Chapter 14 chapter Ten

What a wonderful start to the life of a hermit!Four weeks of torture, tossing and turning, and sickness!Ah, the desolate wind, the frigid northern sky, the difficult road, the slow-moving country doctor!And, ah, the ease of not seeing faces, and, worse than anything, Kenneth's dire hints that I'd never go out until spring! Mr. Heathcliff has just come to see me.About seven days ago he sent me a pair of grouse--the last two of the season.Badass!He is not entirely free of responsibility for my illness, and I would like to tell him so.But alas!The man was so merciful that he sat by my bed for a full hour.How could I offend him by talking about other subjects than about pills, potions, ointment treatments?It was a comfortable period of recuperation.I'm still too weak to read, but I feel as if I can enjoy something interesting.Why not call Mrs. Ding to finish her story?I can still remember the main plot she told about.Yes, I remember her hero running away and not being heard from for three years; and her heroine getting married.I'm going to ring the bell.I shall be glad to find that I have been able to chat pleasantly.Mrs. Ding is here.

"Twenty minutes' wait for the medicine, sir," she began. "Go ahead, fuck it!" I replied, "I want—" "The doctor said you must take the powder." "With all my heart, leave me alone. Come, sit here. Don't touch that row of bitter potion bottles. Get your knitting out of your pockets—well—and now on to Mr. Heathcliff's History, from where you left off to the present. Did he finish his education on the Continent and come back a gentleman? Or did he get a work-study free student position at the university? Or Escape to America, and gain fame by sucking blood from his adopted country? Or better yet, make a fortune by robbing the English roads?"

"Perhaps he's done a little of all these jobs, Mr. Lockwood, but I can't say what he did, and I declare I don't know how he got his money! I don't know how he got his Saved from sinking into savage and ignorant minds. But, I'm sorry, but if you think it pleases you and doesn't bother you, I'm going to get on with it in my own way. Are you feeling better this morning?" "much better." "good news." I took Miss Catherine with me to Thrushcross Grange.Disappointed, but gratifying enough that she behaved better than I could have dared to imagine.She seemed almost too fond of Mr. Linton, and was very affectionate even to his sister.Of course, the two of them were also very concerned about her comfort.It is not that the thorn falls to the honeysuckle, but the honeysuckle embraces the thorn.There is no mutual concession between the two sides. If one stands upright, the others must obey.Without opposition or indifference, who can make a bad temper lose his temper?I saw that Mr. Edgar was afraid of offending her.He concealed this fear from her; but when she gave some unreasonable orders, if he heard me answer them harshly, or saw that the other servants were not very happy, he would frown and express Angry, and he never lowered his face for his own affairs.Several times he spoke harshly to me of my indiscipline; and affirmed that a prick at him with a penknife would not be so painful as seeing his lady troubled.I don't want to upset a merciful master, I just have to learn to restrain myself.And, for half a year, the powder lay there like sand and did not explode, because no fire came near to explode it.Catherine, too, had moments of gloom and silence from time to time, and her husband paid them respect with sympathetic silence.He attributed it to the physical changes brought on by her dangerous illness, for she had never been depressed before.If she showed the air of returning sunshine, he also showed the air of returning sunshine to welcome her.I believe I can say that they really attained a deep and increasing happiness.

①Honeysuckle—honeysuckle, a semi-evergreen pot tree with vines, white flowers in early summer, fragrant, leaves and flowers can be used as medicine, commonly known as honeysuckle. Happiness is over.Alas, we are always for ourselves in the end; the gentle and generous man is only a little more selfish than the haughty and overbearing, and when circumstances make both feel that the good of the one is not the chief concern of the other's mind, Happiness is over.One intoxicating evening in September, I came out of the garden with a large basket of freshly picked apples.It was almost dark then, and the moon shone over the high courtyard walls, throwing dim shadows lurking in the corners of the house's numerous overhangs.I put my basket of things on the steps of the kitchen door, stood for a while, rested, took a few more breaths of soft, sweet air, and I looked up at the moon, with my back to the door, when I heard something behind me. a voice said:

"Nelly, is that you?" It was a deep voice with a foreign accent, but my name sounded strangely familiar.I turned around in fear to see who was talking, because the door was closed and I didn't see anyone coming up the steps.Something was moving in the porch.And, approaching, I saw a tall man, dressed in black, with a dark face, and black hair.He was leaning against the side of the house, holding the latch with his fingers, as if intending to open the door himself. "Who could it be?" I thought. "Mr. Earnshaw? Oh, no! It's not like his voice." "I've been waiting an hour," he continued, while I was still in a daze, "and all the while I've been waiting it's been dead quiet. I dare not go in. Don't you know me? See Look, I'm not a stranger!"

A light fell on his face: pale cheeks, half covered by a black beard, low brows, deep-set and peculiar eyes.I remember the eyes. "What!" I exclaimed, not sure whether I took him for a man or a ghost.I raised my hands in surprise. "What! You're back? Is it really you? Is that you?" "Yes, Heathcliff," he answered, looking up over me at the window, where the moon was reflected brilliantly, but no light shone through it. "Are they home--where is she? Nelly, are you upset--you needn't be so alarmed! Is she here? Speak! I'll have a word with her--your mistress. Go , that someone from Gimmerton wanted to see her."

"How is she going to take the news?" I cried. "What is she going to do? I'm so perplexed by this unexpected event—it'll drive her crazy! You're Heathcliff! But change Lah! No, it is impossible to understand that you have been a soldier, have you not?" "Go, send my message." He interrupted my question impatiently. "If you don't go, I will be in hell!" He lifted the latch and I went in.But when I came to the drawing-room, where Mr. and Mrs. Linton were, I could not bring myself to go any further.Finally, I decided to make an excuse to ask if they wanted candles, and I opened the door.

They sat together in front of the window, the latticed window was drawn against the wall, and looking out, besides the trees of the garden and the natural green garden, they could also see the valley of Gimmerton, surrounded by a long line of white mist. On the top of the hill (for as you pass the church soon after, you may notice that a burning breeze from the moor is blowing a brook that winds its way down a narrow valley).Wuthering Heights towered above the silver mist, but our old house was out of sight—it was on the other side of the hill.The room, its people, and the landscape they gazed at seemed very peaceful.I timidly and reluctantly carried out my errand, and having asked for the lamp, and practically walked away without a word, realized my folly, and compelled me to come back again, and whispered:

"A man from Gimmerton wants to see you, madam." "What can he do?" asked Mrs. Linton. "I didn't ask him," I replied. "Well, put down the curtain, Nelly," she said, "and bring the tea, and I'll be right back." She left the room.Mr. Edgar casually asked who it was. "A man whom the lady did not expect," I answered, "that Heathcliff—you remember him, sir—who used to live at Mr Earnshaw's." "What! That gypsy—is that country bumpkin?" he cried. "Why didn't you tell Catherine?" "Hush! You mustn't call him that, master," I said. "She'd be very sorry to hear it. She was almost heartbroken when he went away, and I reckon it's a great joy for her to have him back."

Mr. Linton went to a window at the far end of the house which looked out on the yard, opened it, and leaned out.I guess they're down there, because right away he yells: "Don't stand there, dear! If it's a guest, bring him in." It was not long before I heard the bolt knock, and Catherine galloped upstairs, out of breath, in a state of confusion, and too excited to express her delight: indeed, just looking at her face made you wonder what disaster was coming like. "Oh, Edgar, Edgar!" she gasped, throwing her arms around his neck. "Oh, Edgar, dear! Heathcliff is back—he is!" She threw her arms around him desperately.

"Well, well," cried her husband, vexedly, "don't strangle me for that! I never thought he was such a wonderful treasure. Don't be mad with joy!" "I know you didn't like him," she replied, suppressing her intense joy a little. "But for my sake you must be friends now. Shall I call him up?" "Here?" he said. "Come into the drawing room?" "Where else can I go?" she asked. He looked self-conscious and said around the corner that the kitchen would be more suitable for him. Mrs Linton looked at him with a humorous expression--pleasant and amused at his demands. "No!" she added after a while: "I can't sit in the kitchen. Set up two tables here, Ellen, one for your master and Miss Isabella, who are well-established." Gentlemen; another for Heathcliff and myself, we are of the lower classes. That will please you, my dear? Or shall I have to light a fire elsewhere? If so So, give your order. I'm going to run downstairs to accompany my guest. I'm afraid the joy is too great, and it may not be true!" She was about to rush out again, but Edgar stopped her. "Call him up," he said to me. "And, Catherine, don't be ridiculous in your joy! You don't have to let the whole family watch you welcome a fugitive servant as a brother." I went downstairs to find Heathcliff waiting under the porch, evidently expecting to invite him in.He followed me in without saying a word.I led him to his master and mistress, whose flushed faces still showed signs of agitation.But when her friend appeared at the door, another emotion flashed across the lady's face.She sprang forward, took him by the hand, and led him to Linton.Then she seized Linton's reluctant fingers and thrust them into his hand.And now, by the light of the fire and the candle, I saw with still greater amazement the transformation of Heathcliff.He had grown into a tall, strong, well-built man; beside him, my master looked thin and juvenile.His very straight appearance suggested that he must have been in the army, and his countenance was much older and more determined in expression and expression than Mr. Linton's: there was a look of intelligence in it, and there was no trace of its former baseness. trace.A kind of half-civilized wildness still lurks in the sunken brows and eyes full of black fire, but it is restrained.His demeanor was simply dignified, without a hint of brutality, but more than austere and less than refined.My master was as surprised as I was, or more so than I. He remained there for a minute, not knowing how to greet this so-called yokel.Heathcliff dropped his thin hand, and stood looking at him calmly, waiting for him to speak first. "Sit down, sir," he said at last. "Recalling the old days, Mrs. Linton asked me to receive you cordially. Of course, I am glad to do anything that pleases her." "Me too," replied Heathcliff. "Especially the kind of thing where I'd be happy to be there for an hour or two if I was there." He sat down in a chair opposite Catherine, and she kept staring at him, as if lest he should disappear if she did not look at him.He didn't look up at her very much, just a quick glance now and then.But the peeks, each time bringing back the undisguised delight he had drawn from her eyes, grew more and more indifferent.They were too engrossed in mutual joy to be at all embarrassed.Mr. Edgar was not like this, he was very troubled and pale.This feeling reached its climax when his lady got up, walked across the carpet, took Heathcliff's hand again, and laughed out loud. "To-morrow I'll think it's a dream!" she cried. "I can't believe I saw you again, touched you, and talked to you. But, hard Heathcliff! You don't deserve this welcome. I haven't heard from you for three years and never thought of me!" "A little more than you think of me," he whispered. "Katie, I just heard you were married a while ago. While I'm waiting for you in the yard below, I'm going to—just look at your Face--glanced in wonder, perhaps, and feigned pleasure, and then went to settle accounts with Hindley. Then kill myself to avoid the law. Your welcome drove all these thoughts out of me, but be careful not to use it next time. Meet me with another air! No, you won't drive me away again—you were really sorry for me, weren't you? Well, it's a long story. Since I last heard your voice, I finally made it through, and you must forgive me, because I only fought for you!" "Catherine, unless we want cold tea, please come to the table," interrupted Linton, trying to maintain his usual tone, and a fair measure of politeness. "Mr Heathcliff will have a long way to go wherever he lives to-night, and I am thirsty." She went to the seat in front of the teapot, and Miss Isabella was summoned by the bell.Then I pushed their chairs forward and left the room.The tea did not last more than ten minutes.Catherine's teacup was not filled with tea at all: she could neither eat nor drink.Edgar poured some into his saucer, but could not swallow.Their guests stayed for less than an hour that night.As he was leaving, I asked him if he was going to Gimmerton? "No, to Wuthering Heights," he answered. "Mr Earnshaw invited me to stay when I called this morning." Mr. Earnshaw please!He called on Mr. Earnshaw!After he left, I thought hard about this sentence.Has he become a bit of a hypocrite, disguised and come to the country to harm people?I meditated—I had a premonition in my heart that it would be better if he stayed in the foreign country all the time. About midnight, after a short doze, I was awakened by Mrs Linton, who slipped into my bedroom, put a chair beside my bed, and woke me by pulling my hair. "I can't sleep, Ellen," she said, apologetically. "I want someone alive to share my happiness! Edgar is fussing because I'm happy about a thing that doesn't interest him. He won't speak except some petulant fool. And He must have said I was cruel and selfish, for I wanted to talk to him when he was so ill and sleepy. He was always trying to be sick when he was a bit awkward, and I said a few words of praise to Heathcliff, He, either because he had a headache or because he was jealous, started crying, so I got up and left him." "What's the use of praising Heathcliff?" I answered. "They hated each other as children, and Heathcliff would have hated it just as much if he heard you praise him--it's human nature. Don't let Mr. Linton hear about him again, unless you I would like them to openly quarrel." "Then didn't he show a great weakness?" she pressed. "I'm not jealous—I've never been troubled by Isabella's pretty yellow hair, her fair complexion, her modesty, and the affection shown to her by the whole family. Even You, Nelly, if we sometimes quarrel, you immediately give in to Isabella, and I give in like a mother without her own mind--I call her baby, and coax her into peace. Her brother sees us on peace Happy, that makes me happy too. But they are very much alike: they are spoiled children who fantasize that the world exists only for their convenience. Although I cling to them both, I want to punish them severely Maybe it will make them better." "You are mistaken, Mrs. Linton," I said. "They give in to you—I know what it will be if they don't! You'll have to put up with their little tempers a little, as long as they're trying to stay with you.—But, in the end, you'll always A quarrel over something equally important to both parties, when what you consider weak can be as stubborn as you." "And then we'll fight to the death, won't we, Nelly?" she retorted, laughing. "No! I tell you, I have such confidence in Linton's love: I believe that if I kill him, he will not think of revenge." I advised her to respect him even more for his love. "I mean respect," she replied. "But he needn't weep over a trifle. That's childish. Besides, he shouldn't cry so bitterly, just because I say Heathcliff is respectable now, and the first gentleman in the country would be Proud of being in his company, he should have said it for me, and was happy in assenting, he must get used to him, even like him: think of Heathcliff's reasons for objecting to him, I daresay Heathcliff's attitude is excellent!" "What do you think of him going to Wuthering Heights?" I asked her. "Evidently he has improved in every way--almost a Christian: stretching out a friendly right hand to all his enemies around him!" "He explained," she replied. "I'm as curious as you are. He said he was visiting to get news of me from you, and he thought you still lived there. So Joseph told Hindley, and he came out, and asked what he'd been doing, and how Lives, at last he went in. There were a few people sitting there playing cards, and Heathcliff joined in. My brother lost some money to him, and found he had a lot of money, so I invited him tonight Go again, and he agreed. Hindley was too absurd to choose his friends carefully, and he did not think of reason to distrust a man whom he had trampled upon. But Heathcliff was sure that he So reconnecting with those who persecuted him in the past is mainly because I want to find a place not far from the farm, where I can come and go often, and I also have a kind of nostalgia for the house we once lived together; there is also a hope, I hope There will be more chances of seeing him there than if he had lived in Gimmerton. He intends to give generously to live at the Heights, and no doubt my brother accepted him for his greed, Hindley was always greedy , although he grabbed it with one hand and threw it out with the other." "That's a good place for young people!" I said. "Aren't you afraid of the consequences, Mrs. Linton?" "I have no fear of my friend," she answered, "his strong mind will keep him out of danger. I have some fear of Hindley. But he is in In terms of morality, it can’t be worse than it is now. As for harming the body, I want to stop it. What happened tonight reconciled me with God and mankind! I once rebelled against God angrily. Ah, I once endured very Very sad, Nelly! If that man knows how miserable I was, he should be ashamed of his past, lost in idle rage. It would be better for him if I suffered alone, if I express the grief I have often felt, and he will be as eager to be relieved of it as I am. At any rate, it is over, and I will not revenge him for his stupidity. I will bear anything hereafter! Even if the world The meanest thing hit me on the mouth, and not only would I turn the other way to him, but I'd ask him to forgive me for provoking him. And, as a pledge, I'd soon make peace with Edgar. Good night! I am an angel!" She went away with such self-absorbed confidence that it was evident the next day that she had succeeded in her resolution.Mr. Linton not only ceased to complain (though his spirits still seemed overwhelmed by Catherine's exuberant gaiety), but he had no objection to her taking Isabella with him to Wuthering Heights in the afternoon.She repaid him with such a profusion of sweet words that it was heaven for the whole family for several days, and both master and servant benefited from the infinite sunshine. Heathcliff—I shall speak of Mr. Heathcliff hereafter—uses his liberty to visit Thrushcross Grange cautiously at first, as if weighing how his visit will be regarded by the owner of the farm.Catherine, too, thought it advisable to moderate her joy a little in receiving him, and he gradually gained his right to be received.He still retained much of the reticence that had marked him in childhood, a reticence just enough to suppress all startling manifestations of emotion.My master's uneasiness was momentarily subsided, and subsequent circumstances diverted it for a while to another direction. The new source of his troubles arose from an unforeseen misfortune in which Isabella expressed a sudden and irresistible admiration for this reluctant guest.She was then a charming young lady of eighteen, still childlike in her manners, though with keen wit, keen senses, and, if irritated, a keen temper.Her brother loved her deeply and was terrified of this absurd love.Leaving aside the disgrace of being married to a nameless man, or the likelihood of his property falling into the hands of such a man if he had no male heirs--putting all that aside, He can also understand Heathcliff's character.He knows that although his appearance has changed, his heart cannot and has not changed.He was afraid, he repelled him, he did not dare to think of entrusting Isabella to him, as if with some premonition.He would cringe even more if he knew that her love had sprung up unpursued, and would be returned with indifference.Because as soon as he discovered the existence of this love affair, he blamed Heathcliff and thought it was carefully planned by him. We had all seen for some time that Miss Linton was disturbed by some cause, and very sad.She became awkward and despondent, scolding and teasing Catherine, and was in danger of exhausting her limited patience.We forgave her more or less, excused her from being unhealthy, and she withered away before our eyes.But one day she was so stubborn that she refused to eat breakfast, complaining that the servants did not do what she told them to do.The mistress forbade her to do anything in the house, and Edgar paid no attention to her, complaining that she was cold with the door open, and that we had put out the fire in the drawing-room to annoy her.There were also a hundred petty complaints.Mrs. Linton put her to bed firmly, and gave her a severe scolding, and threatened her with sending for the doctor.At the mention of Kenneth, she exclaimed that her health was excellent, and that Catherine's harshness was making her unhappy. "How can you call me harsh, you curmudgeon?" exclaimed the hostess, bewildered at the unreasonable assertion. "You must be irrational. When was I harsh? Tell me!" "Yesterday," Isabella sobbed, "and now!" "Yesterday," said her sister-in-law. "When is it?" "While we were walking along the moor, you told me to take a casual stroll, and you were hanging out with Mr. Heathcliff!" "Is that what you mean by harshness?" said Catherine, laughing. "It doesn't mean that your company is superfluous, that we don't care if you stay with us or not. I just thought Heathcliff said you It might not be fun to listen to." "Oh, no," cried the lady, "you wish me to go away, because you know I like to be there!" "Is she sane?" said Mrs. Linton to me. "I'm going to recite every word of our conversation, Isabella, and point it out in any way that appeals to you." "I don't care about the conversation," she replied, "I want to talk to—" "Why!" said Catherine, seeing that she hesitated to say the whole sentence. "With him, I don't always get sent away!" she went on, agitated. "You're a dog in a manger, Kitty, and hope no one will be loved but yourself!" ①Quoted from, refers to the humble husband who can no longer enjoy it and refuses to be with others, that is, the one with evil intentions. "You are a rambunctious little monkey!" exclaimed Mrs. Linton in amazement. "But I can't believe the folly! You can't win Heathcliff's affections—you can't take him as a congenial fellow! May I misunderstand your words, Isabella?" "No, you don't," said the ecstatic girl, "I love him more than you love Edgar, and he may love me if you let him!" "Then, even if you give me the throne, I don't want it to be you!" Catherine declared categorically, and she seemed to be speaking sincerely. "Nelly, help me make her understand that she's mad. Tell her what Heathcliff is: an untamed man, unrefined, unbred, a wilderness of gorse and rocks I'd rather put that little canary in the garden in the winter than tell me to give him your heart! It's a pity you don't understand his character, boy, for no other reason than this pathetic ignorance. Let that dream creep into your head. Please don't imagine that he hides kindness and love deep under his stern exterior! He is not a rough diamond--an oyster of pearls among country people, But a vicious, heartless, wolf-like man. I never said to him, 'Let go of this or that enemy, because it would be unscrupulous and cruel to hurt them.' I said, 'Let go Let them, for I don't want them to be wronged.' If he finds you a troublesome burden, Isabella, he'll crush you like a sparrow's egg. I know he won't love a Linton But he might as well have married your property and the hope of inheriting it. Greed grew up with him, and became an easy sin. That's how I describe him. And I'm his friend— That's why, if he really intends to mention you, maybe I should keep silent and let you fall into his trap." Miss Linton was furious with her sister-in-law. "Shame, shame!" she repeated angrily, "you are worse than twenty enemies, you wicked friend!" "Oh, then you won't believe me?" said Catherine. "Do you think I say this from insidious selfishness?" "I do know you are," retorted Isabella, "and I shudder to think of you!" "Good!" shouted another. "If you have the courage, you can try it yourself. I have already suffered. I will not argue with you about your arrogance." "And I shall live for her selfishness!" sobbed Mrs. Linton as she left the room. "Everything, everything is against me. She has ruined my only consolation. But she is telling lies, is she not? Mr. Heathcliff is not a devil, he has a respectable soul, a The real soul, otherwise how would he remember her?" "Get him out of your mind, miss," I said. "He's an ominous bird, not your mate. Mrs. Linton has said too much, but I can't argue with her. She knows his heart better than I, or anyone else. And she never will Tell him worse than he is. Honest people don't hide what they do. How did he live? How did he get rich? Why did he live at Wuthering Heights, which was the house of the man he hated? They say Mr. Earnshaw has gone from bad to worse since he came. They stay up all night after night, and Hindley mortgages his land, and does nothing but play cards and drink. I only heard it a week ago. Said--Joseph told me--I met him at Gimmerton. 'Nelly!' said he, 'the people in our house must have a coroner. The other stabbed himself like a fool, and he himself nearly cut off his finger. That's the master, you know, he wants to go to the Supreme Court. He's not afraid of the judges, he's not afraid of Paul, Peter, John, Matthew, he Not afraid of any! He's like--he'd have the audacity to see 'em! And your good boy Heathcliff, you remember, he's a treasure! Even if the real devil came to play tricks, he would would laugh, and send the others off. When he went to the Grange, didn't he ever talk about the wonderful life he had with us? That's the way—getting up at sundown, throwing dice, brandy, shutting the shutters, and candle until noon next day—and then the fool would make such a fuss in his bedroom that decent people would plug their ears with their fingers. Eat and drink, and gossip with the neighbor's wife. Of course, he'll tell Miss Catherine how her father's money went into his pocket, and how her father's son was left in the street, while he ran to the front Go and open the fence for him?' Listen, Miss Linton, Joseph is an old rascal, not a liar. If what he says about Heathcliff's behavior is true, you would never want such a Husband, will you?" ①Paul, Peter, John, and Matthew——Paul, Peter, John, and Matthew are all apostles of Jesus. "You're in league, Ellen!" she replied. "I don't want to listen to your slander. How wicked you are to make me believe that there is no happiness in this world!" Whether she would have let go of the fantasy if left to herself, or kept it forever, I can never tell.She didn't have much time to think about it.Next day there was a trial meeting in the neighboring town, which my master had to attend, and Heathcliff, knowing he was absent, came earlier than usual.Catherine and Isabella sat in the study, hostile to each other, but neither said a word.The Mademoiselle was disturbed by her latest rashness, and by the disclosure of her secret feelings in a fit of rage.And Madam has already considered it maturely, and is really disgusting at her companion.If she laughed at her rudeness again, she had to show her that it wasn't funny to her.She actually smiled when she saw Heathcliff passing the window.I was sweeping the stove when I noticed a malicious smile on her lips.Isabella was absorbed in meditation, perhaps in her book, and remained there until the door opened.It was too late to try to escape, and she would have liked to if she could. "Come in, yes!" cried the hostess joyfully, drawing a chair by the fire. "Two people here are in dire need of a third to melt the ice between them. You are just the man we would both choose. Heathcliff, I am honored to finally show you someone more infatuated than myself Lover of you. I wish you to be proud--no, not Nelly; look not at her! My poor sister-in-law breaks her heart at the thought of your physical and moral beauty. If you will Edgar's brother-in-law, you can quite do it! No, no, Isabella, don't you run away," she went on, grabbing the frightened girl, who was already angry stood up. "We quarreled like two cats over you, Heathcliff. I'm beaten at making vows of love. And, I've been told, if I only know the rules of standing aside, my The rival in love (as she herself thinks it is) is going to shoot an arrow of love into your heart, make you never change, and forget my shadow forever!" “凯瑟琳！”伊莎贝拉说，想起了她的尊严，不屑跟那紧紧抓住她的拳头挣扎。“我得谢谢你照实话说，而不诽谤我，即使是在说笑话！希刺克厉夫先生，作作好事叫你这位朋友放开我吧——她忘记你我并不是亲密的朋友。她觉得有趣的事，在我可正是表达不出的痛苦呢。” 客人没有回答，都坐下了，对于她对他怀有什么样的情感，仿佛完全漠不关心。她又转身，低声热切地请求折磨的人快放开她。 “不行！”林惇夫人回答。“我不要再被人叫作马槽里的一只狗了，现在你得留在这儿。希刺克厉夫，你听了我这个好消息为什么不表示满意呢？伊莎贝拉发誓说埃德加对我的爱比起她对你的爱来是不足道的。我敢说她说了这一类的话，是不是，艾伦？而且自从前天散步以后她就又难过又愤怒，以致不吃不喝，就因为我把她从你身旁打发走了，认为你是不会接受她的。” “我想你是冤枉她了，”希刺克厉夫说，把椅子转过来朝着她们。“无论如何，现在她是愿意离开我身边的！” 他就盯着这个谈话的对象，像是盯着一个古怪可憎的野兽一样：譬如说，从印度来的一条蜈蚣吧，不管它的样子引起了人的恶感，好奇心总会引人去观察它的。这个可怜的东西受不了这个，她脸上一阵红一阵白，同时眼泪盈眶，拚命用她的纤细的手指想把凯瑟琳的紧握的拳头扳开。而且看出来她才扳开她胳臂上的一个手指，另一个手指又把它抓住了，她不能把所有的手指一块扳开，她开始利用她的手指甲了。手指甲的锐利马上就在那扣留她的人的手上装饰上红红的月牙印子。 “好一个母老虎！”林惇夫人大叫，把她放开，痛得直甩她的手。“看在上帝的份上，滚吧，把你那泼妇的脸藏起来。当着他面就露出那些爪子可多笨呀！你不能想象他会得到什么结论吗？瞧，希刺克厉夫！这些是杀人的工具——你要当心你的眼睛啊。” “如果这些一旦威胁到我头上，我就要把它们从手指头上拔掉，”当她跑掉后门关上时，他野蛮地回答。“可是你那样取笑这个东西是什么意思呢，凯蒂？你说的不是事实吧，是吗？” “我跟你保证我说的是事实话，”她回答。“好几个星期以来她苦苦地想着你。今早又为你发了一阵疯，而且破口大骂，因为我很坦白地说出你的缺点，想缓和一下她的狂恋。可是不要再注意这事了。我只想惩罚她的无耻而已。我太喜欢她啦，我亲爱的希刺克厉夫，我不容你专横地把她抓住吞掉。” “我是太不喜欢她了，因此不打算这样作，”他说，“除非用一种非常残酷的方式。如果我跟那个让人恶心的蜡脸同居，你会听到古怪事情的。最平常的是每隔一两天那张白脸上就要画上彩虹的颜色，而且蓝眼睛就要变成黑的，那双眼睛跟林惇的眼睛相像得令人讨厌。” “讨人喜欢！”凯瑟琳说。“那是鸽子的眼睛——天使的眼睛！” “她是她哥哥的继承人，是吧？”沉默了一会，他问。 “想到这个，我就要抱歉了，”他的同伴回答。“有半打侄子将要取消她的权利哩。谢谢老天！目前，你不要把你的心思放在这事上吧。你太贪你邻人的财产。记住，这份邻人的财产是我的。” “如果是我的，也还是一样，”希刺克厉夫说。“可是虽然伊莎贝拉·林惇痴，她可不疯。而且——一句话，如你所说，我们不谈这事吧。” 他们嘴上是不谈了，而且凯瑟琳大概真的把这事忘了，我可确实感到另一个人在那天晚上常常反复思索着。只要是林惇夫人一离开这间房子，我就看见他自己在微笑——简直是在狞笑——而且沉入凶险的冥想中。 我决心观察他的动向。我的心毫不更变地总是依附在主人身边，而不是在凯瑟琳那边。我想是有理由的，因为他仁慈、忠厚，而且可敬；而她——她也不能说是正相反。但是她仿佛过于放任自己，因此我对她的为人缺少信心，对她的情感更少同情。我愿意有什么事发生，这事可以产生这种效果，使呼啸山庄与田庄都平静地脱离了希刺克厉夫，让我们还像他没来以前那样过日子。他的拜访对于我像是种时时袭来的梦魇，我猜想，对于我的主人也是的。他住在山庄成了一种没法解释的压迫。我感觉上帝在那儿丢下了这迷途的羔羊，任它胡乱游荡，而一只恶兽暗暗徘徊在那只羊与羊栏之间，伺机跳起来毁灭它。