CHAPTER XXXI

Yesterdaywasbright,calm,andfrosty.IwenttotheHeightsasIproposed:myhousekeeperentreatedmetobearalittlenotefromhertoheryounglady,andIdidnotrefuse,fortheworthywomanwasnotconsciousofanythingoddinherrequest.Thefrontdoorstoodopen,butthejealousgatewasfastened,asatmylastvisitIknockedandinvokedEarnshawfromamongthegarden-bedsheunchainedit,andIentered.Thefellowisashandsomearusticasneedbeseen.Itookparticularnoticeofhimthistimebutthenhedoeshisbestapparentlytomaketheleastofhisadvantages. IaskedifMr.Heathcliffwereathome?Heanswered,Nobuthewouldbeinatdinner-time.Itwaseleveno’clock,andIannouncedmyintentionofgoinginandwaitingforhimatwhichheimmediatelyflungdownhistoolsandaccompaniedme,intheofficeofwatchdog,notasasubstituteforthehost. WeenteredtogetherCatherinewasthere,makingherselfusefulinpreparingsomevegetablesfortheapproachingmealshelookedmoresulkyandlessspiritedthanwhenIhadseenherfirst.Shehardlyraisedhereyestonoticeme,andcontinuedheremploymentwiththesamedisregardtocommonformsofpolitenessasbeforeneverreturningmybowandgood-morningbytheslightestacknowledgment. “Shedoesnotseemsoamiable,”Ithought,“asMrs.Deanwouldpersuademetobelieve.She’sabeauty,itistruebutnotanangel.” Earnshawsurlilybidherremoveherthingstothekitchen.“Removethemyourself,”shesaid,pushingthemfromherassoonasshehaddoneandretiringtoastoolbythewindow,whereshebegantocarvefiguresofbirdsandbeastsoutoftheturnip-paringsinherlap.Iapproachedher,pretendingtodesireaviewofthegardenand,asIfancied,adroitlydroppedMrs.Dean’snoteontoherknee,unnoticedbyHareton—butsheaskedaloud,“Whatisthat?”Andchuckeditoff. “Aletterfromyouroldacquaintance,thehousekeeperattheGrange,”Iansweredannoyedatherexposingmykinddeed,andfearfullestitshouldbeimaginedamissiveofmyown.Shewouldgladlyhavegathereditupatthisinformation,butHaretonbeatherheseizedandputitinhiswaistcoat,sayingMr.Heathcliffshouldlookatitfirst.Thereat,Catherinesilentlyturnedherfacefromus,and,verystealthily,drewoutherpocket-handkerchiefandappliedittohereyesandhe