CHAPTER XXX

thestairs’-topandthenI’veshutmyselfinquick,forfearofbeingmovedtointerfere.Ididpityherthen,I’msure:stillIdidn’twishtolosemyplace,youknow. “Atlast,onenightshecameboldlyintomychamber,andfrightenedmeoutofmywits,bysaying,‘TellMr.Heathcliffthathissonisdying—I’msureheis,thistime.Getup,instantly,andtellhim.’ “Havingutteredthisspeech,shevanishedagain.Ilayaquarterofanhourlisteningandtrembling.Nothingstirred—thehousewasquiet. “She’smistaken,Isaidtomyself.He’sgotoverit.Ineedn’tdisturbthemandIbegantodoze.Butmysleepwasmarredasecondtimebyasharpringingofthebell—theonlybellwehave,putuponpurposeforLintonandthemastercalledtometoseewhatwasthematter,andinformthemthathewouldn’thavethatnoiserepeated. “IdeliveredCatherine’smessage.Hecursedtohimself,andinafewminutescameoutwithalightedcandle,andproceededtotheirroom.Ifollowed.Mrs.Heathcliffwasseatedbythebedside,withherhandsfoldedonherknees.Herfather-in-lawwentup,heldthelighttoLinton’sface,lookedathim,andtouchedhimafterwardsheturnedtoher. “‘Now—Catherine,’hesaid,‘howdoyoufeel?’ “Shewasdumb. “‘Howdoyoufeel,Catherine?’herepeated. “‘He’ssafe,andI’mfree,’sheanswered:‘Ishouldfeelwell—but,’shecontinued,withabitternessshecouldn’tconceal,‘youhaveleftmesolongtostruggleagainstdeathalone,thatIfeelandseeonlydeath!Ifeellikedeath!’ “Andshelookedlikeit,too!Igaveheralittlewine.HaretonandJoseph,whohadbeenwakenedbytheringingandthesoundoffeet,andheardourtalkfromoutside,nowentered.Josephwasfain,Ibelieve,ofthelad’sremovalHaretonseemedathoughtbothered:thoughhewasmoretakenupwithstaringatCatherinethanthinkingofLinton.Butthemasterbidhimgetofftobedagain:wedidn’twanthishelp.HeafterwardsmadeJosephremovethebodytohischamber,andtoldmetoreturntomine,andMrs.Heathcliffremainedbyherself. “Inthemorning,hesentmetotellhershemustcomedowntobreakfast:shehadundressed,andappearedgoingtosleep,andsaidshewasillatwhichIhardlywondered.IinformedMr.Heathcliff,andhereplied,—‘Well,letherbetillafterthefuneralandgoupnowandthentogetherwhatisneedfuland,assoonassheseemsbetter,tellme.’” Cathystayedupstairsafortnight,accordingtoZillahwhovisitedhertwiceaday,andwouldhav