CHAPTER XXVI

Summerwasalreadypastitsprime,whenEdgarreluctantlyyieldedhisassenttotheirentreaties,andCatherineandIsetoutonourfirstridetojoinhercousin.Itwasaclose,sultryday:devoidofsunshine,butwithaskytoodappledandhazytothreatenrain:andourplaceofmeetinghadbeenfixedattheguide-stone,bythecross-roads.Onarrivingthere,however,alittleherd-boy,despatchedasamessenger,toldusthat,—“MaisterLintonwerjusto’thissideth’Heights:andhe’dbemitchobleegedtoustogangonabitfurther.” “ThenMasterLintonhasforgotthefirstinjunctionofhisuncle,”Iobserved:“hebiduskeepontheGrangeland,andhereweareoffatonce.” “Well,we’llturnourhorses’headsroundwhenwereachhim,”answeredmycompanion“ourexcursionshalllietowardshome.” Butwhenwereachedhim,andthatwasscarcelyaquarterofamilefromhisowndoor,wefoundhehadnohorseandwewereforcedtodismount,andleaveourstograze.Helayontheheath,awaitingourapproach,anddidnotrisetillwecamewithinafewyards.Thenhewalkedsofeebly,andlookedsopale,thatIimmediatelyexclaimed,—“Why,MasterHeathcliff,youarenotfitforenjoyingaramblethismorning.Howillyoudolook!” Catherinesurveyedhimwithgriefandastonishment:shechangedtheejaculationofjoyonherlipstooneofalarmandthecongratulationontheirlong-postponedmeetingtoananxiousinquiry,whetherhewereworsethanusual? “No—better—better!”hepanted,trembling,andretainingherhandasifheneededitssupport,whilehislargeblueeyeswanderedtimidlyoverherthehollownessroundthemtransformingtohaggardwildnessthelanguidexpressi