CHAPTER XXIX

rvesasaghostandIfancyheseesmeoften,thoughIamnotnear.Haretonsayshewakesandshrieksinthenightbythehourtogether,andcallsyoutoprotecthimfrommeand,whetheryoulikeyourpreciousmate,ornot,youmustcome:he’syourconcernnowIyieldallmyinterestinhimtoyou.” “WhynotletCatherinecontinuehere,”Ipleaded,“andsendMasterLintontoher?Asyouhatethemboth,you’dnotmissthem:theycanonlybeadailyplaguetoyourunnaturalheart.” “I’mseekingatenantfortheGrange,”heanswered“andIwantmychildrenaboutme,tobesure.Besides,thatlassowesmeherservicesforherbread.I’mnotgoingtonurtureherinluxuryandidlenessafterLintonisgone.Makehasteandgetready,nowanddon’tobligemetocompelyou.” “Ishall,”saidCatherine.“LintonisallIhavetoloveintheworld,andthoughyouhavedonewhatyoucouldtomakehimhatefultome,andmetohim,youcannotmakeushateeachother.AndIdefyyoutohurthimwhenIamby,andIdefyyoutofrightenme!” “Youareaboastfulchampion,”repliedHeathcliff“butIdon’tlikeyouwellenoughtohurthim:youshallgetthefullbenefitofthetorment,aslongasitlasts.ItisnotIwhowillmakehimhatefultoyou—itishisownsweetspirit.He’sasbitterasgallatyourdesertionanditsconsequences:don’texpectthanksforthisnobledevotion.IheardhimdrawapleasantpicturetoZillahofwhathewoulddoifhewereasstrongasI:theinclinationisthere,andhisveryweaknesswillsharpenhiswitstofindasubstituteforstrength.” “Iknowhehasabadnature,”saidCatherine:“he’syourson.ButI’mgladI’veabetter,toforgiveitandIknowhelovesme,andforthatreasonIlovehim.Mr.Heathcliff,youhavenobodytoloveyouand,howevermiserableyoumakeus,weshallstillhavetherevengeofthinkingthatyourcrueltyarisesfromyourgreatermisery.Youaremiserable,areyounot?Lonely,likethedevil,andenviouslikehim?Nobodylovesyou—nobodywillcryforyouwhenyoudie!Iwouldn’tbeyou!” Catherinespokewithakindofdrearytriumph:sheseemedtohavemadeuphermindtoenterintothespiritofherfuturefamily,anddrawpleasurefromthegriefsofherenemies. “Youshallbesorrytobeyourselfpresently,”saidherfather-in-law,“ifyoustandthereanotherminute.Begone,witch,andgetyourthin