CHAPTER XXVII

recommendedmyjeweltobecarefulofhisandkindtoherwhenhegother.Carefulandkind—that’spaternal.ButLintonrequireshiswholestockofcareandkindnessforhimself.Lintoncanplaythelittletyrantwell.He’llundertaketotortureanynumberofcats,iftheirteethbedrawnandtheirclawspared.You’llbeabletotellhisunclefinetalesofhiskindness,whenyougethomeagain,Iassureyou.” “You’rerightthere!”Isaid“explainyourson’scharacter.Showhisresemblancetoyourself:andthen,Ihope,MissCathywillthinktwicebeforeshetakesthecockatrice!” “Idon’tmuchmindspeakingofhisamiablequalitiesnow,”heanswered“becauseshemusteitheraccepthimorremainaprisoner,andyoualongwithher,tillyourmasterdies.Icandetainyouboth,quiteconcealed,here.Ifyoudoubt,encouragehertoretractherword,andyou’llhaveanopportunityofjudging!” “I’llnotretractmyword,”saidCatherine.“I’llmarryhimwithinthishour,ifImaygotoThrushcrossGrangeafterwards.Mr.Heathcliff,you’reacruelman,butyou’renotafiendandyouwon’t,frommeremalice,destroyirrevocablyallmyhappiness.IfpapathoughtIhadlefthimonpurpose,andifhediedbeforeIreturned,couldIbeartolive?I’vegivenovercrying:butI’mgoingtokneelhere,atyourkneeandI’llnotgetup,andI’llnottakemyeyesfromyourfacetillyoulookbackatme!No,don’tturnaway!dolook!you’llseenothingtoprovokeyou.Idon’thateyou.I’mnotangrythatyoustruckme.Haveyouneverlovedanybodyinallyourlife,uncle?never?Ah!youmustlookonce.I’msowretched,youcan’thelpbeingsorryandpityingme.” “Keepyoureft’sfingersoffandmove,orI’llkickyou!”criedHeathcliff,brutallyrepulsingher.“I’dratherbehuggedbyasnake.Howthedevilcanyoudreamoffawningonme?Idetestyou!” Heshruggedhisshoulders:shookhimself,indeed,asifhisfleshcreptwithaversionandthrustbackhischairwhileIgotup,andopenedmymouth,tocommenceadownrighttorrentofabuse.ButIwasrendereddumbinthemiddleofthefirstsentence,byathreatthatIshouldbeshownintoaroombymyselftheverynextsyllableIuttered.Itwasgrowingdark—weheardasoundofvoicesatthegarden-gate.Ourhosthurriedoutinstantly:hehadhiswitsabouthimwehadnot.Therewasatalkoftwoorthreeminutes,andhereturnedalone. “IthoughtithadbeenyourcousinHareton,”IobservedtoCatherine.“Iwishhewouldarrive!Whoknowsbuthemighttakeourpart?” “ItwasthreeservantssenttoseekyoufromtheGrange,”saidHeathcliff,overhearingme.“Youshouldhaveopenedalatticeandcalledout:butIcouldswearthatchitisgladyoudidn’t.She’sgladtobeobligedtostay,I’mcertain.” Atlearningthechancewehadmissed,webothgaveventtoourgriefwithoutcontrolandheallowedustowailontillnineo’clock.Thenhebidusgoupstairs,throughthekitchen,toZillah’schamberandIwhisperedmycompaniontoobey:perhapswemightcontrivetogetthroughthewindowthere,orintoagarret,andoutbyitsskylight.Thewindow,however,wasnarrow,likethosebelow,andthegarrettrapwassafefromourattemptsforwewerefastenedinasbefore.Weneitherofuslaydown:Catherinetookherstationbythelattice,andwatchedanxiouslyformorningadeepsighbeingtheonlyanswerIcouldobtaintomyfrequententreatiesthatshewouldtrytorest.Iseatedmyselfinachair,androckedtoandfro,passingharshjudgmentonmymanyderelictionsofdutyfromwhich,itstruckmethen,allthemisfortunesofmyemployerssprang.Itwasnotthecase,inreality,Iamawarebutitwas,inmyimagination,thatdismalnightandIthoughtHeathcliffhimselflessguiltythanI. Atseveno’clockhecame,andinquiredifMissLintonhadrisen.Sherantothedoorimmediately,andanswered,“Yes.”“Here,then,”hesaid,openingit,andpullingherout.Irosetofollow,butheturnedthelockagain.Idemandedmyrelease. “Bepatient,”hereplied“I’llsendupyourbreakfastinawhile.” Ithumpedonthepanels,andrattledthelatchangrilyandCatherineaskedwhyIwasstillshutup?Heanswered,Imusttrytoendureitanotherhour,andtheywentaway.Ienduredittwoorthreehoursatlength,Iheardafootstep:notHeathcliff’s. “I’vebroughtyousomethingtoeat,”saidavoice“oppent’door!” Complyingeagerly,IbeheldHareton,ladenwithfoodenoughtolastmeallday. “Tak’it,”headded,thrustingthetrayintomyhand. “Stayoneminute,”Ibegan. “Nay,”criedhe,andretired,regardlessofanyprayersIcouldpourforthtodetainhim. AndthereIremainedenclosedthewholeday,andthewholeofthenextnightandanother,andanother.FivenightsandfourdaysIremained,altogether,seeingnobodybutHaretononceeverymorningandhewasamodelofajailor:surly,anddumb,anddeaftoeveryattemptatmovinghissenseofjusticeorcompassion.