CHAPTER XXXII

islike,thatpromptedthisdoggedconductfor,afterremaininganinstantundecided,shestoopedandimpressedonhischeekagentlekiss.ThelittleroguethoughtIhadnotseenher,and,drawingback,shetookherformerstationbythewindow,quitedemurely.Ishookmyheadreprovingly,andthensheblushedandwhispered—“Well!whatshouldIhavedone,Ellen?Hewouldn’tshakehands,andhewouldn’tlook:ImustshowhimsomewaythatIlikehim—thatIwanttobefriends.” WhetherthekissconvincedHareton,Icannottell:hewasverycareful,forsomeminutes,thathisfaceshouldnotbeseen,andwhenhedidraiseit,hewassadlypuzzledwheretoturnhiseyes. Catherineemployedherselfinwrappingahandsomebookneatlyinwhitepaper,andhavingtieditwithabitofribbon,andaddresseditto“Mr.HaretonEarnshaw,”shedesiredmetobeherambassadress,andconveythepresenttoitsdestinedrecipient. “Andtellhim,ifhe’lltakeit,I’llcomeandteachhimtoreaditright,”shesaid“and,ifherefuseit,I’llgoupstairs,andneverteasehimagain.” Icarriedit,andrepeatedthemessageanxiouslywatchedbymyemployer.Haretonwouldnotopenhisfingers,soIlaiditonhisknee.Hedidnotstrikeitoff,either.Ireturnedtomywork.Catherineleanedherheadandarmsonthetable,tillsheheardtheslightrustleofthecoveringbeingremovedthenshestoleaway,andquietlyseatedherselfbesidehercousin.Hetrembled,andhisfaceglowed:allhisrudenessandallhissurlyharshnesshaddesertedhim:hecouldnotsummoncourage,atfirst,toutterasyllableinreplytoherquestioninglook,andhermurmuredpetition. “Sayyouforgiveme,Hareton,do.Youcanmakemesohappybyspeakingthatlittleword.” Hemutteredsomethinginaudible. “Andyou’llbemyfriend?”addedCatherine,interrogatively. “Nay,you’llbeashamedofmeeverydayofyourlife,”heanswered“andthemoreashamed,themoreyouknowmeandIcannotbideit.” “Soyouwon’tbemyfriend?”shesaid,smilingassweetashoney,andcreepingcloseup. Ioverheardnofurtherdistinguishabletalk,but,onlookingroundagain,Iperceivedtwosuchradiantcountenancesbentoverthepageoftheacceptedbook,thatIdidnotdoubtthetreatyhadbeenratifiedonbothsidesandtheenemieswere,thenceforth,swornallies. TheworktheystudiedwasfullofcostlypicturesandthoseandtheirpositionhadcharmenoughtokeepthemunmovedtillJosephcamehome.He,poorman,wasperfectlyaghastatthespectacleofCatherineseatedonthesamebenchwithHaretonEarnshaw,leaningherhandonhisshoulderandconfoundedathisfavourite’senduranceofherproximity:itaffectedhimtoodeeplytoallowanobservationonthesubjectthatnight.Hisemotionwasonlyrevealedbytheimmensesighshedrew,ashesolemnlyspreadhislargeBibleonthetable,andoverlaiditwithdirtybank-notesfromhispocket-book,theproduceoftheday’stransactions.AtlengthhesummonedHaretonfromhisseat. “Tak’theseintot’maister,lad,”hesaid,“andbidethere.I’sganguptomyownrahm.Thishoile’sneithermensfulnorseemlyforus:wemunsideoutandseearchanother.” “Come,Catherine,”Isaid,“wemust‘sideout’too:I’vedonemyironing.Areyoureadytogo?” “Itisnoteighto’clock!”sheanswered,risingunwillingly.“Hareton,I’llleavethisbookuponthechimney-piece,andI’llbringsomemoreto-morrow.” “Onybooksthatyahleave,Ishalltak’intoth’hahse,”saidJoseph,“andit’llbemitchifyahfind’emageansoa,yahmayplaseyerseln!” Cathythreatenedthathislibraryshouldpayforhersand,smilingasshepassedHareton,wentsingingupstairs:lighterofheart,Iventuretosay,thanevershehadbeenunderthatroofbeforeexcept,perhaps,duringherearliestvisitstoLinton. Theintimacythuscommencedgrewrapidlythoughitencounteredtemporaryinterruptions.Earnshawwasnottobecivilizedwithawish,andmyyoungladywasnophilosopher,andnoparagonofpatiencebutboththeirmindstendingtothesamepoint—onelovinganddesiringtoesteem,andtheotherlovinganddesiringtobeesteemed—theycontrivedintheendtoreachit. Yousee,Mr.Lockwood,itwaseasyenoughtowinMrs.Heathcliff’sheart.Butnow,I’mgladyoudidnottry.Thecrownofallmywisheswillbetheunionofthosetwo.Ishallenvynooneontheirweddingday:therewon’tbeahappierwomanthanmyselfinEngland!