Wuthering Heights

Chapter 14

For a long time I gazed at this weather-worn stone.Then I stooped down and saw a little hole near the bottom, still stuffed with snail shells and pebbles, where we are all too happy to store our beloved things.As vividly as it is now, I seem to see my childhood friend sitting on the yellow turf, his black square head leaning forward, and his little hands digging out the soil with a piece of stone.

"Poor Hindley!"

I couldn't help shouting.Then I was taken aback: my physical eyes were temporarily in a trance, and I was deceived into believing that the child raised his face and stared at me!In the blink of an eye, there was no trace of it.But at once I felt an irrepressible longing to go to Wuthering Heights.Superstition compels me to yield to the impulse: perhaps he is dead!I thought, or else he was going to die!I think it's a sign of death.

The closer I got to the villa, the more anxious I became.When I saw its shadow from a distance, my hands and feet were trembling in fear.The ghost was one step ahead of me, and it stood there, looking out across the hall.When I saw a shaggy-haired, brown-eyed boy leaning his red face against the gate, the first thing that occurred to me was a ghost, and after that it must be Hareton, my Hareton!Not much has changed since I left him, ten months ago.

"God bless you, baby!" I yelled, instantly forgetting all my stupid fears. "Hareton, it's Nelly! Nelly, your nurse."

He stepped back so that I wouldn't touch him, and picked up a large rock.

"I'm here to see your father, Hareton," I said again, judging from the way he behaved that he hadn't recognized Nelly as me, if Nelly had remained in his memory at all.

He raised his cannonball to throw.I began to speak kind words to him, but the kind words could not hold his hand, and the stone hit my hat.Then, from the stammering lips of the little guy, spit out a series of curses, no matter whether he understands these curse words or not, after a long time of practice, the curses have been expressed in a precise way, distorting his doll's face into a Surprisingly ferocious appearance.

You know, of course, that it makes me sad rather than angry.I really want to cry.I took an orange out of my pocket and offered it up as a token of peace.

He hesitated, then snatched it from me, as if thinking that I was just trying to whet his appetite and finally disappoint him.

I pulled out another one, out of his reach this time.

"Who taught you such kind words, my boy?" I asked. "Is it the curate?"

"The damn curate, and you! Give me that," he replied.

"Tell me where you have your class and it's yours," I said, "Who's your teacher?"

"Devil Daddy." That was his answer.

"What did you learn from Dad?" I asked again.

He jumped up to snatch the fruit.I held it up a bit and asked again, "What did he teach you?"

"Nothing," he said, "and he just told me to stay away from him. Daddy can't stand me because I curse him."

"Ah! the devil taught you to curse father?" I said.

"Oh, no," he said slowly.

"So, who is it?"

"Heathcliff."

I asked him if he liked Heathcliff.

"Alas!" he replied again.

I wanted to know why he liked him, but I only heard words like this intermittently: "I don't know, he treats Dad as he treats me—he cursed Dad, because Dad cursed me. He said I must be me what you want to do."

"Didn't the curate teach you to read and write?" I asked.

"No, I heard that the curate smashed his teeth down his throat when he stepped over the threshold, and that was Heathcliff's wish!"

I put the orange in his hand, and told him to tell his father that there was a woman named Nellie waiting at the garden gate to speak to him.

He walked down the path and into the house.But instead of Hindley, I saw Heathcliff appearing on the stone steps in front of the door.I turned around immediately, and with all my strength, I ran down the road until I reached the signpost before stopping.I was terrified and felt that I had summoned a ghost.

This had not much to do with Miss Isabella's turmoil, but it only made me more determined to keep on my guard, to do my best not to let that evil force come into Thrushcross Grange, even if it stirred up a storm in the house and swept the woods. Mrs. Ton's pleasure is not spared.

The next time Heathcliff called, the young lady of my family happened to be feeding the pigeons in the yard.For three days in a row she ignored her sister-in-law, but she also stopped complaining, which was a great comfort to us.

Heathcliff has never been in the habit of being more courteous to Miss Linton, I know that.Now, as soon as he saw him, he cast his wary eyes round the house first.I was standing at the kitchen window, but I took a step back so he didn't see it.Then he walked across the pavement towards her and said something.She seemed very embarrassed and wanted to go away.To stop her from going, he reached out and grabbed her arm with one hand.She turned away, it was obvious that he had asked a question that she had no intention of answering.He glanced across the house in a hurry again, thinking that no one saw him, the rogue was so bold that he hugged her.

"Judas! Spy!" I blurted out. "You're still a hypocrite, aren't you? An elaborate liar."

"Who is it, Nelly?" Catherine's voice was at my elbow.I was so engrossed in staring at the couple outside that I didn't notice her coming into the room.

"Your worthless friend!" I replied excitedly, "that sneaky rascal over there. Ah, he saw us—he's coming! I wonder if he's up to another trick to find out A nice excuse to explain that he wooed Miss, and he told you he hated her?"

Mrs. Linton saw Isabella break free and run into the garden. A minute later, Heathcliff opened the door.

I could not help venting my anger, but Catherine angrily insisted on my silence, threatening to order me out of the kitchen if I dared to behave and speak nonsense.

"When you talk, people think you're the mistress!" she cried. "You will do your part! Heathcliff, what do you want to do with this trouble? I told you not to mess with Isabella! I beg you, unless you are doing a bad job here. I'm getting impatient, and I want Linton to shut you down!"

"God forbid it!" replied the dark villain.That's when I got really sick of him. "God made him docile and patient! I'm getting madder every day, and I'm going to send him to heaven."

"Hush!" said Catherine, closing the back room door. "Don't make me angry. Why are you ignoring my request? Is she coming to pester you on purpose?"

"What's that got to do with you?" he growled. "I have the right to kiss her, as long as she wants. You have no right to object. I'm not your husband, so you don't have to be jealous of me!"

"I'm not jealous of you," replied the madame, "I'm jealous of you. Keep your countenance open and don't frown on me! If you love Isabella, marry her. But do you love her? Tell the truth." , Heathcliff! Look, you can't answer, I'm sure you can't!"

"Will Mr. Linton allow his sister to marry that man?" I asked.

"Mr. Linton will agree," replied my wife firmly.

"He can save himself the trouble," said Heathcliff, "and I can do without his permission. As for you, Catherine, I have a few words to say now, now that we have come to it. I want you to understand that I know how mean you are to me - mean! Do you hear that? You're a fool if you lie to yourself that I don't know anything. You're an idiot if you think sweet words can comfort me .If you fancy me enduring revenge, I'll show you just the opposite in a moment! But I thank you for telling me your sister-in-law's secret, and I swear I'll make the most of it. Go away!"

"And what new twist of your character is this?" cried Mrs. Linton, bewildered. "I was vicious to you—you want revenge! How can you repay the law, you ungrateful beast? How can I be vicious to you?"

"I'm not coming to take revenge on you," replied Heathcliff, somewhat less angry. "That's not my plan. A tyrant oppresses his slaves, but they don't come against the tyrant, they oppress those under them. You may as well torture me to death for your own pleasure, I am willing, just let me come too Do the same, and be merry, and at the same time, do what you can to do me less humiliation. Since you have bulldozed my palace, don't build a thatched hut, complacently doing a good deed, and give it to me as a home. If I thought you really wanted me to marry Isabella, I might as well wipe my neck!"

"Oh, the bad thing is that I'm not jealous, is I?" cried Catherine. "Well, I'm not coming to propose marriage to you again. To propose marriage to you is like offering a lost soul to Satan. Your happiness, like his, consists in inducing misery. You have proved it. Edgar, when you first came, I was very bad-tempered, and I'm only recovering now, and I'm beginning to calm down and calm down. But you, who fidget when you know we're all at peace, look determined to start a fight. Go quarrel with Edgar, if You will, Heathcliff, to deceive his sister. You have found the most efficient way to avenge me."

The conversation stopped.Mrs. Linton sat down by the fire, flushed and sullen.The spirit at her disposal became unruly, and she could neither get rid of it nor control it.He stood by the fire with folded arms, brooding his wicked thoughts.In this way I left them and went to my master, who was wondering what had kept Catherine so long down there.

"Ellen," said he when I entered, "see your mistress?"

"Yes. She's in the kitchen, sir," I replied. "Heathcliff's behavior was very unpleasant to her. And, really, I really think it's time to make some other arrangements for his visit. Too much weakness is harmful, and now it's come to—" I recounted I recounted the scene in the courtyard, and, as far as I dare, recounted the whole quarrel that followed.I don't think it's very bad for Mrs. Linton, unless she's going to go to the trouble of defending her guest afterwards.

Edgar Linton listened to me with difficulty.His very first sentence showed that he did not exonerate his wife.

"It's unbearable!" he cried. "She treats him as a friend and still imposes on me. It's a shame! Ellen, go to the hall and call two people. Catherine is not allowed to quarrel with this smelly rascal anymore. I have indulged her too much."

He came downstairs.Telling the two servants to wait in the passage, he followed me into the kitchen.The people in the room started fighting again.At least Mrs. Linton got up again and began to curse.Heathcliff went to the window, bowing his head, evidently letting her tempest be more or less subdued.

He saw my master first, and made a quick movement to tell her to stop talking.She discovered the reason for the hint, and suddenly obeyed him.

"What's the matter?" said Linton to her, "what's your idea of ​​decency that the scoundrel speaks so badly of you, and stays here? I think, because it's his usual talk, and you don't wonder how often you hear: you Get used to his dirty tricks. And, maybe, think I can get used to it too!"

"Are you eavesdropping at the door, Edgar?" asked the madame, in a tone calculated to irritate her husband, suggesting an anger which was both indifferent and very contemptuous of him.

Heathcliff raised his eyes when Linton spoke, and sneered at Catherine's words.It seemed to be deliberately trying to attract Mr. Linton's attention.

He succeeded.But Edgar had no intention of entertaining him with too much hospitality.

"I have tolerated you till now, sir," he said quietly. "It's not that I'm blind to your vileness, but I feel you're only half responsible for it. And Catherine wanted your company, and I acquiesced—silly. Your presence is moral. Poison pollutes the best qualities. For this reason, in order to prevent worse consequences from happening, I will not allow you to enter this house from now on. If you don't leave in 3 minutes, you will be forced to leave, disgraceful leave."

Heathcliff looked the speaker from head to toe, his eyes full of sarcasm.

"Cathy, this lamb is threatening you like a bull!" he said. "It didn't know it was going to smash its skull on my fist. Good God! Mr. Linton, I'm really sorry. You're a blow to me!"

My master glanced away and motioned for me to call the two men. He had no intention of taking risks and fighting by himself.

I followed his instructions.But Mrs. Linton, suspicious, followed closely.I was about to call them when she pulled me back and slammed the door shut and locked it.

"Good idea!" she answered her husband's angry and startled look. "If you don't have the guts to attack him, then apologize and don't wait for a beating. It will teach you a lesson to stop bluffing. No, I'll swallow the key and I won't give it to you! I'm so glad my good My heart has been rewarded by both of you! It is absurdly foolish to flatter the feeble nature of the one, the insolence of the other, and, thank God, win two kinds of blind ingratitude! Edgar, I have been Stand up for you and your family, and now I would like Heathcliff to beat you to death for daring to look at me like this!"

Without that whipping, my master has been devastated.He tried to wrest the key from Catherine, and she threw it into the hottest part of the fire for safety.Seeing this, Mr. Edgar couldn't help but twitched, and his complexion turned pale.He couldn't escape the intense emotions if he wanted to, the pain mixed with humiliation completely overwhelmed him.He leaned back in the chair and covered his face.

"Oh, my God! That would have made you a knight in olden days!" cried Catherine. "We are conquered! To say that Heathcliff would hold out a finger to you is like a king leading his army to attack a country of rats. Brave yourself! No one will touch you! You are not a lamb, you are The carcass of a nursing baby rabbit.

"I wish this bloodless coward brought you joy, Cathy J," said her friend. "I congratulate you on your taste. You leave me alone for this drooling, shuddering ball! I won't punch him, but I'll kick him and taste my satisfaction. He is Was he crying? If he hadn't been so frightened that he was going to faint?"

The fellow approached and pushed the chair that Linton was sitting on.He should stay away, because my master stood up as soon as he jumped, and aimed to punch him in the throat. If he was a little weaker, he would be flattened.

The blow kept him breathless for a minute, and while he was struggling for breath, Mr. Linton entered the yard by the back door, and thence round to the front gate.

"Well! You don't want to come here again," cried Catherine. "Go, go. He'll be back with a pair of pistols, and five or six helpers. If he does overhear us, of course he'll never forgive you. You make me look good, Heathcliff! But go—go! I'd rather see Edgar than see you cornered."

"You think I got a hot punch in the throat and walked away?" he yelled. "In the name of hell, no! I'll smash his ribs like a hazelnut before I walk over the threshold! If I don't knock him flat now, I'll kill him someday. So, since You still cherish his life, so let me settle accounts with him!"

"He's not coming," I interjected, spinning a little lie. "A coachman and two gardeners stay there, and you certainly don't expect to be thrown out onto the road! They each have sticks, and my master is probably standing by the parlor window, watching them carry out their orders. .”

The gardener and the coachman were there, indeed, but Linton was with them.They have entered the courtyard.Heathcliff changed his mind again and decided to avoid conflicts with the three servants.He seized the poker, knocked the lock on the inner door, and slipped away just as they were striding in.

Mrs. Linton was excited, and asked me to accompany her upstairs.She didn't know that I also had a part in this dispute, and I was afraid that she would notice.

(End of this chapter)