* * * * *<\/p>\r\nThus ended Mrs. Dean\u2019s story. Notwithstanding the doctor\u2019s prophecy, I am rapidly recovering strength; and though it be only the second week in January, I propose getting out on horseback in a day or two, and riding over to Wuthering Heights, to inform my landlord that I shall spend the next six months in London; and, if he likes, he may look out for another tenant to take the place after October. I would not pass another winter here for much.","rendered":"
I have paid a visit to the Heights, but I have not seen her since she left: Joseph held the door in his hand when I called to ask after her, and wouldn\u2019t let me pass. He said Mrs. Linton was \u201cthrang,\u201d and the master was not in. Zillah has told me something of the way they go on, otherwise I should hardly know who was dead and who living. She thinks Catherine haughty, and does not like her, I can guess by her talk. My young lady asked some aid of her when she first came; but Mr. Heathcliff told her to follow her own business, and let his daughter-in-law look after herself; and Zillah willingly acquiesced, being a narrow-minded, selfish woman. Catherine evinced a child\u2019s annoyance at this neglect; repaid it with contempt, and thus enlisted my informant among her enemies, as securely as if she had done her some great wrong. I had a long talk with Zillah about six weeks ago, a little before you came, one day when we foregathered on the moor; and this is what she told me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first thing Mrs. Linton did,\u201d she said, \u201con her arrival at the Heights, was to run upstairs, without even wishing good-evening to me and Joseph; she shut herself into Linton\u2019s room, and remained till morning. Then, while the master and Earnshaw were at breakfast, she entered the house, and asked all in a quiver if the doctor might be sent for? her cousin was very ill.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018We know that!\u2019 answered Heathcliff; \u2018but his life is not worth a farthing, and I won\u2019t spend a farthing on him.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018But I cannot tell how to do,\u2019 she said; \u2018and if nobody will help me, he\u2019ll die!\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Walk out of the room,\u2019 cried the master, \u2018and let me never hear a word more about him! None here care what becomes of him; if you do, act the nurse; if you do not, lock him up and leave him.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cThen she began to bother me, and I said I\u2019d had enough plague with the tiresome thing; we each had our tasks, and hers was to wait on Linton: Mr. Heathcliff bid me leave that labour to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow they managed together, I can\u2019t tell. I fancy he fretted a great deal, and moaned hisseln night and day; and she had precious little rest: one could guess by her white face and heavy eyes. She sometimes came into the kitchen all wildered like, and looked as if she would fain beg assistance; but I was not going to disobey the master: I never dare disobey him, Mrs. Dean; and, though I thought it wrong that Kenneth should not be sent for, it was no concern of mine either to advise or complain, and I always refused to meddle. Once or twice, after we had gone to bed, I\u2019ve happened to open my door again and seen her sitting crying on the stairs\u2019-top; and then I\u2019ve shut myself in quick, for fear of being moved to interfere. I did pity her then, I\u2019m sure: still I didn\u2019t wish to lose my place, you know.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt last, one night she came boldly into my chamber, and frightened me out of my wits, by saying, \u2018Tell Mr. Heathcliff that his son is dying\u2014I\u2019m sure he is, this time. Get up, instantly, and tell him.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving uttered this speech, she vanished again. I lay a quarter of an hour listening and trembling. Nothing stirred\u2014the house was quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s mistaken, I said to myself. He\u2019s got over it. I needn\u2019t disturb them; and I began to doze. But my sleep was marred a second time by a sharp ringing of the bell\u2014the only bell we have, put up on purpose for Linton; and the master called to me to see what was the matter, and inform them that he wouldn\u2019t have that noise repeated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI delivered Catherine\u2019s message. He cursed to himself, and in a few minutes came out with a lighted candle, and proceeded to their room. I followed. Mrs. Heathcliff was seated by the bedside, with her hands folded on her knees. Her father-in-law went up, held the light to Linton\u2019s face, looked at him, and touched him; afterwards he turned to her.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Now\u2014Catherine,\u2019 he said, \u2018how do you feel?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was dumb.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018How do you feel, Catherine?\u2019 he repeated.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018He\u2019s safe, and I\u2019m free,\u2019 she answered: \u2018I should feel well\u2014but,\u2019 she continued, with a bitterness she couldn\u2019t conceal, \u2018you have left me so long to struggle against death alone, that I feel and see only death! I feel like death!\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she looked like it, too! I gave her a little wine. Hareton and Joseph, who had been wakened by the ringing and the sound of feet, and heard our talk from outside, now entered. Joseph was fain, I believe, of the lad\u2019s removal; Hareton seemed a thought bothered: though he was more taken up with staring at Catherine than thinking of Linton. But the master bid him get off to bed again: we didn\u2019t want his help. He afterwards made Joseph remove the body to his chamber, and told me to return to mine, and Mrs. Heathcliff remained by herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the morning, he sent me to tell her she must come down to breakfast: she had undressed, and appeared going to sleep, and said she was ill; at which I hardly wondered. I informed Mr. Heathcliff, and he replied,\u2014\u2018Well, let her be till after the funeral; and go up now and then to get her what is needful; and, as soon as she seems better, tell me.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Cathy stayed upstairs a fortnight, according to Zillah; who visited her twice a day, and would have been rather more friendly, but her attempts at increasing kindness were proudly and promptly repelled.<\/p>\n
Heathcliff went up once, to show her Linton\u2019s will. He had bequeathed the whole of his, and what had been her, moveable property, to his father: the poor creature was threatened, or coaxed, into that act during her week\u2019s absence, when his uncle died. The lands, being a minor, he could not meddle with. However, Mr. Heathcliff has claimed and kept them in his wife\u2019s right and his also: I suppose legally; at any rate, Catherine, destitute of cash and friends, cannot disturb his possession.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody,\u201d said Zillah, \u201cever approached her door, except that once, but I; and nobody asked anything about her. The first occasion of her coming down into the house was on a Sunday afternoon. She had cried out, when I carried up her dinner, that she couldn\u2019t bear any longer being in the cold; and I told her the master was going to Thrushcross Grange, and Earnshaw and I needn\u2019t hinder her from descending; so, as soon as she heard Heathcliff\u2019s horse trot off, she made her appearance, donned in black, and her yellow curls combed back behind her ears as plain as a Quaker: she couldn\u2019t comb them out.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoseph and I generally go to chapel on Sundays:\u201d the kirk, you know, has no minister now, explained Mrs. Dean; and they call the Methodists\u2019 or Baptists\u2019 place (I can\u2019t say which it is) at Gimmerton, a chapel. \u201cJoseph had gone,\u201d she continued, \u201cbut I thought proper to bide at home. Young folks are always the better for an elder\u2019s over-looking; and Hareton, with all his bashfulness, isn\u2019t a model of nice behaviour. I let him know that his cousin would very likely sit with us, and she had been always used to see the Sabbath respected; so he had as good leave his guns and bits of indoor work alone, while she stayed. He coloured up at the news, and cast his eyes over his hands and clothes. The train-oil and gunpowder were shoved out of sight in a minute. I saw he meant to give her his company; and I guessed, by his way, he wanted to be presentable; so, laughing, as I durst not laugh when the master is by, I offered to help him, if he would, and joked at his confusion. He grew sullen, and began to swear.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, Mrs. Dean,\u201d Zillah went on, seeing me not pleased by her manner, \u201cyou happen think your young lady too fine for Mr. Hareton; and happen you\u2019re right: but I own I should love well to bring her pride a peg lower. And what will all her learning and her daintiness do for her, now? She\u2019s as poor as you or I: poorer, I\u2019ll be bound: you\u2019re saying, and I\u2019m doing my little all that road.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hareton allowed Zillah to give him her aid; and she flattered him into a good humour; so, when Catherine came, half forgetting her former insults, he tried to make himself agreeable, by the housekeeper\u2019s account.<\/p>\n
\u201cMissis walked in,\u201d she said, \u201cas chill as an icicle, and as high as a princess. I got up and offered her my seat in the arm-chair. No, she turned up her nose at my civility. Earnshaw rose, too, and bid her come to the settle, and sit close by the fire: he was sure she was starved.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018I\u2019ve been starved a month and more,\u2019 she answered, resting on the word as scornful as she could.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she got a chair for herself, and placed it at a distance from both of us. Having sat till she was warm, she began to look round, and discovered a number of books on the dresser; she was instantly upon her feet again, stretching to reach them: but they were too high up. Her cousin, after watching her endeavours a while, at last summoned courage to help her; she held her frock, and he filled it with the first that came to hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a great advance for the lad. She didn\u2019t thank him; still, he felt gratified that she had accepted his assistance, and ventured to stand behind as she examined them, and even to stoop and point out what struck his fancy in certain old pictures which they contained; nor was he daunted by the saucy style in which she jerked the page from his finger: he contented himself with going a bit farther back and looking at her instead of the book. She continued reading, or seeking for something to read. His attention became, by degrees, quite centred in the study of her thick silky curls: her face he couldn\u2019t see, and she couldn\u2019t see him. And, perhaps, not quite awake to what he did, but attracted like a child to a candle, at last he proceeded from staring to touching; he put out his hand and stroked one curl, as gently as if it were a bird. He might have stuck a knife into her neck, she started round in such a taking.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Get away this moment! How dare you touch me? Why are you stopping there?\u2019 she cried, in a tone of disgust. \u2018I can\u2019t endure you! I\u2019ll go upstairs again, if you come near me.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Hareton recoiled, looking as foolish as he could do: he sat down in the settle very quiet, and she continued turning over her volumes another half hour; finally, Earnshaw crossed over, and whispered to me.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Will you ask her to read to us, Zillah? I\u2019m stalled of doing naught; and I do like\u2014I could like to hear her! Dunnot say I wanted it, but ask of yourseln.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Mr. Hareton wishes you would read to us, ma\u2019am,\u2019 I said, immediately. \u2018He\u2019d take it very kind\u2014he\u2019d be much obliged.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cShe frowned; and looking up, answered\u2014<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Mr. Hareton, and the whole set of you, will be good enough to understand that I reject any pretence at kindness you have the hypocrisy to offer! I despise you, and will have nothing to say to any of you! When I would have given my life for one kind word, even to see one of your faces, you all kept off. But I won\u2019t complain to you! I\u2019m driven down here by the cold; not either to amuse you or enjoy your society.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018What could I ha\u2019 done?\u2019 began Earnshaw. \u2018How was I to blame?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Oh! you are an exception,\u2019 answered Mrs. Heathcliff. \u2018I never missed such a concern as you.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018But I offered more than once, and asked,\u2019 he said, kindling up at her pertness, \u2018I asked Mr. Heathcliff to let me wake for you\u2014\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Be silent! I\u2019ll go out of doors, or anywhere, rather than have your disagreeable voice in my ear!\u2019 said my lady.<\/p>\n
\u201cHareton muttered she might go to hell, for him! and unslinging his gun, restrained himself from his Sunday occupations no longer. He talked now, freely enough; and she presently saw fit to retreat to her solitude: but the frost had set in, and, in spite of her pride, she was forced to condescend to our company, more and more. However, I took care there should be no further scorning at my good nature: ever since, I\u2019ve been as stiff as herself; and she has no lover or liker among us: and she does not deserve one; for, let them say the least word to her, and she\u2019ll curl back without respect of any one. She\u2019ll snap at the master himself, and as good as dares him to thrash her; and the more hurt she gets, the more venomous she grows.\u201d<\/p>\n
At first, on hearing this account from Zillah, I determined to leave my situation, take a cottage, and get Catherine to come and live with me: but Mr. Heathcliff would as soon permit that as he would set up Hareton in an independent house; and I can see no remedy, at present, unless she could marry again; and that scheme it does not come within my province to arrange.<\/p>\n
* * * * *<\/p>\n
Thus ended Mrs. Dean\u2019s story. Notwithstanding the doctor\u2019s prophecy, I am rapidly recovering strength; and though it be only the second week in January, I propose getting out on horseback in a day or two, and riding over to Wuthering Heights, to inform my landlord that I shall spend the next six months in London; and, if he likes, he may look out for another tenant to take the place after October. I would not pass another winter here for much.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"menu_order":30,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[48],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-53","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/53","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/53\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":180,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/53\/revisions\/180"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/53\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=53"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=53"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=53"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}