CHAPTER XXIV

snotprettythen,Ellen:oh,no!helookedfrightfulforhisthinfaceandlargeeyeswerewroughtintoanexpressionoffrantic,powerlessfury.Hegraspedthehandleofthedoor,andshookit:itwasfastenedinside. “‘Ifyoudon’tletmein,I’llkillyou!—Ifyoudon’tletmein,I’llkillyou!’herathershriekedthansaid.‘Devil!devil!—I’llkillyou—I’llkillyou!’ “Josephutteredhiscroakinglaughagain. “‘Thear,that’st’father!’hecried.‘That’sfather!We’veallassummuto’eithersideinus.Niverheed,Hareton,lad—dunnutbe’feard—hecannotgetatthee!’ “ItookholdofLinton’shands,andtriedtopullhimawaybutheshriekedsoshockinglythatIdarednotproceed.Atlasthiscrieswerechokedbyadreadfulfitofcoughingbloodgushedfromhismouth,andhefellontheground.Iranintotheyard,sickwithterrorandcalledforZillah,asloudasIcould.Shesoonheardme:shewasmilkingthecowsinashedbehindthebarn,andhurryingfromherwork,sheinquiredwhattherewastodo?Ihadn’tbreathtoexplaindraggingherin,IlookedaboutforLinton.Earnshawhadcomeouttoexaminethemischiefhehadcaused,andhewasthenconveyingthepoorthingupstairs.ZillahandIascendedafterhimbuthestoppedmeatthetopofthesteps,andsaidIshouldn’tgoin:Imustgohome.IexclaimedthathehadkilledLinton,andIwouldenter.Josephlockedthedoor,anddeclaredIshoulddo‘nosichstuff,’andaskedmewhetherIwere‘bahntobeasmadashim.’Istoodcryingtillthehousekeeperreappeared.Sheaffirmedhewouldbebetterinabit,buthecouldn’tdowiththatshriekinganddinandshetookme,andnearlycarriedmeintothehouse. “Ellen,Iwasreadytotearmyhairoffmyhead!Isobbedandweptsothatmyeyeswerealmostblindandtheruffianyouhavesuchsympathywithstoodopposite:presumingeverynowandthentobidme‘wisht,’anddenyingthatitwashisfaultand,finally,frightenedbymyassertionsthatIwouldtellpapa,andthatheshouldbeputinprisonandhanged,hecommencedblubberinghimself,andhurriedouttohidehiscowardlyagitation.Still,Iwasnotridofhim:whenatlengththeycompelledmetodepart,andIhadgotsomehundredyardsoffthepremises,hesuddenlyissuedfromtheshadowoftheroad-side,andcheckedMinnyandtookholdofme. “‘MissCatherine,I’millgrieved,’hebegan,‘butit’sraythertoobad—’ “Igavehimacutwithmywhip,thinkingperhapshewouldmurderme.Heletgo,thunderingoneofhishorridcurses,andIgallopedhomemorethanhalfoutofmysenses. “Ididn’tbidyougood-nightthatevening,andIdidn’tgotoWutheringHeightsthenext:IwishedtogoexceedinglybutIwasstrangelyexcited,anddreadedtohearthatLintonwasdead,sometimesandsometimesshudderedatthethoughtofencounteringHareton.OnthethirddayItookcourage:atleast,Icouldn’tbearlongersuspense,andstoleoffoncemore.Iwentatfiveo’clock,andwalkedfancyingImightmanagetocreepintothehouse,anduptoLinton’sroom,unobserved.However,thedogsgavenoticeofmyapproach.Zillahreceivedme,andsaying‘theladwasmendingnicely,’showedmeintoasmall,tidy,carpetedapartment,where,tomyinexpressiblejoy,IbeheldLintonlaidonalittlesofa,readingoneofmybooks.Buthewouldneitherspeaktomenorlookatme,throughawholehour,Ellen:hehassuchanunhappytemper.Andwhatquiteconfoundedme,whenhedidopenhismouth,itwastoutterthefalsehoodthatIhadoccasionedtheuproar,andHaretonwasnottoblame!Unabletoreply,exceptpassionately,Igotupandwalkedfromtheroom.Hesentaftermeafaint‘Catherine!’Hedidnotreckononbeingansweredso:butIwouldn’tturnbackandthemorrowwastheseconddayonwhichIstayedathome,nearlydeterminedtovisithimnomore.Butitwassomiserablegoingtobedandgettingup,andneverhearinganythingabouthim,thatmyresolutionmeltedintoairbeforeitwasproperlyformed.Ithadappearedwrongtotakethejourneyoncenowitseemedwrongtorefrain.MichaelcametoaskifhemustsaddleMinnyIsaid‘Yes,’andconsideredmyselfdoingadu