SOMETIMES, while meditating on these things in solitude, I've gotup in a sudden terror, and put on my bonnet to go see how all wasat the farm. I've persuaded my conscience that it was a duty towarn him how people talked regarding his ways; and then I'verecollected his confirmed bad habits, and, hopeless of benefitinghim, have flinched from re-entering the dismal house, doubting if Icould bear to be taken at my word.

One time I passed the old gate, going out of my way, on a journeyto Gimmerton. It was about the period that my narrative hasreached: a bright frosty afternoon; the ground bare, and the roadhard and dry. I came to a stone where the highway branches off onto the moor at your left hand; a rough sand-pillar, with theletters W. H. cut on its north side, on the east, G., and on thesouth-west, T. G. It serves as a guide-post to the Grange, theHeights, and village. The sun shone yellow on its grey head,reminding me of summer; and I cannot say why, but all at once agush of child's sensations flowed into my heart. Hindley and Iheld it a favourite spot twenty years before. I gazed long at theweather-worn block; and, stooping down, perceived a hole near thebottom still full of snail-shells and pebbles, which we were fondof storing there with more perishable things; and, as fresh asreality, it appeared that I beheld my early playmate seated on thewithered turf: his dark, square head bent forward, and his littlehand scooping out the earth with a piece of slate. 'Poor Hindley!'I exclaimed, involuntarily. I started: my bodily eye was cheatedinto a momentary belief that the child lifted its face and staredstraight into mine! It vanished in a twinkling; but immediately Ifelt an irresistible yearning to be at the Heights. Superstitionurged me to comply with this impulse: supposing he should be dead!I thought - or should die soon! - supposing it were a sign ofdeath! The nearer I got to the house the more agitated I grew; andon catching sight of it I trembled in every limb. The apparitionhad outstripped me: it stood looking through the gate. That wasmy first idea on observing an elf-locked, brown-eyed boy settinghis ruddy countenance against the bars. Further reflectionsuggested this must be Hareton, MY Hareton, not altered greatlysince I left him, ten months since.

'God bless thee, darling!' I cried, forgetting instantaneously myfoolish fears. 'Hareton, it's Nelly! Nelly, thy nurse.'

He retreated out of arm's length, and picked up a large flint.

'I am come to see thy father, Hareton,' I added, guessing from theaction that Nelly, if she lived in his memory at all, was notrecognised as one with me.

He raised his missile to hurl it; I commenced a soothing speech,but could not stay his hand: the stone struck my bonnet; and thenensued, from the stammering lips of the little fellow, a string ofcurses, which, whether he comprehended them or not, were deliveredwith practised emphasis, and distorted his baby features into ashocking expression of malignity. You may be certain this grievedmore than angered me. Fit to cry, I took an orange from my pocket,and offered it to propitiate him. He hesitated, and then snatchedit from my hold; as if he fancied I only intended to tempt anddisappoint him. I showed another, keeping it out of his reach.

'Who has taught you those fine words, my bairn?' I inquired. 'Thecurate?'

'Damn the curate, and thee! Gie me that,' he replied.

'Tell us where you got your lessons, and you shall have it,' saidI. 'Who's your master?'

'Devil daddy,' was his answer.

'And what do you learn from daddy?' I continued.

He jumped at the fruit; I raised it higher. 'What does he teachyou?' I asked.

'Naught,' said he, 'but to keep out of his gait. Daddy cannot bideme, because I swear at him.'

'Ah! and the devil teaches you to swear at daddy?' I observed.

'Ay - nay,' he drawled.

'Who, then?'

'Heathcliff.'

'I asked if he liked Mr. Heathcliff.'

'Ay!' he answered again.

Desiring to have his reasons for liking him, I could only gatherthe 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.'

'And the curate does not teach you to read and write, then?' Ipursued.

'No, I was told the curate should have his - teeth dashed down his- throat, if he stepped over the threshold - Heathcliff hadpromised that!'

I put the orange in his hand, and bade him tell his father that awoman called Nelly Dean was waiting to speak with him, by thegarden gate. He went up the walk, and entered the house; but,instead of Hindley, Heathcliff appeared on the door-stones; and Iturned 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 scaredas if I had raised a goblin. This is not much connected with MissIsabella's affair: except that it urged me to resolve further onmounting vigilant guard, and doing my utmost to cheek the spread ofsuch bad influence at the Grange: even though I should wake adomestic storm, by thwarting Mrs. Linton's pleasure.

The next time Heathcliff came my young lady chanced to be feedingsome pigeons in the court. She had never spoken a word to hersister-in-law for three days; but she had likewise dropped herfretful complaining, and we found it a great comfort. Heathcliffhad not the habit of bestowing a single unnecessary civility onMiss Linton, I knew. Now, as soon as he beheld her, his firstprecaution was to take a sweeping survey of the house-front. I wasstanding by the kitchen-window, but I drew out of sight. He thenstepped across the pavement to her, and said something: she seemedembarrassed, and desirous of getting away; to prevent it, he laidhis hand on her arm. She averted her face: he apparently put somequestion which she had no mind to answer. There was another rapidglance at the house, and supposing himself unseen, the scoundrelhad the impudence to embrace her.

'Judas! Traitor!' I ejaculated. 'You are a hypocrite, too, areyou? A deliberate deceiver.'

'Who is, Nelly?' said Catherine's voice at my elbow: I had beenover-intent on watching the pair outside to mark her entrance.

'Your worthless friend!' I answered, warmly: 'the sneaking rascalyonder. Ah, he has caught a glimpse of us - he is coming in! Iwonder will he have the heart to find a plausible excuse for makinglove to Miss, when he told you he hated her?'

Mrs. Linton saw Isabella tear herself free, and run into thegarden; and a minute after, Heathcliff opened the door. I couldn'twithhold giving some loose to my indignation; but Catherine angrilyinsisted 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.

'To hear you, people might think you were the mistress!' she cried.'You want setting down in your right place! Heathcliff, what areyou about, raising this stir? I said you must let Isabella alone!- I beg you will, unless you are tired of being received here, andwish Linton to draw the bolts against you!'

'God forbid that he should try!' answered the black villain. Idetested him just then. 'God keep him meek and patient! Every dayI grow madder after sending him to heaven!'

'Hush!' said Catherine, shutting the inner door! 'Don't vex me.Why have you disregarded my request? Did she come across you onpurpose?'

'What is it to you?' he growled. 'I have a right to kiss her, ifshe chooses; and you have no right to object. I am not YOURhusband: YOU needn't be jealous of me!'

'I'm not jealous of you,' replied the mistress; 'I'm jealous foryou. Clear your face: you sha'n't scowl at me! If you likeIsabella, you shall marry her. But do you like her? Tell thetruth, Heathcliff! There, you won't answer. I'm certain youdon't.'

'And would Mr. Linton approve of his sister marrying that man?' Iinquired.

'Mr. Linton should approve,' returned my lady, decisively.

'He might spare himself the trouble,' said Heathcliff: 'I could doas well without his approbation. And as to you, Catherine, I havea mind to speak a few words now, while we are at it. I want you tobe 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'llconvince you of the contrary, in a very little while! Meantime,thank you for telling me your sister-in-law's secret: I swear I'llmake the most of it. And stand you aside!'

'What new phase of his character is this?' exclaimed Mrs. Linton,in amazement. 'I've treated you infernally - and you'll take yourrevenge! How will you take it, ungrateful brute? How have Itreated you infernally?'

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

'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 offeringSatan a lost soul. Your bliss lies, like his, in inflictingmisery. You prove it. Edgar is restored from the ill-temper hegave way to at your coming; I begin to be secure and tranquil; andyou, restless to know us at peace, appear resolved on exciting aquarrel. Quarrel with Edgar, if you please, Heathcliff, anddeceive his sister: you'll hit on exactly the most efficientmethod of revenging yourself on me.'

The conversation ceased. Mrs. Linton sat down by the fire, flushedand gloomy. The spirit which served her was growing intractable:she could neither lay nor control it. He stood on the hearth withfolded arms, brooding on his evil thoughts; and in this position Ileft them to seek the master, who was wondering what kept Catherinebelow so long.

'Ellen,' said he, when I entered, 'have you seen your mistress?'

'Yes; she's in the kitchen, sir,' I answered. 'She's sadly put outby Mr. Heathcliff's behaviour: and, indeed, I do think it's timeto arrange his visits on another footing. There's harm in beingtoo soft, and now it's come to this - .' And I related the scenein the court, and, as near as I dared, the whole subsequentdispute. I fancied it could not be very prejudicial to Mrs.Linton; unless she made it so afterwards, by assuming the defensivefor her guest. Edgar Linton had difficulty in hearing me to theclose. His first words revealed that he did not clear his wife ofblame.

'This is insufferable!' he exclaimed. 'It is disgraceful that sheshould own him for a friend, and force his company on me! Call metwo men out of the hall, Ellen. Catherine shall linger no longerto argue with the low ruffian - I have humoured her enough.'

He descended, and bidding the servants wait in the passage, went,followed by me, to the kitchen. Its occupants had recommencedtheir angry discussion: Mrs. Linton, at least, was scolding withrenewed vigour; Heathcliff had moved to the window, and hung hishead, somewhat cowed by her violent rating apparently. He saw themaster first, and made a hasty motion that she should be silent;which she obeyed, abruptly, on discovering the reason of hisintimation.

'How is this?' said Linton, addressing her; 'what notion ofpropriety must you have to remain here, after the language whichhas been held to you by that blackguard? I suppose, because it ishis ordinary talk you think nothing of it: you are habituated tohis baseness, and, perhaps, imagine I can get used to it too!'

'Have you been listening at the door, Edgar?' asked the mistress,in a tone particularly calculated to provoke her husband, implyingboth carelessness and contempt of his irritation. Heathcliff, whohad raised his eyes at the former speech, gave a sneering laugh atthe latter; on purpose, it seemed, to draw Mr. Linton's attentionto him. He succeeded; but Edgar did not mean to entertain him withany high flights of passion.

'I've been so far forbearing with you, sir,' he said quietly; 'notthat I was ignorant of your miserable, degraded character, but Ifelt you were only partly responsible for that; and Catherinewishing to keep up your acquaintance, I acquiesced - foolishly.Your presence is a moral poison that would contaminate the mostvirtuous: for that cause, and to prevent worse consequences, Ishall deny you hereafter admission into this house, and give noticenow that I require your instant departure. Three minutes' delaywill render it involuntary and ignominious.

Heathcliff measured the height and breadth of the speaker with aneye full of derision.

'Cathy, this lamb of yours threatens like a bull!' he said. 'It isin danger of splitting its skull against my knuckles. By God! Mr.Linton, I'm mortally sorry that you are not worth knocking down!'

My master glanced towards the passage, and signed me to fetch themen: he had no intention of hazarding a personal encounter. Iobeyed the hint; but Mrs. Linton, suspecting something, followed;and when I attempted to call them, she pulled me back, slammed thedoor to, and locked it.

'Fair means!' she said, in answer to her husband's look of angrysurprise. 'If you have not courage to attack him, make an apology,or allow yourself to be beaten. It will correct you of feigningmore valour than you possess. No, I'll swallow the key before youshall get it! I'm delightfully rewarded for my kindness to each!After constant indulgence of one's weak nature, and the other's badone, I earn for thanks two samples of blind ingratitude, stupid toabsurdity! Edgar, I was defending you and yours; and I wishHeathcliff may flog you sick, for daring to think an evil thoughtof me!'

It did not need the medium of a flogging to produce that effect onthe master. He tried to wrest the key from Catherine's grasp, andfor safety she flung it into the hottest part of the fire;whereupon Mr. Edgar was taken with a nervous trembling, and hiscountenance grew deadly pale. For his life he could not avert thatexcess of emotion: mingled anguish and humiliation overcame himcompletely. He leant on the back of a chair, and covered his face.

'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 wouldmarch his army against a colony of mice. Cheer up! you sha'n't behurt! Your type is not a lamb, it's a sucking leveret.'

'I wish you joy of the milk-blooded coward, Cathy!' said herfriend. 'I compliment you on your taste. And that is theslavering, shivering thing you preferred to me! I would not strikehim with my fist, but I'd kick him with my foot, and experienceconsiderable satisfaction. Is he weeping, or is he going to faintfor fear?'

The fellow approached and gave the chair on which Linton rested apush. He'd better have kept his distance: my master quicklysprang erect, and struck him full on the throat a blow that wouldhave levelled a slighter man. It took his breath for a minute; andwhile he choked, Mr. Linton walked out by the back door into theyard, and from thence to the front entrance.

'There! you've done with coming here,' cried Catherine. 'Get away,now; he'll return with a brace of pistols and half-a-dozenassistants. If he did overhear us, of course he'd never forgiveyou. You've played me an ill turn, Heathcliff! But go - makehaste! I'd rather see Edgar at bay than you.'

'Do you suppose I'm going with that blow burning in my gullet?' hethundered. 'By hell, no! I'll crush his ribs in like a rottenhazel-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, letme get at him!'

'He is not coming,' I interposed, framing a bit of a lie. 'There'sthe coachman and the two gardeners; you'll surely not wait to bethrust into the road by them! Each has a bludgeon; and masterwill, very likely, be watching from the parlour-windows to see thatthey fulfil his orders.'

The gardeners and coachman were there: but Linton was with them.They had already entered the court. Heathcliff, on the secondthoughts, resolved to avoid a struggle against three underlings:he seized the poker, smashed the lock from the inner door, and madehis escape as they tramped in.

Mrs. Linton, who was very much excited, bade me accompany her up-stairs. She did not know my share in contributing to thedisturbance, and I was anxious to keep her in ignorance.

'I'm nearly distracted, Nelly!' she exclaimed, throwing herself onthe sofa. 'A thousand smiths' hammers are beating in my head!Tell Isabella to shun me; this uproar is owing to her; and shouldshe or any one else aggravate my anger at present, I shall getwild. 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 provetrue. He has startled and distressed me shockingly! I want tofrighten him. Besides, he might come and begin a string of abuseor complainings; I'm certain I should recriminate, and God knowswhere we should end! Will you do so, my good Nelly? You are awarethat I am no way blamable in this matter. What possessed him toturn listener? Heathcliff's talk was outrageous, after you leftus; but I could soon have diverted him from Isabella, and the restmeant nothing. Now all is dashed wrong; by the fool's craving tohear evil of self, that haunts some people like a demon! Had Edgarnever gathered our conversation, he would never have been the worsefor it. Really, when he opened on me in that unreasonable tone ofdispleasure after I had scolded Heathcliff till I was hoarse forhim, I did not care hardly what they did to each other; especiallyas I felt that, however the scene closed, we should all be drivenasunder for nobody knows how long! Well, if I cannot keepHeathcliff for my friend - if Edgar will be mean and jealous, I'lltry to break their hearts by breaking my own. That will be aprompt way of finishing all, when I am pushed to extremity! Butit's a deed to be reserved for a forlorn hope; I'd not take Lintonby surprise with it. To this point he has been discreet indreading to provoke me; you must represent the peril of quittingthat policy, and remind him of my passionate temper, verging, whenkindled, on frenzy. I wish you could dismiss that apathy out ofthat countenance, and look rather more anxious about me.'

The stolidity with which I received these instructions was, nodoubt, rather exasperating: for they were delivered in perfectsincerity; but I believed a person who could plan the turning ofher fits of passion to account, beforehand, might, by exerting herwill, manage to control herself tolerably, even while under theirinfluence; and I did not wish to 'frighten' her husband, as shesaid, and multiply his annoyances for the purpose of serving herselfishness. Therefore I said nothing when I met the master comingtowards the parlour; but I took the liberty of turning back tolisten whether they would resume their quarrel together. He beganto speak first.

'Remain where you are, Catherine,' he said; without any anger inhis voice, but with much sorrowful despondency. 'I shall not stay.I am neither come to wrangle nor be reconciled; but I wish just tolearn whether, after this evening's events, you intend to continueyour intimacy with - '

'Oh, for mercy's sake,' interrupted the mistress, stamping herfoot, 'for mercy's sake, let us hear no more of it now! Your coldblood cannot be worked into a fever: your veins are full of ice-water; but mine are boiling, and the sight of such chillness makesthem dance.'

'To get rid of me, answer my question,' persevered Mr. Linton.'You must answer it; and that violence does not alarm me. I havefound that you can be as stoical as anyone, when you please. Willyou give up Heathcliff hereafter, or will you give up me? It isimpossible for you to be MY friend and HIS at the same time; and Iabsolutely REQUIRE to know which you choose.'

'I require to be let alone?' exclaimed Catherine, furiously. 'Idemand it! Don't you see I can scarcely stand? Edgar, you - youleave me!'

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, wickedrages! There she lay dashing her head against the arm of the sofa,and grinding her teeth, so that you might fancy she would crashthem to splinters! Mr. Linton stood looking at her in suddencompunction and fear. He told me to fetch some water. She had nobreath for speaking. I brought a glass full; and as she would notdrink, I sprinkled it on her face. In a few seconds she stretchedherself out stiff, and turned up her eyes, while her cheeks, atonce blanched and livid, assumed the aspect of death. Lintonlooked terrified.

'There is nothing in the world the matter,' I whispered. I did notwant him to yield, though I could not help being afraid in myheart.

'She has blood on her lips!' he said, shuddering.

'Never mind!' I answered, tartly. And I told him how she hadresolved, previous to his coming, on exhibiting a fit of frenzy. Iincautiously gave the account aloud, and she heard me; for shestarted up - her hair flying over her shoulders, her eyes flashing,the muscles of her neck and arms standing out preternaturally. Imade up my mind for broken bones, at least; but she only glaredabout her for an instant, and then rushed from the room. Themaster directed me to follow; I did, to her chamber-door: shehindered me from going further by securing it against me.

As she never offered to descend to breakfast next morning, I wentto 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 notinquire concerning his wife's occupations. Isabella and he had hadan hour's interview, during which he tried to elicit from her somesentiment of proper horror for Heathcliff's advances: but he couldmake nothing of her evasive replies, and was obliged to close theexamination 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 andhim.