CHAPTER XXX

ebeenrathermorefriendly,butherattemptsatincreasingkindnesswereproudlyandpromptlyrepelled. Heathcliffwentuponce,toshowherLinton’swill.Hehadbequeathedthewholeofhis,andwhathadbeenher,moveableproperty,tohisfather:thepoorcreaturewasthreatened,orcoaxed,intothatactduringherweek’sabsence,whenhisuncledied.Thelands,beingaminor,hecouldnotmeddlewith.However,Mr.Heathcliffhasclaimedandkepttheminhiswife’srightandhisalso:Isupposelegallyatanyrate,Catherine,destituteofcashandfriends,cannotdisturbhispossession. “Nobody,”saidZillah,“everapproachedherdoor,exceptthatonce,butIandnobodyaskedanythingabouther.ThefirstoccasionofhercomingdownintothehousewasonaSundayafternoon.Shehadcriedout,whenIcarriedupherdinner,thatshecouldn’tbearanylongerbeinginthecoldandItoldherthemasterwasgoingtoThrushcrossGrange,andEarnshawandIneedn’thinderherfromdescendingso,assoonassheheardHeathcliff’shorsetrotoff,shemadeherappearance,donnedinblack,andheryellowcurlscombedbackbehindherearsasplainasaQuaker:shecouldn’tcombthemout. “JosephandIgenerallygotochapelonSundays:”thekirk,(youknow,hasnoministernow,explainedMrs.DeanandtheycalltheMethodists’orBaptists’place,Ican’tsaywhichitis,atGimmerton,achapel.)“Josephhadgone,”shecontinued,“butIthoughtpropertobideathome.Youngfolksarealwaysthebetterforanelder’sover-lookingandHareton,withallhisbashfulness,isn’tamodelofnicebehaviour.Ilethimknowthathiscousinwouldverylikelysitwithus,andshehadbeenalwaysusedtoseetheSabbathrespectedsohehadasgoodleavehisgunsandbitsofindoorworkalone,whileshestayed.Hecolouredupatthenews,andcasthiseyesoverhishandsandclothes.Thetrain-oilandgunpowderwereshovedoutofsightinaminute.IsawhemeanttogiveherhiscompanyandIguessed,byhisway,hewantedtobepresentableso,laughing,asIdurstnotlaughwhenthemasterisby,Iofferedtohelphim,ifhewould,andjokedathisconfusion.Hegrewsullen,andbegantoswear. “Now,Mrs.Dean,”Zillahwenton,seeingmenotpleasedbyhermanner,“youhappenthinkyouryoungladytoofineforMr.Haretonandhappenyou’reright:butIownIshouldlovewelltobringherprideapeglower.Andwhatwillallherlearningandherdaintinessdoforher,now?She’saspoorasyouorI:poorer,I’llbebound:you’resavin