CHAPTER XXVII
Seven days glided away, every one marking its course by the henceforthrapid alteration of Edgar Linton's state. The havoc that months hadpreviously wrought was now emulated by the inroads of hours. Catherinewe would fain have deluded yet; but her own quick spirit refused todelude her: it divined in secret, and brooded on the dreadfulprobability, gradually ripening into certainty. She had not the heart tomention her ride, when Thursday came round; I mentioned it for her, andobtained permission to order her out of doors: for the library, where herfather stopped a short time daily--the brief period he could bear to situp--and his chamber, had become her whole world. She grudged each momentthat did not find her bending over his pillow, or seated by his side. Hercountenance grew wan with watching and sorrow, and my master gladlydismissed her to what he flattered himself would be a happy change ofscene and society; drawing comfort from the hope that she would not nowbe left entirely alone after his death.
He had a fixed idea, I guessed by several observations he let fall, that,as his nephew resembled him in person, he would resemble him in mind; forLinton's letters bore few or no indications of his defective character.And I, through pardonable weakness, refrained from correcting the error;asking myself what good there would be in disturbing his last momentswith information that he had neither power nor opportunity to turn toaccount.
We deferred our excursion till the afternoon; a golden afternoon ofAugust: every breath from the hills so full of life, that it seemedwhoever respired it, though dying, might revive. Catherine's face wasjust like the landscape--shadows and sunshine flitting over it in rapidsuccession; but the shadows rested longer, and the sunshine was moretransient; and her poor little heart reproached itself for even thatpassing forgetfulness of its cares.
We discerned Linton watching at the same spot he had selected before. Myyoung mistress alighted, and told me that, as she was resolved to stay avery little while, I had better hold the pony and remain on horseback;but I dissented: I wouldn't risk losing sight of the charge committed tome a minute; so we climbed the slope of heath together. MasterHeathcliff received us with greater animation on this occasion: not theanimation of high spirits though, nor yet of joy; it looked more likefear.
'It is late!' he said, speaking short and with difficulty. 'Is not yourfather very ill? I thought you wouldn't come.'
'_Why_ won't you be candid?' cried Catherine, swallowing her greeting.'Why cannot you say at once you don't want me? It is strange, Linton,that for the second time you have brought me here on purpose, apparentlyto distress us both, and for no reason besides!'
Linton shivered, and glanced at her, half supplicating, half ashamed; buthis cousin's patience was not sufficient to endure this enigmaticalbehaviour.
'My father _is_ very ill,' she said; 'and why am I called from hisbedside? Why didn't you send to absolve me from my promise, when youwished I wouldn't keep it? Come! I desire an explanation: playing andtrifling are completely banished out of my mind; and I can't danceattendance on your affectations now!'
'My affectations!' he murmured; 'what are they? For heaven's sake,Catherine, don't look so angry! Despise me as much as you please; I am aworthless, cowardly wretch: I can't be scorned enough; but I'm too meanfor your anger. Hate my father, and spare me for contempt.'
'Nonsense!' cried Catherine in a passion. 'Foolish, silly boy! Andthere! he trembles: as if I were really going to touch him! You needn'tbespeak contempt, Linton: anybody will have it spontaneously at yourservice. Get off! I shall return home: it is folly dragging you fromthe hearth-stone, and pretending--what do we pretend? Let go my frock!If I pitied you for crying and looking so very frightened, you shouldspurn such pity. Ellen, tell him how disgraceful this conduct is. Rise,and don't degrade yourself into an abject reptile--_don't_!'
With streaming face and an expression of agony, Linton had thrown hisnerveless frame along the ground: he seemed convulsed with exquisiteterror.
'Oh!' he sobbed, 'I cannot bear it! Catherine, Catherine, I'm a traitor,too, and I dare not tell you! But leave me, and I shall be killed!_Dear_ Catherine, my life is in your hands: and you have said you lovedme, and if you did, it wouldn't harm you. You'll not go, then? kind,sweet, good Catherine! And perhaps you _will_ consent--and he'll let medie with you!'
My young lady, on witnessing his intense anguish, stooped to raise him.The old feeling of indulgent tenderness overcame her vexation, and shegrew thoroughly moved and alarmed.
'Consent to what?' she asked. 'To stay! tell me the meaning of thisstrange talk, and I will. You contradict your own words, and distractme! Be calm and frank, and confess at once all that weighs on yourheart. You wouldn't injure me, Linton, would you? You wouldn't let anyenemy hurt me, if you could prevent it? I'll believe you are a coward,for yourself, but not a cowardly betrayer of your best friend.'
'But my father threatened me,' gasped the boy, clasping his attenuatedfingers, 'and I dread him--I dread him! I _dare_ not tell!'
'Oh, well!' said Catherine, with scornful compassion, 'keep your secret:_I'm_ no coward. Save yourself: I'm not afraid!'
Her magnanimity provoked his tears: he wept wildly, kissing hersupporting hands, and yet could not summon courage to speak out. I wascogitating what the mystery might be, and determined Catherine shouldnever suffer to benefit him or any one else, by my good will; when,hearing a rustle among the ling, I looked up and saw Mr. Heathcliffalmost close upon us, descending the Heights. He didn't cast a glancetowards my companions, though they were sufficiently near for Linton'ssobs to be audible; but hailing me in the almost hearty tone he assumedto none besides, and the sincerity of which I couldn't avoid doubting, hesaid--
'It is something to see you so near to my house, Nelly. How are you atthe Grange? Let us hear. The rumour goes,' he added, in a lower tone,'that Edgar Linton is on his death-bed: perhaps they exaggerate hisillness?'
'No; my master is dying,' I replied: 'it is true enough. A sad thing itwill be for us all, but a blessing for him!'
'How long will he last, do you think?' he asked.
'I don't know,' I said.
'Because,' he continued, looking at the two young people, who were fixedunder his eye--Linton appeared as if he could not venture to stir orraise his head, and Catherine could not move, on his account--'becausethat lad yonder seems determined to beat me; and I'd thank his uncle tobe quick, and go before him! Hallo! has the whelp been playing that gamelong? I _did_ give him some lessons about snivelling. Is he prettylively with Miss Linton generally?'
'Lively? no--he has shown the greatest distress,' I answered. 'To seehim, I should say, that instead of rambling with his sweetheart on thehills, he ought to be in bed, under the hands of a doctor.'
'He shall be, in a day or two,' muttered Heathcliff. 'But first--get up,Linton! Get up!' he shouted. 'Don't grovel on the ground there up, thismoment!'
Linton had sunk prostrate again in another paroxysm of helpless fear,caused by his father's glance towards him, I suppose: there was nothingelse to produce such humiliation. He made several efforts to obey, buthis little strength was annihilated for the time, and he fell back againwith a moan. Mr. Heathcliff advanced, and lifted him to lean against aridge of turf.
'Now,' said he, with curbed ferocity, 'I'm getting angry and if you don'tcommand that paltry spirit of yours--_damn_ you! get up directly!'
'I will, father,' he panted. 'Only, let me alone, or I shall faint. I'vedone as you wished, I'm sure. Catherine will tell you that I--thatI--have been cheerful. Ah! keep by me, Catherine; give me your hand.'
'Take mine,' said his father; 'stand on your feet. There now--she'lllend you her arm: that's right, look at her. You would imagine I was thedevil himself, Miss Linton, to excite such horror. Be so kind as to walkhome with him, will you? He shudders if I touch him.'
'Linton dear!' whispered Catherine, 'I can't go to Wuthering Heights:papa has forbidden me. He'll not harm you: why are you so afraid?'
'I can never re-enter that house,' he answered. 'I'm _not_ to re-enterit without you!'
'Stop!' cried his father. 'We'll respect Catherine's filial scruples.Nelly, take him in, and I'll follow your advice concerning the doctor,without delay.'
'You'll do well,' replied I. 'But I must remain with my mistress: tomind your son is not my business.'
'You are very stiff,' said Heathcliff, 'I know that: but you'll force meto pinch the baby and make it scream before it moves your charity. Come,then, my hero. Are you willing to return, escorted by me?'
He approached once more, and made as if he would seize the fragile being;but, shrinking back, Linton clung to his cousin, and implored her toaccompany him, with a frantic importunity that admitted no denial.However I disapproved, I couldn't hinder her: indeed, how could she haverefused him herself? What was filling him with dread we had no means ofdiscerning; but there he was, powerless under its grip, and any additionseemed capable of shocking him into idiotcy. We reached the threshold;Catherine walked in, and I stood waiting till she had conducted theinvalid to a chair, expecting her out immediately; when Mr. Heathcliff,pushing me forward, exclaimed--'My house is not stricken with the plague,Nelly; and I have a mind to be hospitable to-day: sit down, and allow meto shut the door.'
He shut and locked it also. I started.
'You shall have tea before you go home,' he added. 'I am by myself.Hareton is gone with some cattle to the Lees, and Zillah and Joseph areoff on a journey of pleasure; and, though I'm used to being alone, I'drather have some interesting company, if I can get it. Miss Linton, takeyour seat by _him_. I give you what I have: the present is hardly worthaccepting; but I have nothing else to offer. It is Linton, I mean. Howshe does stare! It's odd what a savage feeling I have to anything thatseems afraid of me! Had I been born where laws are less strict andtastes less dainty, I should treat myself to a slow vivisection of thosetwo, as an evening's amusement.'
He drew in his breath, struck the table, and swore to himself, 'By hell!I hate them.'
'I am not afraid of you!' exclaimed Catherine, who could not hear thelatter part of his speech. She stepped close up; her black eyes flashingwith passion and resolution. 'Give me that key: I will have it!' shesaid. 'I wouldn't eat or drink here, if I were starving.'
Heathcliff had the key in his hand that remained on the table. He lookedup, seized with a sort of surprise at her boldness; or, possibly,reminded, by her voice and glance, of the person from whom she inheritedit. She snatched at the instrument, and half succeeded in getting it outof his loosened fingers: but her action recalled him to the present; herecovered it speedily.
'Now, Catherine Linton,' he said, 'stand off, or I shall knock you down;and, that will make Mrs. Dean mad.'
Regardless of this warning, she captured his closed hand and its contentsagain. 'We _will_ go!' she repeated, exerting her utmost efforts to causethe iron muscles to relax; and finding that her nails made no impression,she applied her teeth pretty sharply. Heathcliff glanced at me a glancethat kept me from interfering a moment. Catherine was too intent on hisfingers to notice his face. He opened them suddenly, and resigned theobject of dispute; but, ere she had well secured it, he seized her withthe liberated hand, and, pulling her on his knee, administered with theother a shower of terrific slaps on both sides of the head, eachsufficient to have fulfilled his threat, had she been able to fall.
At this diabolical violence I rushed on him furiously. 'You villain!' Ibegan to cry, 'you villain!' A touch on the chest silenced me: I amstout, and soon put out of breath; and, what with that and the rage, Istaggered dizzily back and felt ready to suffocate, or to burst ablood-vessel. The scene was over in two minutes; Catherine, released,put her two hands to her temples, and looked just as if she were notsure whether her ears were off or on. She trembled like a reed, poorthing, and leant against the table perfectly bewildered.
'I know how to chastise children, you see,' said the scoundrel, grimly,as he stooped to repossess himself of the key, which had dropped to thefloor. 'Go to Linton now, as I told you; and cry at your ease! I shallbe your father, to-morrow--all the father you'll have in a few days--andyou shall have plenty of that. You can bear plenty; you're no weakling:you shall have a daily taste, if I catch such a devil of a temper in youreyes again!'
Cathy ran to me instead of Linton, and knelt down and put her burningcheek on my lap, weeping aloud. Her cousin had shrunk into a corner ofthe settle, as quiet as a mouse, congratulating himself, I dare say, thatthe correction had alighted on another than him. Mr. Heathcliff,perceiving us all confounded, rose, and expeditiously made the teahimself. The cups and saucers were laid ready. He poured it out, andhanded me a cup.
'Wash away your spleen,' he said. 'And help your own naughty pet andmine. It is not poisoned, though I prepared it. I'm going out to seekyour horses.'
Our first thought, on his departure, was to force an exit somewhere. Wetried the kitchen door, but that was fastened outside: we looked at thewindows--they were too narrow for even Cathy's little figure.
'Master Linton,' I cried, seeing we were regularly imprisoned, 'you knowwhat your diabolical father is after, and you shall tell us, or I'll boxyour ears, as he has done your cousin's.'
'Yes, Linton, you must tell,' said Catherine. 'It was for your sake Icame; and it will be wickedly ungrateful if you refuse.'
'Give me some tea, I'm thirsty, and then I'll tell you,' he answered.'Mrs. Dean, go away. I don't like you standing over me. Now, Catherine,you are letting your tears fall into my cup. I won't drink that. Giveme another.' Catherine pushed another to him, and wiped her face. Ifelt disgusted at the little wretch's composure, since he was no longerin terror for himself. The anguish he had exhibited on the moor subsidedas soon as ever he entered Wuthering Heights; so I guessed he had beenmenaced with an awful visitation of wrath if he failed in decoying usthere; and, that accomplished, he had no further immediate fears.
'Papa wants us to be married,' he continued, after sipping some of theliquid. 'And he knows your papa wouldn't let us marry now; and he'safraid of my dying if we wait; so we are to be married in the morning,and you are to stay here all night; and, if you do as he wishes, youshall return home next day, and take me with you.'
'Take you with her, pitiful changeling!' I exclaimed. '_You_ marry? Why,the man is mad! or he thinks us fools, every one. And do you imaginethat beautiful young lady, that healthy, hearty girl, will tie herself toa little perishing monkey like you? Are you cherishing the notion thatanybody, let alone Miss Catherine Linton, would have you for a husband?You want whipping for bringing us in here at all, with your dastardlypuling tricks: and--don't look so silly, now! I've a very good mind toshake you severely, for your contemptible treachery, and your imbecileconceit.'
I did give him a slight shaking; but it brought on the cough, and he tookto his ordinary resource of moaning and weeping, and Catherine rebukedme.
'Stay all night? No,' she said, looking slowly round. 'Ellen, I'll burnthat door down but I'll get out.'
And she would have commenced the execution of her threat directly, butLinton was up in alarm for his dear self again. He clasped her in histwo feeble arms sobbing:--'Won't you have me, and save me? not let mecome to the Grange? Oh, darling Catherine! you mustn't go and leave,after all. You _must_ obey my father--you _must_!'
'I must obey my own,' she replied, 'and relieve him from this cruelsuspense. The whole night! What would he think? He'll be distressedalready. I'll either break or burn a way out of the house. Be quiet!You're in no danger; but if you hinder me--Linton, I love papa betterthan you!' The mortal terror he felt of Mr. Heathcliff's anger restoredto the boy his coward's eloquence. Catherine was near distraught: still,she persisted that she must go home, and tried entreaty in her turn,persuading him to subdue his selfish agony. While they were thusoccupied, our jailor re-entered.
'Your beasts have trotted off,' he said, 'and--now Linton! snivellingagain? What has she been doing to you? Come, come--have done, and getto bed. In a month or two, my lad, you'll be able to pay her back herpresent tyrannies with a vigorous hand. You're pining for pure love, areyou not? nothing else in the world: and she shall have you! There, tobed! Zillah won't be here to-night; you must undress yourself. Hush!hold your noise! Once in your own room, I'll not come near you: youneedn't fear. By chance, you've managed tolerably. I'll look to therest.'
He spoke these words, holding the door open for his son to pass, and thelatter achieved his exit exactly as a spaniel might which suspected theperson who attended on it of designing a spiteful squeeze. The lock wasre-secured. Heathcliff approached the fire, where my mistress and Istood silent. Catherine looked up, and instinctively raised her hand toher cheek: his neighbourhood revived a painful sensation. Anybody elsewould have been incapable of regarding the childish act with sternness,but he scowled on her and muttered--'Oh! you are not afraid of me? Yourcourage is well disguised: you seem damnably afraid!'
'I _am_ afraid now,' she replied, 'because, if I stay, papa will bemiserable: and how can I endure making him miserable--when he--whenhe--Mr. Heathcliff, let _me_ go home! I promise to marry Linton: papawould like me to: and I love him. Why should you wish to force me to dowhat I'll willingly do of myself?'
'Let him dare to force you,' I cried. 'There's law in the land, thankGod! there is; though we be in an out-of-the-way place. I'd inform if hewere my own son: and it's felony without benefit of clergy!'
'Silence!' said the ruffian. 'To the devil with your clamour! I don'twant _you_ to speak. Miss Linton, I shall enjoy myself remarkably inthinking your father will be miserable: I shall not sleep forsatisfaction. You could have hit on no surer way of fixing yourresidence under my roof for the next twenty-four hours than informing methat such an event would follow. As to your promise to marry Linton,I'll take care you shall keep it; for you shall not quit this place tillit is fulfilled.'
'Send Ellen, then, to let papa know I'm safe!' exclaimed Catherine,weeping bitterly. 'Or marry me now. Poor papa! Ellen, he'll thinkwe're lost. What shall we do?'
'Not he! He'll think you are tired of waiting on him, and run off for alittle amusement,' answered Heathcliff. 'You cannot deny that youentered my house of your own accord, in contempt of his injunctions tothe contrary. And it is quite natural that you should desire amusementat your age; and that you would weary of nursing a sick man, and that man_only_ your father. Catherine, his happiest days were over when yourdays began. He cursed you, I dare say, for coming into the world (I did,at least); and it would just do if he cursed you as _he_ went out of it.I'd join him. I don't love you! How should I? Weep away. As far as Ican see, it will be your chief diversion hereafter; unless Linton makeamends for other losses: and your provident parent appears to fancy hemay. His letters of advice and consolation entertained me vastly. Inhis last he recommended my jewel to be careful of his; and kind to herwhen he got her. Careful and kind--that's paternal. But Linton requireshis whole stock of care and kindness for himself. Linton can play thelittle tyrant well. He'll undertake to torture any number of cats, iftheir teeth be drawn and their claws pared. You'll be able to tell hisuncle fine tales of his _kindness_, when you get home again, I assureyou.'
'You're right there!' I said; 'explain your son's character. Show hisresemblance to yourself: and then, I hope, Miss Cathy will think twicebefore she takes the cockatrice!'
'I don't much mind speaking of his amiable qualities now,' he answered;'because she must either accept him or remain a prisoner, and you alongwith her, till your master dies. I can detain you both, quite concealed,here. If you doubt, encourage her to retract her word, and you'll havean opportunity of judging!'
'I'll not retract my word,' said Catherine. 'I'll marry him within thishour, if I may go to Thrushcross Grange afterwards. Mr. Heathcliff,you're a cruel man, but you're not a fiend; and you won't, from _mere_malice, destroy irrevocably all my happiness. If papa thought I had lefthim on purpose, and if he died before I returned, could I bear to live?I've given over crying: but I'm going to kneel here, at your knee; andI'll not get up, and I'll not take my eyes from your face till you lookback at me! No, don't turn away! _do look_! you'll see nothing toprovoke you. I don't hate you. I'm not angry that you struck me. Haveyou never loved _anybody_ in all your life, uncle? _never_? Ah! you mustlook once. I'm so wretched, you can't help being sorry and pitying me.'
'Keep your eft's fingers off; and move, or I'll kick you!' criedHeathcliff, brutally repulsing her. 'I'd rather be hugged by a snake.How the devil can you dream of fawning on me? I _detest_ you!'
He shrugged his shoulders: shook himself, indeed, as if his flesh creptwith aversion; and thrust back his chair; while I got up, and opened mymouth, to commence a downright torrent of abuse. But I was rendered dumbin the middle of the first sentence, by a threat that I should be showninto a room by myself the very next syllable I uttered. It was growingdark--we heard a sound of voices at the garden-gate. Our host hurriedout instantly: _he_ had his wits about him; _we_ had not. There was atalk of two or three minutes, and he returned alone.
'I thought it had been your cousin Hareton,' I observed to Catherine. 'Iwish he would arrive! Who knows but he might take our part?'
'It was three servants sent to seek you from the Grange,' saidHeathcliff, overhearing me. 'You should have opened a lattice and calledout: but I could swear that chit is glad you didn't. She's glad to beobliged to stay, I'm certain.'
At learning the chance we had missed, we both gave vent to our griefwithout control; and he allowed us to wail on till nine o'clock. Then hebid us go upstairs, through the kitchen, to Zillah's chamber; and Iwhispered my companion to obey: perhaps we might contrive to get throughthe window there, or into a garret, and out by its skylight. The window,however, was narrow, like those below, and the garret trap was safe fromour attempts; for we were fastened in as before. We neither of us laydown: Catherine took her station by the lattice, and watched anxiouslyfor morning; a deep sigh being the only answer I could obtain to myfrequent entreaties that she would try to rest. I seated myself in achair, and rocked to and fro, passing harsh judgment on my manyderelictions of duty; from which, it struck me then, all the misfortunesof my employers sprang. It was not the case, in reality, I am aware; butit was, in my imagination, that dismal night; and I thought Heathcliffhimself less guilty than I.
At seven o'clock he came, and inquired if Miss Linton had risen. She ranto the door immediately, and answered, 'Yes.' 'Here, then,' he said,opening it, and pulling her out. I rose to follow, but he turned thelock again. I demanded my release.
'Be patient,' he replied; 'I'll send up your breakfast in a while.'
I thumped on the panels, and rattled the latch angrily and Catherineasked why I was still shut up? He answered, I must try to endure itanother hour, and they went away. I endured it two or three hours; atlength, I heard a footstep: not Heathcliff's.
'I've brought you something to eat,' said a voice; 'oppen t' door!'
Complying eagerly, I beheld Hareton, laden with food enough to last meall day.
'Tak' it,' he added, thrusting the tray into my hand.
'Stay one minute,' I began.
'Nay,' cried he, and retired, regardless of any prayers I could pourforth to detain him.
And there I remained enclosed the whole day, and the whole of the nextnight; and another, and another. Five nights and four days I remained,altogether, seeing nobody but Hareton once every morning; and he was amodel of a jailor: surly, and dumb, and deaf to every attempt at movinghis sense of justice or compassion.