I'llkillher，EllenDean，ifyoulethercomeintomysightagain!'
　　Haretontried，underhisbreath，topersuadehertogo。
　　`Dragheraway!'hecriedsavagely。`Areyoustayingtotalk？'
　　Andheapproachedtoexecutehisowncommand。
　　`He'llnotobeyyou，wickedman，anymore，'saidCatherine；`andhe'llsoondetestyouasmuchasIdo。'
　　"Wisht!wisht!'mutteredtheyoungmanreproachfully。`Iwillnothearyouspeaksotohim。Havedone。'
　　`Butyouwon'tlethimstrikeme？'shecried。`Come，then，'hewhisperedearnestly。Itwastoolate:Heathcliffhadcaughtholdofher。
　　`Nowyougo!'hesaidtoEarnshaw。`Accursedwitch!thistimeshehasprovokedmewhenIcouldnotbearit；andI'llmakeherrepentitforever!'
　　Hehadhishandinherhair；Haretonattemptedtoreleasethelocks，entreatinghimnottohurtherthatonce。Heathcliff'sblackeyesflashed；heseemedreadytotearCatherineinpieces，andIwasjustworkeduptoriskcomingtotherescue，whenofasuddenhisfingersrelaxed；
　　heshiftedhisgraspfromherheadtoherarm，andgazedintentlyinherface。Thenhedrewhishandoverhiseyes，stoodamomenttocollecthimselfapparently，andturninganewtoCatherine，saidwithassumedcalmness:
　　`Youmustlearntoavoidputtingmeinapassion，orIshallreallymurderyousometime!GowithMrsDean，andkeepwithher；andconfineyourinsolencetoherears。AstoHaretonEarnshaw，ifIseehimlistentoyou，I'llsendhimseekinghisbreadwherehecangetit!Yourlovewillmakehimanoutcastandabeggar。Nelly，takeher；andleavemeallofyou!Leaveme!'
　　Iledmyyoungladyout:shewastoogladofherescapetoresist；
　　theotherfollowed，andMrHeathcliffhadtheroomtohimselftilldinner。
　　IhadcounselledCatherinetogethersupstairs；but，assoonasheperceivedhervacantseat，hesentmetocallher。Hespoketononeofus，ateverylittle，andwentoutdirectlyafterwards，intimatingthatheshouldnotreturnbeforeevening。
　　Thetwonewfriendsestablishedthemselvesinthehouseduringhisabsence；whenIheardHaretonsternlycheckhiscousin，onherofferingarevelationofherfather-in-law'sconducttohisfather。Hesaidhewouldn'tsufferawordtobeutteredtohim，inhisdisparagement:ifhewerethedevil，itdidn'tsignify:hewouldstandbyhim；andhe'drathershewouldabusehimself，assheusedto，thanbeginonMrHeathcliff。Catherinewaswaxingcrossatthis；buthefoundmeanstomakeherholdhertongue，byaskinghowshewouldlikehimtospeakillofherfather？andthenshecomprehendedthatEarnshawtookthemaster'sreputationhometohimself；
　　andwasattachedbytiesstrongerthanreasoncouldbreak——chains，forgedbyhabit，whichitwouldbecrueltoattempttoloosen。Sheshowedagoodheart，thenceforth，inavoidingbothcomplaintsandexpressionsofantipathyconcerningHeathcliff；andconfessedtomehersorrowthatshehadendeavouredtoraiseabadspiritbetweenhimandHareton:indeed，Idon'tbelieveshehaseverbreathedasyllable，inthelatter'shearing，againstheroppressorsince。
　　`Whenthisslightdisagreementwasover，theywerethickagain，andasbusyaspossibleintheirseveraloccupationsofpupilandteacher。
　　Icameintositwiththem，afterIhaddonemywork；andIfeltsosoothedandcomfortedtowatchthem，thatIdidnotnoticehowtimegoton。Youknow，theybothappearedinameasuremychildren:Ihadlongbeenproudofone；andnow，Iwassure，theotherwouldbeasourceofequalsatisfaction。
　　Hishonest，warm，andintelligentnatureshookoffrapidlythecloudsofignoranceanddegradationinwhichithadbeenbred；andCatherine'ssincerecommendationsactedasaspurtohisindustry。Hisbrighteningmindbrightenedhisfeatures，andaddedspiritandnobilitytotheiraspect:IcouldhardlyfancyitthesameindividualIhadbeheldonthedayIdiscoveredmylittleladyat`WutheringHeights，afterherexpeditiontotheCrags。`WhileI
　　admiredandtheylaboured，duskgrewon，andwithitreturnedthemaster。
　　Hecameuponusquiteunexpectedly，enteringbythefrontway，andhadafullviewofthewholethree，erewecouldraiseourheadstoglanceathim。Well，Ireflected，therewasneverapleasanter，ormoreharmlesssight；anditwillbeaburningshametoscoldthem。Theredfirelightglowedontheirtwobonnyheads，andrevealedtheirfacesanimatedwiththeeagerinterestofchildren；for，——thoughhewastwenty-threeandsheeighteen，eachhadsomuchofnoveltytofeelandlearn，thatneitherexperiencednorevincedthesentimentsofsoberdisenchantedmaturity。
　　Theyliftedtheireyestogether，toencounterMrHeathcliff:perhapsyouhaveneverremarkedthattheireyesarepreciselysimilar，andtheyarethoseofCatherineEarnshaw。ThepresentCatherinehasnootherlikenesstoher，exceptabreadthofforehead，andacertainarchofthenostrilthatmakesherappearratherhaughty，whethershewillornot。`WithHaretontheresemblanceiscarriedfurther:itissingularatalltimes，thenitwasparticularlystriking；becausehissenseswerealert，andhismentalfacultieswakenedtounwontedactivity。IsupposethisresemblancedisarmedMrHeathcliff:hewalkedtothehearthinevidentagitation；butitquicklysubsidedashelookedattheyoungman:or，Ishouldsay，altereditscharacter；
　　foritwasthereyet。Hetookthebookfromhishand，andglancedattheopenpage，thenreturneditwithoutanyobservation；merelysigningCatherineaway:hercompanionlingeredverylittlebehindher，andIwasabouttodepartalso，buthebidmesitstill。
　　`Itisapoorconclusion，isitnot？'heobserved，havingbroodedawhileonthescenehehadjustwitnessed:`anabsurdterminationtomyviolentexertions？Igetleversandmattockstodemolishthetwohouses，andtrainmyselftobecapableofworkinglikeHercules，andwheneverythingisreadyandinmypower，Ifindthewilltoliftaslateoffeitherroofhasvanished!Myoldenemieshavenotbeatenme；nowwouldbetheprecisetimetorevengemyselfontheirrepresentatives:Icoulddoit；andnonecouldhinderme。Butwhereistheuse？Idon'tcareforstriking；Ican'ttakethetroubletoraisemyhand!ThatsoundsasifIhadbeenlabouringthewholetimeonlytoexhibitafinetraitofmagnanimity。Itisfarfrombeingthecase:Ihavelostthefacultyofenjoyingtheirdestruction，andIamtooidletodestroyfornothing。
　　`Nelly，thereisastrangechangeapproaching:I'minitsshadowatpresent。Itakesolittleinterestinmydailylife，thatIhardlyremembertoeatanddrink。Thosetwowhohavelefttheroomaretheonlyobjectswhichretainadistinctmaterialappearancetome；andthatappearancecausesmepain，amountingtoagony。AboutherIwon'tspeak；andIdon'tdesiretothink；butIearnestlywishshewereinvisible:herpresenceinvokesonlymaddeningsensations。Hemovesmedifferently:andyetifIcoulddoitwithoutseeminginsane，I'dneverseehimagain。You'llperhapsthinkmeratherinclinedtobecomeso，'headded，makinganefforttosmile，`ifItrytodescribethethousandformsofpastassociationsandideasheawakensorembodies。Butyou'llnottalkofwhatItellyou；andmymindissoeternallysecludedinitself，itistemptingatlasttoturnitouttoanother。
　　`Fiveminutesago，Haretonseemedapersonificationofmyyouth，notahumanbeing:Ifelttohiminsuchavarietyofways，thatitwouldhavebeenimpossibletohaveaccostedhimrationally。Inthefirstplace，hisstartlinglikenesstoCatherineconnectedhimfearfullywithher。That，however，whichyoumaysupposethemostpotenttoarrestmyimagination，isactuallytheleast:forwhatisnotconnectedwithhertome？andwhatdoesnotrecallher？Icannotlookdowntothisfloor，butherfeaturesareshapedintheflags!Ineverycloud，ineverytree——fillingtheairatnight，andcaughtbyglimpsesineveryobjectbyday——Iamsurroundedwithherimage!Themostordinaryfacesofmenandwomen——myownfeatures——mockmewitharesemblance。Theentireworldisadreadfulcollectionofmemorandathatshedidexist，andthatIhavelosther!Well，Hareton'saspectwastheghostofmyimmortallove；ofmywildendeavourstoholdmyright；
　　mydegradation，mypride，myhappiness，andmyanguish:
　　`Butitisfrenzytorepeatthesethoughtstoyou:onlyitwillletyouknowwhy，withareluctancetobealwaysalone，hissocietyisnobenefit；ratheranaggravationoftheconstanttormentIsuffer；anditpartlycontributestorendermeregardlesshowheandhiscousingoontogether。Icangivethemnoattention，anymore。
　　`Butwhatdoyoumeanbyachange，MrHeathcliff？'Isaid，alarmedathismanner:thoughhewasneitherindangeroflosinghissenses，nordying，accordingtomyjudgment；hewasquitestrongandhealthy:and，astohisreason，fromchildhoodhehadadelightindwellingondarkthings，andentertainingoddfancies。Hemighthavehadamonomaniaonthesubjectofhisdepartedidol；butoneveryotherpointhiswitswereassoundasmine。
　　`Ishallnotknowthattillitcomes，'hesaid，`I'monlyhalfconsciousofitnow。
　　`Youhavenofeelingsofillness，haveyou？'Iasked。
　　`No，Nelly，Ihavenot，'heanswered。
　　`Thenyouarenotafraidofdeath？'Ipursued。
　　`Afraid？No!'hereplied。`Ihaveneitherafear，norapresentiment，norahopeofdeath。WhyshouldI？`Withmyhardconstitutionandtemperatemodeofliving，andunperilousoccupations，Ioughtto，andprobablyshall，remainabovegroundtillthereisscarcelyablackhaironmyhead。AndyetIcannotcontinueinthiscondition!Ihavetoremindmyselftobreathe——almosttoremindmyhearttobeat!Anditislikebendingbackastiffspring；
　　itisbycompulsionthatIdotheslightestactnotpromptedbyonethought；
　　andbycompulsionthatInoticeanythingaliveordead，whichisnotassociatedwithoneuniversalidea。Ihaveasinglewish，andmywholebeingandfacultiesareyearningtoattainIt。Theyhaveyearnedtowardsitsolong，andsounwaveringly，thatI'mconvinceditwillbereached——andsoon——becauseithasdevouredmyexistence:Iamswallowedupintheanticipationofitsfulfilment。Myconfessionshavenotrelievedme；buttheymayaccountforsomeotherwiseunaccountablephasesofhumourwhichIshow。OGod!
　　Itisalongfight，Iwishitwereover!'
　　Hebegantopacetheroom，mutteringterriblethingstohimself，tillIwasinclinedtobelieve，ashesaidJosephdid，thatconsciencehadturnedhishearttoanearthlyhell。Iwonderedgreatlyhowitwouldend。Thoughheseldombeforehadrevealedthisstateofmind，evenbylooks，itwashishabitualmood，Ihadnodoubt:heassertedithimself；butnotasoul，fromhisgeneralbearing，wouldhaveconjecturedthefact。Youdidnotwhenyousawhim，MrLockwood:andattheperiodofwhichIspeakhewasjustthesameasthen；onlyfonderofcontinuedsolitude，andperhapsstillmorelaconicincompany。
　　[NextChapter][TableofContents]WutheringHeights[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter34Forsomedaysafterthatevening，MrHeathcliffshunnedmeetingusatmeals；
　　yethewouldnotconsentformallytoexcludeHaretonandCathy。Hehadanaversiontoyieldingsocompletelytohisfeelings，choosingrathertoabsenthimself；andeatingonceintwenty-fourhoursseemedsufficientsustenanceforhim。
　　Onenight，afterthefamilywereinbed，Iheardhimgodownstairs，andoutatthefrontdoor。Ididnothearhimre-enter，andinthemorningIfoundhewasstillaway。WewereinAprilthen:theweatherwassweetandwarm，thegrassasgreenasshowersandsuncouldmakeit，andthetwodwarfappletreesnearthesouthernwallinfullbloom。Afterbreakfast，Catherineinsistedonmybringingachairandsittingwithmyworkunderthefirtreesattheendofthehouse；andshebeguiledHareton，whohadperfectlyrecoveredfromhisaccident，todigandarrangeherlittlegarden，whichwasshiftedtothatcornerbytheinfluenceofJoseph'scomplaints。
　　Iwascomfortablyrevellinginthespringfragrancearound，andthebeautifulsoftblueoverhead，whenmyyounglady，whohadrundownnearthegatetoprocuresomeprimroserootsforaborder，returnedonlyhalfladen，andinformedusthatMrHeathcliffwascomingin。`Andhespoketome，'
　　sheadded，withaperplexedcountenance。
　　"Whatdidhesay？'askedHareton。
　　`HetoldmetobegoneasfastasIcould，'sheanswered。`ButhelookedsodifferentfromhisusuallookthatIstoppedamomenttostareathim。'
　　`How？'heinquired。
　　`Why，almostbrightandcheerful。No，almostnothing——verymuchexcited，andwildandglad!'shereplied。
　　`Nightwalkingamuseshim，then，'Iremarked，affectingacarelessmanner:inrealityassurprisedasshewas，andanxioustoascertainthetruthofherstatement；fortoseethemasterlookinggladwouldnotbeaneverydayspectacle。Iframedanexcusetogoin。Heathcliffstoodattheopendoor，hewaspale，andhetrembled:yet，certainly，hehadastrange，joyfulglitterinhiseyes，thatalteredtheaspectofhiswholeface。
　　`Willyouhavesomebreakfast？'Isaid。`Youmustbehungry，ramblingaboutallnight!'Iwantedtodiscoverwherehehadbeen，butIdidnotliketoaskdirectly。
　　`No，I'mnothungry，'heanswered，avertinghishead，andspeakingrathercontemptuously，asifheguessedIwastryingtodivinetheoccasionofhisgoodhumour。
　　Ifeltperplexed:Ididn'tknowwhetheritwerenotaproperopportunitytoofferabitofadmonition。
　　`Idon'tthinkitrighttowanderoutofdoors，'Iobserved，`insteadofbeinginbed:itisnotwise，atanyrate，thismoistseason。Idaresayyou'llcatchabadcold，orafever:youhavesomethingthematterwithyounow!'
　　`NothingbutwhatIcanbear，'hereplied；`andwiththegreatestpleasure，providedyou'llleavemealone；getin，anddon'tannoyme。'
　　Iobeyed:and，inpassing，Inoticedhebreathedasfastasacat。
　　`Yes!'Ireflectedtomyself，`weshallhaveafitofillness。
　　Icannotconceivewhathehasbeendoing。'
　　Thatnoonhesatdowntodinnerwithus，andreceivedaheaped-upplatefrommyhands，asifheintendedtomakeamendsforpreviousfasting。
　　`I'veneithercoldnorfever，Nelly，'heremarked，inallusiontomymorning'sspeech；`andI'mreadytodojusticetothefoodyougiveme。
　　Hetookhisknifeandfork，andwasgoingtocommenceeating，whentheinclinationappearedtobecomesuddenlyextinct。Helaidthemonthetable，lookedeagerlytowardsthewindow，thenroseandwentout。
　　`Wesawhimwalkingtoandfrointhegardenwhileweconcludedourmeal，andEarnshawsaidhe'dgoandaskwhyhewouldnotdine:hethoughtwehadgrievedhimsomeway。
　　`Well，ishecoming？'criedCatherine，whenhercousinreturned。
　　`Nay，'heanswered；`buthe'snotangry:heseemedrareandpleasedindeed；onlyImadehimimpatientbyspeakingtohimtwice；andthenhebidmebeofftoyou:hewonderedhowIcouldwantthecompanyofanybodyelse。'
　　Isethisplatetokeepwarmonthefender；andafteranhourortwohere-entered，whentheroomwasclear，innodegreecalmer:thesameunnatural——itwasunnatural——appearanceofjoyunderhisblackbrows；
　　thesamebloodlesshue，andhisteethvisible，nowandthen，inakindofsmile；hisframeshivering，notasoneshiverswithchillorweakness，butasatight-stretchedcordvibrates——astrongthrilling，ratherthantrembling。
　　Iwillaskwhatisthematter，Ithought；orwhoshould？AndI
　　exclaimed:
　　`Haveyouheardanygoodnews，MrHeathcliff？Youlookuncommonlyanimated。'
　　`Whereshouldgoodnewscomefromtome？'hesaid。`I'manimatedwithhunger；and，seemingly，Imustnoteat。'
　　`Yourdinnerishere，'Ireturned；`whywon'tyougetit？'
　　`Idon'twantitnow；'hemutteredhastily；`I'llwaittillsupper。
　　And，Nelly，onceforall，letmebegyoutowarnHaretonandtheotherawayfromme。Iwishtobetroubledbynobody:Iwishtohavethisplacetomyself。'
　　`Istheresomenewreasonforthisbanishment？'Iinquired。`Tellmewhyyouaresoqueer，MrHeathcliff？`Wherewereyoulastnight？I'mnotputtingthequestionthroughidlecuriosity，but——'
　　`Youareputtingthequestionthroughveryidlecuriosity，'heinterrupted，withalaugh。`YetI'llanswerit。LastnightIwasonthethresholdofhell。Today，Iamwithinsightofmyheaven。Ihavemyeyesonit:hardlythreefeettoseverme!Andnowyou'dbettergo!You'llneitherseenorhearanythingtofrightenyou，ifyourefrainfromprying。'
　　Havingsweptthehearthandwipedthetable，Ideparted；moreperplexedthanever。
　　Hedidnotquitthehouseagainthatafternoon，andnooneintrudedonhissolitude；till，ateighto'clock，Ideemeditproper，thoughunsummoned，tocarryacandleandhissuppertohim。Hewasleaningagainsttheledgeofanopenlattice，butnotlookingout:hisfacewasturnedtotheinteriorgloom。Thefirehadsmoulderedtoashes；theroomwasfilledwiththedamp，mildairofthecloudyevening；andsostill，thatnotonlythemurmurofthebeckdownGimmertonwasdistinguishable，butitsripplesanditsgurglingoverthepebbles，orthroughthelargestoneswhichitcouldnotcover。Iutteredanejaculationofdiscontentatseeingthedismalgrate，andcommencedshuttingthecasements，oneafteranother，tillIcametohis。
　　`MustIclosethis？'Iasked，inordertorousehim；forhewouldnotstir。
　　ThelightflashedonhisfeaturesasIspoke。Oh，MrLockwood，IcannotexpresswhataterriblestartIgotbythemomentaryview!Thosedeepblackeyes!Thatsmile，andghastlypaleness!Itappearedtome，notMrHeathcliff，butagoblin；and，inmyterror，Iletthecandlebendtowardsthewall，anditleftmeindarkness。
　　`Yes，closeit，'hereplied，inhisfamiliarvoice。`There，thatispureawkwardness!Whydidyouholdthecandlehorizontally？Bequick，andbringanother。'
　　Ihurriedoutinafoolishstateofdread，andsaidtoJoseph:
　　`Themasterwishesyoutotakehimalightandrekindlethefire。'
　　ForIdarenotgoinmyselfagainjustthen。
　　Josephrattledsomefireintotheshovel，andwent；buthebroughtitbackimmediately，withthesuppertrayinhisotherhand，explainingthatMrHeathcliffwasgoingtobed，andhewantednothingtoeattillmorning。Weheardhimmountthestairsdirectly；hedidnotproceedtohisordinarychamber，butturnedintothatwiththepanelledbed:itswindow，asImentionedbefore，iswideenoughforanybodytogetthrough；anditstruckmethatheplottedanothermidnightexcursion，ofwhichhehadratherwehadnosuspicion。
　　`Isheaghouloravampire？'Imused。Ihadreadofsuchhideousincarnatedemons。AndthenIsetmyselftoreflecthowIhadtendedhimininfancy，andwatchedhimgrowtoyouth，andfollowedhimalmostthroughhiswholecourse；andwhatabsurdnonsenseitwastoyieldtothatsenseofhorror。`Butwheredidhecomefrom，thelittledarkthing，harbouredbyagoodmantohisbane？'mutteredSuperstition，asIdozedintounconsciousness。
　　AndIbegan，halfdreaming，towearymyselfwithimaginingsomefitparentageforhim；and，repeatingmywakingmeditations，Itrackedhisexistenceoveragain，withgrimvariations；atlast，picturinghisdeathandfuneral:
　　ofwhich，allIcanrememberis，beingexceedinglyvexedathavingthetaskofdictatinganinscriptionforhismonument，andconsultingthesextonaboutit；and，ashehadnosurname，andwecouldnot`tellhisage，wewereobligedtocontentourselveswiththesingleword，`Heathcliff'。Thatcametrue:wewere。Ifyouenterthekirkyard，you'llreadonhisheadstone，onlythat，andthedateofhisdeath。
　　Dawnrestoredmetocommonsense。Irose，andwentintothegarden，assoonasIcouldsee，toascertainiftherewereanyfootmarksunderhiswindow。Therewerenone。`Hehasstayedathome~ought，`andhe'llbeallrighttoday。'Ipreparedbreakfastforthehousehold，aswasmyusualcustom，buttoldHaretonandCatherinetogettheirserethemastercamedown，forhelaylate。Theypreferredtakingitoutofdoors，underthetrees，andIsetalittletabletoaccommodatethem。
　　Onmyre-entrance，IfoundMrHeathcliffbelow。HeandJosephwereconversingaboutsomefarmingbusiness；hegaveclear，minutedirectionsconcerningthematterdiscussed，buthespokerapidly，andturnedhisheadcontinuallyaside，andhadthesameexcitedexpression，evenmoreexaggerated。
　　`WhenJosephquittedtheroomhetookhisseatintheplacehegenerallychose，andIputabasinofcoffeebeforehim。Hedrewitnearer，andthenrestedhisarmsonthetable，andlookedattheoppositewall，asIsupposed，surveyingoneparticularportion，upanddown，withglittering，restlesseyes，andwithsucheagerinterestthathestoppedbreathingduringhalfaminutetogether。
　　`Comenow，Iexclaimed，pushingsomebreadagainsthishand，`eatanddrinkthat，whileitishot:ithasbeenwaitingnearanhour。'
　　Hedidn'tnoticeme，andyethesmiled。I'dratherhaveseenhimgnashhisteeththansmileso。
　　`MrHeathcliff!master!'Icried，`don't，forGod'ssake，stareasifyousawanunearthlyvision。'
　　`Don't，forGod'ssake，shoutsoloud，'hereplied。`Turnround，andtellme，arewebyourselves？'
　　`Ofcourse，'wasmyanswer；`ofcourseweare。'
　　StillIinvoluntarilyobeyedhim，asifIwerenotquitesure。
　　`Withasweepofhishandheclearedavacantspaceinfrontamongthebreakfastthings，andleantforwardtogazemoreathisease。
　　Now，Iperceivedhewasnotlookingatthewall；forwhenIregardedhimalone，itseemedexactlythathegazedatsomethingwithintwoyards'
　　distance。Andwhateveritwas，itcommunicated，apparently，bothpleasureandpaininexquisiteextremes:atleasttheanguished，yetraptured，expressionofhiscountenancesuggestedthatidea。Thefanciedobjectwasnotfixed:
　　eitherhiseyespursueditwithunwearieddiligence，and，eveninspeakingtome，wereneverweanedaway。Ivainlyremindedhimofhisprotractedabstinencefromfood:ifhestirredtotouchanythingincompliancewithmyentreaties，ifhestretchedhishandouttogetapieceofbread，hisfingersclenchedbeforetheyreachedit，andremainedonthetable，forgetfuloftheiraim。
　　Isat，amodelofpatience，tryingtoattracthisabsorbedattentionfromitsengrossingspeculation；tillhegrewirritable，andgot——up，askingwhyIwouldnotallowhimtohavehisowntimeintakinghismeals？andsayingthatonthenextoccasion，Ineedn'twait:Imightsetthethingsdownandgo。Havingutteredthesewordsheleftthehouse，slowlysauntereddownthegardenpath，anddisappearedthroughthegate。
　　Thehourscreptanxiouslyby:anothereveningcame。Ididnotretiretoresttilllate，andwhenIdid，Icouldnotsleep。Hereturnedaftermidnight，and，insteadofgoingtobed，shuthimselfintotheroombeneath。Ilistened，andtossedabout，and，finally，dressedanddescended。
　　Itwastooirksometolieupthere，harassingmybrainwithahundredidlemisgivings。
　　IdistinguishedMrHeathcliff'sstep，restlesslymeasuringthefloor，andhefrequentlybrokethesilencebyadeepinspiration，resemblingagroan。Hemuttereddetachedwordsalso；theonlyoneIcouldcatchwasthenameofCatherine，coupledwithsomewildtermofendearmentorsuffering；
　　andspokenasonewouldspeaktoapersonpresent:lowandearnest，andwrungfromthedepthofhissoul。Ihadnotcouragetowalkstraightintotheapartment；butIdesiredtodiverthimfromhisreverie，andthereforefellfoulofthekitchenfire，stirredit，andbegantoscrapethecinders。
　　ItdrewhimforthsoonerthanIexpected。Heopenedthedoorimmediately，andsaid:
　　`Nelly，comehere——isitmorning？Comeinwithyourlight。'
　　`Itisstrikingfour，'Ianswered。`Youwantacandletotakeupstairs:youmighthavelitoneatthisfire。'
　　`No，Idon'twishtogoupstairs，'hesaid。`Comein，andkindlemeafire，anddoanythingthereistodoabouttheroom。'
　　`Imustblowthecoalsredfirst，beforeIcancarryany，'Ireplied，gettingachairandthebellows。
　　Heroamedtoandfro，meantime，inastateapproachingdistraction；
　　hisheavysighssucceedingeachothersothickastoleavenospaceforcommonbreathingbetween。
　　"WhendaybreaksI'llsendforGreen，'hesaid；`IwishtomakesomelegalinquiriesofhimwhileIcanbestowathoughtonthosematters，andwhileIcanactcalmly。Ihavenotwrittenmywillyet；andhowtoleavemypropertyIcannotdetermine。IwishIcouldannihilateitfromthefaceoftheearth。'
　　`Iwouldnottalkso，MrHeathcliff，'Iinterposed。`Letyourwillbeawhile:you'llbesparedtorepentofyourmanyinjusticesyet。
　　Ineverexpectedthatyournerveswouldbedisordered:theyare，atpresent，marvellouslyso，however；andalmostentirelythroughyourownfault。Thewayyou'vepassedthesethreelastdaysmightknockupaTitan。Dotakesomefood，andsomerepose。Youneedonlylookatyourselfinaglasstoseehowyourequireboth。Yourcheeksarehollow，andyoureyesbloodshot，likeapersonstarvingwithhungerandgoingblindwithlossofsleep。'
　　`ItisnotmyfaultthatIcannoteatorrest，'hereplied。`I
　　assureyouitisthroughnosettleddesigns。I'lldobothassoonasI
　　possiblycan。Butyoumightaswellbidamanstrugglinginthewaterrestwithinarm'slengthoftheshore!Imustreachitfirst，andthenI'llrest。Well，nevermindMrGreen:astorepentingofmyinjustices，I'vedonenoinjustice，andIrepentofnothing。I'mtoohappy；andyetI'mnothappyenough。Mysoul'sblisskillsmybody，butdoesnotsatisfyitself。'
　　`Happy，master？'Icried。`Strangehappiness!Ifyouwouldhearmewithoutbeingangry，Imightoffersomeadvicethatwouldmakeyouhappier。
　　"Whatisthat？'heasked。`Giveit。'
　　`Youareaware，MrHeathcliff，'Isaid，`thatfromthetimeyouwerethirteenyearsold，youhavelivedaselfish，unchristianlife；andprobablyhardlyhadaBibleinyourhandsduringallthatperiod。Youmusthaveforgottenthecontentsofthebook，andyoumaynothavespacetosearchitnow。Coulditbehurtfultosendforsomeone——someministerofanydenomination，itdoesnotmatterwhich——toexplainit，andshowyouhowveryfaryouhaveerredfromitsprecepts；andhowunfityouwillbeforitsheaven，unlessachangetakesplace`beforeyoudie？'
　　`I'mratherobligedthanangry，Nelly，'hesaid，`foryouremindmeofthemannerthatIdesiretobeburiedin。Itistobecarriedtothechurchyardintheevening。YouandHaretonmay，ifyouplease，accompanyme:andmind，particularly，tonoticethatthesextonobeysmydirectionsconcerningthetwocoffins!Noministerneedcome；norneedanythingbesaidoverme——ItellyouIhavenearlyattainedmyheaven；andthatofothersisaltogetherunvaluedanduncoveredbyme。
　　`Andsupposingyouperseveredinyourobstinatefast，anddiedbythatmeans，andtheyrefusedtoburyyouintheprecinctsofthekirk？'
　　Isaid，shockedathisgodlessindifference。`Howwouldyoulikeit？'
　　`Theywon'tdothat，'hereplied:`iftheydid，youmusthavemeremovedsecretly:andifyouneglectityoushallprove，practically，thatthedeadarenotannihilated!'
　　Assoonasheheardtheothermembersofthefamilystirringheretiredtohisden，andIbreathedfreer。Butintheafternoon，whileJosephandHaretonwereattheirwork，hecameintothekitchenagain，and，withawildlook，bidmecomeandsitinthehouse:hewantedsomebodywithhim。Ideclined:tellinghimplainlythathisstrangetalkandmannerfrightenedme，andIhadneitherthenervenorthewilltobehiscompanionalone。
　　`Ibelieveyouthinkmeafiend，'hesaid，withhisdismallaugh:
　　somethingtoohorribletoliveunderadecentroof。'ThenturningtoCatherine，whowasthere，andwhodrewbehindmeathisapproach，headded，halfsneeringly——`Willyoucome，chuck？I'llnothurtyou。No!toyouI'vemademyselfworsethanthedevil。Well，thereisonewhowon'tshrinkfrommycompany!ByGod!she'srelentless。Oh，damnit!It'sunutterablytoomuchforfleshandbloodtobear——evenmine。'
　　Hesolicitedthesocietyofnoonemore。Atdusk，hewentintohischamber。Throughthewholenight，andfarintothemorning，weheardhimgroaningandmurmuringtohimself。Haretonwasanxioustoenter；butIbadehimfetchMrKenneth，andheshouldgoinandseehim。Whenhecame，andIrequestedadmittanceandtriedtoopenthedoor，Ifounditlocked；
　　andHeathcliffbidusbedamned。Hewasbetter，andwouldbeleftalone；
　　sothedoctorwentaway。
　　Thefollowingeveningwasverywet:indeeditpoureddowntillday-dawn；and，asItookmymorningwalkroundthehouse，Iobservedthemaster'swindowswingingopen，andtheraindrivingstraightin。Hecannotbeinbed，Ithought:thoseshowerswoulddrenchhimthrough。Hemusteitherbeuporout。ButI'llmakenomoreado，I'llgoboldlyandlook。
　　Havingsucceededinobtainingentrancewithanotherkey，Irantounclosethepanels，forthechamberwasvacant；quicklypushingthemaside，Ipeepedin。MrHeathcliffwasthere——laidonhisback。Hiseyesmetminesokeenandfierce，Istarted；andthenheseemedtosmile。I
　　couldnotthinkhimdead:buthisfaceandthroatwerewashedwithrain；
　　thebedclothesdripped，andhewas~perfectlystill。Thelattice，flappingtoandfro，hadgrazedonehandthatrestedonthesill；nobloodtrickledfromthebrokenskin，andwhenIputmyfingerstoit，Icoulddoubtnomore:hewasdeadandstark!
　　Ihaspedthewindow；Icombedhisblacklonghairfromhisforehead；
　　Itriedtoclosehiseyes:toextinguish，ifpossible，thatfrightful，lifelikegazeofexultationbeforeanyoneelsebeheldit。Theywouldnotshut:theyseemedtosneeratmyattempts:andhispartedlipsandsharpwhiteteethsneeredtoo!Takenwithanotherfitofcowardice，IcriedoutforJoseph。Josephshuffledupandmadeanoise；butresolutelyrefusedtomeddlewithhim。
　　`Th'divil'sharriedoffhissoul，'hecried，`andhemuhhevhiscarcassintuht'bargain，forow'tAwcare!Ech!whatawickedunhelooksgirningatdeath!'andtheoldsinnergrinnedinmockery。Ithoughtheintendedtocutacaperroundthebed；but，suddenlycomposinghimself，hefellonhisknees，andraisedhishands，andreturnedthanksthatthelawfulmasterandtheancientstockwererestoredtotheirrights。
　　Ifeltstunnedbytheawfulevent；andmymemoryunavoidablyrecurredtoformertimeswithasortofoppressivesadness。ButpoorHareton，themostwronged，wastheonlyonethatreallysufferedmuch。Hesatbythecorpseallnight，weepinginbitterearnest。Hepresseditshand，andkissedthesarcasticsavagefacethateveryoneelseshrankfromcontemplating；
　　andbemoanedhimwiththatstronggriefwhichspringsnaturallyfromagenerousheart，thoughitbetoughastemperedsteel。
　　MrKennethwasperplexedtopronounceofwhatdisorderthemasterdied。Iconcealedthefactofhishavingswallowednothingforfourdays，fearingitmightleadtotrouble，andthen，Iampersuaded，hedidnotabstainonpurpose:itwastheconsequenceofhisstrangeillness，notthecause。
　　`Weburiedhim，tothescandalofthewholeneighbourhood，ashewished。EarnshawandI，thesexton，andsixmentocarrythecoffin，comprehendedthewholeattendance。Thesixmendepartedwhentheyhadletitdownintothegrave:westayedtoseeitcovered。Hareton，withastreamingface，duggreensods，andlaidthemoverthebrownmouldhimself:atpresentitisassmoothandverdantasitscompanionmounds——andIhopeitstenantsleepsassoundly。Butthecountryfolk，ifyouaskthem，wouldswearontheBiblethathewalks:therearethosewhospeaktohavingmethimnearthechurch，andonthemoor，andeveninthishouse。Idletales，you'llsay，andsosayI。Yetthatoldmanbythekitchenfireaffirmshehasseentwoon`em，lookingoutofhischamberwindow，oneveryrainynightsincehisdeath:andanoddthinghappenedtomeaboutamonthago。
　　IwasgoingtotheGrangeoneevening——adarkevening，threateningthunder——and，justattheturnoftheHeights，Iencounteredalittleboywithasheepandtwolambsbeforehim；hewascryingterribly；andIsupposedthelambswereskittish，andwouldnotbeguided。
　　"What'sthematter，mylittleman？'Iasked。
　　`There'sHeathcliffandawoman，yonder，undert'nab，'heblubbered，`un'Idarnutpass`em。'
　　Isawnothing；butneitherthesheepnorhewouldgoon；soI
　　bidhimtaketheroadlowerdown。Heprobablyraisedthephantomsfromthinking，ashetraversedthemoorsalone，onthenonsensehehadheardhisparentsandcompanionsrepeat。Yet，still，Idon'tlikebeingoutinthedarknow；andIdon'tlikebeingleftbymyselfinthisgrimhouse:
　　Icannothelpit；Ishallbegladwhentheyleaveit，andshifttotheGrange。
　　`TheyaregoingtotheGrange，then，'Isaid。
　　`Yes，'answeredMrsDean，`issoonastheyaremarried，andthatwillbeonNewYear'sDay。'
　　`Andwhowilllivehere，then？'
　　`Why，Josephwilltakecareofthehouse，and，perhaps，aladtokeephimcompany。Theywillliveinthekitchen，andtherestwillbeshutup。'
　　`Fortheuseofsuchghostsaschoosetoinhabitit，'Iobserved。
　　`No，MrLockwood，'saidNelly，shakingherhead。`Ibelievethedeadareatpeace:butitisnotrighttospeakofthemwithlevity。'
　　Atthatmomentthegardengateswungto；theramblerswerereturning。
　　`Theyareafraidofnothing，'Igrumbled，watchingtheirapproachthroughthewindow。`TogethertheywouldbraveSatanandallhislegions。'
　　Astheysteppedontothedoorstones，andhaltedtotakealastlookatthemoon——or，morecorrectly，ateachotherbyherlight——Ifeltirresistiblyimpelledtoescapethemagain；and，pressingaremembranceintothehandofMrsDean，anddisregardingherexpostulationsatmyrudeness，Ivanishedthroughthekitchenastheyopenedthehouse-door；andsoshouldhaveconfirmedJosephinhisopinionofhisfellow-servant'sgayindiscretions，hadhenotfortunatelyrecognizedmeforarespectablecharacterbythesweetringofasovereignathisfeet。
　　Mywalkhomewaslengthenedbyadiversioninthedirectionofthekirk。`Whenbeneathitswalls，Iperceiveddecayhadmadeprogress，eveninsevenmonths:manyawindowshowedblackgapsdeprivedofglass；
　　andslatesjuttedoff，hereandthere，beyondtherightlineoftheroof，tobegraduallyworkedoffincomingautumnstorms。
　　Isought，andsoondiscovered，thethreeheadstonesontheslopenextthemoor:themiddleonegrey，andhalfburiedinheath:EdgarLinton'sonlyharmonizedbytheturfandmosscreepingupitsfoot:Heathcliff'sstillbare。
　　Ilingeredroundthem，underthatbenignsky；watchedthemothsflutteringamongtheheathandharebells，listenedtothesoftwindbreathingthroughthegrass，andwonderedhowanyonecouldeverimagineunquietslumbersforthesleepersinthatquietearth。