Wuthering Heights

Chapter 24

"Now, bring my horse," she said to her unknown relative, as she would tell a stableboy on a farm. "You can come with me. I want to see where the ghost-catchers in the swamp show up, and hear what you say about little spirits, but hurry up! What's the matter? Bring the horse, I said. "

"Go to hell with me as your servant!" roared the child.

"What do I see?" Catherine asked, startled.

"Damn—you bastard little witch!" he replied.

"Look, Cathy, what a good company you've made," I interrupted. "How sweet these words are to a lady! Please, don't come and quarrel with him, come, let's find Minnie by ourselves, and walk."

"But, Ellen," she exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise. "How dare he talk to me like that? Wasn't he born to do my bidding? You vicious thing, I'm going to tell Papa what you said, just watch!"

Hareton seemed indifferent to the threat.This brought tears to her eyes. "You lead the horse," she called, turning to the woman, "let go of my dog!"

"Easy, madam," replied the man ordered. "You have nothing to lose by being polite. Though Hareton over there is not the master's son, he is your cousin. I am not hired to serve you."

"He's my cousin Guang," Cathy said with a dismissive laugh.

"Yes, that's right," replied her reproacher.

"Oh, Ellen! Don't let them say things like that," she begged me in a panic. "Father went to London to pick up my cousin, my cousin is the son of a gentleman, I—" she couldn't go on, and burst into tears.The thought of being married to such a bumpkin made her uneasy.

"Hush, hush!" I whispered. "One can have cousins ​​of all kinds, Miss Cathy, and it doesn't hurt. If they're annoying and mean, don't mind them."

"He's not, he's not my cousin, Ellen!" she went on, thinking and feeling sad, and threw herself into my arms to avoid the thought.

She and the maid were exchanging secrets, which irritated me very much.Undoubtedly, the news of Linton's coming mentioned by the former person will reach Mr. Heathcliff's ears, and it is also undoubted that when her father comes home, Catherine's first thought will be It is to ask her father to explain the latter's words clearly, and to find out the origin of her rough cousin.

Hareton, relieved at being treated like a servant, seemed to be moved by her distress instead.He led the pony to the door, and took out of the kennel a beautiful, bent-legged pup, and put it in her hands, telling her not to be sad, because he didn't mean any harm.

She stopped crying, glanced at him in shock and fear, and burst into tears again.

I couldn't help laughing at the fear of the poor child.He is a well-proportioned and strong young man, with regular facial features, strong and healthy, but with all his clothes, he is only suitable for doing crop work in the fields every day, or wandering in the swamp, hunting hares What.However, I can still see from his appearance that he has a talent much better than his father's.Undoubtedly, good things grow in weeds, and since no one has faulted their growth, goodness is completely covered by weeds.Even so, it is clearly still a good seedling, and if it is replaced with a piece of live soil, it can bear fruitful results.Mr. Heathcliff, I believe, did not abuse him physically.Fortunately, he was born with no fear of ghosts and gods, so he couldn't provoke others to oppress him.The boy had none of the cowardice and suspicion that seemed to invite sadism in Heathcliff's eyes.He seems to have turned his malice on the other side, trying to train him to be a brute: he was never taught to read and write, his bad habits were never reprimanded as long as he did not offend his master, and he was never led. One step closer to virtue, and no one has ever given him a word of instruction to guard against evil.According to what I have heard, Joseph contributed to his fall, and contributed a lot, out of a kind of narrow partiality, just because he was the master of an ancient family, and he flattered and doted on him since he was a child.In the old days he had been accustomed to curse Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff as children for what he called "annoying tricks" which had driven his lord to the point of drinking; All of a sudden, it was pushed on the shoulders of the person who usurped his family property.

If the child cursed, he ignored him; no matter how irritating his behavior was, he let it go.Seeing him go bad to the extreme, obviously satisfied Joseph very much.He let him be ruined, let his soul be destroyed forever, and then thought that Heathcliff must be responsible.Hareton's debt must be paid by him.Thinking of this, he was satisfied.

Joseph instilled pride in his family name and family.If he dared, he would add fuel to the fire and instigate and deepen the hatred between the boy and the new owner of the villa.But he was afraid of that master to the point of superstition, so he could only hide his emotions towards him, grunting, insinuating, and cursing when no one was around.

I don't want to pretend to know everything about what the Wuthering Heights lifestyle was like at that time.I'm just telling you what I've heard, because I've seen very little.The villagers assert that Mr. Heathcliff is very mean, a landowner who is cruel to his tenants.However, under the woman's arrangement, the house has returned to its quaint and comfortable state.The restlessness that could be seen everywhere in the Hindley era no longer appears within the Great Wall.The previous master was too gloomy to take company with anyone, good or bad, and so is the present master—

However, this is not telling the story.Miss Cathy didn't want the mediator puppy, she wanted her own dogs, Charlie and Phoenix.They came limping, dejected.We set off home.All are listless.

I couldn't ask the young lady how she passed the day.Except, as I guessed, that her pilgrimage destination was Peniston Rock, and when she reached the gate of the farmhouse at the Grange, Hareton happened to come out, followed by several large dogs, and the Grange dogs jumped on her at that time. entourage.

They fought fiercely before being separated by their masters. This is a meeting ceremony.Catherine tells Hareton who and where she is going, asks him to show him the way, and finally coaxes him to accompany her.

He opened up the mysterious world of Fairy Cave and twenty other strange places.But since she had been offended, she refused to describe what she had seen.

But I could hear that her guide had been very much in her favour, till he hurt him by calling him a servant, and Heathcliff's steward hurt her by calling him her cousin.

Then the words he sent her stung her heart.Everyone at the Grange had called her "darling," "little darling," "queen" and "angel," and now she was being insulted in such a horrific way by a stranger!She just can't figure it out.I tried my best to get her to promise not to tell her father what happened to her.

I explained to her how much he hated the whole family at the Heights, and how sad he would be if he found out she had been there.But what I talked about most was the fact that if she showed me negligence and disobedience to his orders, he might be so angry that I would have to walk.Cathy couldn't bear the consequences, and she swore to secrecy, for my sake—she was, after all, a lovely little girl.

A bordered letter announcing the date of my master's return.Isabella is dead.He wrote to ask me to prepare mourning clothes for his daughter, arrange a room, and make other arrangements to welcome his young nephew.

Catherine was ecstatic at the thought that her father was coming back.She thought about it triumphantly, and decided that her "real" cousin must have inexplicable advantages.

The day came when they intended to return.Since early in the morning, she has been busy, sending people to do this and that for her.Now she had on her new black robe--poor thing!Her aunt's death didn't seriously grieve her--she begged me to accompany her across the Grange to meet them.

"Linton is only six months younger than I am," she murmured, as we wandered in the shade over the uneven, moss-covered mud grass. What a joy! Aunt Isabella cut a beautiful lock of his hair and gave it to Papa. It was lighter than mine. It was yellower and softer. I kept it carefully in a in a glass box, and thought often. How nice it would be to meet its owner. Oh! I am so happy. Papa, dear, dear papa! Come, Ellen, let's run, run!"

She ran, turned back and ran, and by the time my heavy feet reached the gate, she had already circled several times.Then she sat on the slope with green grass by the side of the road, intentionally waiting patiently.But this is really impossible, she can't calm down for a minute.

"How long it took them to come!" she cried. "Oh, I see the dust on the road, and they're coming! No! When will they get here? Can't we go a little, half a mile, Ellen, just half a mile? Say yes, just go That clump of birches around the bend!"

I flatly refused.In the end, the request was finally stopped, and we had seen the long-distance carriage roll by.

When Miss Cathy saw her father's face peering out the window, she screamed and held out her arms.He stepped out of the car, almost as eager as she was.When they have time to take care of others, they slip away for a long time.

As they hugged each other, I took a peek at Linton into the car.He was asleep in a corner, wrapped in a warm fur-trimmed coat, as if it were winter.A pale, thin and delicate boy, he can be regarded as my master's little brother, the two are so alike.But there was a sickly sullenness in his features which Edgar Linton never had.

Edgar Linton, seeing me looking, shook my hand, and bade me shut the door, and leave him alone, for he was tired from the long journey.

Cathy wanted very much to catch a look, but her father called her over, and they walked together into the park, while I went ahead to get the servants to get ready.

"Now. Honey," they paused as they reached the front steps.Mr. Lin Xian said to his daughter. "Your cousin is not as strong as you. He laughs and laughs all day long. He lost his mother. Remember, that just happened, so don't expect him to come to play with you and run around with you right away. Don't bother Let him chatter, at least let him be quiet for a while tonight, okay?"

"Yes, yes, papa," answered Catherine, "but I just wanted to see him. He hasn't looked out yet."

The carriage stopped, and the sleeping man woke up with a start.He was carried to the ground by his uncle.

"This is your cousin Cathy, Linton," he said, holding their little hands together. "She's very fond of you already, so don't cry tonight. Don't make her sad. Be happy now. The journey is over, and you don't have to do anything. Take a rest if you want, and have fun with yourself." "

"I'll go to bed, then," answered the child, evading Catherine's warm welcome.Stretch your fingers to your eyes to wipe away the tears that are about to roll.

"Don't cry, don't cry, this is a good boy," I whispered and led him into the room. "You made her cry, too. See how she grieves for you!"

I don't know if she was sad because of him, but his cousin also went back to her father with a sad face just like him.All three of them went in and went to the study, where the refreshments were already placed.

I took off my hat and coat for little Linton, and put him in a chair by the table.But just as he was seated, he burst into tears again.My master asked him what happened.

"I can't sit in the chair," the child sobbed.

"Then sit on the sofa, Alan will pour you tea." His uncle replied patiently.

He was exhausted all the way, I am sure, for this moody and sickly child.

Linton shuffled slowly across and lay down.Cathy moved a small bench and came to him with her teacup.

At first she sat quietly, but she did not last long.She has made up her mind to turn her little cousin into a pet, and she longs for him to be manipulated by her.She began to touch his curls, kiss him on the cheek, and serve him tea from her saucer as if she were a baby.This cheered him up.Because he is not much better than a baby is.He wiped away tears and flashed a smile.

"Oh, he's going to be fine," the master stared at them for a minute, then said to me. "It'll be all right, if we can keep him, Ellen. Having children of his own age for company. Will infuse him with fresh life in no time. As for strength, he'll have it if he wants it. "

"Hey, as long as we can keep him!" I said to myself, with a bitter feeling in my heart, I'm afraid these words are very hopeless.So, I thought, how will this frail little thing deal with his father and Hareton when he lives at Wuthering Heights?What kind of friends and mentors they are.

Our doubts were resolved immediately, even earlier than I expected.I had just seen the two boys upstairs after tea, and watching Linton fall asleep--he would not let me bear to leave him till he fell asleep--I came downstairs and stood at the table in the hall Beside, I was lighting the candles in the bedroom for Mr. Edgar, and suddenly a girl came out of the kitchen and told me that Heathcliff's servant Joseph had arrived at the door and wanted to talk to his master.

"I'm going to ask him what he wants first," I panicked. "It's a shame to disturb people at this hour, and they've just come back from a long journey. I don't think the master will see him."

While I was saying these words, Joseph had already walked through the kitchen and into the living room.He was dressed in church attire, with the most hypocritical and gloomy expression on his face, clutching his hat with one hand and crutches with the other, and wiped his shoes with his feet on the straw mat.

"Good morning, Joseph," I said coldly. "What brings you here tonight?"

"I must speak to Mr. Linton," he replied, waving me away with a contemptuous gesture.

"Mr. Linton is going to bed. Unless you have something very urgent to say, I expect he won't be listening at the moment," I went on. "You'd better sit down there and give me the message."

"Which one is his room?" The guy chased after him, looking at the row of closed doors.

I could see that he was determined not to let me interfere.So I reluctantly walked into the study, informed the uninvited guest, and suggested to ignore him and talk about it tomorrow.

Before Mr. Linton authorized me to make this arrangement, Joseph followed me up the stairs, opened the door and broke into the study, stood on the other side of the table, put his fists on the top of his walking stick, and raised his voice, saying: In other words, it seems to foresee a snag.

"Heathcliff sent me to fetch his boy, and I must take him back."

Edgar Linton was silent for a moment.An utter sadness clouded his countenance.He would have pitied the child himself, but it pained him to think of Isabella's hopes and fears, her anxieties and wishes for her son, and how she had entrusted him to him.Seeing that the child was about to be handed over, he tried his best, but there was nothing he could do: as long as he showed a little desire to keep him, it would only make the other party even more aggressive.There was no choice but to hand him over.Just like that, he wasn't going to wake him from his sleep just yet.

"Tell Heathcliff," he replied calmly, "that his son is going to Wuthering Heights to-morrow. Now he is in bed, too tired to go out. You can also tell him that Linton's mother wants me to do it." His protector, and at the moment his health is very worrying."

"No!" Joseph said with a majestic air, slamming his stick on the floor. "No! That won't work. Heathcliff doesn't care about his mother, and he doesn't care about you, but he wants his child, and I must bring him back—you know this time!"

"Not tonight!" Linton replied firmly. "Go downstairs at once and pass on my words to your master. Ellen, take him down. Go—"

He pushed the disgruntled old man on the shoulder as a plea for help, and when he was out of the house he closed the door.

"Okay!" shouted Joseph, walking slowly.go out. "Tomorrow, let him come in person. If you dare, you can push him again!"

To prevent Joseph's threats from being real, Mr. Linton asked me to take the boy home early in the morning, riding Catherine's pony, and he said to me:
"Since we can't do anything to affect his fate now, whether it's good or bad, you must never mention to my daughter where he has gone. From now on, she can no longer communicate with him. In case she is restless and anxious to visit the villa. Just tell her that your father sent him out suddenly, and he had to leave us."

At five o'clock, Linton was reluctantly roused from bed, and was dumbfounded to hear that he had to prepare to continue his journey.But I softened my words, and told him that he was going to live for a while with his father, Mr. Heathcliff, who was too eager for him to wait for him to recover from his long journey.

"My father!" he exclaimed, bewildered. "Mum never told me I had a father. Where does he live? I'd rather live with my uncle."

"He lives not far from the Grange," I answered, "just beyond these hills, and not very far, and you can come here on foot when you feel better. You should be glad to go home and see him. You must learn to love him as you love your mother, and then he will love you too."

"But why haven't I heard of him before?" asked Linton. "Why doesn't Mom live with him, like everyone else?"

"He's got business up north," I answered. "Your mother's health is such that she must live in the South."

"Why didn't Mommy mention him?" the child stared and asked. "She used to talk about my uncle. I learned to love him long ago. How can I love Daddy? I don't know him."

(End of this chapter)