CHAPTER XXV

gshownso,insteadofpenninghispeculiarpersonalsufferingsanddistresses,thethemesconstantlyuppermostinhisthoughts,heharpedonthecruelobligationofbeingheldasunderfromhisfriendandloveandgentlyintimatedthatMr.Lintonmustallowaninterviewsoon,orheshouldfearhewaspurposelydeceivinghimwithemptypromises. Cathywasapowerfulallyathomeandbetweenthemtheyatlengthpersuadedmymastertoacquiesceintheirhavingarideorawalktogetheraboutonceaweek,undermyguardianship,andonthemoorsnearesttheGrange:forJunefoundhimstilldeclining.Thoughhehadsetasideyearlyaportionofhisincomeformyyounglady’sfortune,hehadanaturaldesirethatshemightretain—oratleastreturninashorttimeto—thehouseofherancestorsandheconsideredheronlyprospectofdoingthatwasbyaunionwithhisheirhehadnoideathatthelatterwasfailingalmostasfastashimselfnorhadanyone,Ibelieve:nodoctorvisitedtheHeights,andnoonesawMasterHeathclifftomakereportofhisconditionamongus.I,formypart,begantofancymyforebodingswerefalse,andthathemustbeactuallyrallying,whenhementionedridingandwalkingonthemoors,andseemedsoearnestinpursuinghisobject.IcouldnotpictureafathertreatingadyingchildastyrannicallyandwickedlyasIafterwardslearnedHeathcliffhadtreatedhim,tocompelthisapparenteagerness:hiseffortsredoublingthemoreimminentlyhisavariciousandunfeelingplanswerethreatenedwithdefeatbydeath.