CHAPTER XXXII

everdreamtofhisdying!Letmehearhowitcametopass.Yousayyoudon’texpectthembackforsometime—theyoungpeople?” “No—Ihavetoscoldthemeveryeveningfortheirlaterambles:buttheydon’tcareforme.Atleast,haveadrinkofouroldaleitwilldoyougood:youseemweary.” ShehastenedtofetchitbeforeIcouldrefuse,andIheardJosephaskingwhether“itwarn’tacryingscandalthatsheshouldhavefollowersathertimeoflife?Andthen,togetthemjocksouto’t’maister’scellar!Hefairshaamedto’bidestillandseeit.” Shedidnotstaytoretaliate,butre-enteredinaminute,bearingareamingsilverpint,whosecontentsIlaudedwithbecomingearnestness.AndafterwardsshefurnishedmewiththesequelofHeathcliff’shistory.Hehada“queer”end,assheexpressedit. ***** IwassummonedtoWutheringHeights,withinafortnightofyourleavingus,shesaidandIobeyedjoyfully,forCatherine’ssake.Myfirstinterviewwithhergrievedandshockedme:shehadalteredsomuchsinceourseparation.Mr.Heathcliffdidnotexplainhisreasonsfortakinganewmindaboutmycominghereheonlytoldmehewantedme,andhewastiredofseeingCatherine:Imustmakethelittleparlourmysitting-room,andkeepherwithme.Itwasenoughifhewereobligedtoseeheronceortwiceaday.Sheseemedpleasedatthisarrangementand,bydegrees,Ismuggledoveragreatnumberofbooks,andotherarticles,thathadformedheramusementattheGrangeandflatteredmyselfweshouldgetonintolerablecomfort.Thedelusiondidnotlastlong.Catherine,contentedatfirst,inabriefspacegrewirritableandrestless.Foronething,shewasforbiddentomoveoutofthegarden,anditfrettedhersadlytobeconfinedtoitsnarrowboundsasspringdrewonforanother,infollowingthehouse,Iwasforcedtoquitherfrequently,andshecomplainedofloneliness:shepreferredquarrellingwithJosephinthekitchentosittingatpeaceinhersolitude.Ididnotmindtheirskirmishes:butHaretonwasoftenobligedtoseekthekitchenalso,whenthemasterwantedtohavethehousetohimselfandthoughinthebeginningsheeitherleftitathisapproach,orquietlyjoinedinmyoccupations,andshunnedremarkingoraddressinghim—andthoughhewasalwaysassullenandsilentaspossible—afterawhile,shechangedherbehaviour,andbecameincapableoflettinghimalone:talkingathimcommentingonhisstupidityandidlenessexpressingherwonderhowhecouldendurethelifehelived—howhecouldsitawholeeveningstaringintothefire,anddozing. “He’sjustlikeadog,ishenot,Ellen?”sheonceobserved,“oracart-horse?Hedoeshiswork,eatshisfood,andsleepseternally!Whatablank,drearymindhemusthave!Doyoueverdream,Hareton?And,ifyoudo,whatisitabout?Butyoucan’tspeaktome!” Thenshelookedathimbuthewouldneitheropenhismouthnorlookagain. “He’s,perhaps,dreamingnow,”shecontinued.“HetwitchedhisshoulderasJunotwitcheshers.Askhim,Ellen.” “Mr.Haretonwillaskthemastertosendyouupstairs,ifyoudon’tbehave!”Isaid.Hehadnotonlytwitchedhisshoulderbutclenchedhisfist,asiftemptedtouseit. “IknowwhyHaretonneverspeaks,whenIaminthekitchen,”sheexclaimed,onanotheroccasion.“HeisafraidIshalllaughathim.Ellen,whatdoyouthink?Hebegantoteachhimselftoreadonceand,becauseIlaughed,heburnedhisbooks,anddroppedit:washenotafool?” “Werenotyounaughty?”Isaid“answermethat.” “PerhapsIwas,”shewenton“butIdidnotexpecthimtobesosilly.Hareton,ifIgaveyouabook,wouldyoutakeitnow?I’lltry!” Sheplacedoneshehadbeenperusingonhishandheflungitoff,andmuttered,ifshedidnotgiveover,hewouldbreakherneck. “Well,Ishallputithere,”shesaid,“inthetable-drawerandI’mgoingtobed.” Thenshewhisperedmetowatchwhetherhetouchedit,anddeparted.ButhewouldnotcomenearitandsoIinformedherinthemorning,tohergreatdisappointment.Isawshewassorryforhisperseveringsulkinessandindolence:herconsciencereprovedherforfrighteninghimoffimprovinghimself:shehaddoneiteffectually.Butheringenuitywasatworktoremedytheinjury:whileIironed,orpursuedothersuchstationaryemploymentsasIcouldnotwelldointheparlour,shewouldbringsomepleasantvolumeandreaditaloudtome.WhenHaretonwasthere,shegenerallypausedinaninterestingpart,andlefttheb