CHAPTER XXIX

gs!” Shescornfullywithdrew.InherabsenceIbegantobegforZillah’splaceattheHeights,offeringtoresignminetoherbuthewouldsufferitonnoaccount.Hebidmebesilentandthen,forthefirsttime,allowedhimselfaglanceroundtheroomandalookatthepictures.HavingstudiedMrs.Linton’s,hesaid—“Ishallhavethathome.NotbecauseIneedit,but—”Heturnedabruptlytothefire,andcontinued,withwhat,forlackofabetterword,Imustcallasmile—“I’lltellyouwhatIdidyesterday!Igotthesexton,whowasdiggingLinton’sgrave,toremovetheearthoffhercoffinlid,andIopenedit.Ithought,once,Iwouldhavestayedthere:whenIsawherfaceagain—itishersyet!—hehadhardworktostirmebuthesaiditwouldchangeiftheairblewonit,andsoIstruckonesideofthecoffinloose,andcovereditup:notLinton’sside,damnhim!Iwishhe’dbeensolderedinlead.AndIbribedthesextontopullitawaywhenI’mlaidthere,andslidemineouttooI’llhaveitmadeso:andthenbythetimeLintongetstoushe’llnotknowwhichiswhich!” “Youwereverywicked,Mr.Heathcliff!”Iexclaimed“wereyounotashamedtodisturbthedead?” “Idisturbednobody,Nelly,”hereplied“andIgavesomeeasetomyself.Ishallbeagreatdealmorecomfortablenowandyou’llhaveabetterchanceofkeepingmeunderground,whenIgetthere.Disturbedher?No!shehasdisturbedme,nightandday,througheighteenyears—incessantly—remorselessly—tillyesternightandyesternightIwastranquil.IdreamtIwassleepingthelastsleepbythatsleeper,withmyheartstoppedandmycheekfrozenagainsthers.” “Andifshehadbeendissolvedintoearth,orworse,whatwouldyouhavedreamtofthen?”Isaid. “Ofdissolvingwithher,andbeingmorehappystill!”heanswered.“DoyousupposeIdreadanychangeofthatsort?Iexpectedsuchatransformationonraisingthelid,butI’mbetterpleasedthatitshouldnotcommencetillIshareit.Besides,unlessIhadreceivedadistinctimpressionofherpassionlessfeatures,thatstrangefeelingwouldhardlyhavebeenremoved.Itbeganoddly.YouknowIwaswildaftershediedandeternally,fromdawntodawn,prayinghertoreturntomeherspirit!Ihaveastrongfaithinghosts:Ihaveaconvictionthattheycan,anddo,existamongus!Thedayshewasburied,therecameafallofsnow.IntheeveningIwenttothechurchyard.Itblewbleak