SEVEN days glided away, every one marking its course by thehenceforth rapid alteration of Edgar Linton's state. The havocthat months had previously wrought was now emulated by the inroadsof hours. Catherine we would fain have deluded yet; but her ownquick spirit refused to delude her: it divined in secret, andbrooded on the dreadful probability, gradually ripening intocertainty. She had not the heart to mention her ride, whenThursday came round; I mentioned it for her, and obtainedpermission to order her out of doors: for the library, where herfather stopped a short time daily - the brief period he could bearto sit up - and his chamber, had become her whole world. Shegrudged each moment that did not find her bending over his pillow,or seated by his side. Her countenance grew wan with watching andsorrow, and my master gladly dismissed her to what he flatteredhimself would be a happy change of scene and society; drawingcomfort from the hope that she would not now be left entirely aloneafter his death.

He had a fixed idea, I guessed by several observations he let fall,that, as his nephew resembled him in person, he would resemble himin mind; for Linton's letters bore few or no indications of hisdefective character. And I, through pardonable weakness, refrainedfrom correcting the error; asking myself what good there would bein disturbing his last moments with information that he had neitherpower nor opportunity to turn to account.

We deferred our excursion till the afternoon; a golden afternoon ofAugust: every breath from the hills so full of life, that itseemed whoever respired it, though dying, might revive.Catherine's face was just like the landscape - shadows and sunshineflitting over it in rapid succession; but the shadows restedlonger, and the sunshine was more transient; and her poor littleheart reproached itself for even that passing forgetfulness of itscares.

We discerned Linton watching at the same spot he had selectedbefore. My young mistress alighted, and told me that, as she wasresolved to stay a very little while, I had better hold the ponyand remain on horseback; but I dissented: I wouldn't risk losingsight of the charge committed to me a minute; so we climbed theslope of heath together. Master Heathcliff received us withgreater animation on this occasion: not the animation of highspirits though, nor yet of joy; it looked more like fear.

'It is late!' he said, speaking short and with difficulty. 'Is notyour father very ill? I thought you wouldn't come.'

'WHY won't you be candid?' cried Catherine, swallowing hergreeting. 'Why cannot you say at once you don't want me? It isstrange, Linton, that for the second time you have brought me hereon purpose, apparently to distress us both, and for no reasonbesides!'

Linton shivered, and glanced at her, half supplicating, halfashamed; but his cousin's patience was not sufficient to endurethis enigmatical behaviour.

'My father IS very ill,' she said; 'and why am I called from hisbedside? Why didn't you send to absolve me from my promise, whenyou wished I wouldn't keep it? Come! I desire an explanation:playing and trifling are completely banished out of my mind; and Ican't dance attendance on your affectations now!'

'My affectations!' he murmured; 'what are they? For heaven's sake,Catherine, don't look so angry! Despise me as much as you please;I am a worthless, cowardly wretch: I can't be scorned enough; butI'm too mean for your anger. Hate my father, and spare me forcontempt.'

'Nonsense!' cried Catherine in a passion. 'Foolish, silly boy!And there! he trembles: as if I were really going to touch him!You needn't bespeak contempt, Linton: anybody will have itspontaneously at your service. Get off! I shall return home: itis folly dragging you from the hearth-stone, and pretending - whatdo we pretend? Let go my frock! If I pitied you for crying andlooking so very frightened, you should spurn such pity. Ellen,tell him how disgraceful this conduct is. Rise, and don't degradeyourself into an abject reptile - DON'T!'

With streaming face and an expression of agony, Linton had thrownhis nerveless frame along the ground: he seemed convulsed withexquisite terror.

'Oh!' he sobbed, 'I cannot bear it! Catherine, Catherine, I'm atraitor, too, and I dare not tell you! But leave me, and I shallbe killed! DEAR Catherine, my life is in your hands: and you havesaid you loved me, and if you did, it wouldn't harm you. You'llnot go, then? kind, sweet, good Catherine! And perhaps you WILLconsent - and he'll let me die with you!'

My young lady, on witnessing his intense anguish, stooped to raisehim. The old feeling of indulgent tenderness overcame hervexation, and she grew thoroughly moved and alarmed.

'Consent to what?' she asked. 'To stay! tell me the meaning ofthis strange talk, and I will. You contradict your own words, anddistract me! Be calm and frank, and confess at once all thatweighs on your heart. You wouldn't injure me, Linton, would you?You wouldn't let any enemy hurt me, if you could prevent it? I'llbelieve you are a coward, for yourself, but not a cowardly betrayerof your best friend.'

'But my father threatened me,' gasped the boy, clasping hisattenuated fingers, 'and I dread him - I dread him! I DARE nottell!'

'Oh, well!' said Catherine, with scornful compassion, 'keep yoursecret: I'M no coward. Save yourself: I'm not afraid!'

Her magnanimity provoked his tears: he wept wildly, kissing hersupporting hands, and yet could not summon courage to speak out. Iwas cogitating what the mystery might be, and determined Catherineshould never suffer to benefit him or any one else, by my goodwill; when, hearing a rustle among the ling, I looked up and sawMr. Heathcliff almost close upon us, descending the Heights. Hedidn't cast a glance towards my companions, though they weresufficiently near for Linton's sobs to be audible; but hailing mein the almost hearty tone he assumed to none besides, and thesincerity of which I couldn't avoid doubting, he said -

'It is something to see you so near to my house, Nelly. How areyou at the Grange? Let us hear. The rumour goes,' he added, in alower tone, 'that Edgar Linton is on his death-bed: perhaps theyexaggerate his illness?'

'No; my master is dying,' I replied: 'it is true enough. A sadthing it will be for us all, but a blessing for him!'

'How long will he last, do you think?' he asked.

'I don't know,' I said.

'Because,' he continued, looking at the two young people, who werefixed under his eye - Linton appeared as if he could not venture tostir or raise his head, and Catherine could not move, on hisaccount - 'because that lad yonder seems determined to beat me; andI'd thank his uncle to be quick, and go before him! Hallo! has thewhelp been playing that game long? I DID give him some lessonsabout snivelling. Is he pretty lively with Miss Linton generally?'

'Lively? no - he has shown the greatest distress,' I answered. 'Tosee him, I should say, that instead of rambling with his sweethearton the hills, he ought to be in bed, under the hands of a doctor.'

'He shall be, in a day or two,' muttered Heathcliff. 'But first -get up, Linton! Get up!' he shouted. 'Don't grovel on the groundthere up, this moment!'

Linton had sunk prostrate again in another paroxysm of helplessfear, caused by his father's glance towards him, I suppose: therewas nothing else to produce such humiliation. He made severalefforts to obey, but his little strength was annihilated for thetime, and he fell back again with a moan. Mr. Heathcliff advanced,and lifted him to lean against a ridge of turf.

'Now,' said he, with curbed ferocity, 'I'm getting angry and if youdon't command that paltry spirit of yours - DAMN you! get updirectly!'

'I will, father,' he panted. 'Only, let me alone, or I shallfaint. I've done as you wished, I'm sure. Catherine will tell youthat I - that I - have been cheerful. Ah! keep by me, Catherine;give me your hand.'

'Take mine,' said his father; 'stand on your feet. There now -she'll lend you her arm: that's right, look at her. You wouldimagine I was the devil himself, Miss Linton, to excite suchhorror. Be so kind as to walk home with him, will you? Heshudders if I touch him.'

'Linton dear!' whispered Catherine, 'I can't go to WutheringHeights: papa has forbidden me. He'll not harm you: why are youso afraid?'

'I can never re-enter that house,' he answered. 'I'm NOT to re-enter it without you!'

'Stop!' cried his father. 'We'll respect Catherine's filialscruples. Nelly, take him in, and I'll follow your adviceconcerning the doctor, without delay.'

'You'll do well,' replied I. 'But I must remain with my mistress:to mind your son is not my business.'

'You are very stiff,' said Heathcliff, 'I know that: but you'llforce me to pinch the baby and make it scream before it moves yourcharity. Come, then, my hero. Are you willing to return, escortedby me?'

He approached once more, and made as if he would seize the fragilebeing; but, shrinking back, Linton clung to his cousin, andimplored her to accompany him, with a frantic importunity thatadmitted no denial. However I disapproved, I couldn't hinder her:indeed, how could she have refused him herself? What was fillinghim with dread we had no means of discerning; but there he was,powerless under its gripe, and any addition seemed capable ofshocking him into idiotcy. We reached the threshold; Catherinewalked in, and I stood waiting till she had conducted the invalidto a chair, expecting her out immediately; when Mr. Heathcliff,pushing me forward, exclaimed - 'My house is not stricken with theplague, Nelly; and I have a mind to be hospitable to-day: sitdown, and allow me to shut the door.'

He shut and locked it also. I started.

'You shall have tea before you go home,' he added. 'I am bymyself. Hareton is gone with some cattle to the Lees, and Zillahand Joseph are off on a journey of pleasure; and, though I'm usedto being alone, I'd rather have some interesting company, if I canget it. Miss Linton, take your seat by HIM. I give you what Ihave: the present is hardly worth accepting; but I have nothingelse to offer. It is Linton, I mean. How she does stare! It'sodd what a savage feeling I have to anything that seems afraid ofme! Had I been born where laws are less strict and tastes lessdainty, I should treat myself to a slow vivisection of those two,as an evening's amusement.'

He drew in his breath, struck the table, and swore to himself, 'Byhell! I hate them.'

'I am not afraid of you!' exclaimed Catherine, who could not hearthe latter part of his speech. She stepped close up; her blackeyes flashing with passion and resolution. 'Give me that key: Iwill have it!' she said. 'I wouldn't eat or drink here, if I werestarving.'

Heathcliff had the key in his hand that remained on the table. Helooked up, seized with a sort of surprise at her boldness; or,possibly, reminded, by her voice and glance, of the person fromwhom she inherited it. She snatched at the instrument, and halfsucceeded in getting it out of his loosened fingers: but heraction recalled him to the present; he recovered it speedily.

'Now, Catherine Linton,' he said, 'stand off, or I shall knock youdown; and, that will make Mrs. Dean mad.'

Regardless of this warning, she captured his closed hand and itscontents again. 'We will go!' she repeated, exerting her utmostefforts to cause the iron muscles to relax; and finding that hernails made no impression, she applied her teeth pretty sharply.Heathcliff glanced at me a glance that kept me from interfering amoment. Catherine was too intent on his fingers to notice hisface. He opened them suddenly, and resigned the object of dispute;but, ere she had well secured it, he seized her with the liberatedhand, and, pulling her on his knee, administered with the other ashower of terrific slaps on both sides of the head, each sufficientto have fulfilled his threat, had she been able to fall.'

At this diabolical violence I rushed on him furiously. 'Youvillain!' I began to cry, 'you villain!' A touch on the chestsilenced me: I am stout, and soon put out of breath; and, whatwith that and the rage, I staggered dizzily back and felt ready tosuffocate, or to burst a blood-vessel. The scene was over in twominutes; Catherine, released, put her two hands to her temples, andlooked just as if she were not sure whether her ears were off oron. She trembled like a reed, poor thing, and leant against thetable perfectly bewildered.

'I know how to chastise children, you see,' said the scoundrel,grimly, as he stooped to repossess himself of the key, which haddropped to the floor. 'Go to Linton now, as I told you; and cry atyour ease! I shall be your father, to-morrow - all the fatheryou'll have in a few days - and you shall have plenty of that. Youcan bear plenty; you're no weakling: you shall have a daily taste,if I catch such a devil of a temper in your eyes again!'

Cathy ran to me instead of Linton, and knelt down and put herburning cheek on my lap, weeping aloud. Her cousin had shrunk intoa corner of the settle, as quiet as a mouse, congratulatinghimself, I dare say, that the correction had alighted on anotherthan him. Mr. Heathcliff, perceiving us all confounded, rose, andexpeditiously made the tea himself. The cups and saucers were laidready. He poured it out, and handed me a cup.

'Wash away your spleen,' he said. 'And help your own naughty petand mine. It is not poisoned, though I prepared it. I'm going outto seek your horses.'

Our first thought, on his departure, was to force an exitsomewhere. We tried the kitchen door, but that was fastenedoutside: we looked at the windows - they were too narrow for evenCathy's little figure.

'Master Linton,' I cried, seeing we were regularly imprisoned, 'youknow what your diabolical father is after, and you shall tell us,or I'll box your ears, as he has done your cousin's.'

'Yes, Linton, you must tell,' said Catherine. 'It was for yoursake I came; and it will be wickedly ungrateful if you refuse.'

'Give me some tea, I'm thirsty, and then I'll tell you,' heanswered. 'Mrs. Dean, go away. I don't like you standing over me.Now, Catherine, you are letting your tears fall into my cup. Iwon't drink that. Give me another.' Catherine pushed another tohim, and wiped her face. I felt disgusted at the little wretch'scomposure, since he was no longer in terror for himself. Theanguish he had exhibited on the moor subsided as soon as ever heentered Wuthering Heights; so I guessed he had been menaced with anawful visitation of wrath if he failed in decoying us there; and,that accomplished, he had no further immediate fears.

'Papa wants us to be married,' he continued, after sipping some ofthe liquid. 'And he knows your papa wouldn't let us marry now; andhe's afraid of my dying if we wait; so we are to be married in themorning, and you are to stay here all night; and, if you do as hewishes, you shall return home next day, and take me with you.'

'Take you with her, pitiful changeling!' I exclaimed. 'YOU marry?Why, the man is mad! or he thinks us fools, every one. And do youimagine that beautiful young lady, that healthy, hearty girl, willtie herself to a little perishing monkey like you? Are youcherishing the notion that anybody, let alone Miss CatherineLinton, would have you for a husband? You want whipping forbringing us in here at all, with your dastardly puling tricks: and- don't look so silly, now! I've a very good mind to shake youseverely, for your contemptible treachery, and your imbecileconceit.'

I did give him a slight shaking; but it brought on the cough, andhe took to his ordinary resource of moaning and weeping, andCatherine rebuked me.

'Stay all night? No,' she said, looking slowly round. 'Ellen,I'll burn that door down but I'll get out.'

And she would have commenced the execution of her threat directly,but Linton was up in alarm for his dear self again. He clasped herin his two feeble arms sobbing:- 'Won't you have me, and save me?not let me come to the Grange? Oh, darling Catherine! you mustn'tgo and leave, after all. You MUST obey my father - you MUST!'

'I must obey my own,' she replied, 'and relieve him from this cruelsuspense. The whole night! What would he think? He'll bedistressed already. I'll either break or burn a way out of thehouse. Be quiet! You're in no danger; but if you hinder me -Linton, I love papa better than you!' The mortal terror he felt ofMr. Heathcliff's anger restored to the boy his coward's eloquence.Catherine was near distraught: still, she persisted that she mustgo home, and tried entreaty in her turn, persuading him to subduehis selfish agony. While they were thus occupied, our jailor re-entered.

'Your beasts have trotted off,' he said, 'and - now Linton!snivelling again? What has she been doing to you? Come, come -have done, and get to bed. In a month or two, my lad, you'll beable to pay her back her present tyrannies with a vigorous hand.You're pining for pure love, are you not? nothing else in theworld: and she shall have you! There, to bed! Zillah won't behere to-night; you must undress yourself. Hush! hold your noise!Once in your own room, I'll not come near you: you needn't fear.By chance, you've managed tolerably. I'll look to the rest.'

He spoke these words, holding the door open for his son to pass,and the latter achieved his exit exactly as a spaniel might whichsuspected the person who attended on it of designing a spitefulsqueeze. The lock was re-secured. Heathcliff approached the fire,where my mistress and I stood silent. Catherine looked up, andinstinctively raised her hand to her cheek: his neighbourhoodrevived a painful sensation. Anybody else would have beenincapable of regarding the childish act with sternness, but hescowled on her and muttered - 'Oh! you are not afraid of me? Yourcourage is well disguised: you seem damnably afraid!'

'I AM afraid now,' she replied, 'because, if I stay, papa will bemiserable: and how can I endure making him miserable - when he -when he - Mr. Heathcliff, let ME go home! I promise to marryLinton: papa would like me to: and I love him. Why should youwish to force me to do what I'll willingly do of myself?'

'Let him dare to force you,' I cried. 'There's law in the land,thank God! there is; though we be in an out-of-the-way place. I'dinform if he were my own son: and it's felony without benefit ofclergy!'

'Silence!' said the ruffian. 'To the devil with your clamour! Idon't want YOU to speak. Miss Linton, I shall enjoy myselfremarkably in thinking your father will be miserable: I shall notsleep for satisfaction. You could have hit on no surer way offixing your residence under my roof for the next twenty-four hoursthan informing me that such an event would follow. As to yourpromise to marry Linton, I'll take care you shall keep it; for youshall not quit this place till it is fulfilled.'

'Send Ellen, then, to let papa know I'm safe!' exclaimed Catherine,weeping bitterly. 'Or marry me now. Poor papa! Ellen, he'llthink we're lost. What shall we do?'

'Not he! He'll think you are tired of waiting on him, and run offfor a little amusement,' answered Heathcliff. 'You cannot denythat you entered my house of your own accord, in contempt of hisinjunctions to the contrary. And it is quite natural that youshould desire amusement at your age; and that you would weary ofnursing a sick man, and that man ONLY your father. Catherine, hishappiest days were over when your days began. He cursed you, Idare say, for coming into the world (I did, at least); and it wouldjust do if he cursed you as HE went out of it. I'd join him. Idon't love you! How should I? Weep away. As far as I can see, itwill be your chief diversion hereafter; unless Linton make amendsfor other losses: and your provident parent appears to fancy hemay. His letters of advice and consolation entertained me vastly.In his last he recommended my jewel to be careful of his; and kindto her when he got her. Careful and kind - that's paternal. ButLinton requires his whole stock of care and kindness for himself.Linton can play the little tyrant well. He'll undertake to tortureany number of cats, if their teeth be drawn and their claws pared.You'll be able to tell his uncle fine tales of his KINDNESS, whenyou get home again, I assure you.'

'You're right there!' I said; 'explain your son's character. Showhis resemblance to yourself: and then, I hope, Miss Cathy willthink twice before she takes the cockatrice!'

'I don't much mind speaking of his amiable qualities now,' heanswered; 'because she must either accept him or remain a prisoner,and you along with her, till your master dies. I can detain youboth, quite concealed, here. If you doubt, encourage her toretract her word, and you'll have an opportunity of judging!'

'I'll not retract my word,' said Catherine. 'I'll marry him withinthis hour, if I may go to Thrushcross Grange afterwards. Mr.Heathcliff, you're a cruel man, but you're not a fiend; and youwon't, from MERE malice, destroy irrevocably all my happiness. Ifpapa thought I had left him on purpose, and if he died before Ireturned, could I bear to live? I've given over crying: but I'mgoing to kneel here, at your knee; and I'll not get up, and I'llnot take my eyes from your face till you look back at me! No,don't turn away! DO LOOK! you'll see nothing to provoke you. Idon't hate you. I'm not angry that you struck me. Have you neverloved ANYBODY in all your life, uncle? NEVER? Ah! you must lookonce. I'm so wretched, you can't help being sorry and pitying me.'

'Keep your eft's fingers off; and move, or I'll kick you!' criedHeathcliff, brutally repulsing her. 'I'd rather be hugged by asnake. How the devil can you dream of fawning on me? I DETESTyou!'

He shrugged his shoulders: shook himself, indeed, as if his fleshcrept with aversion; and thrust back his chair; while I got up, andopened my mouth, to commence a downright torrent of abuse. But Iwas rendered dumb in the middle of the first sentence, by a threatthat I should be shown into a room by myself the very next syllableI uttered. It was growing dark - we heard a sound of voices at thegarden-gate. Our host hurried out instantly: HE had his witsabout him; WE had not. There was a talk of two or three minutes,and he returned alone.

'I thought it had been your cousin Hareton,' I observed toCatherine. 'I wish he would arrive! Who knows but he might takeour part?'

'It was three servants sent to seek you from the Grange,' saidHeathcliff, overhearing me. 'You should have opened a lattice andcalled out: but I could swear that chit is glad you didn't. She'sglad to be obliged to stay, I'm certain.'

At learning the chance we had missed, we both gave vent to ourgrief without control; and he allowed us to wail on till nineo'clock. Then he bid us go upstairs, through the kitchen, toZillah's chamber; and I whispered my companion to obey: perhaps wemight contrive to get through the window there, or into a garret,and out by its skylight. The window, however, was narrow, likethose below, and the garret trap was safe from our attempts; for wewere fastened in as before. We neither of us lay down: Catherinetook her station by the lattice, and watched anxiously for morning;a deep sigh being the only answer I could obtain to my frequententreaties that she would try to rest. I seated myself in a chair,and rocked to and fro, passing harsh judgment on my manyderelictions of duty; from which, it struck me then, all themisfortunes of my employers sprang. It was not the case, inreality, I am aware; but it was, in my imagination, that dismalnight; and I thought Heathcliff himself less guilty than I.

At seven o'clock he came, and inquired if Miss Linton had risen.She ran to the door immediately, and answered, 'Yes.' 'Here,then,' he said, opening it, and pulling her out. I rose to follow,but he turned the lock again. I demanded my release.

'Be patient,' he replied; 'I'll send up your breakfast in a while.'

I thumped on the panels, and rattled the latch angrily andCatherine asked why I was still shut up? He answered, I must tryto endure it another hour, and they went away. I endured it two orthree hours; at length, I heard a footstep: not Heathcliff's.

'I've brought you something to eat,' said a voice; 'oppen t' door!'

Complying eagerly, I beheld Hareton, laden with food enough to lastme all day.

'Tak' it,' he added, thrusting the tray into my hand.

'Stay one minute,' I began.

'Nay,' cried he, and retired, regardless of any prayers I couldpour forth to detain him.

And there I remained enclosed the whole day, and the whole of thenext night; and another, and another. Five nights and four days Iremained, altogether, seeing nobody but Hareton once every morning;and he was a model of a jailor: surly, and dumb, and deaf to everyattempt at moving his sense of justice or compassion.