CHAPTER XXVII

xtday,andtakemewithyou.” “Takeyouwithher,pitifulchangeling!”Iexclaimed.“Youmarry?Why,themanismad!orhethinksusfools,everyone.Anddoyouimaginethatbeautifulyounglady,thathealthy,heartygirl,willtieherselftoalittleperishingmonkeylikeyou?Areyoucherishingthenotionthatanybody,letaloneMissCatherineLinton,wouldhaveyouforahusband?Youwantwhippingforbringingusinhereatall,withyourdastardlypulingtricks:and—don’tlooksosilly,now!I’veaverygoodmindtoshakeyouseverely,foryourcontemptibletreachery,andyourimbecileconceit.” Ididgivehimaslightshakingbutitbroughtonthecough,andhetooktohisordinaryresourceofmoaningandweeping,andCatherinerebukedme. “Stayallnight?No,”shesaid,lookingslowlyround.“Ellen,I’llburnthatdoordownbutI’llgetout.” Andshewouldhavecommencedtheexecutionofherthreatdirectly,butLintonwasupinalarmforhisdearselfagain.Heclaspedherinhistwofeeblearmssobbing:—“Won’tyouhaveme,andsaveme?notletmecometotheGrange?Oh,darlingCatherine!youmustn’tgoandleave,afterall.Youmustobeymyfather—youmust!” “Imustobeymyown,”shereplied,“andrelievehimfromthiscruelsuspense.Thewholenight!Whatwouldhethink?He’llbedistressedalready.I’lleitherbreakorburnawayoutofthehouse.Bequiet!You’reinnodangerbutifyouhinderme—Linton,Ilovepapabetterthanyou!” ThemortalterrorhefeltofMr.Heathcliff’sangerrestoredtotheboyhiscoward’seloquence.Catherinewasneardistraught:still,shepersistedthatshemustgohome,andtriedentreatyinherturn,persuadinghimtosubduehisselfishagony.Whiletheywerethusoccupied,ourjailorre-entered. “Yourbeastshavetrottedoff,”hesaid,“and—nowLinton!snivellingagain?Whathasshebeendoingtoyou?Come,come—havedone,andgettobed.Inamonthortwo,mylad,you’llbeabletopayherbackherpresenttyrannieswithavigoroushand.You’repiningforpurelove,areyounot?nothingelseintheworld:andsheshallhaveyou!There,tobed!Zillahwon’tbehereto-nightyoumustundressyourself.Hush!holdyournoise!Onceinyourownroom,I’llnotcomenearyou:youneedn’tfear.Bychance,you’vemanagedtolerably.I’lllooktotherest.” Hespokethesewords,holdingthedooropenforhissontopass,andthelatterachievedhisexitexactlyasaspanielmightwhichsuspectedthepersonwhoattendedonitofdesigningaspitefulsqueeze.Thelockwasre-secured.Heathcliffapproachedthefire,wheremymistressandIstoodsilent.Catherinelookedup,andinstinctivelyraisedherhandtohercheek:hisneighbourhoodrevivedapainfulsensation.Anybodyelsewouldhavebeenincapableofregardingthechildishactwithsternness,buthescowledonherandmuttered—“Oh!youarenotafraidofme?Yourcourageiswelldisguised:youseemdamnablyafraid!” “Iamafraidnow,”shereplied,“because,ifIstay,papawillbemiserable:andhowcanIenduremakinghimmiserable—whenhe—whenhe—Mr.Heathcliff,letmegohome!IpromisetomarryLinton:papawouldlikemeto:andIlovehim.WhyshouldyouwishtoforcemetodowhatI’llwillinglydoofmyself?” “Lethimdaretoforceyou,”Icried.“There’slawintheland,thankGod!thereisthoughwebeinanout-of-the-wayplace.I’dinformifheweremyownson:andit’sfelonywithoutbenefitofclergy!” “Silence!”saidtheruffian.“Tothedevilwithyourclamour!Idon’twantyoutospeak.MissLinton,Ishallenjoymyselfremarkablyinthinkingyourfatherwillbemiserable:Ishallnotsleepforsatisfaction.Youcouldhavehitonnosurerwayoffixingyourresidenceundermyroofforthenexttwenty-fourhoursthaninformingmethatsuchaneventwouldfollow.AstoyourpromisetomarryLinton,I’lltakecareyoushallkeepitforyoushallnotquitthisplacetillitisfulfilled.” “SendEllen,then,toletpapaknowI’msafe!”exclaimedCatherine,weepingbitterly.“Ormarrymenow.Poorpapa!Ellen,he’llthinkwe’relost.Whatshallwedo?” “Nothe!He’llthinkyouaretiredofwaitingonhim,andrunoffforalittleamusement,”answeredHeathcliff.“Youcannotdenythatyouenteredmyhouseofyourownaccord,incontemptofhisinjunctionstothecontrary.Anditisquitenaturalthatyoushoulddesireamusementatyourageandthatyouwouldwearyofnursingasickman,andthatmanonlyyourfather.Catherine,hishappiestdayswereoverwhenyourdaysbegan.Hecursedyou,Idaresay,forcomingintotheworld(Idid,atleast)anditwouldjustdoifhecursedyouashewentoutofit.I’djoinhim.Idon’tloveyou!HowshouldI?Weepaway.AsfarasIcansee,itwillbeyourchiefdiversionhereafterunlessLintonmakeamendsforotherlosses:andyourprovidentparentappearstofancyhemay.Hislettersofadviceandconsolationentertainedmevastly.Inhislasthe