CHAPTER XXVII

ureand,thoughI’musedtobeingalone,I’dratherhavesomeinterestingcompany,ifIcangetit.MissLinton,takeyourseatbyhim.IgiveyouwhatIhave:thepresentishardlyworthacceptingbutIhavenothingelsetooffer.ItisLinton,Imean.Howshedoesstare!It’soddwhatasavagefeelingIhavetoanythingthatseemsafraidofme!HadIbeenbornwherelawsarelessstrictandtasteslessdainty,Ishouldtreatmyselftoaslowvivisectionofthosetwo,asanevening’samusement.” Hedrewinhisbreath,struckthetable,andsworetohimself,“Byhell!Ihatethem.” “Iamnotafraidofyou!”exclaimedCatherine,whocouldnothearthelatterpartofhisspeech.Shesteppedcloseupherblackeyesflashingwithpassionandresolution.“Givemethatkey:Iwillhaveit!”shesaid.“Iwouldn’teatordrinkhere,ifIwerestarving.” Heathcliffhadthekeyinhishandthatremainedonthetable.Helookedup,seizedwithasortofsurpriseatherboldnessor,possibly,reminded,byhervoiceandglance,ofthepersonfromwhomsheinheritedit.Shesnatchedattheinstrument,andhalfsucceededingettingitoutofhisloosenedfingers:butheractionrecalledhimtothepresentherecovereditspeedily. “Now,CatherineLinton,”hesaid,“standoff,orIshallknockyoudownandthatwillmakeMrs.Deanmad.” Regardlessofthiswarning,shecapturedhisclosedhandanditscontentsagain.“Wewillgo!”sherepeated,exertingherutmosteffortstocausetheironmusclestorelaxandfindingthathernailsmadenoimpression,sheappliedherteethprettysharply.Heathcliffglancedatmeaglancethatkeptmefrominterferingamoment.Catherinewastoointentonhisfingerstonoticehisface.Heopenedthemsuddenly,andresignedtheobjectofdisputebut,ereshehadwellsecuredit,heseizedherwiththeliberatedhand,and,pullingheronhisknee,administeredwiththeotherashowerofterrificslapsonbothsidesofthehead,eachsufficienttohavefulfilledhisthreat,hadshebeenabletofall. AtthisdiabolicalviolenceIrushedonhimfuriously.“Youvillain!”Ibegantocry,“youvillain!”Atouchonthechestsilencedme:Iamstout,andsoonputoutofbreathand,whatwiththatandtherage,Istaggereddizzilyback,andfeltreadytosuffocate,ortoburstablood-vessel.ThescenewasoverintwominutesCatherine,released,puthertwohandstohertemples,andlookedjustasifshewerenotsurewhetherherearswereofforon.Shetrembledlikeareed,poorthing,andleantagainstthetableperfectlybewildered. “Iknowhowtochastisechildren,yousee,”saidthescoundrel,grimly,ashestoopedtorepossesshimselfofthekey,whichhaddroppedtothefloor.“GotoLintonnow,asItoldyouandcryatyourease!Ishallbeyourfather,to-morrow—allthefatheryou’llhaveinafewdays—andyoushallhaveplentyofthat.Youcanbearplentyyou’renoweakling:youshallhaveadailytaste,ifIcatchsuchadevilofatemperinyoureyesagain!” CathyrantomeinsteadofLinton,andkneltdownandputherburningcheekonmylap,weepingaloud.Hercousinhadshrunkintoacornerofthesettle,asquietasamouse,congratulatinghimself,Idaresay,thatthecorrectionhadalightedonanotherthanhim.Mr.Heathcliff,perceivingusallconfounded,rose,andexpeditiouslymadetheteahimself.Thecupsandsaucerswerelaidready.Hepoureditout,andhandedmeacup. “Washawayyourspleen,”hesaid.“Andhelpyourownnaughtypetandmine.Itisnotpoisoned,thoughIpreparedit.I’mgoingouttoseekyourhorses.” Ourfirstthought,onhisdeparture,wastoforceanexitsomewhere.Wetriedthekitchendoor,butthatwasfastenedoutside:welookedatthewindows—theyweretoonarrowforevenCathy’slittlefigure. “MasterLinton,”Icried,seeingwewereregularlyimprisoned,“youknowwhatyourdiabolicalfatherisafter,andyoushalltellus,orI’llboxyourears,ashehasdoneyourcousin’s.” “Yes,Linton,youmusttell,”saidCatherine.“ItwasforyoursakeIcameanditwillbewickedlyungratefulifyourefuse.” “Givemesometea,I’mthirsty,andthenI’lltellyou,”heanswered.“Mrs.Dean,goaway.Idon’tlikeyoustandingoverme.Now,Catherine,youarelettingyourtearsfallintomycup.Iwon’tdrinkthat.Givemeanother.” Catherinepushedanothertohim,andwipedherface.Ifeltdisgustedatthelittlewretch’scomposure,sincehewasnolongerinterrorforhimself.TheanguishhehadexhibitedonthemoorsubsidedassoonaseverheenteredWutheringHeightssoIguessedhehadbeenmenacedwithanawfulvisitationofwrathifhefailedindecoyingusthereand,thataccomplished,hehadnofurtherimmediatefears. “Papawantsustobemarried,”hecontinued,aftersippingsomeoftheliquid.“Andheknowsyourpapawouldn’tletusmarrynowandhe’safraidofmydyingifwewaitsowearetobemarriedinthemorning,andyouaretostayhereallnightand,ifyoudoashewishes,youshallreturnhomene