Wuthering Heights

Chapter 37

"Why, what shall I do, Ellen? He won't shake hands, won't look at me, and I've got to show him that I like him, and that I want to be friends."

Whether it was this kiss that conquered Hareton, I cannot say.For several minutes he was very careful lest his face should be seen.When he finally raised his head, Poor was puzzled and didn't know where to look.

Catherine seized the opportunity, neatly wrapped a beautiful book in white paper, tied it with a ribbon, and wrote "To Mr. Hareton Earnshaw".She wants me to be her ambassador, to deliver the gift where it belongs.

"Tell him that if he takes it, I'll teach him how to read it," she said, "and if he doesn't take it, I'll go upstairs and never bother him again."

I brought presents and messages, and my client watched me anxiously.Hareton would not open his fingers, so I laid the book on his lap.He didn't throw it away either.I go back to my work.Catherine pressed her head and arms against the table, and finally heard the sound of NFDA3NFDA3NFDA4NFDA4 unwrapping.Then she stole over and sat quietly beside his cousin.He trembled, his face flushed, and his rudeness, his cruelty, and his curmudgeon all deserted him.At first, he couldn't muster up the courage to say a word to answer her questioning gaze and her murmured request:

"Say you forgive me, Hareton; say it! You can make me so happy with that little word."

He grunted, but couldn't make out what he said.

"Will you be my friend?" Catherine asked him again.

"No! You'll be ashamed of me every day," he replied. "The more you get to know me, the more ashamed you feel, and I can't stand that."

"So, you don't want to be my friend anymore?" She said, smiling sweetly, and getting closer.

I didn't catch what was said next.But looking back, I saw two radiant faces leaning over the pages of the book that had been accepted. I had no doubt that the peace treaty had been ratified by both parties, and that from then on, enemies became allies.

The book they studied was full of rich illustrations.The pictures, and their location, had enough charm to hold them still until Joseph returned home.The poor creature, transfixed with horror at seeing Catherine sitting on the same bench with Hareton Earnshaw, with her hand on his shoulder, could not conceive that his darling would bear her nearness.This stimulated him so deeply that he couldn't say a word about it that night.He spread out his big bible on the table angrily, took out a handful of dirty banknotes from his wallet, and piled them on top of the bible, which was the harvest of his day's trading, and then he let out a long sigh , This can be regarded as venting the sullenness in my heart.At last he called Hareton up from his place.

"Take these to the master, boy," said he, "and stay there, and I will go to my own room. This place is not suitable for us, we must slip out and find another place!"

"Come here, Catherine," I said, "we've got to 'sneak out' too, I've finished pressing my sheets, do you want to go?"

"It's not even eight o'clock!" she answered, rising reluctantly. "Hareton, I'll leave this book on the fire, and I'll get some more to-morrow."

. "Whatever books you leave behind, I'll take them to the 'house,'" Joseph said. "It'll be no wonder if you find them again. So, put them as you please!"

Cathy threatens to retaliate against him.Then she passed Hareton, smiling, and up-stairs singing, and I daresay she had never been in such a light heart since entering the house; except, perhaps, the first few days of her visits to Linton.

The intimate relationship thus started developed rapidly, although there were occasional interruptions.Earnshaw was not educated by mere desire.My lady is not a philosopher, nor is she of exemplary patience.But both people's minds are towards the same goal - one loves and wants to respect, the other loves and wants to be respected.Two people work together to complete their merits and virtues.

You see, Mr. Lockwood, it is very easy to win Mrs. Heathcliff's heart, but now, I'm glad you didn't try—my best wish is that they should be married.When they are married, I shall envy no one—there is no happier woman in England than I am!

That Monday morning, Earnshaw was still unable to resume his daily work, so wandering about the house, I found at once that I could not keep my young lady close to me, as I always did. arrive.

She came downstairs before me, and ran into the garden, where she saw her cousin busy with some light work.I went over to call them to breakfast, and saw that she had persuaded him to open a large clearing among the currants and goose molds, and were busy discussing together to move some plants from the farm.

In just half an hour, I was really frightened by such destruction.These blackcurrant trees were treasures in Joseph's eyes.She chose her flower-bed among them!
"Look! If he finds out," I cried, "he'll give it all to the master. How dare you go and trample the garden like this? We're having a lot of fun, look! Harry! Mr. Ton, I don't understand why you're so dazed, and at her mercy, making such a mess!"

"I forgot they were Joseph's trees," replied Earnshaw, a little bewildered. "But I'll tell him I did it."

We always dine with Mr. Heathcliff.I occupy the place of hostess, pour the tea and cut the meat, so I am indispensable at the table.Catherine usually sits next to me.But today, as she stole a little nearer to Hareton, I saw at once that she was more openly a friend than an enemy.

"Now, remember, don't talk too much to your cousin, don't keep looking at him," I whispered to her when we entered the house. "It will certainly irritate Heathcliff, and he will be very angry with you two."

"No," she replied.

In a blink of an eye, she leaned closer to him and planted a few primroses in his porridge bowl.

He dared not speak to her at the dinner table.He didn't even dare to raise his head.But she continued to tease him, until twice, he almost laughed out loud.I frowned, and then she glanced at the master, who was not thinking of his companion, but was thinking of something else, as could be seen from his expression.For a moment, she became dignified and looked at him seriously.Then she changed back again and started messing around again.At last, Hareton could not restrain a little laugh.

Mr. Heathcliff was taken aback.His eyes flicked across our faces.Catherine looked back at him nervously and defiantly, as always.That was what he hated the most.

"You're lucky I can't reach you," he growled. "What kind of demon have you got to keep staring back and forth at me with those ghostly eyes? Lower your eyes! Don't remind me that you're here again. I think I've cured your weird smile!"

"It's me," stammered Hareton.

"What did you say?" asked the master.

Hareton stared at his plate without repeating his confession.

Heathcliff glanced at him, then resumed his meal in silence, and returned to his interrupted meditation.

We had almost finished our meal, and the two young men moved cautiously away from each other, so I expected there would be no more trouble for the moment.But suddenly Joseph appeared at the door, and judging from his trembling lips and furious eyes, his precious bush had been doomed, and it had finally happened.

He must have seen Kathy and her cousin making do with it first, and then went to check.His upper and lower jaws moved like a cow chewing its cud, and it was difficult to understand what he said.But he said:
"Give me my salary and I'm going! I was going to die here. I've been working here for 60 years. I was going to move my books and all my little things up in the attic and the kitchen for To them, for the sake of peace. It's hard to give up my place by the fireside, but I think I can do it! But no, she's taking my garden too, goodness! My lord, I I can't swallow this breath! You can get poked in the neck, you can. But I can't do it, the old man is not used to new tricks, I'd rather take a hammer and go to the road to earn food!"

"Well, well, idiot!" interrupted Heathcliff, "simply put it!What are you complaining about?I don't care if you quarrel with Nelly.She throws you into the coal hole, and I don't care. "

"Not Nelly!" Joseph replied. "I won't go away for Nelly, though she's stinky and bad too, thank God! She's a soul you can't steal. She's never been so pretty, and you can't help but blink. Then It's that lawless queen over there, with her wild eyes and shameless manner, that captivates our boy, if only, no! That breaks my heart! He puts my benefit to him Forget it all, and dig up a whole row of the best gooseberry trees in the garden!" Here he burst into tears, thinking of his wrongedness, Earnshaw's ingratitude, and his Dangerous situation, can't hold it anymore.

"Is the fool drunk?" asked Heathcliff. "Hareton, is he picking on you?"

"I uprooted two or three trees," answered the young man, "but I will replant them."

"Why did you unplug them?" said the master.

Catherine interjected tactfully:

"We want to grow some flowers there," she cried. "It's all my fault, because I made him do it."

"Which ghost allowed you to move a branch in this place?" asked her father-in-law, much astonished. "Who told you to go and obey her?" he turned to Hareton again.

Hareton was speechless, but his cousin answered.

"You won't skimp on a few yards of land, let me decorate it, you've taken all my fields!"

"Your field? Mad girl! You never had an inch of land!" said Heathcliff.

"And my money," she went on, meeting his angry gaze, taking another bite of toast, which was left over from her breakfast.

"Shut up!" he yelled. "Finish, get out!"

"And Hareton's land, and his money," continued the indomitable little thing. "Hareton and I are friends now, and I'm going to tell him all about you. The miller seemed for a moment dismayed. He grew pale, and rose, and now there was a mortal hatred in his eyes." , always staring at her.

"If you beat me, Hareton will beat you!" said she, "so you had better sit down."

"If Hareton doesn't throw you out of this room, I'll beat him to hell," growled Heathcliff. "Damn little witch! How dare you set her against me? Drive her away! Do you hear? Throw her in the kitchen! Alan Dean, if you let her fall into my sight again, I'll kill her!" her!"

Hareton tried in an airless way to persuade her to go away.

"Drag her away!" he yelled furiously. "Do you want to stay here and talk to her?" He stepped forward, about to do it himself.

"He doesn't listen to you any more, you wicked man!" said Catherine. "He's going to hate you soon, just like me!"

"Hush! Shh!'' the young man grumbled and reproached her, "I don't want to hear you talk to him like that, forget it. "

"But you won't let him hit me?" she cried.

"Then shut up!" he whispered urgently.

But it was too late, Heathcliff had caught her.

"Now you go away!" he said to Earnshaw. "Damn witch! This time she has made me intolerable. I will make her regret her whole life!"

He seized her by the hair, and Hareton tried to free her curls, and begged him to let her go this once.His black eyes flashed fiercely, as if he would tear Catherine to pieces at any moment.I was summoning up my courage to rush forward to save her, when suddenly his fingers relaxed, he let go of his hair and grabbed her arm, and stared at her face intently.Then, covering his eyes with his hands, he stood for a moment, evidently trying to collect himself, then turning again, and speaking to Catherine again, he said with affected calm:
"You've got to learn not to set me off, or I'm going to kill you, never mind! Go with Mrs. Dean, and stay with her, and tell her all your wild things. But Hareton Earnshaw, if I see him listening to you, I'll throw him out of the house and let him beg wherever! Your love will turn him into a tramp, a beggar. Take it, Nelly. She, leave me, all go away! Leave me!"

I led my lady out.She was also fortunate to have escaped, and had no intention of resisting again.The other followed, and Mr. Heathcliff remained alone in the room until lunchtime.

I've made arrangements with Catherine to dine upstairs.However, as soon as he saw that her place was vacant, he sent me to fetch her.He didn't answer any of us, ate very little, and went straight out after eating. He would not come back until night fell.

Two friends occupied the hall while he was away.I heard Hareton seriously keeping his cousin from speaking, lest she reveal what her father-in-law had done to his father.

He said he could not stand a word that slandered him.Even if he's the devil, that's all right, he's still with him.He would rather have her come and insult him, as usual, than hear her speak of Heathcliff.

Catherine was irritated by this.But he had his own way to silence her. He asked her if she would like him to speak ill of her father?Then she understood that Earnshaw had tied his master's honor to her own.This connection is so close that it cannot be broken by reason.This is an iron chain cast by habit, and it would be cruel to try to loosen it.

She had since shown her kindness, and avoided complaining, or speaking ill of Heathcliff, and confessed to me that she was sorry that she had taken it upon herself to create a bad feeling between him and Hareton.Truly, I believe she never again uttered a word against her oppressors in Hareton's presence.

After this small disagreement passed, they were as close as ever, and on several matters, one was a student and the other was a teacher, and they were too busy.After I finished my work, I came to sit with them, and I felt so peaceful and comfortable watching them, so that time flew by without knowing it.You know, both of them are like my children to say the least.I had long been proud of one of them; now, I am sure, the other would satisfy me as well.His honest, warm and intelligent nature quickly shakes off the cloud of ignorance and depravity in which he grew up.And Catherine's sincere praise also inspired him to work harder.His lighted heart lightened his countenance, and added splendor and dignity to it—I can scarcely imagine the day I found my lady at Wuthering Heights after her excursion from Peniston Rock, where The Wild Boy I saw was actually the same person as before.

Just as I was full of admiration, they were busy, the dusk was getting darker, and the master came home.He came in by the front door, and came close by so unexpectedly that we didn't even have time to look up.Glancing at him, the three of them were all included in his eyes.

Well, I thought, there is nothing more cheerful and innocent in the world than this, and it would be a shame to come and scold them now.The red light of the fire shone on their two beautiful heads, illuminating their faces, which were full of vitality with the eager interest of children.Because, although he is 23 years old, she, both of them still have so many new things to feel and learn, they have not experienced it yet, nor have they shown sober and calm mature emotions.

Together they lifted their eyes to meet Mr. Heathcliff's.Perhaps, you have not noticed, they both have identical eyes, Catherine Earnshaw's eyes.There was nothing like her in Catherine now except her broad brow, and a little arching of her nostrils, which made her look haughty, whether consciously or not.The resemblance to Hareton was added, which was always obvious, but now it was especially striking: for his senses were on alert, and his mental machinery was awakened and unusually active.

I think this is like disarming Heathcliff.He was evidently irritated as he went to the fireplace, but when he glanced at the young man the irritation subsided, or, I should say, changed its character, and he remained very agitated.

He took the book from him, glanced at the open pages, and returned it to him without a word, but motioned Catherine to go away.Her companion followed her after staying for a while, and I wanted to leave too, but he stopped me.

"It's a sad ending, isn't it," he said after a moment's contemplation of what he had just witnessed. "I have worked so hard to get such an absurd result? I took a handful of crowbars and picks to destroy these two houses, and I trained myself to be invincible in all battles, just like Hercules. Ready, in the palm of my hand, I find that my will is gone, I have no heart to take a tile from two roofs! My old enemies have not defeated me, now is the time, let me To avenge their offspring, I can do it, nothing can stop me. But what's the use? I don't want to fight, I don't want to take the trouble to raise my hand! It sounds like I have spent so much time thinking, Just trying to win a chance and show my generosity. Not at all, I've lost the mood to appreciate their destruction, and I'm too lazy to do it for no reason.

(End of this chapter)