CHAPTER XXXIII

eewheareI’dsarvedfursixtyyearandIthowtI’dlugmybooksupintot’garret,andallmybitso’stuff,andtheysudhev’t’kitchentotheirselnfort’sakeo’quietness.Itwurhardtogieupmyawnhearthstun,butIthowtIcoulddothat!Butnah,shoo’staanmygardenfro’me,andbyth’heart,maister,Icannotstandit!Yahmaybendtoth’yoakanyewill—Inoanusedto’t,andanoldmandoesn’tsooingetusedtonewbarthens.I’draytherarnmybitean’mysupwi’ahammerinth’road!” “Now,now,idiot!”interruptedHeathcliff,“cutitshort!What’syourgrievance?I’llinterfereinnoquarrelsbetweenyouandNelly.Shemaythrustyouintothecoal-holeforanythingIcare.” “It’snoanNelly!”answeredJoseph.“Isudn’tshiftforNelly—nastyillnowtasshoois.ThankGod!shoocannotstalet’sowlo’nob’dy!Shoowerniversoahandsome,butwhatabodymudlookather’boutwinking.It’syonflaysome,gracelessquean,that’switchedourlad,wi’herboldeenandherforrardways—till—Nay!itfairbrustsmyheart!He’sforgottenallI’vedoneforhim,andmadeonhim,andgoanandrivenupawholerowo’t’grandestcurrant-treesi’t’garden!”andherehelamentedoutrightunmannedbyasenseofhisbitterinjuries,andEarnshaw’singratitudeanddangerouscondition. “Isthefooldrunk?”askedMr.Heathcliff.“Hareton,isityouhe’sfindingfaultwith?” “I’vepulleduptwoorthreebushes,”repliedtheyoungman“butI’mgoingtoset’emagain.” “Andwhyhaveyoupulledthemup?”saidthemaster. Catherinewiselyputinhertongue. “Wewantedtoplantsomeflowersthere,”shecried.“I’mtheonlypersontoblame,forIwishedhimtodoit.” “Andwhothedevilgaveyouleavetotouchastickabouttheplace?”demandedherfather-in-law,muchsurprised.“Andwhoorderedyoutoobeyher?”headded,turningtoHareton. Thelatterwasspeechlesshiscousinreplied—“Youshouldn’tgrudgeafewyardsofearthformetoornament,whenyouhavetakenallmyland!” “Yourland,insolentslut!Youneverhadany,”saidHeathcliff. “Andmymoney,”shecontinuedreturninghisangryglare,andmeantimebitingapieceofcrust,theremnantofherbreakfast. “Silence!”heexclaimed.“Getdone,andbegone!” “AndHareton’sland,andhismoney,”pursuedtherecklessthing.“HaretonandIarefriendsnowandIshalltellhimallaboutyou!” Themasterseemedconfoundedamoment:hegrewpale,androseup,eyeingherallthewhile,withanexpressionofmortalhate. “Ifyoustrikeme,Haretonwillstrikeyou,”shesaid“soyoumayaswellsitdown.” “IfHaretondoesnotturnyououtoftheroom,I’llstrikehimtohell,”thunderedHeathcliff.“Damnablewitch!dareyoupretendtorousehimagainstme?Offwithher!Doyouhear?Flingherintothekitchen!I’llkillher,EllenDean,ifyoulethercomeintomysightagain!” Haretontried,underhisbreath,topersuadehertogo. “Dragheraway!”hecried,savagely.“Areyoustayingtotalk?”Andheapproachedtoexecutehisowncommand. “He’llnotobeyyou,wickedman,anymore,”saidCatherine“andhe’llsoondetestyouasmuchasIdo.” “Wisht!wisht!”mutteredtheyoungman,reproachfully“Iwillnothearyouspeaksotohim.Havedone.” “Butyouwon’tlethimstrikeme?”shecried. “Come,then,”hewhisperedearnestly. Itwastoolate:Heathcliffhadcaughtholdofher. “Now,y