CHAPTER XXXII

ooklyingabout:thatshedidrepeatedlybuthewasasobstinateasamule,and,insteadofsnatchingatherbait,inwetweatherhetooktosmokingwithJosephandtheysatlikeautomatons,oneoneachsideofthefire,theelderhappilytoodeaftounderstandherwickednonsense,ashewouldhavecalledit,theyoungerdoinghisbesttoseemtodisregardit.Onfineeveningsthelatterfollowedhisshootingexpeditions,andCatherineyawnedandsighed,andteasedmetotalktoher,andranoffintothecourtorgardenthemomentIbeganand,asalastresource,cried,andsaidshewastiredofliving:herlifewasuseless. Mr.Heathcliff,whogrewmoreandmoredisinclinedtosociety,hadalmostbanishedEarnshawfromhisapartment.OwingtoanaccidentatthecommencementofMarch,hebecameforsomedaysafixtureinthekitchen.Hisgunburstwhileoutonthehillsbyhimselfasplintercuthisarm,andhelostagooddealofbloodbeforehecouldreachhome.Theconsequencewasthat,perforce,hewascondemnedtothefiresideandtranquillity,tillhemadeitupagain.ItsuitedCatherinetohavehimthere:atanyrate,itmadeherhateherroomupstairsmorethanever:andshewouldcompelmetofindoutbusinessbelow,thatshemightaccompanyme. OnEasterMonday,JosephwenttoGimmertonfairwithsomecattleand,intheafternoon,Iwasbusygettinguplineninthekitchen.Earnshawsat,moroseasusual,atthechimneycorner,andmylittlemistresswasbeguilinganidlehourwithdrawingpicturesonthewindow-panes,varyingheramusementbysmotheredburstsofsongs,andwhisperedejaculations,andquickglancesofannoyanceandimpatienceinthedirectionofhercousin,whosteadfastlysmoked,andlookedintothegrate.AtanoticethatIcoulddowithhernolongerinterceptingmylight,sheremovedtothehearthstone.Ibestowedlittleattentiononherproceedings,but,presently,Iheardherbegin—“I’vefoundout,Hareton,thatIwant—thatI’mglad—thatIshouldlikeyoutobemycousinnow,ifyouhadnotgrownsocrosstome,andsorough.” Haretonreturnednoanswer. “Hareton,Hareton,Hareton!doyouhear?”shecontinued. “Getoffwi’ye!”hegrowled,withuncompromisinggruffness. “Letmetakethatpipe,”shesaid,cautiouslyadvancingherhandandabstractingitfromhismouth. Beforehecouldattempttorecoverit,itwasbroken,andbehindthefire.Hesworeatherandseizedanother. “Stop,”shecried,“youmustlistentomefirstandIcan’tspeakwhilethosecloudsarefloatinginmyface.” “Willyougotothedevil!”heexclaimed,ferociously,“andletmebe!” “No,”shepersisted,“Iwon’t:Ican’ttellwhattodotomakeyoutalktomeandyouaredeterminednottounderstand.WhenIcallyoustupid,Idon’tmeananything:Idon’tmeanthatIdespiseyou.Come,youshalltakenoticeofme,Hareton:youaremycousin,andyoushallownme.” “Ishallhavenaughttodowi’youandyourmuckypride,andyourdamnedmockingtricks!”heanswered.“I’llgotohell,bodyandsoul,beforeIlooksidewaysafteryouagain.Sideouto’t’gate,now,thisminute!” Catherinefrowned,andretreatedtothewindow-seatchewingherlip,andendeavouring,byhumminganeccentrictune,toconcealagrowingtendencytosob. “Youshouldbefriendswithyourcousin,Mr.Hareton,”Iinterrupted,“sincesherepentsofhersauciness.Itwoulddoyouagreatdealofgood:itwouldmakeyouanothermantohaveherforacompanion.” “Acompanion!”hecried“whenshehatesme,anddoesnotthinkmefittowipehershoon!Nay,ifitmademeaking,I’dnotbescornedforseekinghergood-willanymore.” “ItisnotIwhohateyou,itisyouwhohateme!”weptCathy,nolongerdisguisinghertrouble.“YouhatemeasmuchasMr.Heathcliffdoes,andmore.” “You’readamnedliar,”beganEarnshaw:“whyhaveImadehimangry,bytakingyourpart,then,ahundredtimes?andthatwhenyousneeredatanddespisedme,and—Goonplaguingme,andI’llstepinyonder,andsayyouworriedmeoutofthekitchen!” “Ididn’tknowyoutookmypart,”sheanswered,dryinghereyes“andIwasmiserableandbitterateverybodybutnowIthankyou,andbegyoutoforgiveme:whatcanIdobesides?” Shereturnedtothehearth,andfranklyextendedherhand.Heblackenedandscowledlikeathunder-cloud,andkepthisfistsresolutelyclenched,andhisgazefixedontheground.Catherine,byinstinct,musthavedivineditwasobdurateperversity,andnotd