexclaimed.‘Prayletushearyou—youaregrownclever!’ “Hespelt,anddrawledoverbysyllables,thename—‘HaretonEarnshaw.’ “‘Andthefigures?’Icried,encouragingly,perceivingthathecametoadeadhalt. “‘Icannottellthemyet,’heanswered. “‘Oh,youdunce!’Isaid,laughingheartilyathisfailure. “Thefoolstared,withagrinhoveringabouthislips,andascowlgatheringoverhiseyes,asifuncertainwhetherhemightnotjoininmymirth:whetheritwerenotpleasantfamiliarity,orwhatitreallywas,contempt.Isettledhisdoubts,bysuddenlyretrievingmygravityanddesiringhimtowalkaway,forIcametoseeLinton,nothim.Hereddened—Isawthatbythemoonlight—droppedhishandfromthelatch,andskulkedoff,apictureofmortifiedvanity.HeimaginedhimselftobeasaccomplishedasLinton,Isuppose,becausehecouldspellhisownnameandwasmarvellouslydiscomfitedthatIdidn’tthinkthesame.” “Stop,MissCatherine,dear!”Iinterrupted.“Ishallnotscold,butIdon’tlikeyourconductthere.IfyouhadrememberedthatHaretonwasyourcousinasmuchasMasterHeathcliff,youwouldhavefelthowimproperitwastobehaveinthatway.Atleast,itwaspraiseworthyambitionforhimtodesiretobeasaccomplishedasLintonandprobablyhedidnotlearnmerelytoshowoff:youhadmadehimashamedofhisignorancebefore,Ihavenodoubtandhewishedtoremedyitandpleaseyou.Tosneerathisimperfectattemptwasverybadbreeding.Hadyoubeenbroughtupinhiscircumstances,wouldyoubelessrude?HewasasquickandasintelligentachildaseveryouwereandI’mhurtthatheshouldbedespisednow,becausethatbaseHeathcliffhastreatedhimsounjustly.” “Well,Ellen,youwon’tcryaboutit,willyou?”sheexclaimed,surprisedatmyearnestness.“Butwait,andyoushallhearifheconnedhisABCtopleasemeandifitwereworthwhilebeingciviltothebrute.IenteredLintonwaslyingonthesettle,andhalfgotuptowelcomeme. “‘I’millto-night,Catherine,love,’hesaid‘andyoumusthaveallthetalk,andletmelisten.Come,andsitbyme.Iwassureyouwouldn’tbreakyourword,andI’llmakeyoupromiseagain,beforeyougo.’ “IknewnowthatImustn’tteasehim,ashewasillandIspokesoftlyandputnoquestions,andavoidedirritatinghiminanyway.Ihadbroughtsomeofmynicestbooksforhim:heaskedmetoreadalittleofone,andIwasabouttocomply,whenEarnshawburstthedooropen:havinggatheredvenomwithreflection.Headvanceddirecttous,seizedLintonbythearm,andswunghimofftheseat. “‘Gettothyownroom!’hesaid,inavoicealmostinarticulatewithpassionandhisfacelookedswelledandfurious.‘Takeherthereifshecomestoseethee:thoushalln’tkeepmeoutofthis.Begonewi’yeboth!’ “Hesworeatus,andleftLintonnotimetoanswer,nearlythrowinghimintothekitchenandheclenchedhisfistasIfollowed,seeminglylongingtoknockmedown.Iwasafraidforamoment,andIletonevolumefallhekickeditafterme,andshutusout.Iheardamalignant,cracklylaughbythefire,andturning,beheldthatodiousJosephstandingrubbinghisbonyhands,andquivering. “‘Iwersurehe’dsarveyeout!He’sagrandlad!He’sgettent’raightsperritinhim!Heknaws—ay,heknaws,asweelasIdo,whosudbet’maisteryonder—Ech,ech,ech!Hemadeyeskiftproperly!Ech,ech,ech!’ “‘Wheremustwego?’Iaskedofmycousin,disregardingtheoldwretch’smockery. “Lintonwaswhiteandtrembling.Hewa