SUMMER was already past its prime, when Edgar reluctantly yieldedhis assent to their entreaties, and Catherine and I set out on ourfirst ride to join her cousin. It was a close, sultry day: devoidof sunshine, but with a sky too dappled and hazy to threaten rain:and our place of meeting had been fixed at the guide-stone, by thecross-roads. On arriving there, however, a little herd-boy,despatched as a messenger, told us that, - 'Maister Linton wer justo' this side th' Heights: and he'd be mitch obleeged to us to gangon a bit further.'

'Then Master Linton has forgot the first injunction of his uncle,'I observed: 'he bid us keep on the Grange land, and here we areoff at once.'

'Well, we'll turn our horses' heads round when we reach him,'answered my companion; 'our excursion shall lie towards home.'

But when we reached him, and that was scarcely a quarter of a milefrom his own door, we found he had no horse; and we were forced todismount, and leave ours to graze. He lay on the heath, awaitingour approach, and did not rise till we came within a few yards.Then he walked so feebly, and looked so pale, that I immediatelyexclaimed, - 'Why, Master Heathcliff, you are not fit for enjoyinga ramble this morning. How ill you do look!'

Catherine surveyed him with grief and astonishment: she changedthe ejaculation of joy on her lips to one of alarm; and thecongratulation on their long-postponed meeting to an anxiousinquiry, whether he were worse than usual?

'No - better - better!' he panted, trembling, and retaining herhand as if he needed its support, while his large blue eyeswandered timidly over her; the hollowness round them transformingto haggard wildness the languid expression they once possessed.

'But you have been worse,' persisted his cousin; 'worse than when Isaw you last; you are thinner, and - '

'I'm tired,' he interrupted, hurriedly. 'It is too hot forwalking, let us rest here. And, in the morning, I often feel sick- papa says I grow so fast.'

Badly satisfied, Cathy sat down, and he reclined beside her.

'This is something like your paradise,' said she, making an effortat cheerfulness. 'You recollect the two days we agreed to spend inthe place and way each thought pleasantest? This is nearly yours,only there are clouds; but then they are so soft and mellow: it isnicer than sunshine. Next week, if you can, we'll ride down to theGrange Park, and try mine.'

Linton did not appear to remember what she talked of and he hadevidently great difficulty in sustaining any kind of conversation.His lack of interest in the subjects she started, and his equalincapacity to contribute to her entertainment, were so obvious thatshe could not conceal her disappointment. An indefinite alterationhad come over his whole person and manner. The pettishness thatmight be caressed into fondness, had yielded to a listless apathy;there was less of the peevish temper of a child which frets andteases on purpose to be soothed, and more of the self-absorbedmoroseness of a confirmed invalid, repelling consolation, and readyto regard the good-humoured mirth of others as an insult.Catherine perceived, as well as I did, that he held it rather apunishment, than a gratification, to endure our company; and shemade no scruple of proposing, presently, to depart. That proposal,unexpectedly, roused Linton from his lethargy, and threw him into astrange state of agitation. He glanced fearfully towards theHeights, begging she would remain another half-hour, at least.

'But I think,' said Cathy, 'you'd be more comfortable at home thansitting here; and I cannot amuse you to-day, I see, by my tales,and songs, and chatter: you have grown wiser than I, in these sixmonths; you have little taste for my diversions now: or else, if Icould amuse you, I'd willingly stay.'

'Stay to rest yourself,' he replied. 'And, Catherine, don't thinkor say that I'm VERY unwell: it is the heavy weather and heat thatmake me dull; and I walked about, before you came, a great deal forme. Tell uncle I'm in tolerable health, will you?'

'I'll tell him that YOU say so, Linton. I couldn't affirm that youare,' observed my young lady, wondering at his pertinaciousassertion of what was evidently an untruth.

'And be here again next Thursday,' continued he, shunning herpuzzled gaze. 'And give him my thanks for permitting you to come -my best thanks, Catherine. And - and, if you DID meet my father,and he asked you about me, don't lead him to suppose that I've beenextremely silent and stupid: don't look sad and downcast, as youare doing - he'll be angry.'

'I care nothing for his anger,' exclaimed Cathy, imagining shewould be its object.

'But I do,' said her cousin, shuddering. 'DON'T provoke himagainst me, Catherine, for he is very hard.'

'Is he severe to you, Master Heathcliff?' I inquired. 'Has hegrown weary of indulgence, and passed from passive to activehatred?'

Linton looked at me, but did not answer; and, after keeping herseat by his side another ten minutes, during which his head felldrowsily on his breast, and he uttered nothing except suppressedmoans of exhaustion or pain, Cathy began to seek solace in lookingfor bilberries, and sharing the produce of her researches with me:she did not offer them to him, for she saw further notice wouldonly weary and annoy.

'Is it half-an-hour now, Ellen?' she whispered in my ear, at last.'I can't tell why we should stay. He's asleep, and papa will bewanting us back.'

'Well, we must not leave him asleep,' I answered; 'wait till liewakes, and be patient. You were mighty eager to set off, but yourlonging to see poor Linton has soon evaporated!'

'Why did HE wish to see me?' returned Catherine. 'In his crossesthumours, formerly, I liked him better than I do in his presentcurious mood. It's just as if it were a task he was compelled toperform - this interview - for fear his father should scold him.But I'm hardly going to come to give Mr. Heathcliff pleasure;whatever reason he may have for ordering Linton to undergo thispenance. And, though I'm glad he's better in health, I'm sorryhe's so much less pleasant, and so much less affectionate to me.'

'You think HE IS better in health, then?' I said.

'Yes,' she answered; 'because he always made such a great deal ofhis sufferings, you know. He is not tolerably well, as he told meto tell papa; but he's better, very likely.'

'There you differ with me, Miss Cathy,' I remarked; 'I shouldconjecture him to be far worse.'

Linton here started from his slumber in bewildered terror, andasked if any one had called his name.

'No,' said Catherine; 'unless in dreams. I cannot conceive how youmanage to doze out of doors, in the morning.'

'I thought I heard my father,' he gasped, glancing up to thefrowning nab above us. 'You are sure nobody spoke?'

'Quite sure,' replied his cousin. 'Only Ellen and I were disputingconcerning your health. Are you truly stronger, Linton, than whenwe separated in winter? If you be, I'm certain one thing is notstronger - your regard for me: speak, - are you?'

The tears gushed from Linton's eyes as he answered, 'Yes, yes, Iam!' And, still under the spell of the imaginary voice, his gazewandered up and down to detect its owner.

Cathy rose. 'For to-day we must part,' she said. 'And I won'tconceal that I have been sadly disappointed with our meeting;though I'll mention it to nobody but you: not that I stand in aweof Mr. Heathcliff.'

'Hush,' murmured Linton; 'for God's sake, hush! He's coming.' Andhe clung to Catherine's arm, striving to detain her; but at thatannouncement she hastily disengaged herself, and whistled to Minny,who obeyed her like a dog.

'I'll be here next Thursday,' she cried, springing to the saddle.'Good-bye. Quick, Ellen!'

And so we left him, scarcely conscious of our departure, soabsorbed was he in anticipating his father's approach.

Before we reached home, Catherine's displeasure softened into aperplexed sensation of pity and regret, largely blended with vague,uneasy doubts about Linton's actual circumstances, physical andsocial: in which I partook, though I counselled her not to saymuch; for a second journey would make us better judges. My masterrequested an account of our ongoings. His nephew's offering ofthanks was duly delivered, Miss Cathy gently touching on the rest:I also threw little light on his inquiries, for I hardly knew whatto hide and what to reveal.