CHAPTER XXXI

rcousin,afterstrugglingawhiletokeepdownhissofterfeelings,pulledouttheletterandflungitonthefloorbesideher,asungraciouslyashecould.Catherinecaughtandperusediteagerlythensheputafewquestionstomeconcerningtheinmates,rationalandirrational,ofherformerhomeandgazingtowardsthehills,murmuredinsoliloquy: “IshouldliketoberidingMinnydownthere!Ishouldliketobeclimbingupthere!Oh!I’mtired—I’mstalled,Hareton!”Andsheleantherprettyheadbackagainstthesill,withhalfayawnandhalfasigh,andlapsedintoanaspectofabstractedsadness:neithercaringnorknowingwhetherweremarkedher. “Mrs.Heathcliff,”Isaid,aftersittingsometimemute,“youarenotawarethatIamanacquaintanceofyours?sointimatethatIthinkitstrangeyouwon’tcomeandspeaktome.Myhousekeeperneverweariesoftalkingaboutandpraisingyouandshe’llbegreatlydisappointedifIreturnwithnonewsoforfromyou,exceptthatyoureceivedherletterandsaidnothing!” Sheappearedtowonderatthisspeech,andasked,— “DoesEllenlikeyou?” “Yes,verywell,”Ireplied,hesitatingly. “Youmusttellher,”shecontinued,“thatIwouldanswerherletter,butIhavenomaterialsforwriting:notevenabookfromwhichImighttearaleaf.” “Nobooks!”Iexclaimed.“Howdoyoucontrivetoliveherewithoutthem?ifImaytakethelibertytoinquire.Thoughprovidedwithalargelibrary,I’mfrequentlyverydullattheGrangetakemybooksaway,andIshouldbedesperate!” “Iwasalwaysreading,whenIhadthem,”saidCatherine“andMr.Heathcliffneverreadssohetookitintohisheadtodestroymybooks.Ihavenothadaglimpseofoneforweeks.Onlyonce,IsearchedthroughJoseph’sstoreoftheology,tohisgreatirritationandonce,Hareton,Icameuponasecretstockinyourroom—someLatinandGreek,andsometalesandpoetry:alloldfriends.Ibroughtthelasthere—andyougatheredthem,asamagpiegatherssilverspoons,forthemereloveofstealing!Theyareofnousetoyouorelseyouconcealedtheminthebadspiritthat,asyoucannotenjoythem,nobodyelseshall.PerhapsyourenvycounselledMr.Heathclifftorobmeofmytreasures?ButI’vemostofthemwrittenonmybrainandprintedinmyheart,andyoucannotdeprivemeofthose!” Earn