CHAPTER XXVI

east,andheutterednothingexceptsuppressedmoansofexhaustionorpain,Cathybegantoseeksolaceinlookingforbilberries,andsharingtheproduceofherresearcheswithme:shedidnotofferthemtohim,forshesawfurthernoticewouldonlywearyandannoy. “Isithalf-an-hournow,Ellen?”shewhisperedinmyear,atlast.“Ican’ttellwhyweshouldstay.He’sasleep,andpapawillbewantingusback.” “Well,wemustnotleavehimasleep,”Ianswered“waittillhewakes,andbepatient.Youweremightyeagertosetoff,butyourlongingtoseepoorLintonhassoonevaporated!” “Whydidhewishtoseeme?”returnedCatherine.“Inhiscrossesthumours,formerly,IlikedhimbetterthanIdoinhispresentcuriousmood.It’sjustasifitwereataskhewascompelledtoperform—thisinterview—forfearhisfathershouldscoldhim.ButI’mhardlygoingtocometogiveMr.HeathcliffpleasurewhateverreasonhemayhavefororderingLintontoundergothispenance.And,thoughI’mgladhe’sbetterinhealth,I’msorryhe’ssomuchlesspleasant,andsomuchlessaffectionatetome.” “Youthinkheisbetterinhealth,then?”Isaid. “Yes,”sheanswered“becausehealwaysmadesuchagreatdealofhissufferings,youknow.Heisnottolerablywell,ashetoldmetotellpapabuthe’sbetter,verylikely.” “Thereyoudifferwithme,MissCathy,”Iremarked“Ishouldconjecturehimtobefarworse.” Lintonherestartedfromhisslumberinbewilderedterror,andaskedifanyonehadcalledhisname. “No,”saidCatherine“unlessindreams.Icannotconceivehowyoumanagetodozeoutofdoors,inthemorning.” “IthoughtIheardmyfather,”hegasped,g