‘Oh! it’s MaisterHathecliff’syah’re wenting?’ cried he, as if making a new discovery. ‘Couldn’t ye uh said soa, at onst? un then, Aw mud uh telled ye, baht all this wark, ut that’s just one yah cannut sea—he allas keeps it locked, un nob’dy iver mells on’t but hisseln.’
‘You’ve a nice house, Joseph,’ I could not refrain from observing, ‘and pleasant inmates; and I think the concentrated essence of all the madness in the world took up its abode in my brain the day I linked my fate with theirs! However, that is not to the present purpose—there are other rooms. For heaven’s sake, be quick, and let me settle somewhere!’
He made no reply to this adjuration; only plodding doggedly down the wooden steps, and halting before an apartment which, from that halt, and the 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 fire-place hung with cut paper dropping to pieces; a handsome oak-bedstead with ample crimson curtains of rather expensive material, and modern make. But they had evidently experienced rough usage: the valances hung in festoons, wrenched from their rings, and the iron rod supporting them was bent in an arc, on one side, causing thedrapery to trail upon the floor. The chairs were also damaged, many of them severely; and deep indentations deformed the panels of the walls.
I was endeavouring to gather resolution for entering, and taking possession, when my fool of a guide announced—
‘This here is t’ maister’s.’
My supper by this time was cold, my appetite gone, and my patience exhausted. I insisted on being provided instantly with a place of refuge, and means of repose.
‘Whear the divil,’ began the religious elder. ‘The Lord bless us! The Lord forgie us! Whear thehell, wold ye gang? ye marred, wearisome nowt! Yah seen all bud Hareton’s bit uf a cham’er. They’s nut another hoile tuh lig dahn in i’ th’ hahse!’
I was so vexed, I flung my tray and its contents on the ground; and then seated myself at the stairs-head, hid my face in my hands, and cried.
‘Ech! ech!’ exclaimed Joseph. ‘Weel done, Miss Cathy! weel done, Miss Cathy! Hahsiver, t’ maister sall just tum’le o’er them brocken pots; un’ then we’s hear summut; we’s hear hah it’s tuh be. Gooid-fur-nowt madling! yah desarve pining froo this tuh Churstmas, flinging t’ precious gifts uh God under fooit i’ yer flaysome rages! Bud, Aw’m mista’en if yah shew yer sperrit lang. Will Hathecliff bide sich bonny ways, think ye? Aw nobbut wish he muh cotch ye i’ that plisky. Aw nobbut wish he may.’
And so he went scolding to his den beneath, taking the candle with him, and I remained in the dark.
The period of reflection succeeding this silly action, compelled me to admit the necessity of smothering my pride, and choking my wrath, and bestirring myself to remove its effects.
An unexpected aid presently appeared in the shape of Throttler, whom I now recognised as a son of our old Skulker; it had spent its whelphood at the Grange, and was given by my father to Mr Hindley. I fancy it knew me—it pushed its nose against mine by way of salute, and then hastened to devour the porridge, while I groped from step to step, collecting the shattered earthenware, and drying the spatters of milk from the bannister with my pocket-handkerchief.
Our labours were scarcely over when I heard Earnshaw’s tread in the passage; my assistant tucked in 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 a scutter down stairs, and a prolonged, piteous yelping. I had better luck. He passed on, entered his chamber, and shut the door.
Directly after Joseph came up with Hareton, to put him to bed. I had found shelter in Hareton’s room, and the old man, on seeing me, said—
‘They’s rahm fur boath yah, un yer pride, nah, Aw sud think, i’ th’ hahse. It’s empty; yah muh hev it all tuh yerseln, un Him as allas maks a third, i’ sich ill company!’
Gladly did I take advantage of this intimation; and the minute I flung myself into a chair, by the fire, I nodded, and slept.
My slumber was deep, and sweet, though over far too soon. Mr Heathcliff awoke me; he had just come in, and demanded, in his loving manner, what I was doing there?
I told him the cause of my staying up so late—that he had the key of our room in his pocket.
The adjectiveourgave mortal offence. He swore it was not, nor ever should be mine; and he’d—but I’ll not repeat his language, nor describe his habitual conduct; he is ingenious and unresting in seeking to gain my abhorrence! I sometimes wonder at him with an intensity that deadens my fear; yet, I assure you, a tiger, or a venomous serpent could not rouse terror in me equal to that which he wakens. He told me of Catherine’s illness, and accused my brother of causing it; promising that I should be Edgar’s proxy in suffering, till he could get a hold of him.
I do hate him—I am wretched—I have been a fool! Beware of uttering one breath of this to any one at the Grange. I shall expect you every day—don’t disappoint me!
ISABELLA.
Chapter XIV
As soon as I had perused this epistle, I went to the master, and informed him that his sister had arrived at the Heights, and sent me a letter expressing her sorrow for Mrs Linton’s situation, and her ardent desire to see him; with a wish that he would transmit to her, as early as possible, some token of forgiveness by me.
‘Forgiveness?’ said Linton. ‘I have nothing to forgive her, Ellen—you may call at Wuthering Heights this afternoon, if you like, and say that I am notangry, but I’msorryto have lost her: especially as I can never think she’ll be happy. It is out of the question my going to see her, however; we are eternally divided; and should she really wish to oblige me, let her persuade the villain she has married to leave the country.’
‘And you won’t write her a little note, sir?’ I asked, imploringly.
‘No,’ he answered. ‘It is needless. My communication with Heathcliff’s family shall be as sparing as his with mine. It shall not exist!’
Mr Edgar’s coldness depressed me exceedingly; and all the way from the Grange, I puzzled my brains how to put more heart into what he said, when I repeated it; and how to soften his refusal of even a few lines to console Isabella.
I dare say she had been on the watch for me since morning: I saw her looking through the lattice, as I came up the garden causeway and I nodded to her; but she drew back, as if afraid of being observed.
I entered without knocking. There never was such a dreary, dismal scene as the formerly cheerful house presented! I must confess that, if I had been in the young lady’s place, I would, at least, have swept the hearth, and wiped the tables with a duster. But she already partook of the pervading spirit of neglect which encompassed her. Her pretty face was wan and listless; her hair uncurled; some locks hanging lankly down, and some carelessly twisted round her head. Probably she had not touched her dress since yester evening.
