CHAPTER XXIX

walkedonthemoorsIshouldmeethercomingin.WhenIwentfromhomeIhastenedtoreturnshemustbesomewhereattheHeights,Iwascertain!AndwhenIsleptinherchamber—Iwasbeatenoutofthat.Icouldn’tliethereforthemomentIclosedmyeyes,shewaseitheroutsidethewindow,orslidingbackthepanels,orenteringtheroom,orevenrestingherdarlingheadonthesamepillowasshedidwhenachildandImustopenmylidstosee.AndsoIopenedandclosedthemahundredtimesanight—tobealwaysdisappointed!Itrackedme!I’veoftengroanedaloud,tillthatoldrascalJosephnodoubtbelievedthatmyconsciencewasplayingthefiendinsideofme.Now,sinceI’veseenher,I’mpacified—alittle.Itwasastrangewayofkilling:notbyinches,butbyfractionsofhairbreadths,tobeguilemewiththespectreofahopethrougheighteenyears!” Mr.Heathcliffpausedandwipedhisforeheadhishairclungtoit,wetwithperspirationhiseyeswerefixedontheredembersofthefire,thebrowsnotcontracted,butraisednextthetemplesdiminishingthegrimaspectofhiscountenance,butimpartingapeculiarlookoftrouble,andapainfulappearanceofmentaltensiontowardsoneabsorbingsubject.Heonlyhalfaddressedme,andImaintainedsilence.Ididn’tliketohearhimtalk!Afterashortperiodheresumedhismeditationonthepicture,tookitdownandleantitagainstthesofatocontemplateitatbetteradvantageandwhilesooccupiedCatherineentered,announcingthatshewasready,whenherponyshouldbesaddled. “Sendthatoverto-morrow,”saidHeathclifftomethenturningtoher,headded:“Youmaydowithoutyourpony:itisafineevening,andyou’llneednoponiesatWutheringHeightsforwhatjourneysyoutake,yourownfeetwillserveyou.Comealong.” “Good-bye,Ellen!”whisperedmydearlittlemistress.Asshekissedme,herlipsfeltlikeice.“Comeandseeme,Ellendon’tforget.” “Takecareyoudonosuchthing,Mrs.Dean!”saidhernewfather.“WhenIwishtospeaktoyouI’llcomehere.Iwantnoneofyourpryingatmyhouse!” Hesignedhertoprecedehimandcastingbackalookthatcutmyheart,sheobeyed.Iwatchedthem,fromthewindow,walkdownthegarden.HeathclifffixedCatherine’sarmunderhis:thoughshedisputedtheactatfirstevidentlyandwithrapidstrideshehurriedherintothealley,whosetreesconcealedthem.