CHAPTER XXVIII

asyesterday—Isaidtheyweremine,tooandtriedtogetthemfromher.Thespitefulthingwouldn’tletme:shepushedmeoff,andhurtme.Ishriekedout—thatfrightensher—sheheardpapacoming,andshebrokethehingesanddividedthecase,andgavemehermother’sportraittheothersheattemptedtohide:butpapaaskedwhatwasthematter,andIexplainedit.HetooktheoneIhadaway,andorderedhertoresignherstomesherefused,andhe—hestruckherdown,andwrencheditoffthechain,andcrusheditwithhisfoot.” “Andwereyoupleasedtoseeherstruck?”Iasked:havingmydesignsinencouraginghistalk. “Iwinked,”heanswered:“Iwinktoseemyfatherstrikeadogorahorse,hedoesitsohard.YetIwasgladatfirst—shedeservedpunishingforpushingme:butwhenpapawasgone,shemademecometothewindowandshowedmehercheekcutontheinside,againstherteeth,andhermouthfillingwithbloodandthenshegatheredupthebitsofthepicture,andwentandsatdownwithherfacetothewall,andshehasneverspokentomesince:andIsometimesthinkshecan’tspeakforpain.Idon’tliketothinksobutshe’sanaughtythingforcryingcontinuallyandshelookssopaleandwild,I’mafraidofher.” “Andyoucangetthekeyifyouchoose?”Isaid. “Yes,whenIamupstairs,”heanswered“butIcan’twalkupstairsnow.” “Inwhatapartmentisit?”Iasked. “Oh,”hecried,“Ishan’ttellyouwhereitis.Itisoursecret.Nobody,neitherHaretonnorZillah,istoknow.There!you’vetiredme—goaway,goaway!”Andheturnedhisfaceontohisarm,andshuthiseyesagain. IconsidereditbesttodepartwithoutseeingMr.Heathcliff,andbringarescueformyyoungladyfromtheGrange.Onreachingit,theastonishmentofmyfellow-servantstoseeme,andtheirjoyalso,wasintenseandwhentheyheardthattheirlittlemistresswassafe,twoorthreewereabouttohurryupandshoutthenewsatMr.Edgar’sdoor:butIbespoketheannouncementofitmyself.HowchangedIfoundhim,eveninthosefewdays!Helayanimageofsadnessandresignationawaitinghisdeath.Veryyounghelooked:thoughhisactualagewasthirty-nine,onewouldhavecalledhimtenyearsyounger,atleast.HethoughtofCatherineforhemurmuredhername.Itouchedhishand,andspoke. “Catherineiscoming,dearmaster!”Iwhispered“sheisaliveandwellandwillbehere,Ihope,to-night.” Itrembledatthefirsteffectsofthisintelligence:hehalfroseup,lookedeagerlyroundtheapartment,andthensankbackinaswoon.Assoonasherecovered,Irelatedourcompulsoryvisit,anddetentionattheHeights.IsaidHeathcliffforcedmetogoin:whichwasnotquitetrue.IutteredaslittleaspossibleagainstLintonnordidIdescribeallhisfather’sbrutalconduct—myintentio