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Chapter 11

1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 Sometimes, while meditating on these things in solitude, I’ve got up in a sudden terror, and put on my bonnet to go see how all was at the farm.  I’ve persuaded my conscience that it was a duty to warn him how people talked regarding his ways; and then I’ve recollected his confirmed bad habits, and, hopeless of benefiting him, have flinched from re-entering the dismal house, doubting if I could bear to be taken at my word.

2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 One time I passed the old gate, going out of my way, on a journey to Gimmerton.  It was about the period that my narrative has reached: a bright frosty afternoon; the ground bare, and the road hard and dry.  I came to a stone where the highway branches off on to the moor at your left hand; a rough sand-pillar, with the letters W. H. cut on its north side, on the east, G., and on the south-west, T. G.  It serves as a guide-post to the Grange, the Heights, and village.  The sun shone yellow on its grey head, reminding me of summer; and I cannot say why, but all at once a gush of child’s sensations flowed into my heart.  Hindley and I held it a favourite spot twenty years before.  I gazed long at the weather-worn block; and, stooping down, perceived a hole near the bottom still full of snail-shells and pebbles, which we were fond of storing there with more perishable things; and, as fresh as reality, it appeared that I beheld my early playmate seated on the withered turf: his dark, square head bent forward, and his little hand scooping out the earth with a piece of slate.  ‘Poor Hindley!’ I exclaimed, involuntarily.  I started: my bodily eye was cheated into a momentary belief that the child lifted its face and stared straight into mine!  It vanished in a twinkling; but immediately I felt an irresistible yearning to be at the Heights.  Superstition urged me to comply with this impulse: supposing he should be dead!  I thought—or should die soon!—supposing it were a sign of death!  The nearer I got to the house the more agitated I grew; and on catching sight of it I trembled in every limb.  The apparition had outstripped me: it stood looking through the gate.  That was my first idea on observing an elf-locked, brown-eyed boy setting his ruddy countenance against the bars.  Further reflection suggested this must be Hareton, my Hareton, not altered greatly since I left him, ten months since.

3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 ‘God bless thee, darling!’ I cried, forgetting instantaneously my foolish fears.  ‘Hareton, it’s Nelly!  Nelly, thy nurse.’

4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0 He retreated out of arm’s length, and picked up a large flint.

5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 ‘I am come to see thy father, Hareton,’ I added, guessing from the action that Nelly, if she lived in his memory at all, was not recognised as one with me.

6 Leave a comment on paragraph 6 0 He raised his missile to hurl it; I commenced a soothing speech, but could not stay his hand: the stone struck my bonnet; and then ensued, from the stammering lips of the little fellow, a string of curses, which, whether he comprehended them or not, were delivered with practised emphasis, and distorted his baby features into a shocking expression of malignity.  You may be certain this grieved more than angered me.  Fit to cry, I took an orange from my pocket, and offered it to propitiate him.  He hesitated, and then snatched it from my hold; as if he fancied I only intended to tempt and disappoint him.  I showed another, keeping it out of his reach.

7 Leave a comment on paragraph 7 0 ‘Who has taught you those fine words, my bairn?’ I inquired.  ‘The curate?’

8 Leave a comment on paragraph 8 0 ‘Damn the curate, and thee!  Gie me that,’ he replied.

9 Leave a comment on paragraph 9 0 ‘Tell us where you got your lessons, and you shall have it,’ said I.  ‘Who’s your master?’

10 Leave a comment on paragraph 10 0 ‘Devil daddy,’ was his answer.

11 Leave a comment on paragraph 11 0 ‘And what do you learn from daddy?’ I continued.

12 Leave a comment on paragraph 12 0 He jumped at the fruit; I raised it higher.  ‘What does he teach you?’ I asked.

13 Leave a comment on paragraph 13 0 ‘Naught,’ said he, ‘but to keep out of his gait.  Daddy cannot bide me, because I swear at him.’

14 Leave a comment on paragraph 14 0 ‘Ah! and the devil teaches you to swear at daddy?’ I observed.

15 Leave a comment on paragraph 15 0 ‘Ay—nay,’ he drawled.

16 Leave a comment on paragraph 16 0 ‘Who, then?’

17 Leave a comment on paragraph 17 0 ‘Heathcliff.’

18 Leave a comment on paragraph 18 0 ‘I asked if he liked Mr. Heathcliff.’

19 Leave a comment on paragraph 19 0 ‘Ay!’ he answered again.

20 Leave a comment on paragraph 20 0 Desiring to have his reasons for liking him, I could only gather the sentences—‘I known’t: he pays dad back what he gies to me—he curses daddy for cursing me.  He says I mun do as I will.’

21 Leave a comment on paragraph 21 0 ‘And the curate does not teach you to read and write, then?’ I pursued.

22 Leave a comment on paragraph 22 0 ‘No, I was told the curate should have his—teeth dashed down his—throat, if he stepped over the threshold—Heathcliff had promised that!’

23 Leave a comment on paragraph 23 0 I put the orange in his hand, and bade him tell his father that a woman called Nelly Dean was waiting to speak with him, by the garden gate.  He went up the walk, and entered the house; but, instead of Hindley, Heathcliff appeared on the door-stones; and I turned directly and ran down the road as hard as ever I could race, making no halt till I gained the guide-post, and feeling as scared as if I had raised a goblin.  This is not much connected with Miss Isabella’s affair: except that it urged me to resolve further on mounting vigilant guard, and doing my utmost to check the spread of such bad influence at the Grange: even though I should wake a domestic storm, by thwarting Mrs. Linton’s pleasure.

24 Leave a comment on paragraph 24 0 The next time Heathcliff came my young lady chanced to be feeding some pigeons in the court.  She had never spoken a word to her sister-in-law for three days; but she had likewise dropped her fretful complaining, and we found it a great comfort.  Heathcliff had not the habit of bestowing a single unnecessary civility on Miss Linton, I knew.  Now, as soon as he beheld her, his first precaution was to take a sweeping survey of the house-front.  I was standing by the kitchen-window, but I drew out of sight.  He then stepped across the pavement to her, and said something: she seemed embarrassed, and desirous of getting away; to prevent it, he laid his hand on her arm.  She averted her face: he apparently put some question which she had no mind to answer.  There was another rapid glance at the house, and supposing himself unseen, the scoundrel had the impudence to embrace her.

25 Leave a comment on paragraph 25 0 ‘Judas!  Traitor!’ I ejaculated.  ‘You are a hypocrite, too, are you?  A deliberate deceiver.’

26 Leave a comment on paragraph 26 0 ‘Who is, Nelly?’ said Catherine’s voice at my elbow: I had been over-intent on watching the pair outside to mark her entrance.

27 Leave a comment on paragraph 27 0 ‘Your worthless friend!’ I answered, warmly: ‘the sneaking rascal yonder.  Ah, he has caught a glimpse of us—he is coming in!  I wonder will he have the heart to find a plausible excuse for making love to Miss, when he told you he hated her?’

28 Leave a comment on paragraph 28 0 Mrs. Linton saw Isabella tear herself free, and run into the garden; and a minute after, Heathcliff opened the door.  I couldn’t withhold giving some loose to my indignation; but Catherine angrily insisted on silence, and threatened to order me out of the kitchen, if I dared to be so presumptuous as to put in my insolent tongue.

29 Leave a comment on paragraph 29 0 ‘To hear you, people might think you were the mistress!’ she cried.  ‘You want setting down in your right place!  Heathcliff, what are you about, raising this stir?  I said you must let Isabella alone!—I beg you will, unless you are tired of being received here, and wish Linton to draw the bolts against you!’

30 Leave a comment on paragraph 30 0 ‘God forbid that he should try!’ answered the black villain.  I detested him just then.  ‘God keep him meek and patient!  Every day I grow madder after sending him to heaven!’

31 Leave a comment on paragraph 31 0 ‘Hush!’ said Catherine, shutting the inner door!  ‘Don’t vex me.  Why have you disregarded my request?  Did she come across you on purpose?’

32 Leave a comment on paragraph 32 0 ‘What is it to you?’ he growled.  ‘I have a right to kiss her, if she chooses; and you have no right to object.  I am not your husband: you needn’t be jealous of me!’

33 Leave a comment on paragraph 33 0 ‘I’m not jealous of you,’ replied the mistress; ‘I’m jealous for you.  Clear your face: you sha’n’t scowl at me!  If you like Isabella, you shall marry her.  But do you like her?  Tell the truth, Heathcliff!  There, you won’t answer.  I’m certain you don’t.’

34 Leave a comment on paragraph 34 0 ‘And would Mr. Linton approve of his sister marrying that man?’ I inquired.

35 Leave a comment on paragraph 35 0 ‘Mr. Linton should approve,’ returned my lady, decisively.

36 Leave a comment on paragraph 36 0 ‘He might spare himself the trouble,’ said Heathcliff: ‘I could do as well without his approbation.  And as to you, Catherine, I have a mind to speak a few words now, while we are at it.  I want you to be aware that I know you have treated me infernally—infernally!  Do you hear?  And if you flatter yourself that I don’t perceive it, you are a fool; and if you think I can be consoled by sweet words, you are an idiot: and if you fancy I’ll suffer unrevenged, I’ll convince you of the contrary, in a very little while!  Meantime, thank you for telling me your sister-in-law’s secret: I swear I’ll make the most of it.  And stand you aside!’

37 Leave a comment on paragraph 37 0 ‘What new phase of his character is this?’ exclaimed Mrs. Linton, in amazement.  ‘I’ve treated you infernally—and you’ll take your revenge!  How will you take it, ungrateful brute?  How have I treated you infernally?’

38 Leave a comment on paragraph 38 0 ‘I seek no revenge on you,’ replied Heathcliff, less vehemently.  ‘That’s not the plan.  The tyrant grinds down his slaves and they don’t turn against him; they crush those beneath them.  You are welcome to torture me to death for your amusement, only allow me to amuse myself a little in the same style, and refrain from insult as much as you are able.  Having levelled my palace, don’t erect a hovel and complacently admire your own charity in giving me that for a home.  If I imagined you really wished me to marry Isabel, I’d cut my throat!’

39 Leave a comment on paragraph 39 0 ‘Oh, the evil is that I am not jealous, is it?’ cried Catherine.  ‘Well, I won’t repeat my offer of a wife: it is as bad as offering Satan a lost soul.  Your bliss lies, like his, in inflicting misery.  You prove it.  Edgar is restored from the ill-temper he gave way to at your coming; I begin to be secure and tranquil; and you, restless to know us at peace, appear resolved on exciting a quarrel.  Quarrel with Edgar, if you please, Heathcliff, and deceive his sister: you’ll hit on exactly the most efficient method of revenging yourself on me.’

40 Leave a comment on paragraph 40 0 The conversation ceased.  Mrs. Linton sat down by the fire, flushed and gloomy.  The spirit which served her was growing intractable: she could neither lay nor control it.  He stood on the hearth with folded arms, brooding on his evil thoughts; and in this position I left them to seek the master, who was wondering what kept Catherine below so long.

41 Leave a comment on paragraph 41 0 ‘Ellen,’ said he, when I entered, ‘have you seen your mistress?’

42 Leave a comment on paragraph 42 0 ‘Yes; she’s in the kitchen, sir,’ I answered.  ‘She’s sadly put out by Mr. Heathcliff’s behaviour: and, indeed, I do think it’s time to arrange his visits on another footing.  There’s harm in being too soft, and now it’s come to this—.’  And I related the scene in the court, and, as near as I dared, the whole subsequent dispute.  I fancied it could not be very prejudicial to Mrs. Linton; unless she made it so afterwards, by assuming the defensive for her guest.  Edgar Linton had difficulty in hearing me to the close.  His first words revealed that he did not clear his wife of blame.

43 Leave a comment on paragraph 43 0 ‘This is insufferable!’ he exclaimed.  ‘It is disgraceful that she should own him for a friend, and force his company on me!  Call me two men out of the hall, Ellen.  Catherine shall linger no longer to argue with the low ruffian—I have humoured her enough.’

44 Leave a comment on paragraph 44 0 He descended, and bidding the servants wait in the passage, went, followed by me, to the kitchen.  Its occupants had recommenced their angry discussion: Mrs. Linton, at least, was scolding with renewed vigour; Heathcliff had moved to the window, and hung his head, somewhat cowed by her violent rating apparently.  He saw the master first, and made a hasty motion that she should be silent; which she obeyed, abruptly, on discovering the reason of his intimation.

45 Leave a comment on paragraph 45 0 ‘How is this?’ said Linton, addressing her; ‘what notion of propriety must you have to remain here, after the language which has been held to you by that blackguard?  I suppose, because it is his ordinary talk you think nothing of it: you are habituated to his baseness, and, perhaps, imagine I can get used to it too!’

46 Leave a comment on paragraph 46 0 ‘Have you been listening at the door, Edgar?’ asked the mistress, in a tone particularly calculated to provoke her husband, implying both carelessness and contempt of his irritation.  Heathcliff, who had raised his eyes at the former speech, gave a sneering laugh at the latter; on purpose, it seemed, to draw Mr. Linton’s attention to him.  He succeeded; but Edgar did not mean to entertain him with any high flights of passion.

47 Leave a comment on paragraph 47 0 ‘I’ve been so far forbearing with you, sir,’ he said quietly; ‘not that I was ignorant of your miserable, degraded character, but I felt you were only partly responsible for that; and Catherine wishing to keep up your acquaintance, I acquiesced—foolishly.  Your presence is a moral poison that would contaminate the most virtuous: for that cause, and to prevent worse consequences, I shall deny you hereafter admission into this house, and give notice now that I require your instant departure.  Three minutes’ delay will render it involuntary and ignominious.’

48 Leave a comment on paragraph 48 0 Heathcliff measured the height and breadth of the speaker with an eye full of derision.

49 Leave a comment on paragraph 49 0 ‘Cathy, this lamb of yours threatens like a bull!’ he said.  ‘It is in danger of splitting its skull against my knuckles.  By God!  Mr. Linton, I’m mortally sorry that you are not worth knocking down!’

50 Leave a comment on paragraph 50 0 My master glanced towards the passage, and signed me to fetch the men: he had no intention of hazarding a personal encounter.  I obeyed the hint; but Mrs. Linton, suspecting something, followed; and when I attempted to call them, she pulled me back, slammed the door to, and locked it.

51 Leave a comment on paragraph 51 0 ‘Fair means!’ she said, in answer to her husband’s look of angry surprise.  ‘If you have not courage to attack him, make an apology, or allow yourself to be beaten.  It will correct you of feigning more valour than you possess.  No, I’ll swallow the key before you shall get it!  I’m delightfully rewarded for my kindness to each!  After constant indulgence of one’s weak nature, and the other’s bad one, I earn for thanks two samples of blind ingratitude, stupid to absurdity!  Edgar, I was defending you and yours; and I wish Heathcliff may flog you sick, for daring to think an evil thought of me!’

52 Leave a comment on paragraph 52 0 It did not need the medium of a flogging to produce that effect on the master.  He tried to wrest the key from Catherine’s grasp, and for safety she flung it into the hottest part of the fire; whereupon Mr. Edgar was taken with a nervous trembling, and his countenance grew deadly pale.  For his life he could not avert that excess of emotion: mingled anguish and humiliation overcame him completely.  He leant on the back of a chair, and covered his face.

53 Leave a comment on paragraph 53 0 ‘Oh, heavens!  In old days this would win you knighthood!’ exclaimed Mrs. Linton.  ‘We are vanquished! we are vanquished!  Heathcliff would as soon lift a finger at you as the king would march his army against a colony of mice.  Cheer up! you sha’n’t be hurt!  Your type is not a lamb, it’s a sucking leveret.’

54 Leave a comment on paragraph 54 0 ‘I wish you joy of the milk-blooded coward, Cathy!’ said her friend.  ‘I compliment you on your taste.  And that is the slavering, shivering thing you preferred to me!  I would not strike him with my fist, but I’d kick him with my foot, and experience considerable satisfaction.  Is he weeping, or is he going to faint for fear?’

55 Leave a comment on paragraph 55 0 The fellow approached and gave the chair on which Linton rested a push.  He’d better have kept his distance: my master quickly sprang erect, and struck him full on the throat a blow that would have levelled a slighter man.  It took his breath for a minute; and while he choked, Mr. Linton walked out by the back door into the yard, and from thence to the front entrance.

56 Leave a comment on paragraph 56 0 ‘There! you’ve done with coming here,’ cried Catherine.  ‘Get away, now; he’ll return with a brace of pistols and half-a-dozen assistants.  If he did overhear us, of course he’d never forgive you.  You’ve played me an ill turn, Heathcliff!  But go—make haste!  I’d rather see Edgar at bay than you.’

57 Leave a comment on paragraph 57 0 ‘Do you suppose I’m going with that blow burning in my gullet?’ he thundered.  ‘By hell, no!  I’ll crush his ribs in like a rotten hazel-nut before I cross the threshold!  If I don’t floor him now, I shall murder him some time; so, as you value his existence, let me get at him!’

58 Leave a comment on paragraph 58 0 ‘He is not coming,’ I interposed, framing a bit of a lie.  ‘There’s the coachman and the two gardeners; you’ll surely not wait to be thrust into the road by them!  Each has a bludgeon; and master will, very likely, be watching from the parlour-windows to see that they fulfil his orders.’

59 Leave a comment on paragraph 59 0 The gardeners and coachman were there: but Linton was with them.  They had already entered the court.  Heathcliff, on the second thoughts, resolved to avoid a struggle against three underlings: he seized the poker, smashed the lock from the inner door, and made his escape as they tramped in.

60 Leave a comment on paragraph 60 0 Mrs. Linton, who was very much excited, bade me accompany her up-stairs.  She did not know my share in contributing to the disturbance, and I was anxious to keep her in ignorance.

61 Leave a comment on paragraph 61 0 ‘I’m nearly distracted, Nelly!’ she exclaimed, throwing herself on the sofa.  ‘A thousand smiths’ hammers are beating in my head!  Tell Isabella to shun me; this uproar is owing to her; and should she or any one else aggravate my anger at present, I shall get wild.  And, Nelly, say to Edgar, if you see him again to-night, that I’m in danger of being seriously ill.  I wish it may prove true.  He has startled and distressed me shockingly!  I want to frighten him.  Besides, he might come and begin a string of abuse or complainings; I’m certain I should recriminate, and God knows where we should end!  Will you do so, my good Nelly?  You are aware that I am no way blamable in this matter.  What possessed him to turn listener?  Heathcliff’s talk was outrageous, after you left us; but I could soon have diverted him from Isabella, and the rest meant nothing.  Now all is dashed wrong; by the fool’s craving to hear evil of self, that haunts some people like a demon!  Had Edgar never gathered our conversation, he would never have been the worse for it.  Really, when he opened on me in that unreasonable tone of displeasure after I had scolded Heathcliff till I was hoarse for him, I did not care hardly what they did to each other; especially as I felt that, however the scene closed, we should all be driven asunder for nobody knows how long!  Well, if I cannot keep Heathcliff for my friend—if Edgar will be mean and jealous, I’ll try to break their hearts by breaking my own.  That will be a prompt way of finishing all, when I am pushed to extremity!  But it’s a deed to be reserved for a forlorn hope; I’d not take Linton by surprise with it.  To this point he has been discreet in dreading to provoke me; you must represent the peril of quitting that policy, and remind him of my passionate temper, verging, when kindled, on frenzy.  I wish you could dismiss that apathy out of that countenance, and look rather more anxious about me.’

62 Leave a comment on paragraph 62 0 The stolidity with which I received these instructions was, no doubt, rather exasperating: for they were delivered in perfect sincerity; but I believed a person who could plan the turning of her fits of passion to account, beforehand, might, by exerting her will, manage to control herself tolerably, even while under their influence; and I did not wish to ‘frighten’ her husband, as she said, and multiply his annoyances for the purpose of serving her selfishness.  Therefore I said nothing when I met the master coming towards the parlour; but I took the liberty of turning back to listen whether they would resume their quarrel together.  He began to speak first.

63 Leave a comment on paragraph 63 0 ‘Remain where you are, Catherine,’ he said; without any anger in his voice, but with much sorrowful despondency.  ‘I shall not stay.  I am neither come to wrangle nor be reconciled; but I wish just to learn whether, after this evening’s events, you intend to continue your intimacy with—’

64 Leave a comment on paragraph 64 0 ‘Oh, for mercy’s sake,’ interrupted the mistress, stamping her foot, ‘for mercy’s sake, let us hear no more of it now!  Your cold blood cannot be worked into a fever: your veins are full of ice-water; but mine are boiling, and the sight of such chillness makes them dance.’

65 Leave a comment on paragraph 65 0 ‘To get rid of me, answer my question,’ persevered Mr. Linton.  ‘You must answer it; and that violence does not alarm me.  I have found that you can be as stoical as anyone, when you please.  Will you give up Heathcliff hereafter, or will you give up me?  It is impossible for you to be my friend and his at the same time; and I absolutely require to know which you choose.’

66 Leave a comment on paragraph 66 0 ‘I require to be let alone!’ exclaimed Catherine, furiously.  ‘I demand it!  Don’t you see I can scarcely stand?  Edgar, you—you leave me!’

67 Leave a comment on paragraph 67 0 She rang the bell till it broke with a twang; I entered leisurely.  It was enough to try the temper of a saint, such senseless, wicked rages!  There she lay dashing her head against the arm of the sofa, and grinding her teeth, so that you might fancy she would crash them to splinters!  Mr. Linton stood looking at her in sudden compunction and fear.  He told me to fetch some water.  She had no breath for speaking.  I brought a glass full; and as she would not drink, I sprinkled it on her face.  In a few seconds she stretched herself out stiff, and turned up her eyes, while her cheeks, at once blanched and livid, assumed the aspect of death.  Linton looked terrified.

68 Leave a comment on paragraph 68 0 ‘There is nothing in the world the matter,’ I whispered.  I did not want him to yield, though I could not help being afraid in my heart.

69 Leave a comment on paragraph 69 0 ‘She has blood on her lips!’ he said, shuddering.

70 Leave a comment on paragraph 70 0 ‘Never mind!’ I answered, tartly.  And I told him how she had resolved, previous to his coming, on exhibiting a fit of frenzy.  I incautiously gave the account aloud, and she heard me; for she started up—her hair flying over her shoulders, her eyes flashing, the muscles of her neck and arms standing out preternaturally.  I made up my mind for broken bones, at least; but she only glared about her for an instant, and then rushed from the room.  The master directed me to follow; I did, to her chamber-door: she hindered me from going further by securing it against me.

71 Leave a comment on paragraph 71 0 As she never offered to descend to breakfast next morning, I went to ask whether she would have some carried up.  ‘No!’ she replied, peremptorily.  The same question was repeated at dinner and tea; and again on the morrow after, and received the same answer.  Mr. Linton, on his part, spent his time in the library, and did not inquire concerning his wife’s occupations.  Isabella and he had had an hour’s interview, during which he tried to elicit from her some sentiment of proper horror for Heathcliff’s advances: but he could make nothing of her evasive replies, and was obliged to close the examination unsatisfactorily; adding, however, a solemn warning, that if she were so insane as to encourage that worthless suitor, it would dissolve all bonds of relationship between herself and him.

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