第15章
I"llkillher，EllenDean，ifyoulethercomeintomysightagain!"
Haretontried，underhisbreath，topersuadehertogo。
`Dragheraway!"hecriedsavagely。`Areyoustayingtotalk？"
Andheapproachedtoexecutehisowncommand。
`He"llnotobeyyou，wickedman，anymore，"saidCatherine；`andhe"llsoondetestyouasmuchasIdo。"
"Wisht!wisht!"mutteredtheyoungmanreproachfully。`Iwillnothearyouspeaksotohim。Havedone。"
`Butyouwon"tlethimstrikeme？"shecried。`Come，then，"hewhisperedearnestly。Itwastoolate:Heathcliffhadcaughtholdofher。
`Nowyougo!"hesaidtoEarnshaw。`Accursedwitch!thistimeshehasprovokedmewhenIcouldnotbearit；andI"llmakeherrepentitforever!"
Hehadhishandinherhair；Haretonattemptedtoreleasethelocks，entreatinghimnottohurtherthatonce。Heathcliff"sblackeyesflashed；heseemedreadytotearCatherineinpieces，andIwasjustworkeduptoriskcomingtotherescue，whenofasuddenhisfingersrelaxed；
heshiftedhisgraspfromherheadtoherarm，andgazedintentlyinherface。Thenhedrewhishandoverhiseyes，stoodamomenttocollecthimselfapparently，andturninganewtoCatherine，saidwithassumedcalmness:
`Youmustlearntoavoidputtingmeinapassion，orIshallreallymurderyousometime!GowithMrsDean，andkeepwithher；andconfineyourinsolencetoherears。AstoHaretonEarnshaw，ifIseehimlistentoyou，I"llsendhimseekinghisbreadwherehecangetit!Yourlovewillmakehimanoutcastandabeggar。Nelly，takeher；andleavemeallofyou!Leaveme!"
Iledmyyoungladyout:shewastoogladofherescapetoresist；
theotherfollowed，andMrHeathcliffhadtheroomtohimselftilldinner。
IhadcounselledCatherinetogethersupstairs；but，assoonasheperceivedhervacantseat，hesentmetocallher。Hespoketononeofus，ateverylittle，andwentoutdirectlyafterwards，intimatingthatheshouldnotreturnbeforeevening。
Thetwonewfriendsestablishedthemselvesinthehouseduringhisabsence；whenIheardHaretonsternlycheckhiscousin，onherofferingarevelationofherfather-in-law"sconducttohisfather。Hesaidhewouldn"tsufferawordtobeutteredtohim，inhisdisparagement:ifhewerethedevil，itdidn"tsignify:hewouldstandbyhim；andhe"drathershewouldabusehimself，assheusedto，thanbeginonMrHeathcliff。Catherinewaswaxingcrossatthis；buthefoundmeanstomakeherholdhertongue，byaskinghowshewouldlikehimtospeakillofherfather？andthenshecomprehendedthatEarnshawtookthemaster"sreputationhometohimself；
andwasattachedbytiesstrongerthanreasoncouldbreak——chains，forgedbyhabit，whichitwouldbecrueltoattempttoloosen。Sheshowedagoodheart，thenceforth，inavoidingbothcomplaintsandexpressionsofantipathyconcerningHeathcliff；andconfessedtomehersorrowthatshehadendeavouredtoraiseabadspiritbetweenhimandHareton:indeed，Idon"tbelieveshehaseverbreathedasyllable，inthelatter"shearing，againstheroppressorsince。
`Whenthisslightdisagreementwasover，theywerethickagain，andasbusyaspossibleintheirseveraloccupationsofpupilandteacher。
Icameintositwiththem，afterIhaddonemywork；andIfeltsosoothedandcomfortedtowatchthem，thatIdidnotnoticehowtimegoton。Youknow，theybothappearedinameasuremychildren:Ihadlongbeenproudofone；andnow，Iwassure，theotherwouldbeasourceofequalsatisfaction。
Hishonest，warm，andintelligentnatureshookoffrapidlythecloudsofignoranceanddegradationinwhichithadbeenbred；andCatherine"ssincerecommendationsactedasaspurtohisindustry。Hisbrighteningmindbrightenedhisfeatures，andaddedspiritandnobilitytotheiraspect:IcouldhardlyfancyitthesameindividualIhadbeheldonthedayIdiscoveredmylittleladyat`WutheringHeights，afterherexpeditiontotheCrags。`WhileI
admiredandtheylaboured，duskgrewon，andwithitreturnedthemaster。
Hecameuponusquiteunexpectedly，enteringbythefrontway，andhadafullviewofthewholethree，erewecouldraiseourheadstoglanceathim。Well，Ireflected，therewasneverapleasanter，ormoreharmlesssight；anditwillbeaburningshametoscoldthem。Theredfirelightglowedontheirtwobonnyheads，andrevealedtheirfacesanimatedwiththeeagerinterestofchildren；for，——thoughhewastwenty-threeandsheeighteen，eachhadsomuchofnoveltytofeelandlearn，thatneitherexperiencednorevincedthesentimentsofsoberdisenchantedmaturity。
Theyliftedtheireyestogether，toencounterMrHeathcliff:perhapsyouhaveneverremarkedthattheireyesarepreciselysimilar，andtheyarethoseofCatherineEarnshaw。ThepresentCatherinehasnootherlikenesstoher，exceptabreadthofforehead，andacertainarchofthenostrilthatmakesherappearratherhaughty，whethershewillornot。`WithHaretontheresemblanceiscarriedfurther:itissingularatalltimes，thenitwasparticularlystriking；becausehissenseswerealert，andhismentalfacultieswakenedtounwontedactivity。IsupposethisresemblancedisarmedMrHeathcliff:hewalkedtothehearthinevidentagitation；butitquicklysubsidedashelookedattheyoungman:or，Ishouldsay，altereditscharacter；
foritwasthereyet。Hetookthebookfromhishand，andglancedattheopenpage，thenreturneditwithoutanyobservation；merelysigningCatherineaway:hercompanionlingeredverylittlebehindher，andIwasabouttodepartalso，buthebidmesitstill。
`Itisapoorconclusion，isitnot？"heobserved，havingbroodedawhileonthescenehehadjustwitnessed:`anabsurdterminationtomyviolentexertions？Igetleversandmattockstodemolishthetwohouses，andtrainmyselftobecapableofworkinglikeHercules，andwheneverythingisreadyandinmypower，Ifindthewilltoliftaslateoffeitherroofhasvanished!Myoldenemieshavenotbeatenme；nowwouldbetheprecisetimetorevengemyselfontheirrepresentatives:Icoulddoit；andnonecouldhinderme。Butwhereistheuse？Idon"tcareforstriking；Ican"ttakethetroubletoraisemyhand!ThatsoundsasifIhadbeenlabouringthewholetimeonlytoexhibitafinetraitofmagnanimity。Itisfarfrombeingthecase:Ihavelostthefacultyofenjoyingtheirdestruction，andIamtooidletodestroyfornothing。
`Nelly，thereisastrangechangeapproaching:I"minitsshadowatpresent。Itakesolittleinterestinmydailylife，thatIhardlyremembertoeatanddrink。Thosetwowhohavelefttheroomaretheonlyobjectswhichretainadistinctmaterialappearancetome；andthatappearancecausesmepain，amountingtoagony。AboutherIwon"tspeak；andIdon"tdesiretothink；butIearnestlywishshewereinvisible:herpresenceinvokesonlymaddeningsensations。Hemovesmedifferently:andyetifIcoulddoitwithoutseeminginsane，I"dneverseehimagain。You"llperhapsthinkmeratherinclinedtobecomeso，"headded，makinganefforttosmile，`ifItrytodescribethethousandformsofpastassociationsandideasheawakensorembodies。Butyou"llnottalkofwhatItellyou；andmymindissoeternallysecludedinitself，itistemptingatlasttoturnitouttoanother。
`Fiveminutesago，Haretonseemedapersonificationofmyyouth，notahumanbeing:Ifelttohiminsuchavarietyofways，thatitwouldhavebeenimpossibletohaveaccostedhimrationally。Inthefirstplace，hisstartlinglikenesstoCatherineconnectedhimfearfullywithher。That，however，whichyoumaysupposethemostpotenttoarrestmyimagination，isactuallytheleast:forwhatisnotconnectedwithhertome？andwhatdoesnotrecallher？Icannotlookdowntothisfloor，butherfeaturesareshapedintheflags!Ineverycloud，ineverytree——fillingtheairatnight，andcaughtbyglimpsesineveryobjectbyday——Iamsurroundedwithherimage!Themostordinaryfacesofmenandwomen——myownfeatures——mockmewitharesemblance。Theentireworldisadreadfulcollectionofmemorandathatshedidexist，andthatIhavelosther!Well，Hareton"saspectwastheghostofmyimmortallove；ofmywildendeavourstoholdmyright；
mydegradation，mypride，myhappiness，andmyanguish:
`Butitisfrenzytorepeatthesethoughtstoyou:onlyitwillletyouknowwhy，withareluctancetobealwaysalone，hissocietyisnobenefit；ratheranaggravationoftheconstanttormentIsuffer；anditpartlycontributestorendermeregardlesshowheandhiscousingoontogether。Icangivethemnoattention，anymore。
`Butwhatdoyoumeanbyachange，MrHeathcliff？"Isaid，alarmedathismanner:thoughhewasneitherindangeroflosinghissenses，nordying，accordingtomyjudgment；hewasquitestrongandhealthy:and，astohisreason，fromchildhoodhehadadelightindwellingondarkthings，andentertainingoddfancies。Hemighthavehadamonomaniaonthesubjectofhisdepartedidol；butoneveryotherpointhiswitswereassoundasmine。
`Ishallnotknowthattillitcomes，"hesaid，`I"monlyhalfconsciousofitnow。
`Youhavenofeelingsofillness，haveyou？"Iasked。
`No，Nelly，Ihavenot，"heanswered。
`Thenyouarenotafraidofdeath？"Ipursued。
`Afraid？No!"hereplied。`Ihaveneitherafear，norapresentiment，norahopeofdeath。WhyshouldI？`Withmyhardconstitutionandtemperatemodeofliving，andunperilousoccupations，Ioughtto，andprobablyshall，remainabovegroundtillthereisscarcelyablackhaironmyhead。AndyetIcannotcontinueinthiscondition!Ihavetoremindmyselftobreathe——almosttoremindmyhearttobeat!Anditislikebendingbackastiffspring；
itisbycompulsionthatIdotheslightestactnotpromptedbyonethought；
andbycompulsionthatInoticeanythingaliveordead，whichisnotassociatedwithoneuniversalidea。Ihaveasinglewish，andmywholebeingandfacultiesareyearningtoattainIt。Theyhaveyearnedtowardsitsolong，andsounwaveringly，thatI"mconvinceditwillbereached——andsoon——becauseithasdevouredmyexistence:Iamswallowedupintheanticipationofitsfulfilment。Myconfessionshavenotrelievedme；buttheymayaccountforsomeotherwiseunaccountablephasesofhumourwhichIshow。OGod!
Itisalongfight，Iwishitwereover!"
Hebegantopacetheroom，mutteringterriblethingstohimself，tillIwasinclinedtobelieve，ashesaidJosephdid，thatconsciencehadturnedhishearttoanearthlyhell。Iwonderedgreatlyhowitwouldend。Thoughheseldombeforehadrevealedthisstateofmind，evenbylooks，itwashishabitualmood，Ihadnodoubt:heassertedithimself；butnotasoul，fromhisgeneralbearing，wouldhaveconjecturedthefact。Youdidnotwhenyousawhim，MrLockwood:andattheperiodofwhichIspeakhewasjustthesameasthen；onlyfonderofcontinuedsolitude，andperhapsstillmorelaconicincompany。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]WutheringHeights[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter34Forsomedaysafterthatevening，MrHeathcliffshunnedmeetingusatmeals；
yethewouldnotconsentformallytoexcludeHaretonandCathy。Hehadanaversiontoyieldingsocompletelytohisfeelings，choosingrathertoabsenthimself；andeatingonceintwenty-fourhoursseemedsufficientsustenanceforhim。
Onenight，afterthefamilywereinbed，Iheardhimgodownstairs，andoutatthefrontdoor。Ididnothearhimre-enter，andinthemorningIfoundhewasstillaway。WewereinAprilthen:theweatherwassweetandwarm，thegrassasgreenasshowersandsuncouldmakeit，andthetwodwarfappletreesnearthesouthernwallinfullbloom。Afterbreakfast，Catherineinsistedonmybringingachairandsittingwithmyworkunderthefirtreesattheendofthehouse；andshebeguiledHareton，whohadperfectlyrecoveredfromhisaccident，todigandarrangeherlittlegarden，whichwasshiftedtothatcornerbytheinfluenceofJoseph"scomplaints。
Iwascomfortablyrevellinginthespringfragrancearound，andthebeautifulsoftblueoverhead，whenmyyounglady，whohadrundownnearthegatetoprocuresomeprimroserootsforaborder，returnedonlyhalfladen，andinformedusthatMrHeathcliffwascomingin。`Andhespoketome，"
sheadded，withaperplexedcountenance。
"Whatdidhesay？"askedHareton。
`HetoldmetobegoneasfastasIcould，"sheanswered。`ButhelookedsodifferentfromhisusuallookthatIstoppedamomenttostareathim。"
`How？"heinquired。
`Why，almostbrightandcheerful。No，almostnothing——verymuchexcited，andwildandglad!"shereplied。
`Nightwalkingamuseshim，then，"Iremarked，affectingacarelessmanner:inrealityassurprisedasshewas，andanxioustoascertainthetruthofherstatement；fortoseethemasterlookinggladwouldnotbeaneverydayspectacle。Iframedanexcusetogoin。Heathcliffstoodattheopendoor，hewaspale，andhetrembled:yet，certainly，hehadastrange，joyfulglitterinhiseyes，thatalteredtheaspectofhiswholeface。
`Willyouhavesomebreakfast？"Isaid。`Youmustbehungry，ramblingaboutallnight!"Iwantedtodiscoverwherehehadbeen，butIdidnotliketoaskdirectly。
`No，I"mnothungry，"heanswered，avertinghishead，andspeakingrathercontemptuously，asifheguessedIwastryingtodivinetheoccasionofhisgoodhumour。
Ifeltperplexed:Ididn"tknowwhetheritwerenotaproperopportunitytoofferabitofadmonition。
`Idon"tthinkitrighttowanderoutofdoors，"Iobserved，`insteadofbeinginbed:itisnotwise，atanyrate，thismoistseason。Idaresayyou"llcatchabadcold，orafever:youhavesomethingthematterwithyounow!"
`NothingbutwhatIcanbear，"hereplied；`andwiththegreatestpleasure，providedyou"llleavemealone；getin，anddon"tannoyme。"
Iobeyed:and，inpassing，Inoticedhebreathedasfastasacat。
`Yes!"Ireflectedtomyself，`weshallhaveafitofillness。
Icannotconceivewhathehasbeendoing。"
Thatnoonhesatdowntodinnerwithus，andreceivedaheaped-upplatefrommyhands，asifheintendedtomakeamendsforpreviousfasting。
`I"veneithercoldnorfever，Nelly，"heremarked，inallusiontomymorning"sspeech；`andI"mreadytodojusticetothefoodyougiveme。
Hetookhisknifeandfork，andwasgoingtocommenceeating，whentheinclinationappearedtobecomesuddenlyextinct。Helaidthemonthetable，lookedeagerlytowardsthewindow，thenroseandwentout。
`Wesawhimwalkingtoandfrointhegardenwhileweconcludedourmeal，andEarnshawsaidhe"dgoandaskwhyhewouldnotdine:hethoughtwehadgrievedhimsomeway。
`Well，ishecoming？"criedCatherine，whenhercousinreturned。
`Nay，"heanswered；`buthe"snotangry:heseemedrareandpleasedindeed；onlyImadehimimpatientbyspeakingtohimtwice；andthenhebidmebeofftoyou:hewonderedhowIcouldwantthecompanyofanybodyelse。"
Isethisplatetokeepwarmonthefender；andafteranhourortwohere-entered，whentheroomwasclear，innodegreecalmer:thesameunnatural——itwasunnatural——appearanceofjoyunderhisblackbrows；
thesamebloodlesshue，andhisteethvisible，nowandthen，inakindofsmile；hisframeshivering，notasoneshiverswithchillorweakness，butasatight-stretchedcordvibrates——astrongthrilling，ratherthantrembling。
Iwillaskwhatisthematter，Ithought；orwhoshould？AndI
exclaimed:
`Haveyouheardanygoodnews，MrHeathcliff？Youlookuncommonlyanimated。"
`Whereshouldgoodnewscomefromtome？"hesaid。`I"manimatedwithhunger；and，seemingly，Imustnoteat。"
`Yourdinnerishere，"Ireturned；`whywon"tyougetit？"
`Idon"twantitnow；"hemutteredhastily；`I"llwaittillsupper。
And，Nelly，onceforall，letmebegyoutowarnHaretonandtheotherawayfromme。Iwishtobetroubledbynobody:Iwishtohavethisplacetomyself。"
`Istheresomenewreasonforthisbanishment？"Iinquired。`Tellmewhyyouaresoqueer，MrHeathcliff？`Wherewereyoulastnight？I"mnotputtingthequestionthroughidlecuriosity，but——"
`Youareputtingthequestionthroughveryidlecuriosity，"heinterrupted，withalaugh。`YetI"llanswerit。LastnightIwasonthethresholdofhell。Today，Iamwithinsightofmyheaven。Ihavemyeyesonit:hardlythreefeettoseverme!Andnowyou"dbettergo!You"llneitherseenorhearanythingtofrightenyou，ifyourefrainfromprying。"
Havingsweptthehearthandwipedthetable，Ideparted；moreperplexedthanever。
Hedidnotquitthehouseagainthatafternoon，andnooneintrudedonhissolitude；till，ateighto"clock，Ideemeditproper，thoughunsummoned，tocarryacandleandhissuppertohim。Hewasleaningagainsttheledgeofanopenlattice，butnotlookingout:hisfacewasturnedtotheinteriorgloom。Thefirehadsmoulderedtoashes；theroomwasfilledwiththedamp，mildairofthecloudyevening；andsostill，thatnotonlythemurmurofthebeckdownGimmertonwasdistinguishable，butitsripplesanditsgurglingoverthepebbles，orthroughthelargestoneswhichitcouldnotcover。Iutteredanejaculationofdiscontentatseeingthedismalgrate，andcommencedshuttingthecasements，oneafteranother，tillIcametohis。
`MustIclosethis？"Iasked，inordertorousehim；forhewouldnotstir。
ThelightflashedonhisfeaturesasIspoke。Oh，MrLockwood，IcannotexpresswhataterriblestartIgotbythemomentaryview!Thosedeepblackeyes!Thatsmile，andghastlypaleness!Itappearedtome，notMrHeathcliff，butagoblin；and，inmyterror，Iletthecandlebendtowardsthewall，anditleftmeindarkness。
`Yes，closeit，"hereplied，inhisfamiliarvoice。`There，thatispureawkwardness!Whydidyouholdthecandlehorizontally？Bequick，andbringanother。"
Ihurriedoutinafoolishstateofdread，andsaidtoJoseph:
`Themasterwishesyoutotakehimalightandrekindlethefire。"
ForIdarenotgoinmyselfagainjustthen。
Josephrattledsomefireintotheshovel，andwent；buthebroughtitbackimmediately，withthesuppertrayinhisotherhand，explainingthatMrHeathcliffwasgoingtobed，andhewantednothingtoeattillmorning。Weheardhimmountthestairsdirectly；hedidnotproceedtohisordinarychamber，butturnedintothatwiththepanelledbed:itswindow，asImentionedbefore，iswideenoughforanybodytogetthrough；anditstruckmethatheplottedanothermidnightexcursion，ofwhichhehadratherwehadnosuspicion。
`Isheaghouloravampire？"Imused。Ihadreadofsuchhideousincarnatedemons。AndthenIsetmyselftoreflecthowIhadtendedhimininfancy，andwatchedhimgrowtoyouth，andfollowedhimalmostthroughhiswholecourse；andwhatabsurdnonsenseitwastoyieldtothatsenseofhorror。`Butwheredidhecomefrom，thelittledarkthing，harbouredbyagoodmantohisbane？"mutteredSuperstition，asIdozedintounconsciousness。
AndIbegan，halfdreaming，towearymyselfwithimaginingsomefitparentageforhim；and，repeatingmywakingmeditations，Itrackedhisexistenceoveragain，withgrimvariations；atlast，picturinghisdeathandfuneral:
ofwhich，allIcanrememberis，beingexceedinglyvexedathavingthetaskofdictatinganinscriptionforhismonument，andconsultingthesextonaboutit；and，ashehadnosurname，andwecouldnot`tellhisage，wewereobligedtocontentourselveswiththesingleword，`Heathcliff"。Thatcametrue:wewere。Ifyouenterthekirkyard，you"llreadonhisheadstone，onlythat，andthedateofhisdeath。
Dawnrestoredmetocommonsense。Irose，andwentintothegarden，assoonasIcouldsee，toascertainiftherewereanyfootmarksunderhiswindow。Therewerenone。`Hehasstayedathome~ought，`andhe"llbeallrighttoday。"Ipreparedbreakfastforthehousehold，aswasmyusualcustom，buttoldHaretonandCatherinetogettheirserethemastercamedown，forhelaylate。Theypreferredtakingitoutofdoors，underthetrees，andIsetalittletabletoaccommodatethem。
Onmyre-entrance，IfoundMrHeathcliffbelow。HeandJosephwereconversingaboutsomefarmingbusiness；hegaveclear，minutedirectionsconcerningthematterdiscussed，buthespokerapidly，andturnedhisheadcontinuallyaside，andhadthesameexcitedexpression，evenmoreexaggerated。
`WhenJosephquittedtheroomhetookhisseatintheplacehegenerallychose，andIputabasinofcoffeebeforehim。Hedrewitnearer，andthenrestedhisarmsonthetable，andlookedattheoppositewall，asIsupposed，surveyingoneparticularportion，upanddown，withglittering，restlesseyes，andwithsucheagerinterestthathestoppedbreathingduringhalfaminutetogether。
`Comenow，Iexclaimed，pushingsomebreadagainsthishand，`eatanddrinkthat，whileitishot:ithasbeenwaitingnearanhour。"
Hedidn"tnoticeme，andyethesmiled。I"dratherhaveseenhimgnashhisteeththansmileso。
`MrHeathcliff!master!"Icried，`don"t，forGod"ssake，stareasifyousawanunearthlyvision。"
`Don"t，forGod"ssake，shoutsoloud，"hereplied。`Turnround，andtellme，arewebyourselves？"
`Ofcourse，"wasmyanswer；`ofcourseweare。"
StillIinvoluntarilyobeyedhim，asifIwerenotquitesure。
`Withasweepofhishandheclearedavacantspaceinfrontamongthebreakfastthings，andleantforwardtogazemoreathisease。
Now，Iperceivedhewasnotlookingatthewall；forwhenIregardedhimalone，itseemedexactlythathegazedatsomethingwithintwoyards"
distance。Andwhateveritwas，itcommunicated，apparently，bothpleasureandpaininexquisiteextremes:atleasttheanguished，yetraptured，expressionofhiscountenancesuggestedthatidea。Thefanciedobjectwasnotfixed:
eitherhiseyespursueditwithunwearieddiligence，and，eveninspeakingtome，wereneverweanedaway。Ivainlyremindedhimofhisprotractedabstinencefromfood:ifhestirredtotouchanythingincompliancewithmyentreaties，ifhestretchedhishandouttogetapieceofbread，hisfingersclenchedbeforetheyreachedit，andremainedonthetable，forgetfuloftheiraim。
Isat，amodelofpatience，tryingtoattracthisabsorbedattentionfromitsengrossingspeculation；tillhegrewirritable，andgot——up，askingwhyIwouldnotallowhimtohavehisowntimeintakinghismeals？andsayingthatonthenextoccasion，Ineedn"twait:Imightsetthethingsdownandgo。Havingutteredthesewordsheleftthehouse，slowlysauntereddownthegardenpath，anddisappearedthroughthegate。
Thehourscreptanxiouslyby:anothereveningcame。Ididnotretiretoresttilllate，andwhenIdid，Icouldnotsleep。Hereturnedaftermidnight，and，insteadofgoingtobed，shuthimselfintotheroombeneath。Ilistened，andtossedabout，and，finally，dressedanddescended。
Itwastooirksometolieupthere，harassingmybrainwithahundredidlemisgivings。
IdistinguishedMrHeathcliff"sstep，restlesslymeasuringthefloor，andhefrequentlybrokethesilencebyadeepinspiration，resemblingagroan。Hemuttereddetachedwordsalso；theonlyoneIcouldcatchwasthenameofCatherine，coupledwithsomewildtermofendearmentorsuffering；
andspokenasonewouldspeaktoapersonpresent:lowandearnest，andwrungfromthedepthofhissoul。Ihadnotcouragetowalkstraightintotheapartment；butIdesiredtodiverthimfromhisreverie，andthereforefellfoulofthekitchenfire，stirredit，andbegantoscrapethecinders。
ItdrewhimforthsoonerthanIexpected。Heopenedthedoorimmediately，andsaid:
`Nelly，comehere——isitmorning？Comeinwithyourlight。"
`Itisstrikingfour，"Ianswered。`Youwantacandletotakeupstairs:youmighthavelitoneatthisfire。"
`No，Idon"twishtogoupstairs，"hesaid。`Comein，andkindlemeafire，anddoanythingthereistodoabouttheroom。"
`Imustblowthecoalsredfirst，beforeIcancarryany，"Ireplied，gettingachairandthebellows。
Heroamedtoandfro，meantime，inastateapproachingdistraction；
hisheavysighssucceedingeachothersothickastoleavenospaceforcommonbreathingbetween。
"WhendaybreaksI"llsendforGreen，"hesaid；`IwishtomakesomelegalinquiriesofhimwhileIcanbestowathoughtonthosematters，andwhileIcanactcalmly。Ihavenotwrittenmywillyet；andhowtoleavemypropertyIcannotdetermine。IwishIcouldannihilateitfromthefaceoftheearth。"
`Iwouldnottalkso，MrHeathcliff，"Iinterposed。`Letyourwillbeawhile:you"llbesparedtorepentofyourmanyinjusticesyet。
Ineverexpectedthatyournerveswouldbedisordered:theyare，atpresent，marvellouslyso，however；andalmostentirelythroughyourownfault。Thewayyou"vepassedthesethreelastdaysmightknockupaTitan。Dotakesomefood，andsomerepose。Youneedonlylookatyourselfinaglasstoseehowyourequireboth。Yourcheeksarehollow，andyoureyesbloodshot，likeapersonstarvingwithhungerandgoingblindwithlossofsleep。"
`ItisnotmyfaultthatIcannoteatorrest，"hereplied。`I
assureyouitisthroughnosettleddesigns。I"lldobothassoonasI
possiblycan。Butyoumightaswellbidamanstrugglinginthewaterrestwithinarm"slengthoftheshore!Imustreachitfirst，andthenI"llrest。Well，nevermindMrGreen:astorepentingofmyinjustices，I"vedonenoinjustice，andIrepentofnothing。I"mtoohappy；andyetI"mnothappyenough。Mysoul"sblisskillsmybody，butdoesnotsatisfyitself。"
`Happy，master？"Icried。`Strangehappiness!Ifyouwouldhearmewithoutbeingangry，Imightoffersomeadvicethatwouldmakeyouhappier。
"Whatisthat？"heasked。`Giveit。"
`Youareaware，MrHeathcliff，"Isaid，`thatfromthetimeyouwerethirteenyearsold，youhavelivedaselfish，unchristianlife；andprobablyhardlyhadaBibleinyourhandsduringallthatperiod。Youmusthaveforgottenthecontentsofthebook，andyoumaynothavespacetosearchitnow。Coulditbehurtfultosendforsomeone——someministerofanydenomination，itdoesnotmatterwhich——toexplainit，andshowyouhowveryfaryouhaveerredfromitsprecepts；andhowunfityouwillbeforitsheaven，unlessachangetakesplace`beforeyoudie？"
`I"mratherobligedthanangry，Nelly，"hesaid，`foryouremindmeofthemannerthatIdesiretobeburiedin。Itistobecarriedtothechurchyardintheevening。YouandHaretonmay，ifyouplease，accompanyme:andmind，particularly，tonoticethatthesextonobeysmydirectionsconcerningthetwocoffins!Noministerneedcome；norneedanythingbesaidoverme——ItellyouIhavenearlyattainedmyheaven；andthatofothersisaltogetherunvaluedanduncoveredbyme。
`Andsupposingyouperseveredinyourobstinatefast，anddiedbythatmeans，andtheyrefusedtoburyyouintheprecinctsofthekirk？"
Isaid，shockedathisgodlessindifference。`Howwouldyoulikeit？"
`Theywon"tdothat，"hereplied:`iftheydid，youmusthavemeremovedsecretly:andifyouneglectityoushallprove，practically，thatthedeadarenotannihilated!"
Assoonasheheardtheothermembersofthefamilystirringheretiredtohisden，andIbreathedfreer。Butintheafternoon，whileJosephandHaretonwereattheirwork，hecameintothekitchenagain，and，withawildlook，bidmecomeandsitinthehouse:hewantedsomebodywithhim。Ideclined:tellinghimplainlythathisstrangetalkandmannerfrightenedme，andIhadneitherthenervenorthewilltobehiscompanionalone。
`Ibelieveyouthinkmeafiend，"hesaid，withhisdismallaugh:
somethingtoohorribletoliveunderadecentroof。"ThenturningtoCatherine，whowasthere，andwhodrewbehindmeathisapproach，headded，halfsneeringly——`Willyoucome，chuck？I"llnothurtyou。No!toyouI"vemademyselfworsethanthedevil。Well，thereisonewhowon"tshrinkfrommycompany!ByGod!she"srelentless。Oh，damnit!It"sunutterablytoomuchforfleshandbloodtobear——evenmine。"
Hesolicitedthesocietyofnoonemore。Atdusk，hewentintohischamber。Throughthewholenight，andfarintothemorning，weheardhimgroaningandmurmuringtohimself。Haretonwasanxioustoenter；butIbadehimfetchMrKenneth，andheshouldgoinandseehim。Whenhecame，andIrequestedadmittanceandtriedtoopenthedoor，Ifounditlocked；
andHeathcliffbidusbedamned。Hewasbetter，andwouldbeleftalone；
sothedoctorwentaway。
Thefollowingeveningwasverywet:indeeditpoureddowntillday-dawn；and，asItookmymorningwalkroundthehouse，Iobservedthemaster"swindowswingingopen，andtheraindrivingstraightin。Hecannotbeinbed，Ithought:thoseshowerswoulddrenchhimthrough。Hemusteitherbeuporout。ButI"llmakenomoreado，I"llgoboldlyandlook。
Havingsucceededinobtainingentrancewithanotherkey，Irantounclosethepanels，forthechamberwasvacant；quicklypushingthemaside，Ipeepedin。MrHeathcliffwasthere——laidonhisback。Hiseyesmetminesokeenandfierce，Istarted；andthenheseemedtosmile。I
couldnotthinkhimdead:buthisfaceandthroatwerewashedwithrain；
thebedclothesdripped，andhewas~perfectlystill。Thelattice，flappingtoandfro，hadgrazedonehandthatrestedonthesill；nobloodtrickledfromthebrokenskin，andwhenIputmyfingerstoit，Icoulddoubtnomore:hewasdeadandstark!
Ihaspedthewindow；Icombedhisblacklonghairfromhisforehead；
Itriedtoclosehiseyes:toextinguish，ifpossible，thatfrightful，lifelikegazeofexultationbeforeanyoneelsebeheldit。Theywouldnotshut:theyseemedtosneeratmyattempts:andhispartedlipsandsharpwhiteteethsneeredtoo!Takenwithanotherfitofcowardice，IcriedoutforJoseph。Josephshuffledupandmadeanoise；butresolutelyrefusedtomeddlewithhim。
`Th"divil"sharriedoffhissoul，"hecried，`andhemuhhevhiscarcassintuht"bargain，forow"tAwcare!Ech!whatawickedunhelooksgirningatdeath!"andtheoldsinnergrinnedinmockery。Ithoughtheintendedtocutacaperroundthebed；but，suddenlycomposinghimself，hefellonhisknees，andraisedhishands，andreturnedthanksthatthelawfulmasterandtheancientstockwererestoredtotheirrights。
Ifeltstunnedbytheawfulevent；andmymemoryunavoidablyrecurredtoformertimeswithasortofoppressivesadness。ButpoorHareton，themostwronged，wastheonlyonethatreallysufferedmuch。Hesatbythecorpseallnight，weepinginbitterearnest。Hepresseditshand，andkissedthesarcasticsavagefacethateveryoneelseshrankfromcontemplating；
andbemoanedhimwiththatstronggriefwhichspringsnaturallyfromagenerousheart，thoughitbetoughastemperedsteel。
MrKennethwasperplexedtopronounceofwhatdisorderthemasterdied。Iconcealedthefactofhishavingswallowednothingforfourdays，fearingitmightleadtotrouble，andthen，Iampersuaded，hedidnotabstainonpurpose:itwastheconsequenceofhisstrangeillness，notthecause。
`Weburiedhim，tothescandalofthewholeneighbourhood，ashewished。EarnshawandI，thesexton，andsixmentocarrythecoffin，comprehendedthewholeattendance。Thesixmendepartedwhentheyhadletitdownintothegrave:westayedtoseeitcovered。Hareton，withastreamingface，duggreensods，andlaidthemoverthebrownmouldhimself:atpresentitisassmoothandverdantasitscompanionmounds——andIhopeitstenantsleepsassoundly。Butthecountryfolk，ifyouaskthem，wouldswearontheBiblethathewalks:therearethosewhospeaktohavingmethimnearthechurch，andonthemoor，andeveninthishouse。Idletales，you"llsay，andsosayI。Yetthatoldmanbythekitchenfireaffirmshehasseentwoon`em，lookingoutofhischamberwindow，oneveryrainynightsincehisdeath:andanoddthinghappenedtomeaboutamonthago。
IwasgoingtotheGrangeoneevening——adarkevening，threateningthunder——and，justattheturnoftheHeights，Iencounteredalittleboywithasheepandtwolambsbeforehim；hewascryingterribly；andIsupposedthelambswereskittish，andwouldnotbeguided。
"What"sthematter，mylittleman？"Iasked。
`There"sHeathcliffandawoman，yonder，undert"nab，"heblubbered，`un"Idarnutpass`em。"
Isawnothing；butneitherthesheepnorhewouldgoon；soI
bidhimtaketheroadlowerdown。Heprobablyraisedthephantomsfromthinking，ashetraversedthemoorsalone，onthenonsensehehadheardhisparentsandcompanionsrepeat。Yet，still，Idon"tlikebeingoutinthedarknow；andIdon"tlikebeingleftbymyselfinthisgrimhouse:
Icannothelpit；Ishallbegladwhentheyleaveit，andshifttotheGrange。
`TheyaregoingtotheGrange，then，"Isaid。
`Yes，"answeredMrsDean，`issoonastheyaremarried，andthatwillbeonNewYear"sDay。"
`Andwhowilllivehere，then？"
`Why，Josephwilltakecareofthehouse，and，perhaps，aladtokeephimcompany。Theywillliveinthekitchen，andtherestwillbeshutup。"
`Fortheuseofsuchghostsaschoosetoinhabitit，"Iobserved。
`No，MrLockwood，"saidNelly，shakingherhead。`Ibelievethedeadareatpeace:butitisnotrighttospeakofthemwithlevity。"
Atthatmomentthegardengateswungto；theramblerswerereturning。
`Theyareafraidofnothing，"Igrumbled，watchingtheirapproachthroughthewindow。`TogethertheywouldbraveSatanandallhislegions。"
Astheysteppedontothedoorstones，andhaltedtotakealastlookatthemoon——or，morecorrectly，ateachotherbyherlight——Ifeltirresistiblyimpelledtoescapethemagain；and，pressingaremembranceintothehandofMrsDean，anddisregardingherexpostulationsatmyrudeness，Ivanishedthroughthekitchenastheyopenedthehouse-door；andsoshouldhaveconfirmedJosephinhisopinionofhisfellow-servant"sgayindiscretions，hadhenotfortunatelyrecognizedmeforarespectablecharacterbythesweetringofasovereignathisfeet。
Mywalkhomewaslengthenedbyadiversioninthedirectionofthekirk。`Whenbeneathitswalls，Iperceiveddecayhadmadeprogress，eveninsevenmonths:manyawindowshowedblackgapsdeprivedofglass；
andslatesjuttedoff，hereandthere，beyondtherightlineoftheroof，tobegraduallyworkedoffincomingautumnstorms。
Isought，andsoondiscovered，thethreeheadstonesontheslopenextthemoor:themiddleonegrey，andhalfburiedinheath:EdgarLinton"sonlyharmonizedbytheturfandmosscreepingupitsfoot:Heathcliff"sstillbare。
Ilingeredroundthem，underthatbenignsky；watchedthemothsflutteringamongtheheathandharebells，listenedtothesoftwindbreathingthroughthegrass，andwonderedhowanyonecouldeverimagineunquietslumbersforthesleepersinthatquietearth。