CHAPTER XXVI

ontheyoncepossessed. “Butyouhavebeenworse,”persistedhiscousin“worsethanwhenIsawyoulastyouarethinner,and—” “I’mtired,”heinterrupted,hurriedly.“Itistoohotforwalking,letusresthere.And,inthemorning,Ioftenfeelsick—papasaysIgrowsofast.” Badlysatisfied,Cathysatdown,andhereclinedbesideher. “Thisissomethinglikeyourparadise,”saidshe,makinganeffortatcheerfulness.“Yourecollectthetwodaysweagreedtospendintheplaceandwayeachthoughtpleasantest?Thisisnearlyyours,onlytherearecloudsbutthentheyaresosoftandmellow:itisnicerthansunshine.Nextweek,ifyoucan,we’llridedowntotheGrangePark,andtrymine.” Lintondidnotappeartorememberwhatshetalkedofandhehadevidentlygreatdifficultyinsustaininganykindofconversation.Hislackofinterestinthesubjectsshestarted,andhisequalincapacitytocontributetoherentertainment,weresoobviousthatshecouldnotconcealherdisappointment.Anindefinitealterationhadcomeoverhiswholepersonandmanner.Thepettishnessthatmightbecaressedintofondness,hadyieldedtoalistlessapathytherewaslessofthepeevishtemperofachildwhichfretsandteasesonpurposetobesoothed,andmoreoftheself-absorbedmorosenessofaconfirmedinvalid,repellingconsolation,andreadytoregardthegood-humouredmirthofothersasaninsult.Catherineperceived,aswellasIdid,thathehelditratherapunishment,thanagratification,toendureourcompanyandshemadenoscrupleofproposing,presently,todepart.Thatproposal,unexpectedly,rousedLintonfromhislethargy,andthrewhimintoastrangestateofa