CHAPTER XXVIII

attemptedtogetthere,”heanswered.“HesaysI’mnottobesoftwithCatherine:she’smywife,andit’sshamefulthatsheshouldwishtoleaveme.Hesaysshehatesmeandwantsmetodie,thatshemayhavemymoneybutsheshan’thaveit:andsheshan’tgohome!Shenevershall!—shemaycry,andbesickasmuchasshepleases!” Heresumedhisformeroccupation,closinghislids,asifhemeanttodropasleep. “MasterHeathcliff,”Iresumed,“haveyouforgottenallCatherine’skindnesstoyoulastwinter,whenyouaffirmedyoulovedher,andwhenshebroughtyoubooksandsungyousongs,andcamemanyatimethroughwindandsnowtoseeyou?Shewepttomissoneevening,becauseyouwouldbedisappointedandyoufeltthenthatshewasahundredtimestoogoodtoyou:andnowyoubelievetheliesyourfathertells,thoughyouknowhedetestsyouboth.Andyoujoinhimagainsther.That’sfinegratitude,isitnot?” ThecornerofLinton’smouthfell,andhetookthesugar-candyfromhislips. “DidshecometoWutheringHeightsbecauseshehatedyou?”Icontinued.“Thinkforyourself!Astoyourmoney,shedoesnotevenknowthatyouwillhaveany.Andyousayshe’ssickandyetyouleaveheralone,upthereinastrangehouse!Youwhohavefeltwhatitistobesoneglected!Youcouldpityyourownsufferingsandshepitiedthem,toobutyouwon’tpityhers!Ishedtears,MasterHeathcliff,yousee—anelderlywoman,andaservantmerely—andyou,afterpretendingsuchaffection,andhavingreasontoworshipheralmost,storeeverytearyouhaveforyourself,andlietherequiteatease.Ah!you’reaheartless,selfishboy!” “Ican’tstaywithher,”heansweredcrossly.“I’llnotstaybymyself.ShecriessoIcan’tbearit.Andshewon’tgiveover,thoughIsayI’llcallmyfather.Ididcallhimonce,andhethreatenedtostrangleherifshewasnotquietbutshebeganagaintheinstanthelefttheroom,moaningandgrievingallnightlong,thoughIscreamedforvexationthatIcouldn’tsleep.” “IsMr.Heathcliffout?”Iinquired,perceivingthatthewretchedcreaturehadnopowertosympathisewithhiscousin’smentaltortures. “He’sinthecourt,”hereplied,“talkingtoDoctorKennethwhosaysuncleisdying,truly,atlast.I’mglad,forIshallbemasteroftheGrangeafterhim.Catherinealwaysspokeofitasherhouse.Itisn’thers!It’smine:papasayseverythingshehasismine.Allhernicebooksareminesheofferedtogivemethem,andherprettybirds,andherponyMinny,ifIwouldgetthekeyofourroom,andletheroutbutItoldhershehadnothingtogive,theywereall,allmine.Andthenshecried,andtookalittlepicturefromherneck,andsaidIshouldhavethattwopicturesinagoldcase,ononesidehermother,andontheotheruncle,whentheywereyoung.Thatw