Wuthering Heights

CHAPTER XIII

For two months the fugitives remained absent; in those two months, Mrs.Linton encountered and conquered the worst shock of what was denominateda brain fever. No mother could have nursed an only child more devotedlythan Edgar tended her. Day and night he was watching, and patientlyenduring all the annoyances that irritable nerves and a shaken reasoncould inflict; and, though Kenneth remarked that what he saved from thegrave would only recompense his care by forming the source of constantfuture anxiety--in fact, that his health and strength were beingsacrificed to preserve a mere ruin of humanity--he knew no limits ingratitude and joy when Catherine's life was declared out of danger; andhour after hour he would sit beside her, tracing the gradual return tobodily health, and flattering his too sanguine hopes with the illusionthat her mind would settle back to its right balance also, and she wouldsoon be entirely her former self.

The first time she left her chamber was at the commencement of thefollowing March. Mr. Linton had put on her pillow, in the morning, ahandful of golden crocuses; her eye, long stranger to any gleam ofpleasure, caught them in waking, and shone delighted as she gathered themeagerly together.

'These are the earliest flowers at the Heights,' she exclaimed. 'Theyremind me of soft thaw winds, and warm sunshine, and nearly melted snow.Edgar, is there not a south wind, and is not the snow almost gone?'

'The snow is quite gone down here, darling,' replied her husband; 'and Ionly see two white spots on the whole range of moors: the sky is blue,and the larks are singing, and the becks and brooks are all brim full.Catherine, last spring at this time, I was longing to have you under thisroof; now, I wish you were a mile or two up those hills: the air blows sosweetly, I feel that it would cure you.'

'I shall never be there but once more,' said the invalid; 'and thenyou'll leave me, and I shall remain for ever. Next spring you'll longagain to have me under this roof, and you'll look back and think you werehappy to-day.'

Linton lavished on her the kindest caresses, and tried to cheer her bythe fondest words; but, vaguely regarding the flowers, she let the tearscollect on her lashes and stream down her cheeks unheeding. We knew shewas really better, and, therefore, decided that long confinement to asingle place produced much of this despondency, and it might be partiallyremoved by a change of scene. The master told me to light a fire in themany-weeks' deserted parlour, and to set an easy-chair in the sunshine bythe window; and then he brought her down, and she sat a long whileenjoying the genial heat, and, as we expected, revived by the objectsround her: which, though familiar, were free from the dreary associationsinvesting her hated sick chamber. By evening she seemed greatlyexhausted; yet no arguments could persuade her to return to thatapartment, and I had to arrange the parlour sofa for her bed, tillanother room could be prepared. To obviate the fatigue of mounting anddescending the stairs, we fitted up this, where you lie at present--onthe same floor with the parlour; and she was soon strong enough to movefrom one to the other, leaning on Edgar's arm. Ah, I thought myself, shemight recover, so waited on as she was. And there was double cause todesire it, for on her existence depended that of another: we cherishedthe hope that in a little while Mr. Linton's heart would be gladdened,and his lands secured from a stranger's grip, by the birth of an heir.

I should mention that Isabella sent to her brother, some six weeks fromher departure, a short note, announcing her marriage with Heathcliff. Itappeared dry and cold; but at the bottom was dotted in with pencil anobscure apology, and an entreaty for kind remembrance and reconciliation,if her proceeding had offended him: asserting that she could not help itthen, and being done, she had now no power to repeal it. Linton did notreply to this, I believe; and, in a fortnight more, I got a long letter,which I considered odd, coming from the pen of a bride just out of thehoneymoon. I'll read it: for I keep it yet. Any relic of the dead isprecious, if they were valued living.

* * * * *

DEAR ELLEN, it begins,--I came last night to Wuthering Heights, andheard, for the first time, that Catherine has been, and is yet, very ill.I must not write to her, I suppose, and my brother is either too angry ortoo distressed to answer what I sent him. Still, I must write tosomebody, and the only choice left me is you.

Inform Edgar that I'd give the world to see his face again--that my heartreturned to Thrushcross Grange in twenty-four hours after I left it, andis there at this moment, full of warm feelings for him, and Catherine! _Ican't follow it though_--(these words are underlined)--they need notexpect me, and they may draw what conclusions they please; taking care,however, to lay nothing at the door of my weak will or deficientaffection.

The remainder of the letter is for yourself alone. I want to ask you twoquestions: the first is,--How did you contrive to preserve the commonsympathies of human nature when you resided here? I cannot recognise anysentiment which those around share with me.

The second question I have great interest in; it is this--Is Mr.Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil? Isha'n't tell my reasons for making this inquiry; but I beseech you toexplain, if you can, what I have married: that is, when you call to seeme; and you must call, Ellen, very soon. Don't write, but come, andbring me something from Edgar.

Now, you shall hear how I have been received in my new home, as I am ledto imagine the Heights will be. It is to amuse myself that I dwell onsuch subjects as the lack of external comforts: they never occupy mythoughts, except at the moment when I miss them. I should laugh anddance for joy, if I found their absence was the total of my miseries, andthe rest was an unnatural dream!

The sun set behind the Grange as we turned on to the moors; by that, Ijudged it to be six o'clock; and my companion halted half an hour, toinspect the park, and the gardens, and, probably, the place itself, aswell as he could; so it was dark when we dismounted in the paved yard ofthe farm-house, and your old fellow-servant, Joseph, issued out toreceive us by the light of a dip candle. He did it with a courtesy thatredounded to his credit. His first act was to elevate his torch to alevel with my face, squint malignantly, project his under-lip, and turnaway. Then he took the two horses, and led them into the stables;reappearing for the purpose of locking the outer gate, as if we lived inan ancient castle.

Heathcliff stayed to speak to him, and I entered the kitchen--a dingy,untidy hole; I daresay you would not know it, it is so changed since itwas in your charge. By the fire stood a ruffianly child, strong in limband dirty in garb, with a look of Catherine in his eyes and about hismouth.

'This is Edgar's legal nephew,' I reflected--'mine in a manner; I mustshake hands, and--yes--I must kiss him. It is right to establish a goodunderstanding at the beginning.'

I approached, and, attempting to take his chubby fist, said--'How do youdo, my dear?'

He replied in a jargon I did not comprehend.

'Shall you and I be friends, Hareton?' was my next essay at conversation.

An oath, and a threat to set Throttler on me if I did not 'frame off'rewarded my perseverance.

'Hey, Throttler, lad!' whispered the little wretch, rousing a half-bredbull-dog from its lair in a corner. 'Now, wilt thou be ganging?' heasked authoritatively.

Love for my life urged a compliance; I stepped over the threshold to waittill the others should enter. Mr. Heathcliff was nowhere visible; andJoseph, whom I followed to the stables, and requested to accompany me in,after staring and muttering to himself, screwed up his nose andreplied--'Mim! mim! mim! Did iver Christian body hear aught like it?Mincing un' munching! How can I tell whet ye say?'

'I say, I wish you to come with me into the house!' I cried, thinking himdeaf, yet highly disgusted at his rudeness.

'None o' me! I getten summut else to do,' he answered, and continued hiswork; moving his lantern jaws meanwhile, and surveying my dress andcountenance (the former a great deal too fine, but the latter, I'm sure,as sad as he could desire) with sovereign contempt.

I walked round the yard, and through a wicket, to another door, at whichI took the liberty of knocking, in hopes some more civil servant mightshow himself. After a short suspense, it was opened by a tall, gauntman, without neckerchief, and otherwise extremely slovenly; his featureswere lost in masses of shaggy hair that hung on his shoulders; and _his_eyes, too, were like a ghostly Catherine's with all their beautyannihilated.

'What's your business here?' he demanded, grimly. 'Who are you?'

'My name was Isabella Linton,' I replied. 'You've seen me before, sir.I'm lately married to Mr. Heathcliff, and he has brought me here--Isuppose, by your permission.'

'Is he come back, then?' asked the hermit, glaring like a hungry wolf.

'Yes--we came just now,' I said; 'but he left me by the kitchen door; andwhen I would have gone in, your little boy played sentinel over theplace, and frightened me off by the help of a bull-dog.'

'It's well the hellish villain has kept his word!' growled my futurehost, searching the darkness beyond me in expectation of discoveringHeathcliff; and then he indulged in a soliloquy of execrations, andthreats of what he would have done had the 'fiend' deceived him.

I repented having tried this second entrance, and was almost inclined toslip away before he finished cursing, but ere I could execute thatintention, he ordered me in, and shut and re-fastened the door. Therewas a great fire, and that was all the light in the huge apartment, whosefloor had grown a uniform grey; and the once brilliant pewter-dishes,which used to attract my gaze when I was a girl, partook of a similarobscurity, created by tarnish and dust. I inquired whether I might callthe maid, and be conducted to a bedroom! Mr. Earnshaw vouchsafed noanswer. He walked up and down, with his hands in his pockets, apparentlyquite forgetting my presence; and his abstraction was evidently so deep,and his whole aspect so misanthropical, that I shrank from disturbing himagain.

You'll not be surprised, Ellen, at my feeling particularly cheerless,seated in worse than solitude on that inhospitable hearth, andremembering that four miles distant lay my delightful home, containingthe only people I loved on earth; and there might as well be theAtlantic to part us, instead of those four miles: I could not overpassthem! I questioned with myself--where must I turn for comfort? and--mindyou don't tell Edgar, or Catherine--above every sorrow beside, this rosepre-eminent: despair at finding nobody who could or would be my allyagainst Heathcliff! I had sought shelter at Wuthering Heights, almostgladly, because I was secured by that arrangement from living alone withhim; but he knew the people we were coming amongst, and he did not feartheir intermeddling.

I sat and thought a doleful time: the clock struck eight, and nine, andstill my companion paced to and fro, his head bent on his breast, andperfectly silent, unless a groan or a bitter ejaculation forced itselfout at intervals. I listened to detect a woman's voice in the house, andfilled the interim with wild regrets and dismal anticipations, which, atlast, spoke audibly in irrepressible sighing and weeping. I was notaware how openly I grieved, till Earnshaw halted opposite, in hismeasured walk, and gave me a stare of newly-awakened surprise. Takingadvantage of his recovered attention, I exclaimed--'I'm tired with myjourney, and I want to go to bed! Where is the maid-servant? Direct meto her, as she won't come to me!'

'We have none,' he answered; 'you must wait on yourself!'

'Where must I sleep, then?' I sobbed; I was beyond regardingself-respect, weighed down by fatigue and wretchedness.

'Joseph will show you Heathcliff's chamber,' said he; 'open thatdoor--he's in there.'

I was going to obey, but he suddenly arrested me, and added in thestrangest tone--'Be so good as to turn your lock, and draw yourbolt--don't omit it!'

'Well!' I said. 'But why, Mr. Earnshaw?' I did not relish the notion ofdeliberately fastening myself in with Heathcliff.

'Look here!' he replied, pulling from his waistcoat acuriously-constructed pistol, having a double-edged spring knife attachedto the barrel. 'That's a great tempter to a desperate man, is it not? Icannot resist going up with this every night, and trying his door. Ifonce I find it open he's done for; I do it invariably, even though theminute before I have been recalling a hundred reasons that should make merefrain: it is some devil that urges me to thwart my own schemes bykilling him. You fight against that devil for love as long as you may;when the time comes, not all the angels in heaven shall save him!'

I surveyed the weapon inquisitively. A hideous notion struck me: howpowerful I should be possessing such an instrument! I took it from hishand, and touched the blade. He looked astonished at the expression myface assumed during a brief second: it was not horror, it wascovetousness. He snatched the pistol back, jealously; shut the knife,and returned it to its concealment.

'I don't care if you tell him,' said he. 'Put him on his guard, andwatch for him. You know the terms we are on, I see: his danger does notshock you.'

'What has Heathcliff done to you?' I asked. 'In what has he wronged you,to warrant this appalling hatred? Wouldn't it be wiser to bid him quitthe house?'

'No!' thundered Earnshaw; 'should he offer to leave me, he's a dead man:persuade him to attempt it, and you are a murderess! Am I to lose _all_,without a chance of retrieval? Is Hareton to be a beggar? Oh,damnation! I _will_ have it back; and I'll have _his_ gold too; and thenhis blood; and hell shall have his soul! It will be ten times blackerwith that guest than ever it was before!'

You've acquainted me, Ellen, with your old master's habits. He isclearly on the verge of madness: he was so last night at least. Ishuddered to be near him, and thought on the servant's ill-bredmoroseness as comparatively agreeable. He now recommenced his moodywalk, and I raised the latch, and escaped into the kitchen. Joseph wasbending over the fire, peering into a large pan that swung above it; anda wooden bowl of oatmeal stood on the settle close by. The contents ofthe pan began to boil, and he turned to plunge his hand into the bowl; Iconjectured that this preparation was probably for our supper, and, beinghungry, I resolved it should be eatable; so, crying out sharply, '_I'll_make the porridge!' I removed the vessel out of his reach, and proceededto take off my hat and riding-habit. 'Mr. Earnshaw,' I continued,'directs me to wait on myself: I will. I'm not going to act the ladyamong you, for fear I should starve.'

'Gooid Lord!' he muttered, sitting down, and stroking his ribbedstockings from the knee to the ankle. 'If there's to be freshortherings--just when I getten used to two maisters, if I mun hev' a_mistress_ set o'er my heead, it's like time to be flitting. I niver_did_ think to see t' day that I mud lave th' owld place--but I doubtit's nigh at hand!'

This lamentation drew no notice from me: I went briskly to work, sighingto remember a period when it would have been all merry fun; but compelledspeedily to drive off the remembrance. It racked me to recall pasthappiness and the greater peril there was of conjuring up its apparition,the quicker the thible ran round, and the faster the handfuls of mealfell into the water. Joseph beheld my style of cookery with growingindignation.

'Thear!' he ejaculated. 'Hareton, thou willn't sup thy porridgeto-neeght; they'll be naught but lumps as big as my neive. Thear, agean!I'd fling in bowl un' all, if I wer ye! There, pale t' guilp off, un'then ye'll hae done wi' 't. Bang, bang. It's a mercy t' bothom isn'tdeaved out!'

It _was_ rather a rough mess, I own, when poured into the basins; fourhad been provided, and a gallon pitcher of new milk was brought from thedairy, which Hareton seized and commenced drinking and spilling from theexpansive lip. I expostulated, and desired that he should have his in amug; affirming that I could not taste the liquid treated so dirtily. Theold cynic chose to be vastly offended at this nicety; assuring me,repeatedly, that 'the barn was every bit as good' as I, 'and every bit aswollsome,' and wondering how I could fashion to be so conceited.Meanwhile, the infant ruffian continued sucking; and glowered up at medefyingly, as he slavered into the jug.

'I shall have my supper in another room,' I said. 'Have you no place youcall a parlour?'

'_Parlour_!' he echoed, sneeringly, '_parlour_! Nay, we've noa_parlours_. If yah dunnut loike wer company, there's maister's; un' ifyah dunnut loike maister, there's us.'

'Then I shall go up-stairs,' I answered; 'show me a chamber.'

I put my basin on a tray, and went myself to fetch some more milk. Withgreat grumblings, the fellow rose, and preceded me in my ascent: wemounted to the garrets; he opened a door, now and then, to look into theapartments we passed.

'Here's a rahm,' he said, at last, flinging back a cranky board onhinges. 'It's weel eneugh to ate a few porridge in. There's a pack o'corn i' t' corner, thear, meeterly clane; if ye're feared o' muckying yergrand silk cloes, spread yer hankerchir o' t' top on't.'

The 'rahm' was a kind of lumber-hole smelling strong of malt and grain;various sacks of which articles were piled around, leaving a wide, barespace in the middle.

'Why, man,' I exclaimed, facing him angrily, 'this is not a place tosleep in. I wish to see my bed-room.'

'_Bed-rume_!' he repeated, in a tone of mockery. 'Yah's see all t'_bed-rumes_ thear is--yon's mine.'

He pointed into the second garret, only differing from the first in beingmore naked about the walls, and having a large, low, curtainless bed,with an indigo-coloured quilt, at one end.

'What do I want with yours?' I retorted. 'I suppose Mr. Heathcliff doesnot lodge at the top of the house, does he?'

'Oh! it's Maister _Hathecliff's_ ye're wanting?' cried he, as if making anew discovery. 'Couldn't ye ha' said soa, at onst? un' then, I mud ha'telled ye, baht all this wark, that that's just one ye cannut see--heallas keeps it locked, un' nob'dy iver mells on't but hisseln.'

'You've a nice house, Joseph,' I could not refrain from observing, 'andpleasant inmates; and I think the concentrated essence of all the madnessin the world took up its abode in my brain the day I linked my fate withtheirs! However, that is not to the present purpose--there are otherrooms. For heaven's sake be quick, and let me settle somewhere!'

He made no reply to this adjuration; only plodding doggedly down thewooden steps, and halting, before an apartment which, from that halt andthe superior quality of its furniture, I conjectured to be the best one.There was a carpet--a good one, but the pattern was obliterated by dust;a fireplace hung with cut-paper, dropping to pieces; a handsomeoak-bedstead with ample crimson curtains of rather expensive material andmodern make; but they had evidently experienced rough usage: thevallances hung in festoons, wrenched from their rings, and the iron rodsupporting them was bent in an arc on one side, causing the drapery totrail upon the floor. The chairs were also damaged, many of themseverely; and deep indentations deformed the panels of the walls. I wasendeavouring to gather resolution for entering and taking possession,when my fool of a guide announced,--'This here is t' maister's.' Mysupper by this time was cold, my appetite gone, and my patienceexhausted. I insisted on being provided instantly with a place ofrefuge, and means of repose.

'Whear the divil?' began the religious elder. 'The Lord bless us! TheLord forgie us! Whear the _hell_ wold ye gang? ye marred, wearisomenowt! Ye've seen all but Hareton's bit of a cham'er. There's notanother hoile to lig down in i' th' hahse!'

I was so vexed, I flung my tray and its contents on the ground; and thenseated myself at the stairs'-head, hid my face in my hands, and cried.

'Ech! ech!' exclaimed Joseph. 'Weel done, Miss Cathy! weel done, MissCathy! Howsiver, t' maister sall just tum'le o'er them brooken pots; un'then we's hear summut; we's hear how it's to be. Gooid-for-naughtmadling! ye desarve pining fro' this to Chrustmas, flinging t' preciousgifts o'God under fooit i' yer flaysome rages! But I'm mista'en if yeshew yer sperrit lang. Will Hathecliff bide sich bonny ways, think ye? Inobbut wish he may catch ye i' that plisky. I nobbut wish he may.'

And so he went on scolding to his den beneath, taking the candle withhim; and I remained in the dark. The period of reflection succeedingthis silly action compelled me to admit the necessity of smothering mypride and choking my wrath, and bestirring myself to remove its effects.An unexpected aid presently appeared in the shape of Throttler, whom Inow recognised as a son of our old Skulker: it had spent its whelphoodat the Grange, and was given by my father to Mr. Hindley. I fancy itknew me: it pushed its nose against mine by way of salute, and thenhastened to devour the porridge; while I groped from step to step,collecting the shattered earthenware, and drying the spatters of milkfrom the banister with my pocket-handkerchief. Our labours were scarcelyover when I heard Earnshaw's tread in the passage; my assistant tuckedin his tail, and pressed to the wall; I stole into the nearest doorway.The dog's endeavour to avoid him was unsuccessful; as I guessed by ascutter down-stairs, and a prolonged, piteous yelping. I had betterluck: he passed on, entered his chamber, and shut the door. Directlyafter Joseph came up with Hareton, to put him to bed. I had foundshelter in Hareton's room, and the old man, on seeing me, said,--'They'srahm for boath ye un' yer pride, now, I sud think i' the hahse. It'sempty; ye may hev' it all to yerseln, un' Him as allus maks a third, i'sich ill company!'

Gladly did I take advantage of this intimation; and the minute I flungmyself into a chair, by the fire, I nodded, and slept. My slumber wasdeep and sweet, though over far too soon. Mr. Heathcliff awoke me; hehad just come in, and demanded, in his loving manner, what I was doingthere? I told him the cause of my staying up so late--that he had thekey of our room in his pocket. The adjective _our_ gave mortal offence.He swore it was not, nor ever should be, mine; and he'd--but I'll notrepeat his language, nor describe his habitual conduct: he is ingeniousand unresting in seeking to gain my abhorrence! I sometimes wonder athim with an intensity that deadens my fear: yet, I assure you, a tiger ora venomous serpent could not rouse terror in me equal to that which hewakens. He told me of Catherine's illness, and accused my brother ofcausing it promising that I should be Edgar's proxy in suffering, till hecould get hold of him.

I do hate him--I am wretched--I have been a fool! Beware of uttering onebreath of this to any one at the Grange. I shall expect you everyday--don't disappoint me!--ISABELLA.