CHAPTER XXV

oyantspirit,ImustpersevereinmakinghersadwhileIlive,andleavinghersolitarywhenIdie.Darling!I’dratherresignhertoGod,andlayherintheearthbeforeme.” “ResignhertoGodasitis,sir,”Ianswered,“andifweshouldloseyou—whichmayHeforbid—underHisprovidence,I’llstandherfriendandcounsellortothelast.MissCatherineisagoodgirl:Idon’tfearthatshewillgowilfullywrongandpeoplewhodotheirdutyarealwaysfinallyrewarded.” Springadvancedyetmymastergatherednorealstrength,thoughheresumedhiswalksinthegroundswithhisdaughter.Toherinexperiencednotions,thisitselfwasasignofconvalescenceandthenhischeekwasoftenflushed,andhiseyeswerebrightshefeltsureofhisrecovering.Onherseventeenthbirthday,hedidnotvisitthechurchyard:itwasraining,andIobserved— “You’llsurelynotgooutto-night,sir?” Heanswered,—“No,I’lldeferitthisyearalittlelonger.” HewroteagaintoLinton,expressinghisgreatdesiretoseehimand,hadtheinvalidbeenpresentable,I’venodoubthisfatherwouldhavepermittedhimtocome.Asitwas,beinginstructed,hereturnedananswer,intimatingthatMr.HeathcliffobjectedtohiscallingattheGrangebuthisuncle’skindremembrancedelightedhim,andhehopedtomeethimsometimesinhisrambles,andpersonallytopetitionthathiscousinandhemightnotremainlongsoutterlydivided. Thatpartofhisletterwassimple,andprobablyhisown.HeathcliffknewhecouldpleadeloquentlyforCa