1802. - This September I was invited to devastate the moors of afriend in the north, and on my journey to his abode, I unexpectedlycame within fifteen miles of Gimmerton. The ostler at a roadsidepublic-house was holding a pail of water to refresh my horses, whena cart of very green oats, newly reaped, passed by, and heremarked, - 'Yon's frough Gimmerton, nah! They're allas threewick' after other folk wi' ther harvest.'

'Gimmerton?' I repeated - my residence in that locality had alreadygrown dim and dreamy. 'Ah! I know. How far is it from this?'

'Happen fourteen mile o'er th' hills; and a rough road,' heanswered.

A sudden impulse seized me to visit Thrushcross Grange. It wasscarcely noon, and I conceived that I might as well pass the nightunder my own roof as in an inn. Besides, I could spare a dayeasily to arrange matters with my landlord, and thus save myselfthe trouble of invading the neighbourhood again. Having restedawhile, I directed my servant to inquire the way to the village;and, with great fatigue to our beasts, we managed the distance insome three hours.

I left him there, and proceeded down the valley alone. The greychurch looked greyer, and the lonely churchyard lonelier. Idistinguished a moor-sheep cropping the short turf on the graves.It was sweet, warm weather - too warm for travelling; but the heatdid not hinder me from enjoying the delightful scenery above andbelow: had I seen it nearer August, I'm sure it would have temptedme to waste a month among its solitudes. In winter nothing moredreary, in summer nothing more divine, than those glens shut in byhills, and those bluff, bold swells of heath.

I reached the Grange before sunset, and knocked for admittance; butthe family had retreated into the back premises, I judged, by onethin, blue wreath, curling from the kitchen chimney, and they didnot hear. I rode into the court. Under the porch, a girl of nineor ten sat knitting, and an old woman reclined on the housesteps,smoking a meditative pipe.

'Is Mrs. Dean within?' I demanded of the dame.

'Mistress Dean? Nay!' she answered, 'she doesn't bide here:shoo's up at th' Heights.'

'Are you the housekeeper, then?' I continued.

'Eea, aw keep th' hause,' she replied.

'Well, I'm Mr. Lockwood, the master. Are there any rooms to lodgeme in, I wonder? I wish to stay all night.'

'T' maister!' she cried in astonishment. 'Whet, whoiver knew yahwur coming? Yah sud ha' send word. They's nowt norther dry normensful abaht t' place: nowt there isn't!'

She threw down her pipe and bustled in, the girl followed, and Ientered too; soon perceiving that her report was true, and,moreover, that I had almost upset her wits by my unwelcomeapparition, I bade her be composed. I would go out for a walk;and, meantime she must try to prepare a corner of a sitting-roomfor me to sup in, and a bedroom to sleep in. No sweeping anddusting, only good fire and dry sheets were necessary. She seemedwilling to do her best; though she thrust the hearth-brush into thegrates in mistake for the poker, and malappropriated several otherarticles of her craft: but I retired, confiding in her energy fora resting-place against my return. Wuthering Heights was the goalof my proposed excursion. An afterthought brought me back, when Ihad quitted the court.

'All well at the Heights?' I inquired of the woman.

'Eea, f'r owt ee knaw!' she answered, skurrying away with a pan ofhot cinders.

I would have asked why Mrs. Dean had deserted the Grange, but itwas impossible to delay her at such a crisis, so I turned away andmade my exit, rambling leisurely along, with the glow of a sinkingsun behind, and the mild glory of a rising moon in front - onefading, and the other brightening - as I quitted the park, andclimbed the stony by-road branching off to Mr. Heathcliff'sdwelling. Before I arrived in sight of it, all that remained ofday was a beamless amber light along the west: but I could seeevery pebble on the path, and every blade of grass, by thatsplendid moon. I had neither to climb the gate nor to knock - ityielded to my hand. That is an improvement, I thought. And Inoticed another, by the aid of my nostrils; a fragrance of stocksand wallflowers wafted on the air from amongst the homely fruit-trees.

Both doors and lattices were open; and yet, as is usually the casein a coal-district, a fine red fire illumined the chimney: thecomfort which the eye derives from it renders the extra heatendurable. But the house of Wuthering Heights is so large that theinmates have plenty of space for withdrawing out of its influence;and accordingly what inmates there were had stationed themselvesnot far from one of the windows. I could both see them and hearthem talk before I entered, and looked and listened in consequence;being moved thereto by a mingled sense of curiosity and envy, thatgrew as I lingered.

'Con-TRARY!' said a voice as sweet as a silver bell. 'That for thethird time, you dunce! I'm not going to tell you again.Recollect, or I'll pull your hair!'

'Contrary, then,' answered another, in deep but softened tones.'And now, kiss me, for minding so well.'

'No, read it over first correctly, without a single mistake.'

The male speaker began to read: he was a young man, respectablydressed and seated at a table, having a book before him. Hishandsome features glowed with pleasure, and his eyes keptimpatiently wandering from the page to a small white hand over hisshoulder, which recalled him by a smart slap on the cheek, wheneverits owner detected such signs of inattention. Its owner stoodbehind; her light, shining ringlets blending, at intervals, withhis brown looks, as she bent to superintend his studies; and herface - it was lucky he could not see her face, or he would neverhave been so steady. I could; and I bit my lip in spite, at havingthrown away the chance I might have had of doing something besidesstaring at its smiting beauty.

The task was done, not free from further blunders; but the pupilclaimed a reward, and received at least five kisses; which,however, he generously returned. Then they came to the door, andfrom their conversation I judged they were about to issue out andhave a walk on the moors. I supposed I should be condemned inHareton Earnshaw's heart, if not by his mouth, to the lowest pit inthe infernal regions if I showed my unfortunate person in hisneighbourhood then; and feeling very mean and malignant, I skulkedround to seek refuge in the kitchen. There was unobstructedadmittance on that side also; and at the door sat my old friendNelly Dean, sewing and singing a song; which was often interruptedfrom within by harsh words of scorn and intolerance, uttered in farfrom musical accents.

'I'd rayther, by th' haulf, hev' 'em swearing i' my lugs fro'h mornto neeght, nor hearken ye hahsiver!' said the tenant of thekitchen, in answer to an unheard speech of Nelly's. 'It's ablazing shame, that I cannot oppen t' blessed Book, but yah set upthem glories to sattan, and all t' flaysome wickednesses that iverwere born into th' warld! Oh! ye're a raight nowt; and shoo'sanother; and that poor lad 'll be lost atween ye. Poor lad!' headded, with a groan; 'he's witched: I'm sartin on't. Oh, Lord,judge 'em, for there's norther law nor justice among wer rullers!'

'No! or we should be sitting in flaming fagots, I suppose,'retorted the singer. 'But wisht, old man, and read your Bible likea Christian, and never mind me. This is "Fairy Annie's Wedding" -a bonny tune - it goes to a dance.'

Mrs. Dean was about to recommence, when I advanced; and recognisingme directly, she jumped to her feet, crying - 'Why, bless you, Mr.Lockwood! How could you think of returning in this way? All'sshut up at Thrushcross Grange. You should have given us notice!'

'I've arranged to be accommodated there, for as long as I shallstay,' I answered. 'I depart again to-morrow. And how are youtransplanted here, Mrs. Dean? tell me that.'

'Zillah left, and Mr. Heathcliff wished me to come, soon after youwent to London, and stay till you returned. But, step in, pray!Have you walked from Gimmerton this evening?'

'From the Grange,' I replied; 'and while they make me lodging roomthere, I want to finish my business with your master; because Idon't think of having another opportunity in a hurry.'

'What business, sir?' said Nelly, conducting me into the house.'He's gone out at present, and won't return soon.'

'About the rent,' I answered.

'Oh! then it is with Mrs. Heathcliff you must settle,' sheobserved; 'or rather with me. She has not learnt to manage heraffairs yet, and I act for her: there's nobody else.'

I looked surprised.

'Ah! you have not heard of Heathcliff's death, I see,' shecontinued.

'Heathcliff dead!' I exclaimed, astonished. 'How long ago?'

'Three months since: but sit down, and let me take your hat, andI'll tell you all about it. Stop, you have had nothing to eat,have you?'

'I want nothing: I have ordered supper at home. You sit down too.I never dreamt of his dying! Let me hear how it came to pass. Yousay you don't expect them back for some time - the young people?'

'No - I have to scold them every evening for their late rambles:but they don't care for me. At least, have a drink of our old ale;it will do you good: you seem weary.'

She hastened to fetch it before I could refuse, and I heard Josephasking whether 'it warn't a crying scandal that she should havefollowers at her time of life? And then, to get them jocks out o't' maister's cellar! He fair shaamed to 'bide still and see it.'

She did not stay to retaliate, but re-entered in a minute, bearinga reaming silver pint, whose contents I lauded with becomingearnestness. And afterwards she furnished me with the sequel ofHeathcliff's history. He had a 'queer' end, as she expressed it.

I was summoned to Wuthering Heights, within a fortnight of yourleaving us, she said; and I obeyed joyfully, for Catherine's sake.My first interview with her grieved and shocked me: she hadaltered so much since our separation. Mr. Heathcliff did notexplain his reasons for taking a new mind about my coming here; heonly told me he wanted me, and he was tired of seeing Catherine: Imust make the little parlour my sitting-room, and keep her with me.It was enough if he were obliged to see her once or twice a day.She seemed pleased at this arrangement; and, by degrees, I smuggledover a great number of books, and other articles, that had formedher amusement at the Grange; and flattered myself we should get onin tolerable comfort. The delusion did not last long. Catherine,contented at first, in a brief space grew irritable and restless.For one thing, she was forbidden to move out of the garden, and itfretted her sadly to be confined to its narrow bounds as springdrew on; for another, in following the house, I was forced to quither frequently, and she complained of loneliness: she preferredquarrelling with Joseph in the kitchen to sitting at peace in hersolitude. I did not mind their skirmishes: but Hareton was oftenobliged to seek the kitchen also, when the master wanted to havethe house to himself! and though in the beginning she either leftit at his approach, or quietly joined in my occupations, andshunned remarking or addressing him - and though he was always assullen and silent as possible - after a while, she changed herbehaviour, and became incapable of letting him alone: talking athim; commenting on his stupidity and idleness; expressing herwonder how he could endure the life he lived - how he could sit awhole evening staring into the fire, and dozing.

'He's just like a dog, is he not, Ellen?' she once observed, 'or acart-horse? He does his work, eats his food, and sleeps eternally!What a blank, dreary mind he must have! Do you ever dream,Hareton? And, if you do, what is it about? But you can't speak tome!'

Then she looked at him; but he would neither open his mouth norlook again.

'He's, perhaps, dreaming now,' she continued. 'He twitched hisshoulder as Juno twitches hers. Ask him, Ellen.'

'Mr. Hareton will ask the master to send you up-stairs, if youdon't behave!' I said. He had not only twitched his shoulder butclenched his fist, as if tempted to use it.

'I know why Hareton never speaks, when I am in the kitchen,' sheexclaimed, on another occasion. 'He is afraid I shall laugh athim. Ellen, what do you think? He began to teach himself to readonce; and, because I laughed, he burned his books, and dropped it:was he not a fool?'

'Were not you naughty?' I said; 'answer me that.'

'Perhaps I was,' she went on; 'but I did not expect him to be sosilly. Hareton, if I gave you a book, would you take it now? I'lltry!'

She placed one she had been perusing on his hand; he flung it off,and muttered, if she did not give over, he would break her neck.

'Well, I shall put it here,' she said, 'in the table-drawer; andI'm going to bed.'

Then she whispered me to watch whether he touched it, and departed.But he would not come near it; and so I informed her in themorning, to her great disappointment. I saw she was sorry for hispersevering sulkiness and indolence: her conscience reproved herfor frightening him off improving himself: she had done iteffectually. But her ingenuity was at work to remedy the injury:while I ironed, or pursued other such stationary employments as Icould not well do in the parlour, she would bring some pleasantvolume and read it aloud to me. When Hareton was there, shegenerally paused in an interesting part, and left the book lyingabout: that she did repeatedly; but he was as obstinate as a mule,and, instead of snatching at her bait, in wet weather he took tosmoking with Joseph; and they sat like automatons, one on each sideof the fire, the elder happily too deaf to understand her wickednonsense, as he would have called it, the younger doing his best toseem to disregard it. On fine evenings the latter followed hisshooting expeditions, and Catherine yawned and sighed, and teasedme to talk to her, and ran off into the court or garden the momentI began; and, as a last resource, cried, and said she was tired ofliving: her life was useless.

Mr. Heathcliff, who grew more and more disinclined to society, hadalmost banished Earnshaw from his apartment. Owing to an accidentat the commencement of March, he became for some days a fixture inthe kitchen. His gun burst while out on the hills by himself; asplinter cut his arm, and he lost a good deal of blood before hecould reach home. The consequence was that, perforce, he wascondemned to the fireside and tranquillity, till he made it upagain. It suited Catherine to have him there: at any rate, itmade her hate her room up-stairs more than ever: and she wouldcompel me to find out business below, that she might accompany me.

On Easter Monday, Joseph went to Gimmerton fair with some cattle;and, in the afternoon, I was busy getting up linen in the kitchen.Earnshaw sat, morose as usual, at the chimney corner, and my littlemistress was beguiling an idle hour with drawing pictures on thewindow-panes, varying her amusement by smothered bursts of songs,and whispered ejaculations, and quick glances of annoyance andimpatience in the direction of her cousin, who steadfastly smoked,and looked into the grate. At a notice that I could do with her nolonger intercepting my light, she removed to the hearthstone. Ibestowed little attention on her proceedings, but, presently, Iheard her begin - 'I've found out, Hareton, that I want - that I'mglad - that I should like you to be my cousin now, if you had notgrown so cross to me, and so rough.'

Hareton returned no answer.

'Hareton, Hareton, Hareton! do you hear?' she continued.

'Get off wi' ye!' he growled, with uncompromising gruffness.

'Let me take that pipe,' she said, cautiously advancing her handand abstracting it from his mouth.

Before he could attempt to recover it, it was broken, and behindthe fire. He swore at her and seized another.

'Stop,' she cried, 'you must listen to me first; and I can't speakwhile those clouds are floating in my face.'

'Will you go to the devil!' he exclaimed, ferociously, 'and let mebe!'

'No,' she persisted, 'I won't: I can't tell what to do to make youtalk to me; and you are determined not to understand. When I callyou stupid, I don't mean anything: I don't mean that I despiseyou. Come, you shall take notice of me, Hareton: you are mycousin, and you shall own me.'

'I shall have naught to do wi' you and your mucky pride, and yourdamned mocking tricks!' he answered. 'I'll go to hell, body andsoul, before I look sideways after you again. Side out o' t' gate,now, this minute!'

Catherine frowned, and retreated to the window-seat chewing herlip, and endeavouring, by humming an eccentric tune, to conceal agrowing tendency to sob.

'You should be friends with your cousin, Mr. Hareton,' Iinterrupted, 'since she repents of her sauciness. It would do youa great deal of good: it would make you another man to have herfor a companion.'

'A companion!' he cried; 'when she hates me, and does not think mefit to wipe her shoon! Nay, if it made me a king, I'd not bescorned for seeking her good-will any more.'

'It is not I who hate you, it is you who hate me!' wept Cathy, nolonger disguising her trouble. 'You hate me as much as Mr.Heathcliff does, and more.'

'You're a damned liar,' began Earnshaw: 'why have I made himangry, by taking your part, then, a hundred times? and that whenyou sneered at and despised me, and - Go on plaguing me, and I'llstep in yonder, and say you worried me out of the kitchen!'

'I didn't know you took my part,' she answered, drying her eyes;'and I was miserable and bitter at everybody; but now I thank you,and beg you to forgive me: what can I do besides?'

She returned to the hearth, and frankly extended her hand. Heblackened and scowled like a thunder-cloud, and kept his fistsresolutely clenched, and his gaze fixed on the ground. Catherine,by instinct, must have divined it was obdurate perversity, and notdislike, that prompted this dogged conduct; for, after remaining aninstant undecided, she stooped and impressed on his cheek a gentlekiss. The little rogue thought I had not seen her, and, drawingback, she took her former station by the window, quite demurely. Ishook my head reprovingly, and then she blushed and whispered -'Well! what should I have done, Ellen? He wouldn't shake hands,and he wouldn't look: I must show him some way that I like him -that I want to be friends.'

Whether the kiss convinced Hareton, I cannot tell: he was verycareful, for some minutes, that his face should not be seen, andwhen he did raise it, he was sadly puzzled where to turn his eyes.

Catherine employed herself in wrapping a handsome book neatly inwhite paper, and having tied it with a bit of ribbon, and addressedit to 'Mr. Hareton Earnshaw,' she desired me to be herambassadress, and convey the present to its destined recipient.

'And tell him, if he'll take it, I'll come and teach him to read itright,' she said; 'and, if he refuse it, I'll go upstairs, andnever tease him again.'

I carried it, and repeated the message; anxiously watched by myemployer. Hareton would not open his fingers, so I laid it on hisknee. He did not strike it off, either. I returned to my work.Catherine leaned her head and arms on the table, till she heard theslight rustle of the covering being removed; then she stole away,and quietly seated herself beside her cousin. He trembled, and hisface glowed: all his rudeness and all his surly harshness haddeserted him: he could not summon courage, at first, to utter asyllable in reply to her questioning look, and her murmuredpetition.

'Say you forgive me, Hareton, do. You can make me so happy byspeaking that little word.'

He muttered something inaudible.

'And you'll be my friend?' added Catherine, interrogatively.

'Nay, you'll be ashamed of me every day of your life,' he answered;'and the more ashamed, the more you know me; and I cannot bide it.'

'So you won't be my friend?' she said, smiling as sweet as honey,and creeping close up.

I overheard no further distinguishable talk, but, on looking roundagain, I perceived two such radiant countenances bent over the pageof the accepted book, that I did not doubt the treaty had beenratified on both sides; and the enemies were, thenceforth, swornallies.

The work they studied was full of costly pictures; and those andtheir position had charm enough to keep them unmoved till Josephcame home. He, poor man, was perfectly aghast at the spectacle ofCatherine seated on the same bench with Hareton Earnshaw, leaningher hand on his shoulder; and confounded at his favourite'sendurance of her proximity: it affected him too deeply to allow anobservation on the subject that night. His emotion was onlyrevealed by the immense sighs he drew, as he solemnly spread hislarge Bible on the table, and overlaid it with dirty bank-notesfrom his pocket-book, the produce of the day's transactions. Atlength he summoned Hareton from his seat.

'Tak' these in to t' maister, lad,' he said, 'and bide there. I'sgang up to my own rahm. This hoile's neither mensful nor seemlyfor us: we mun side out and seearch another.'

'Come, Catherine,' I said, 'we must "side out" too: I've done myironing. Are you ready to go?'

'It is not eight o'clock!' she answered, rising unwillingly.

'Hareton, I'll leave this book upon the chimney-piece, and I'llbring some more to-morrow.'

'Ony books that yah leave, I shall tak' into th' hahse,' saidJoseph, 'and it'll be mitch if yah find 'em agean; soa, yah mayplase yerseln!'

Cathy threatened that his library should pay for hers; and, smilingas she passed Hareton, went singing up-stairs: lighter of heart, Iventure to say, than ever she had been under that roof before;except, perhaps, during her earliest visits to Linton.

The intimacy thus commenced grew rapidly; though it encounteredtemporary interruptions. Earnshaw was not to be civilized with awish, and my young lady was no philosopher, and no paragon ofpatience; but both their minds tending to the same point - oneloving and desiring to esteem, and the other loving and desiring tobe esteemed - they contrived in the end to reach it.

You see, Mr. Lockwood, it was easy enough to win Mrs. Heathcliff'sheart. But now, I'm glad you did not try. The crown of all mywishes will be the union of those two. I shall envy no one ontheir wedding day: there won't be a happier woman than myself inEngland!