CHAPTER XXXI

shawblushedcrimsonwhenhiscousinmadethisrevelationofhisprivateliteraryaccumulations,andstammeredanindignantdenialofheraccusations. “Mr.Haretonisdesirousofincreasinghisamountofknowledge,”Isaid,comingtohisrescue.“Heisnotenvious,butemulousofyourattainments.He’llbeacleverscholarinafewyears.” “Andhewantsmetosinkintoadunce,meantime,”answeredCatherine.“Yes,Ihearhimtryingtospellandreadtohimself,andprettyblundershemakes!IwishyouwouldrepeatChevyChaseasyoudidyesterday:itwasextremelyfunny.IheardyouandIheardyouturningoverthedictionarytoseekoutthehardwords,andthencursingbecauseyoucouldn’treadtheirexplanations!” Theyoungmanevidentlythoughtittoobadthatheshouldbelaughedatforhisignorance,andthenlaughedatfortryingtoremoveit.Ihadasimilarnotionand,rememberingMrs.Dean’sanecdoteofhisfirstattemptatenlighteningthedarknessinwhichhehadbeenreared,Iobserved,—“But,Mrs.Heathcliff,wehaveeachhadacommencement,andeachstumbledandtotteredonthethresholdhadourteachersscornedinsteadofaidingus,weshouldstumbleandtotteryet.” “Oh!”shereplied,“Idon’twishtolimithisacquirements:still,hehasnorighttoappropriatewhatismine,andmakeitridiculoustomewithhisvilemistakesandmispronunciations!Thosebooks,bothproseandverse,areconsecratedtomebyotherassociationsandIhatetohavethemdebasedandprofanedinhismouth!Besides,ofall,hehasselectedmyfavouritepiecesthatIlovethemosttorepeat,asifoutofdeliberatemalice.” Hareton’schestheavedinsilenceaminute:helabouredunderaseveresenseofmortificationandwrath,whichitwasnoeasytasktosuppress.Irose,and,fromagentlemanlyideaofrelievinghisembarrassment,tookupmystationinthedoorway,surveyingtheexternalprospectasIstood.Hefollowedmyexample,andlefttheroombutpresentlyreappeared,bearinghalfadozenvolumesinhishands,whichhethrewintoCatherine’slap,exclaiming,—“Takethem!Ineverwanttohear,orread,orthinkofthemagain!” “Iwon’thavethemnow,”sheanswered.“Ishallconnectthemwithyou,andhatethem.” Sheopenedonethathadobviouslybeenoftenturnedover,andreadaportioninthed