CHAPTER XXIX

Theeveningafterthefuneral,myyoungladyandIwereseatedinthelibrarynowmusingmournfully—oneofusdespairingly—onourloss,nowventuringconjecturesastothegloomyfuture. WehadjustagreedthebestdestinywhichcouldawaitCatherinewouldbeapermissiontocontinueresidentattheGrangeatleastduringLinton’slife:hebeingallowedtojoinherthere,andItoremainashousekeeper.ThatseemedrathertoofavourableanarrangementtobehopedforandyetIdidhope,andbegantocheerupundertheprospectofretainingmyhomeandmyemployment,and,aboveall,mybelovedyoungmistresswhenaservant—oneofthediscardedones,notyetdeparted—rushedhastilyin,andsaid“thatdevilHeathcliff”wascomingthroughthecourt:shouldhefastenthedoorinhisface? Ifwehadbeenmadenoughtoorderthatproceeding,wehadnottime.Hemadenoceremonyofknockingorannouncinghisname:hewasmaster,andavailedhimselfofthemaster’sprivilegetowalkstraightin,withoutsayingaword.Thesoundofourinformant’svoicedirectedhimtothelibraryheenteredandmotioninghimout,shutthedoor. Itwasthesameroomintowhichhehadbeenushered,asaguest,eighteenyearsbefore:thesamemoonshonethroughthewindowandthesameautumnlandscapelayoutside.Wehadnotyetlightedacandle,butalltheapartmentwasvisible,eventotheportraitsonthewall:thesplendidheadofMrs.Linton,andthegracefuloneofherhusband.Heathcliffadvancedtothehearth.Timehadlittlealteredhispersoneither.Therewasthesameman:hisdarkfacerathersallowerandmorecomposed,hisframeastoneortwoheavier,perhaps,andnootherdifference.Catherinehadrisenwithanimpulsetodashout,whenshesawhim. “Stop!”hesaid,arrestingherbythearm.“Nomorerunningsaway!Wherewouldyougo?I’mcometofetchyouhomeandIhopeyou’llbeadutifuldaughterandnotencouragemysontofurtherdisobedience.IwasembarrassedhowtopunishhimwhenIdiscoveredhispartinthebusiness:he’ssuchacobweb,apinchwouldannihilatehimbutyou’llseebyhislookthathehasreceivedhisdue!Ibroughthimdownoneevening,thedaybeforeyesterday,andjustsethiminachair,andnevertouchedhimafterwards.IsentHaretonout,andwehadtheroomtoourselves.Intwohours,IcalledJosephtocarryhimupagainandsincethenmypresenceisaspotentonhisne