Wuthering Heights

Chapter 30

"I heard a vicious giggle from the fireplace, and turned and saw that hateful Joseph, standing there clasping his bony hands, still trembling.

"'I'm sure he's taking your fancy. He's a good boy! He's a hero this time! He knows, well, he knows, as I do, who's in charge here. Uh , uh, uh! He hit you well enough! Uh, uh, uh!'

"'Must we go?' I asked my cousin, ignoring the old bastard's jeers.

"Linton was pale. Trembling. He wasn't cute then, Alan! Oh no! He looked terrified! For there was a kind of madness in his thin face and big eyes. Furious and impotent, he grabbed the door handle and shook it a few times—the door locked behind him.

"'You won't let me in, I'll kill you! You won't let me in, I'll kill you!' He was screaming, not talking. 'Demon! Demon! I'm going to kill you, I going to kill you!'

' Joseph let out his giggling again.

"'Look there, that's exactly his father!' he cried. 'That's his father! We're both half and half. Don't worry about him, Hareton, boy, he can't hit you !'

"I seized Linton's hand, and tried to pull him away. But he cried out so horribly that I dared not. At last his cry was choked by a terrible cough, and blood gushed from his mouth. Out, he fell to the ground.

"I ran into the yard, dazed with fear. I called Zilla as hard as I could. She was milking the cows in one of the sheds, and soon heard me. She left her work and hurried up, and asked me what I was up to." ?
"I couldn't breathe to explain to her, and drew her in, and looked about for Linton. Earnshaw had come out and seen what a mischief he had done, and was taking the poor thing up-stairs. Ra and I followed him upstairs. But he stopped us at the top of the stairs and said I couldn't go in and I had to go home.

"I yelled that he had killed Linton and I had to go in.

"Joseph locked the door, declared that I shouldn't do 'something like this', and asked me if I was 'as crazy as he is'.

"I stood there crying until the housekeeper reappeared, asserting that he would get well soon. But he was not going to get well after making such a fuss, and she pulled me, almost hugged me, into the 'house'.

"Alan, I want to rip all my hair off! I cried and cried until I was blind from crying. That scoundrel you sympathized with stood in front of me and called me 'quiet' from time to time, no Admitting that it was his fault. Finally, I firmly insisted on telling my father to send him to prison and hang him. This made him frightened, sobbing and crying, and running away quickly. His cowardice.

"But I couldn't get rid of him. At last they made me go home, and about a hundred yards away, he jumped out of the shadows by the side of the road, grabbed Meany, and grabbed me.

"'Miss Catherine, I'm so sorry,' said he, 'but it's so shameful—'

"I gave him a whip, thinking maybe he was coming to murder me. He let go, and roared out one of his usual vicious words, and I rode home all the way home, scared out of my wits.

"I didn't come to say good night to you that night. I didn't go to Wuthering Heights the next night. I wanted to go, terribly. But I was nervous for no reason. Sometimes I was afraid to hear that Linton was dead; sometimes I was afraid. Hitting Behaharon makes me shudder thinking about it.

"On the third day I plucked up my nerve, at least I couldn't bear the uneasiness anymore. I went there at five o'clock, on foot, thinking I might sneak into the house and sneak into Linton. but the dogs announced my arrival, and Zira greeted me, saying 'the boy is much better', and leading me into a neat little carpeted room, which called me unspeakable Delighted, I saw Linton lying on a little sofa, reading a book I gave him. But he would neither speak to me nor look at me for a whole hour, Ellen— He was in such a bad mood, and when he finally opened his mouth, I was baffled that he was talking nonsense, and he said I was the troublemaker, and Hareton was right!
"I was speechless but agitated. I got up and walked out of the house. He called out 'Catherine' feebly behind me! He didn't expect me to react like that, but I didn't want to look back. Second God, but I stayed at home the next day, and I almost made up my mind never to see him again.

"But just going to bed and getting up like this, without hearing any news from him, is really uncomfortable. Before my resolution was formed, it gradually turned into a cloud of smoke. I made a mistake when I revisited the villa before, and now I am closed. Wrong again. Michael came to me and asked if he had to saddle up Mini, and I said yes, and I felt like I was doing my part when he carried me over hills and mountains.

"In order to get to the courtyard, I must pass through the front window, and it is useless to conceal my coming.

"'The master is in the house,' said Zira, who saw me go toward the drawing room.

"I went in, and Earnshaw was there, but he left the room at once, and Linton was half-sat, half-lying in the big chair. I went to the fire, and spoke in a very grave tone, and the half- And also because I really mean it.

"'Since you don't like me, Linton, and think I've come to hurt you on purpose, and imagine that I always do, then this is the last time we shall see each other. Let us say good-bye, and tell Mr. Heathcliff, You don't want to see me, tell him to stop making up lies and stop talking about it.'

"'Sit down and take off your hat, Catherine,' replied he. 'You are so much happier than I am, and deserve to be better than I am. Papa has said enough about my faults, and despised me enough, so It is natural for me to doubt myself, and I have often wondered if I am not worth as much as he says, and so I am so dull and miserable that I hate everyone! I am really worthless, bad-tempered, Bad as it is, almost always. You can say good-bye if you like, and you'll have one less trouble. But, Catherine, do me justice, believe me, if I could be as sweet and kind and kind as you, I would do that, and it would be more pressing than happiness and health. And please believe that your kindness makes me love you more than if I were worthy of your love. Although I In the past, and now I can’t help but reveal my true nature to you. I regret and feel annoyed. I’m going to regret and feel annoyed until I die!’

"I felt he was telling the truth, and felt that I had to forgive him. So, even though he was about to quarrel with me again in the blink of an eye, I had to forgive him. We reconciled, but we cried, and we both cried. Cried, and cried till I got home. It wasn't all sorrow, but I did mourn for Linton's twisted nature. He never let his friends be too peaceful, and he never let himself be too peaceful!
"Since that night, I always went to his little parlour, because his father came back the next day. About three times, I think, we were happy and optimistic, just like the first night. The rest of the time I have always been sad and troubled, either because of his selfishness and low self-esteem, or because of his illness. But I have learned to tolerate the former with almost peace of mind, just as I tolerate the latter.

"Mr. Heathcliff avoided us on purpose. I hardly ever saw him. Last Sunday, it is true, I was there earlier than usual, and heard him scolding poor Linton very fiercely, for his Behavior last night. I don't know how he knew, unless it was an eavesdropping. Linton's behavior is of course annoying, but it's my business and no one else's. I went into the room to interrupt I read Heathcliff's speech and told him my opinion. He laughed and went out, saying he was glad I had such an insight. After that I told Linton that he must speak in a low voice Four.

"Now, Alan, I've told you everything. There's no way I can't stop going to Wuthering Heights. If I don't go, it will only bring pain to both of us. So, as long as you don't tell Dad, I don't care about anyone's peace. You're not going to tell, are you? It would be too heartless of you to tell."

"I can't decide that until tomorrow, Miss Cathy," I answered. "I'm going to think about it, so you rest, I'm going to think about it."

I thought it out loud in front of my master.I went straight from her kitchen to his room, and told the whole story, only omitting her conversation with her cousin, and not mentioning Hareton.

Mr. Linton's shock and anxiety far surpassed his expression in front of me.The next morning, Catherine learned that I had betrayed her privacy. At the same time, she also learned that her secret trip was about to end.

She wept and quarreled against the prohibition, and begged her father to take pity on Linton, but in vain.All the comfort she got was a promise that he would write.Allow him to come to the Grange if he wants to.But he stated.He could no longer expect to see Catherine at Wuthering Heights.Perhaps, if he had known his nephew's temper and health, he would not have had to give even this small consolation.

"It's all happened last winter, sir," said Mrs. Dean, "and it hasn't been a year yet. I didn't think last winter, and in a few months. I'll tell them to the family Which guest listens, for his entertainment! But, how long do you know how long you will be a guest? You are too young to live alone, and you cannot always be satisfied. Sometimes I think. Seeing Catherine Linton There is no one who does not fall in love with her. You are laughing, or why do you take pleasure in talking about her? Why do you want me to hang her portrait over your mantelpiece? Why—”

"Stop it, my good friend!" I cried. "It is indeed possible that I will fall in love with her, but will she love me? I wonder if it is too risky to dive headlong into temptation and disturb my daughter. Besides, my home is not here, and I am from the noisy world." Man, I am sure to return to its arms. Go on, has Catherine obeyed her father's orders?"

"She obeyed," the butler continued. "Her affection for him still predominates in her heart. He speaks without anger, and with deep tenderness, like a man who is about to throw away his treasure among danger and enemies. There he Her advice would be the only help and guidance he could give her.

"A few days later he said to me:
"I wish my nephew would write, Ellen. Or someone. Tell me, honestly, what do you think of him? Is he getting better? Or when he's grown up, will he be?" hope?'

"'He is very weak, sir,' replied I, 'and he is not likely to grow up. But I can say that he is not like his father. If Miss Catherine were unfortunate enough to marry him, she would be able to control him. Yes, unless she is utterly foolish and self-indulgent. But, master, she has time enough to get to know him, and see if he suits her. He is more than four years from coming of age.'

Edgar sighed, the following is still Allen's narrative, pay attention to the interruption of quotation marks, the original text of all versions is the same.Go to the window and look out towards Gimmerton Church.It was a misty afternoon, but the February sun was still shining.We could only see two fir trees in the yard, and here and there a few tombstones.

"I've always prayed," he said half to himself, "for what's to come. But now I cringe, I'm afraid.

"I think back to the time when I walked down the valley as a bridegroom, but I can't remember how soon, maybe months, maybe even weeks later, it would be sweet to be carried into that lonely pit. Ellen, how happy I am to have little Cathy. She's a living hope beside me through the winter nights and the hot summer days. But I lie among these steles, under this old church, and so am I. Very happy. I used to lie on her mother's green mound on the long June nights, longing for the day when I could lie in it. What could I do for Cathy? I How to say goodbye to her forever? I don't care that Linton is Heathcliff's son, or that he took her from me, as long as he can comfort her, and not make her feel sorry for losing me. I don't care Heathcliff has achieved his purpose, and robbed me of the last of my happiness, and rejoices! But if Linton is worth nothing, but a feeble instrument of his father, I cannot lose her to him! Destroy her Passion is too cruel, but I will go on, and make her sad when I live, and alone when I die. My dear! I would rather give her to God, and bury her before me. Into the soil."

"To God, to God's fate, sir," I answered, "if we do lose you, may God stop—God bless, I will be her friend and counsel all my life. Miss Catherine is a good girl, and I am not afraid of her. People who will act recklessly and faithfully fulfill their duties will always be rewarded."

The spring is getting brighter, but my master has not really regained his strength, although he has taken his daughter and started walking in the garden again.In her inexperienced eyes, this in itself was a sign of recovery, and his cheeks were often red and his eyes were bright at that time, she thought he must be recovering.

On her 17th birthday, he didn't go to the cemetery, it was raining, and I said:
"You're not going out to-night, sir?"

He replied:
"No, I'm going to push it back this year, a little later."

He wrote another letter to Linton, expressing that he really wanted to see him.If the sick man had seen the factory man, I have no doubt that his father would have allowed him to come.It turned out that he wrote back at the behest of Mr. Heathcliff's objection to his visit to the Grange, but that his uncle's kind greeting pleased him, and he hoped to see him some day on a walk so that he could meet him face to face. Please, let him stop completely cutting off contact with his cousin like this.

He wrote this part of the letter simply, perhaps, by himself, and Heathcliff, knowing that he wanted Catherine's company, would be eloquent, and then he said:

"I don't ask," he wrote, "that she be here as a guest, but, just because my father forbids me to her house, and you forbid her to mine, shall I never be able to see her? Come on. It's convenient. Take her for a ride to Wuthering Heights, and we can have a few words in front of you! There is nothing wrong with us, why we separated like this. You are not angry with me, you are not Reasons for not liking me. You admit it yourself. Dear uncle! Write me a kinder letter to-morrow, and let me see you anywhere you like, except Thrushcross Grange. I believe I will see you once. , you will be convinced that my father's character is not mine, and he asserts that I am more like your nephew than his son. Although I have faults and are not worthy of Catherine, she forgives my faults, for You should do the same for her sake. You ask me about my health. I'm better. But as long as I'm cut off from all hope, I'm doomed to be alone, or with people who never, never will love me How can I be happy and healthy when people live together?"

Although Edgar sympathized with the boy, he could not grant his entreaty because he could not accompany Catherine.

He said they might be able to meet in the summer.In the meantime, he wished he would continue to write letters now and then.In addition, he tried his best to give him some persuasion and comfort as far as the letter could express, because he was well aware of his difficult situation at home.

Linton complied.If he is left alone, he will definitely complain in the letter and mess up the whole thing.But his father stared at him intently, and it was obvious that every line written by my master had to be read by him.So, what was on his mind all the time, namely, his personal ailments and distresses, etc., he didn't say a word, he just sang about the pain of being separated from his friends and lovers, how cruel the prohibition was.He also hinted mildly that Mr. Linton must have allowed them to meet sooner, or he would be afraid that he would make a wish out of thin air and willfully lie.

Cathy was a strong ally in the family, and the two of them fought inside and out, and finally persuaded my master to let them be under my supervision, about once a week, and they could ride together or take a walk to the next farm. up the wasteland.Because in June, he was still going from bad to worse.Although he set aside a portion of his income every year as the lady's property, he naturally longed for her to keep her ancestral estate, or at least to be able to live in it before long.He thought about it.She felt that her only hope of success was to marry his heir.Little did he know that the latter was in decline almost as much as himself, and, I believe, no one else knew it either.The Doctor, who has never been to the Heights, and who has never seen Master Heathcliff, has come to give us a little account of his condition.

On my side, I began to suspect that my foresight was wrong. Since he mentioned riding and walking in the moor, he seemed to have fulfilled his wish so seriously, so he must have really recovered.

I can't imagine a father being so domineering and vicious to his dying child, as I learned later, that Heathcliff treated his son in this way, forcing out the appearance of urgency.Seeing that his greedy and vicious schemes were about to fail under the shadow of death, he worked harder.

Midsummer was over, and now that Edgar reluctantly acceded to their entreaties, Catherine and I set off, and rode for the first time to meet her cousin.

(End of this chapter)