A CHARMING introduction to a hermit's life! Four weeks' torture,tossing, and sickness! Oh, these bleak winds and bitter northernskies, and impassable roads, and dilatory country surgeons! Andoh, this dearth of the human physiognomy! and, worse than all, theterrible intimation of Kenneth that I need not expect to be out ofdoors till spring!

Mr. Heathcliff has just honoured me with a call. About seven daysago he sent me a brace of grouse - the last of the season.Scoundrel! He is not altogether guiltless in this illness of mine;and that I had a great mind to tell him. But, alas! how could Ioffend a man who was charitable enough to sit at my bedside a goodhour, and talk on some other subject than pills and draughts,blisters and leeches? This is quite an easy interval. I am tooweak to read; yet I feel as if I could enjoy something interesting.Why not have up Mrs. Dean to finish her tale? I can recollect itschief incidents, as far as she had gone. Yes: I remember her herohad run off, and never been heard of for three years; and theheroine was married. I'll ring: she'll be delighted to find mecapable of talking cheerfully. Mrs. Dean came.

'It wants twenty minutes, sir, to taking the medicine,' shecommenced.

'Away, away with it!' I replied; 'I desire to have - '

'The doctor says you must drop the powders.'

'With all my heart! Don't interrupt me. Come and take your seathere. Keep your fingers from that bitter phalanx of vials. Drawyour knitting out of your pocket - that will do - now continue thehistory of Mr. Heathcliff, from where you left off, to the presentday. Did he finish his education on the Continent, and come back agentleman? or did he get a sizar's place at college, or escape toAmerica, and earn honours by drawing blood from his foster-country?or make a fortune more promptly on the English highways?'

'He may have done a little in all these vocations, Mr. Lockwood;but I couldn't give my word for any. I stated before that I didn'tknow how he gained his money; neither am I aware of the means hetook to raise his mind from the savage ignorance into which it wassunk: but, with your leave, I'll proceed in my own fashion, if youthink it will amuse and not weary you. Are you feeling better thismorning?'

'Much.'

'That's good news.'

I got Miss Catherine and myself to Thrushcross Grange; and, to myagreeable disappointment, she behaved infinitely better than Idared to expect. She seemed almost over-fond of Mr. Linton; andeven to his sister she showed plenty of affection. They were bothvery attentive to her comfort, certainly. It was not the thornbending to the honeysuckles, but the honeysuckles embracing thethorn. There were no mutual concessions: one stood erect, and theothers yielded: and who can be ill-natured and bad-tempered whenthey encounter neither opposition nor indifference? I observedthat Mr. Edgar had a deep-rooted fear of ruffling her humour. Heconcealed it from her; but if ever he heard me answer sharply, orsaw any other servant grow cloudy at some imperious order of hers,he would show his trouble by a frown of displeasure that neverdarkened on his own account. He many a time spoke sternly to meabout my pertness; and averred that the stab of a knife could notinflict a worse pang than he suffered at seeing his lady vexed.Not to grieve a kind master, I learned to be less touchy; and, forthe space of half a year, the gunpowder lay as harmless as sand,because no fire came near to explode it. Catherine had seasons ofgloom and silence now and then: they were respected withsympathising silence by her husband, who ascribed them to analteration in her constitution, produced by her perilous illness;as she was never subject to depression of spirits before. Thereturn of sunshine was welcomed by answering sunshine from him. Ibelieve I may assert that they were really in possession of deepand growing happiness.

It ended. Well, we MUST be for ourselves in the long run; the mildand generous are only more justly selfish than the domineering; andit ended when circumstances caused each to feel that the one'sinterest was not the chief consideration in the other's thoughts.On a mellow evening in September, I was coming from the garden witha heavy basket of apples which I had been gathering. It had gotdusk, and the moon looked over the high wall of the court, causingundefined shadows to lurk in the corners of the numerous projectingportions of the building. I set my burden on the house-steps bythe kitchen-door, and lingered to rest, and drew in a few morebreaths of the soft, sweet air; my eyes were on the moon, and myback to the entrance, when I heard a voice behind me say, - 'Nelly,is that you?'

It was a deep voice, and foreign in tone; yet there was somethingin the manner of pronouncing my name which made it sound familiar.I turned about to discover who spoke, fearfully; for the doors wereshut, and I had seen nobody on approaching the steps. Somethingstirred in the porch; and, moving nearer, I distinguished a tallman dressed in dark clothes, with dark face and hair. He leantagainst the side, and held his fingers on the latch as if intendingto open for himself. 'Who can it be?' I thought. 'Mr. Earnshaw?Oh, no! The voice has no resemblance to his.'

'I have waited here an hour,' he resumed, while I continuedstaring; 'and the whole of that time all round has been as still asdeath. I dared not enter. You do not know me? Look, I'm not astranger!'

A ray fell on his features; the cheeks were sallow, and halfcovered with black whiskers; the brows lowering, the eyes deep-setand singular. I remembered the eyes.

'What!' I cried, uncertain whether to regard him as a worldlyvisitor, and I raised my hands in amazement. 'What! you come back?Is it really you? Is it?'

'Yes, Heathcliff,' he replied, glancing from me up to the windows,which reflected a score of glittering moons, but showed no lightsfrom within. 'Are they at home? where is she? Nelly, you are notglad! you needn't be so disturbed. Is she here? Speak! I want tohave one word with her - your mistress. Go, and say some personfrom Gimmerton desires to see her.'

'How will she take it?' I exclaimed. 'What will she do? Thesurprise bewilders me - it will put her out of her head! And youARE Heathcliff! But altered! Nay, there's no comprehending it.Have you been for a soldier?'

'Go and carry my message,' he interrupted, impatiently. 'I'm inhell till you do!'

He lifted the latch, and I entered; but when I got to the parlourwhere Mr. and Mrs. Linton were, I could not persuade myself toproceed. At length I resolved on making an excuse to ask if theywould have the candles lighted, and I opened the door.

They sat together in a window whose lattice lay back against thewall, and displayed, beyond the garden trees, and the wild greenpark, the valley of Gimmerton, with a long line of mist windingnearly to its top (for very soon after you pass the chapel, as youmay have noticed, the sough that runs from the marshes joins a beckwhich follows the bend of the glen). Wuthering Heights rose abovethis silvery vapour; but our old house was invisible; it ratherdips down on the other side. Both the room and its occupants, andthe scene they gazed on, looked wondrously peaceful. I shrankreluctantly from performing my errand; and was actually going awayleaving it unsaid, after having put my question about the candles,when a sense of my folly compelled me to return, and mutter, 'Aperson from Gimmerton wishes to see you ma'am.'

'What does he want?' asked Mrs. Linton.

'I did not question him,' I answered.

'Well, close the curtains, Nelly,' she said; 'and bring up tea.I'll be back again directly.'

She quitted the apartment; Mr. Edgar inquired, carelessly, who itwas.

'Some one mistress does not expect,' I replied. 'That Heathcliff -you recollect him, sir - who used to live at Mr. Earnshaw's.'

'What! the gipsy - the ploughboy?' he cried. 'Why did you not sayso to Catherine?'

'Hush! you must not call him by those names, master,' I said.'She'd be sadly grieved to hear you. She was nearly heartbrokenwhen he ran off. I guess his return will make a jubilee to her.'

Mr. Linton walked to a window on the other side of the room thatoverlooked the court. He unfastened it, and leant out. I supposethey were below, for he exclaimed quickly: 'Don't stand there,love! Bring the person in, if it be anyone particular.' Ere long,I heard the click of the latch, and Catherine flew up-stairs,breathless and wild; too excited to show gladness: indeed, by herface, you would rather have surmised an awful calamity.

'Oh, Edgar, Edgar!' she panted, flinging her arms round his neck.'Oh, Edgar darling! Heathcliff's come back - he is!' And shetightened her embrace to a squeeze.

'Well, well,' cried her husband, crossly, 'don't strangle me forthat! He never struck me as such a marvellous treasure. There isno need to be frantic!'

'I know you didn't like him,' she answered, repressing a little theintensity of her delight. 'Yet, for my sake, you must be friendsnow. Shall I tell him to come up?'

'Here,' he said, 'into the parlour?'

'Where else?' she asked.

He looked vexed, and suggested the kitchen as a more suitable placefor him. Mrs. Linton eyed him with a droll expression - halfangry, half laughing at his fastidiousness.

'No,' she added, after a while; 'I cannot sit in the kitchen. Settwo tables here, Ellen: one for your master and Miss Isabella,being gentry; the other for Heathcliff and myself, being of thelower orders. Will that please you, dear? Or must I have a firelighted elsewhere? If so, give directions. I'll run down andsecure my guest. I'm afraid the joy is too great to be real!'

She was about to dart off again; but Edgar arrested her.

'YOU bid him step up,' he said, addressing me; 'and, Catherine, tryto be glad, without being absurd. The whole household need notwitness the sight of your welcoming a runaway servant as abrother.'

I descended, and found Heathcliff waiting under the porch,evidently anticipating an invitation to enter. He followed myguidance without waste of words, and I ushered him into thepresence of the master and mistress, whose flushed cheeks betrayedsigns of warm talking. But the lady's glowed with another feelingwhen her friend appeared at the door: she sprang forward, tookboth his hands, and led him to Linton; and then she seized Linton'sreluctant fingers and crushed them into his. Now, fully revealedby the fire and candlelight, I was amazed, more than ever, tobehold the transformation of Heathcliff. He had grown a tall,athletic, well-formed man; beside whom my master seemed quiteslender and youth-like. His upright carriage suggested the idea ofhis having been in the army. His countenance was much older inexpression and decision of feature than Mr. Linton's; it lookedintelligent, and retained no marks of former degradation. A half-civilised ferocity lurked yet in the depressed brows and eyes fullof black fire, but it was subdued; and his manner was evendignified: quite divested of roughness, though stern for grace.My master's surprise equalled or exceeded mine: he remained for aminute at a loss how to address the ploughboy, as he had calledhim. Heathcliff dropped his slight hand, and stood looking at himcoolly till he chose to speak.

'Sit down, sir,' he said, at length. 'Mrs. Linton, recalling oldtimes, would have me give you a cordial reception; and, of course,I am gratified when anything occurs to please her.'

'And I also,' answered Heathcliff, 'especially if it be anything inwhich I have a part. I shall stay an hour or two willingly.'

He took a seat opposite Catherine, who kept her gaze fixed on himas if she feared he would vanish were she to remove it. He did notraise his to her often: a quick glance now and then sufficed; butit flashed back, each time more confidently, the undisguiseddelight he drank from hers. They were too much absorbed in theirmutual joy to suffer embarrassment. Not so Mr. Edgar: he grewpale with pure annoyance: a feeling that reached its climax whenhis lady rose, and stepping across the rug, seized Heathcliff'shands again, and laughed like one beside herself.

'I shall think it a dream to-morrow!' she cried. 'I shall not beable to believe that I have seen, and touched, and spoken to youonce more. And yet, cruel Heathcliff! you don't deserve thiswelcome. To be absent and silent for three years, and never tothink of me!'

'A little more than you have thought of me,' he murmured. 'I heardof your marriage, Cathy, not long since; and, while waiting in theyard below, I meditated this plan - just to have one glimpse ofyour face, a stare of surprise, perhaps, and pretended pleasure;afterwards settle my score with Hindley; and then prevent the lawby doing execution on myself. Your welcome has put these ideas outof my mind; but beware of meeting me with another aspect next time!Nay, you'll not drive me off again. You were really sorry for me,were you? Well, there was cause. I've fought through a bitterlife since I last heard your voice; and you must forgive me, for Istruggled only for you!'

'Catherine, unless we are to have cold tea, please to come to thetable,' interrupted Linton, striving to preserve his ordinary tone,and a due measure of politeness. 'Mr. Heathcliff will have a longwalk, wherever he may lodge to-night; and I'm thirsty.'

She took her post before the urn; and Miss Isabella came, summonedby the bell; then, having handed their chairs forward, I left theroom. The meal hardly endured ten minutes. Catherine's cup wasnever filled: she could neither eat nor drink. Edgar had made aslop in his saucer, and scarcely swallowed a mouthful. Their guestdid not protract his stay that evening above an hour longer. Iasked, as he departed, if he went to Gimmerton?

'No, to Wuthering Heights,' he answered: 'Mr. Earnshaw invited me,when I called this morning.'

Mr. Earnshaw invited HIM! and HE called on Mr. Earnshaw! Ipondered this sentence painfully, after he was gone. Is he turningout a bit of a hypocrite, and coming into the country to workmischief under a cloak? I mused: I had a presentiment in thebottom of my heart that he had better have remained away.

About the middle of the night, I was wakened from my first nap byMrs. Linton gliding into my chamber, taking a seat on my bedside,and pulling me by the hair to rouse me.

'I cannot rest, Ellen,' she said, by way of apology. 'And I wantsome living creature to keep me company in my happiness! Edgar issulky, because I'm glad of a thing that does not interest him: herefuses to open his mouth, except to utter pettish, silly speeches;and he affirmed I was cruel and selfish for wishing to talk when hewas so sick and sleepy. He always contrives to be sick at theleast cross! I gave a few sentences of commendation to Heathcliff,and he, either for a headache or a pang of envy, began to cry: soI got up and left him.'

'What use is it praising Heathcliff to him?' I answered. 'As ladsthey had an aversion to each other, and Heathcliff would hate justas much to hear him praised: it's human nature. Let Mr. Lintonalone about him, unless you would like an open quarrel betweenthem.'

'But does it not show great weakness?' pursued she. 'I'm notenvious: I never feel hurt at the brightness of Isabella's yellowhair and the whiteness of her skin, at her dainty elegance, and thefondness all the family exhibit for her. Even you, Nelly, if wehave a dispute sometimes, you back Isabella at once; and I yieldlike a foolish mother: I call her a darling, and flatter her intoa good temper. It pleases her brother to see us cordial, and thatpleases me. But they are very much alike: they are spoiledchildren, and fancy the world was made for their accommodation; andthough I humour both, I think a smart chastisement might improvethem all the same.'

'You're mistaken, Mrs. Linton,' said I. 'They humour you: I knowwhat there would be to do if they did not. You can well afford toindulge their passing whims as long as their business is toanticipate all your desires. You may, however, fall out, at last,over something of equal consequence to both sides; and then thoseyou term weak are very capable of being as obstinate as you.'

'And then we shall fight to the death, sha'n't we, Nelly?' shereturned, laughing. 'No! I tell you, I have such faith in Linton'slove, that I believe I might kill him, and he wouldn't wish toretaliate.'

I advised her to value him the more for his affection.

'I do,' she answered, 'but he needn't resort to whining fortrifles. It is childish and, instead of melting into tears becauseI said that Heathcliff was now worthy of anyone's regard, and itwould honour the first gentleman in the country to be his friend,he ought to have said it for me, and been delighted from sympathy.He must get accustomed to him, and he may as well like him:considering how Heathcliff has reason to object to him, I'm sure hebehaved excellently!'

'What do you think of his going to Wuthering Heights?' I inquired.'He is reformed in every respect, apparently: quite a Christian:offering the right hand of fellowship to his enemies all around!'

'He explained it,' she replied. 'I wonder as much as you. He saidhe called to gather information concerning me from you, supposingyou resided there still; and Joseph told Hindley, who came out andfell to questioning him of what he had been doing, and how he hadbeen living; and finally, desired him to walk in. There were somepersons sitting at cards; Heathcliff joined them; my brother lostsome money to him, and, finding him plentifully supplied, herequested that he would come again in the evening: to which heconsented. Hindley is too reckless to select his acquaintanceprudently: he doesn't trouble himself to reflect on the causes hemight have for mistrusting one whom he has basely injured. ButHeathcliff affirms his principal reason for resuming a connectionwith his ancient persecutor is a wish to instal himself in quartersat walking distance from the Grange, and an attachment to the housewhere we lived together; and likewise a hope that I shall have moreopportunities of seeing him there than I could have if he settledin Gimmerton. He means to offer liberal payment for permission tolodge at the Heights; and doubtless my brother's covetousness willprompt him to accept the terms: he was always greedy; though whathe grasps with one hand he flings away with the other.'

'It's a nice place for a young man to fix his dwelling in!' said I.'Have you no fear of the consequences, Mrs. Linton?'

'None for my friend,' she replied: 'his strong head will keep himfrom danger; a little for Hindley: but he can't be made morallyworse than he is; and I stand between him and bodily harm. Theevent of this evening has reconciled me to God and humanity! I hadrisen in angry rebellion against Providence. Oh, I've enduredvery, very bitter misery, Nelly! If that creature knew how bitter,he'd be ashamed to cloud its removal with idle petulance. It waskindness for him which induced me to bear it alone: had Iexpressed the agony I frequently felt, he would have been taught tolong for its alleviation as ardently as I. However, it's over, andI'll take no revenge on his folly; I can afford to suffer anythinghereafter! Should the meanest thing alive slap me on the cheek,I'd not only turn the other, but I'd ask pardon for provoking it;and, as a proof, I'll go make my peace with Edgar instantly. Good-night! I'm an angel!'

In this self-complacent conviction she departed; and the success ofher fulfilled resolution was obvious on the morrow: Mr. Linton hadnot only abjured his peevishness (though his spirits seemed stillsubdued by Catherine's exuberance of vivacity), but he ventured noobjection to her taking Isabella with her to Wuthering Heights inthe afternoon; and she rewarded him with such a summer of sweetnessand affection in return as made the house a paradise for severaldays; both master and servants profiting from the perpetualsunshine.

Heathcliff - Mr. Heathcliff I should say in future - used theliberty of visiting at Thrushcross Grange cautiously, at first: heseemed estimating how far its owner would bear his intrusion.Catherine, also, deemed it judicious to moderate her expressions ofpleasure in receiving him; and he gradually established his rightto be expected. He retained a great deal of the reserve for whichhis boyhood was remarkable; and that served to repress allstartling demonstrations of feeling. My master's uneasinessexperienced a lull, and further circumstances diverted it intoanother channel for a space.

His new source of trouble sprang from the not anticipatedmisfortune of Isabella Linton evincing a sudden and irresistibleattraction towards the tolerated guest. She was at that time acharming young lady of eighteen; infantile in manners, thoughpossessed of keen wit, keen feelings, and a keen temper, too, ifirritated. Her brother, who loved her tenderly, was appalled atthis fantastic preference. Leaving aside the degradation of analliance with a nameless man, and the possible fact that hisproperty, in default of heirs male, might pass into such a one'spower, he had sense to comprehend Heathcliff's disposition: toknow that, though his exterior was altered, his mind wasunchangeable and unchanged. And he dreaded that mind: it revoltedhim: he shrank forebodingly from the idea of committing Isabellato its keeping. He would have recoiled still more had he beenaware that her attachment rose unsolicited, and was bestowed whereit awakened no reciprocation of sentiment; for the minute hediscovered its existence he laid the blame on Heathcliff'sdeliberate designing.

We had all remarked, during some time, that Miss Linton fretted andpined over something. She grew cross and wearisome; snapping atand teasing Catherine continually, at the imminent risk ofexhausting her limited patience. We excused her, to a certainextent, on the plea of ill-health: she was dwindling and fadingbefore our eyes. But one day, when she had been peculiarlywayward, rejecting her breakfast, complaining that the servants didnot do what she told them; that the mistress would allow her to benothing in the house, and Edgar neglected her; that she had caughta cold with the doors being left open, and we let the parlour firego out on purpose to vex her, with a hundred yet more frivolousaccusations, Mrs. Linton peremptorily insisted that she should getto bed; and, having scolded her heartily, threatened to send forthe doctor. Mention of Kenneth caused her to exclaim, instantly,that her health was perfect, and it was only Catherine's harshnesswhich made her unhappy.

'How can you say I am harsh, you naughty fondling?' cried themistress, amazed at the unreasonable assertion. 'You are surelylosing your reason. When have I been hash, tell me?'

'Yesterday,' sobbed Isabella, 'and now!'

'Yesterday!' said her sister-in-law. 'On what occasion?'

'In our walk along the moor: you told me to ramble where Ipleased, while you sauntered on with Mr. Heathcliff?'

'And that's your notion of harshness?' said Catherine, laughing.'It was no hint that your company was superfluous? We didn't carewhether you kept with us or not; I merely thought Heathcliff's talkwould have nothing entertaining for your ears.'

'Oh, no,' wept the young lady; 'you wished me away, because youknew I liked to be there!'

'Is she sane?' asked Mrs. Linton, appealing to me. 'I'll repeatour conversation, word for word, Isabella; and you point out anycharm it could have had for you.'

'I don't mind the conversation,' she answered: 'I wanted to bewith - '

"Well?' said Catherine, perceiving her hesitate to complete thesentence.

'With him: and I won't be always sent off!' she continued,kindling up. 'You are a dog in the manger, Cathy, and desire noone to be loved but yourself!'

'You are an impertinent little monkey!' exclaimed Mrs. Linton, insurprise. 'But I'll not believe this idiotcy! It is impossiblethat you can covet the admiration of Heathcliff - that you considerhim an agreeable person! I hope I have misunderstood you,Isabella?'

'No, you have not,' said the infatuated girl. 'I love him morethan ever you loved Edgar, and he might love me, if you would lethim!'

'I wouldn't be you for a kingdom, then!' Catherine declared,emphatically: and she seemed to speak sincerely. 'Nelly, help meto convince her of her madness. Tell her what Heathcliff is: anunreclaimed creature, without refinement, without cultivation; anarid wilderness of furze and whinstone. I'd as soon put thatlittle canary into the park on a winter's day, as recommend you tobestow your heart on him! It is deplorable ignorance of hischaracter, child, and nothing else, which makes that dream enteryour head. Pray, don't imagine that he conceals depths ofbenevolence and affection beneath a stern exterior! He's not arough diamond - a pearl-containing oyster of a rustic: he's afierce, pitiless, wolfish man. I never say to him, "Let this orthat enemy alone, because it would be ungenerous or cruel to harmthem;" I say, "Let them alone, because I should hate them to bewronged:" and he'd crush you like a sparrow's egg, Isabella, if hefound you a troublesome charge. I know he couldn't love a Linton;and yet he'd be quite capable of marrying your fortune andexpectations: avarice is growing with him a besetting sin.There's my picture: and I'm his friend - so much so, that had hethought seriously to catch you, I should, perhaps, have held mytongue, and let you fall into his trap.'

Miss Linton regarded her sister-in-law with indignation.

'For shame! for shame!' she repeated, angrily. 'You are worse thantwenty foes, you poisonous friend!'

'Ah! you won't believe me, then?' said Catherine. 'You think Ispeak from wicked selfishness?'

'I'm certain you do,' retorted Isabella; 'and I shudder at you!'

'Good!' cried the other. 'Try for yourself, if that be yourspirit: I have done, and yield the argument to your saucyinsolence.' -

'And I must suffer for her egotism!' she sobbed, as Mrs. Lintonleft the room. 'All, all is against me: she has blighted mysingle consolation. But she uttered falsehoods, didn't she? Mr.Heathcliff is not a fiend: he has an honourable soul, and a trueone, or how could he remember her?'

'Banish him from your thoughts, Miss,' I said. 'He's a bird of badomen: no mate for you. Mrs. Linton spoke strongly, and yet Ican't contradict her. She is better acquainted with his heart thanI, or any one besides; and she never would represent him as worsethan he is. Honest people don't hide their deeds. How has he beenliving? how has he got rich? why is he staying at WutheringHeights, the house of a man whom he abhors? They say Mr. Earnshawis worse and worse since he came. They sit up all night togethercontinually, and Hindley has been borrowing money on his land, anddoes nothing but play and drink: I heard only a week ago - it wasJoseph who told me - I met him at Gimmerton: "Nelly," he said,"we's hae a crowner's 'quest enow, at ahr folks'. One on 'em 'sa'most getten his finger cut off wi' hauding t' other fro' stickin'hisseln loike a cawlf. That's maister, yeah knaw, 'at 's soa up o'going tuh t' grand 'sizes. He's noan feared o' t' bench o' judges,norther Paul, nur Peter, nur John, nur Matthew, nor noan on 'em,not he! He fair likes - he langs to set his brazened face agean'em! And yon bonny lad Heathcliff, yah mind, he's a rare 'un. Hecan girn a laugh as well 's onybody at a raight divil's jest. Doeshe niver say nowt of his fine living amang us, when he goes to t'Grange? This is t' way on 't:- up at sun-down: dice, brandy,cloised shutters, und can'le-light till next day at noon: then,t'fooil gangs banning und raving to his cham'er, makking dacentfowks dig thur fingers i' thur lugs fur varry shame; un' the knave,why he can caint his brass, un' ate, un' sleep, un' off to hisneighbour's to gossip wi' t' wife. I' course, he tells DameCatherine how her fathur's goold runs into his pocket, and herfathur's son gallops down t' broad road, while he flees afore tooppen t' pikes!" Now, Miss Linton, Joseph is an old rascal, but noliar; and, if his account of Heathcliff's conduct be true, youwould never think of desiring such a husband, would you?'

'You are leagued with the rest, Ellen!' she replied. 'I'll notlisten to your slanders. What malevolence you must have to wish toconvince me that there is no happiness in the world!'

Whether she would have got over this fancy if left to herself, orpersevered in nursing it perpetually, I cannot say: she had littletime to reflect. The day after, there was a justice-meeting at thenext town; my master was obliged to attend; and Mr. Heathcliff,aware of his absence, called rather earlier than usual. Catherineand Isabella were sitting in the library, on hostile terms, butsilent: the latter alarmed at her recent indiscretion, and thedisclosure she had made of her secret feelings in a transient fitof passion; the former, on mature consideration, really offendedwith her companion; and, if she laughed again at her pertness,inclined to make it no laughing matter to her. She did laugh asshe saw Heathcliff pass the window. I was sweeping the hearth, andI noticed a mischievous smile on her lips. Isabella, absorbed inher meditations, or a book, remained till the door opened; and itwas too late to attempt an escape, which she would gladly have donehad it been practicable.

'Come in, that's right!' exclaimed the mistress, gaily, pulling achair to the fire. 'Here are two people sadly in need of a thirdto thaw the ice between them; and you are the very one we shouldboth of us choose. Heathcliff, I'm proud to show you, at last,somebody that dotes on you more than myself. I expect you to feelflattered. Nay, it's not Nelly; don't look at her! My poor littlesister-in-law is breaking her heart by mere contemplation of yourphysical and moral beauty. It lies in your own power to be Edgar'sbrother! No, no, Isabella, you sha'n't run off,' she continued,arresting, with feigned playfulness, the confounded girl, who hadrisen indignantly. 'We were quarrelling like cats about you,Heathcliff; and I was fairly beaten in protestations of devotionand admiration: and, moreover, I was informed that if I would buthave the manners to stand aside, my rival, as she will have herselfto be, would shoot a shaft into your soul that would fix you forever, and send my image into eternal oblivion!'

'Catherine!' said Isabella, calling up her dignity, and disdainingto struggle from the tight grasp that held her, 'I'd thank you toadhere to the truth and not slander me, even in joke! Mr.Heathcliff, be kind enough to bid this friend of yours release me:she forgets that you and I are not intimate acquaintances; and whatamuses her is painful to me beyond expression.'

As the guest answered nothing, but took his seat, and lookedthoroughly indifferent what sentiments she cherished concerninghim, she turned and whispered an earnest appeal for liberty to hertormentor.

'By no means!' cried Mrs. Linton in answer. 'I won't be named adog in the manger again. You SHALL stay: now then! Heathcliff,why don't you evince satisfaction at my pleasant news? Isabellaswears that the love Edgar has for me is nothing to that sheentertains for you. I'm sure she made some speech of the kind; didshe not, Ellen? And she has fasted ever since the day beforeyesterday's walk, from sorrow and rage that I despatched her out ofyour society under the idea of its being unacceptable.'

'I think you belie her,' said Heathcliff, twisting his chair toface them. 'She wishes to be out of my society now, at any rate!'

And he stared hard at the object of discourse, as one might do at astrange repulsive animal: a centipede from the Indies, forinstance, which curiosity leads one to examine in spite of theaversion it raises. The poor thing couldn't bear that; she grewwhite and red in rapid succession, and, while tears beaded herlashes, bent the strength of her small fingers to loosen the firmclutch of Catherine; and perceiving that as fast as she raised onefinger off her arm another closed down, and she could not removethe whole together, she began to make use of her nails; and theirsharpness presently ornamented the detainer's with crescents ofred.

'There's a tigress!' exclaimed Mrs. Linton, setting her free, andshaking her hand with pain. 'Begone, for God's sake, and hide yourvixen face! How foolish to reveal those talons to him. Can't youfancy the conclusions he'll draw? Look, Heathcliff! they areinstruments that will do execution - you must beware of your eyes.'

'I'd wrench them off her fingers, if they ever menaced me,' heanswered, brutally, when the door had closed after her. 'But whatdid you mean by teasing the creature in that manner, Cathy? Youwere not speaking the truth, were you?'

'I assure you I was,' she returned. 'She has been dying for yoursake several weeks, and raving about you this morning, and pouringforth a deluge of abuse, because I represented your failings in aplain light, for the purpose of mitigating her adoration. Butdon't notice it further: I wished to punish her sauciness, that'sall. I like her too well, my dear Heathcliff, to let youabsolutely seize and devour her up.'

'And I like her too ill to attempt it,' said he, 'except in a veryghoulish fashion. You'd hear of odd things if I lived alone withthat mawkish, waxen face: the most ordinary would be painting onits white the colours of the rainbow, and turning the blue eyesblack, every day or two: they detestably resemble Linton's.'

'Delectably!' observed Catherine. 'They are dove's eyes -angel's!'

'She's her brother's heir, is she not?' he asked, after a briefsilence.

'I should be sorry to think so,' returned his companion. 'Half adozen nephews shall erase her title, please heaven! Abstract yourmind from the subject at present: you are too prone to covet yourneighbour's goods; remember THIS neighbour's goods are mine.'

'If they were MINE, they would be none the less that,' saidHeathcliff; 'but though Isabella Linton may be silly, she isscarcely mad; and, in short, we'll dismiss the matter, as youadvise.'

From their tongues they did dismiss it; and Catherine, probably,from her thoughts. The other, I felt certain, recalled it often inthe course of the evening. I saw him smile to himself - grinrather - and lapse into ominous musing whenever Mrs. Linton hadoccasion to be absent from the apartment.

I determined to watch his movements. My heart invariably cleavedto the master's, in preference to Catherine's side: with reason Iimagined, for he was kind, and trustful, and honourable; and she -she could not be called OPPOSITE, yet she seemed to allow herselfsuch wide latitude, that I had little faith in her principles, andstill less sympathy for her feelings. I wanted something to happenwhich might have the effect of freeing both Wuthering Heights andthe Grange of Mr. Heathcliff quietly; leaving us as we had beenprior to his advent. His visits were a continual nightmare to me;and, I suspected, to my master also. His abode at the Heights wasan oppression past explaining. I felt that God had forsaken thestray sheep there to its own wicked wanderings, and an evil beastprowled between it and the fold, waiting his time to spring anddestroy.