CHAPTER XXX

g,andI’mdoingmylittleallthatroad.” HaretonallowedZillahtogivehimheraidandsheflatteredhimintoagoodhumourso,whenCatherinecame,halfforgettingherformerinsults,hetriedtomakehimselfagreeable,bythehousekeeper’saccount. “Missiswalkedin,”shesaid,“aschillasanicicle,andashighasaprincess.Igotupandofferedhermyseatinthearm-chair.No,sheturneduphernoseatmycivility.Earnshawrose,too,andbidhercometothesettle,andsitclosebythefire:hewassureshewasstarved. “‘I’vebeenstarvedamonthandmore,’sheanswered,restingonthewordasscornfulasshecould. “Andshegotachairforherself,andplaceditatadistancefrombothofus.Havingsattillshewaswarm,shebegantolookround,anddiscoveredanumberofbooksonthedressershewasinstantlyuponherfeetagain,stretchingtoreachthem:buttheyweretoohighup.Hercousin,afterwatchingherendeavoursawhile,atlastsummonedcouragetohelphersheheldherfrock,andhefilleditwiththefirstthatcametohand. “Thatwasagreatadvanceforthelad.Shedidn’tthankhimstill,hefeltgratifiedthatshehadacceptedhisassistance,andventuredtostandbehindassheexaminedthem,andeventostoopandpointoutwhatstruckhisfancyincertainoldpictureswhichtheycontainednorwashedauntedbythesaucystyleinwhichshejerkedthepagefromhisfinger:hecontentedhimselfwithgoingabitfartherbackandlookingatherinsteadofthebook.Shecontinuedreading,orseekingforsomethingtoread.Hisattentionbecame,bydegrees,quitecentredinthestudyofherthicksilkycurls:herfacehecouldn’tsee,andshecouldn’tseehim.And,perhaps,notquiteawaketowhathedid,butattractedlikeachildtoacandle,atlastheproceededfromstaringtotouchingheputouthishandandstrokedonecurl,asgentlyasifitwereabird.Hemighthavestuckaknifeintoherneck,shestartedroundinsuchataking. “‘Getawaythismoment!Howdareyoutouchme?Whyareyoustoppingthere?’shecried,inatoneofdisgust.‘Ican’tendureyou!I’llgoupstairsagain,ifyoucomenearme.’ “Mr.Haretonrecoiled,lookingasfoolishashecoulddo:hesatdowninthesettleveryquiet,andshecontinuedturningoverhervolumesanotherhalfhourfinally,Earnshawcrossedover,andwhisperedtome. “‘Willyouaskhertoreadtous,Zillah?I’mstalledofdoingnaughtandIdolike—Icouldliketohearher!DunnotsayIwantedit,butaskofyourseln.’ “‘Mr.H