But when we reached him, and that was scarcely a quarter of a mile from his own door, we found he had no horse, and we were forced to dismount, and leave ours to graze.
He lay on the heath, awaiting our approach, and did not rise till we came within a few yards. Then, he walked so feebly, and looked so pale, that I immediately exclaimed—
‘Why, Master Heathcliff, you are not fit for enjoying a ramble, this morning. How ill you do look!’
Catherine surveyed him with grief and astonishment; and changed the ejaculation of joy on her lips, to one of alarm; and the congratulation on their long postponed meeting, to an anxious inquiry, whether he were worse than usual?
‘No—better—better!’ he panted, trembling, and retaining her hand as if he needed its support, while his large blue eyes wandered timidly over her; the hollowness round them, transforming to haggard wildness, the languid expression they once possessed.
‘But you have been worse,’ persisted his cousin, ‘worse than when I saw you last—you are thinner, and–’
‘I’m tired,’ he interrupted, hurriedly. ‘It is too hot for walking, let us rest here. And, in the morning, I often feel sick—papa says I grow so fast.’
Badly satisfied, Cathy sat down, and he reclined beside her.
‘This is something like your paradise,’ said she, making an effort at cheerfulness. ‘You recollect the two days we agreed to spend, in the place and way, each thought pleasantest? This is nearly yours, only there are clouds; but then, they are so soft and mellow, it is nicer than sunshine. Next week, if you can, we’ll ride down to the Grange Park, and try mine.’
Linton did not appear to remember what she talked of; and he had evidently great difficulty in sustaining any kind of conversation. His lack of interest in the subjects she started, and his equal incapacity to contribute to her entertainment were so obvious, that she could not conceal her disappointment. An indefinite alteration had come over his whole person and manner. The pettishness that might be caressed into fondness, had yielded to a listless apathy; there was less of the peevish temper of a child which frets and teases on purpose to be soothed, and more of the self-absorbed moroseness of a confirmed invalid, repelling consolation, and ready to regard the good-humoured mirth of others, as an insult.
Catherine perceived, as well as I did, that he held it rather a punishment, than a gratification, to endure our company; and she made no scruple of proposing, presently, to depart.
That proposal, unexpectedly, roused Linton from his lethargy, and threw him into a strange state of agitation. He glanced fearfully towards the Heights, begging she would remain another half-hour, at least.
‘But, I think,’ said Cathy, ‘you’d be more comfortable at home than sitting here; and I cannot amuse you to-day, I see, by my tales, and songs, and chatter; you have grown wiser than I, in these six months; you have little taste for my diversions now; or else, if I could amuse you, I’d willingly stay.’
‘Stay to rest yourself,’ he replied. ‘And, Catherine, don’t think, or say that I’mveryunwell—it is the heavy weather, and heat that make me dull; and I walked about, before you came, a great deal, for me. Tell uncle, I’m in tolerable health, will you?’
‘I’ll tell him thatyousay so, Linton. I couldn’t affirm that you are,’ observed my young lady, wondering at his pertinacious assertion of what was evidently an untruth.
‘And be here again next Thursday,’ continued he, shunning her puzzled gaze. ‘And give him my thanks for permitting you to come—my best thanks, Catherine. And—and, if youdidmeet my father, and he asked you about me, don’t lead him to suppose that I’ve been extremely silent and stupid—don’t look sad and downcast, as youaredoing—he’ll be angry.’
‘I care nothing for his anger,’ exclaimed Cathy, imagining she would be its object.
‘But I do,’ said her cousin, shuddering. ‘Don’tprovoke him against me, Catherine, for he is very hard.’
‘Is he severe to you, Master Heathcliff?’ I inquired. ‘Has he grown weary of indulgence, and passed from passive, to active hatred?’
Linton looked at me, but did not answer; and, after keeping her seat by his side, another ten minutes, during which his head fell drowsily on his breast, and he uttered nothing except suppressed moans of exhaustion, or pain, Cathy began to seek solace in looking for bilberries, and sharing the produce of her researches with me:she did not offer them to him, for she saw further notice would only weary and annoy.
‘Is it half an hour now, Ellen?’ she whispered in my ear, at last. ‘I can’t tell why we should stay. He’s asleep, and papa will be wanting us back.’
‘Well, we must not leave him asleep,’ I answered; ‘wait till he wakes and be patient. You were mighty eager to set off, but your longing to see poor Linton has soon evaporated!’
‘Why didhewish to see me?’ returned Catherine. ‘In his crossest humours, formerly, I liked him better than I do in his present curious mood. It’s just as if it were a task he was compelled to perform—this interview—for fear his father should scold him. But, I’m hardly going to come to give Mr Heathcliff pleasure; whatever reason he may have for ordering Linton to undergo this penance. And, though I’m glad he’s better in health, I’m sorry he’s so much less pleasant, and so much less affectionate to me.’
‘You thinkhe isbetter in health, then?’ I said.
‘Yes,’ she answered; ‘because he always made such a great deal of his sufferings, you know. He is not tolerably well, as he told me to tell papa, but he’s better, very likely.’
‘There you differ with me, Miss Cathy,’ I remarked; ‘I should conjecture him to be far worse.’
Linton here started from his slumber in bewildered terror, and asked if any one had called his name.
‘No,’ said Catherine; ‘unless in dreams. I cannot conceive how you manage to doze, out of doors, in the morning.’
‘I thought I heard my father,’ he gasped, glancing up to the frowning nab above us. ‘You are sure nobody spoke?’
‘Quite sure,’ replied his cousin. ‘Only Ellen and I were disputing concerning your health. Are you truly stronger, Linton, than when we separated in winter? If you be, I’m certain one thing is not stronger—your regard for me—speak, are you?’
