Chapter 25 Chapter 21

We took great pains with little Katie that day.She got up cheerfully, longing for her cousin who was with her, and the news of his departure was followed by tears and sighs, so that Mr. Edgar was obliged to comfort her himself, and he was sure that he would be there soon. back; but, he added, "If I can get him back." And that was hopeless.The promise was hard to calm her; but time was stronger; and though she sometimes asked her father when Linton would return, before she actually saw him again, his features had changed in her memory. It was so vague that I didn't know him when we met.

When I happened to meet the steward of Wuthering Heights when I was in Gimmerton on business, I was always obliged to ask how the young master was doing; for he was as reclusive as Catherine herself, and was never seen.I learned from her that he was still in poor health and that he was a difficult man.She said Mr. Heathcliff seemed to dislike him more and more, though he tried hard not to show it.He was disgusted at the sound of his voice, and could not bear to sit in the same room with him for more than a few minutes.They rarely talk.Linton spent his evenings reading in a little room they called a drawing-room, or lay in bed all day; for he was constantly coughing, catching colds, aching, and suffering from various uncomfortable ailments.

"Never have I seen such a dull man," went on the woman, "nor such a self-serving man. If I keep the windows a little late at night, he's bound to make a fuss." Ah! a breath of night air, it's almost killing him! He must have a fire in midsummer too; Joseph's pipe is poison; and he must always have sweets, always milk, always milk —never caring how much other people suffer in winter; and there he sits, wrapped in his fur cloak, in his chair by the fire, with some bread, or water, or something else to sip on, on the hearth drink; and if Hareton came to play with him out of pity--Hareton's nature was not bad, though he was rough--and the result must have been one who swore and the other howled and parted. I believe if he had not been the master the master would be glad to see Earnshaw beat him to the ground; and I am sure if the master knew even half of how he nursed himself, he would have thrown him out of the house. But the master would have done nothing The possibility of such a thing: that he never came to the drawing-room, and that whenever Linton met him anywhere in the house, the master sent him up-stairs at once."

From this passage, I infer that little Heathcliff had become quite unsympathetic, selfish and disagreeable, if he had not been so; I still feel sad about my fate, and I still have a wish, if only he could stay and live with us. Mr. Edgar encouraged me to inquire, and I guessed that he missed him and was willing to take the risk of seeing him.I was once told to ask the butler if Linton was in the village?She said he came twice, on horseback, with his father; and always for three or four days after both times he pretended to be rather tired.The housekeeper left two years after he came, if I remember correctly; another one I didn't know took her place; she's still there now.

As before, the days were passed happily on the Grange, till Miss Catty was sixteen years old.We never showed any sign of joy on her birthday, which was also the anniversary of the death of my late mistress.Her father was always alone in the library all day that day; and at dusk he wandered over to Gimmerton churchyard, and remained there often well after midnight.So Catherine always tries to play by herself. February 20th was a beautiful spring day, and while her father was resting, my young lady came downstairs, dressed to go out, and said she would walk with me on the edge of the moor.Mr. Linton has promised her, provided we do not go too far, and be back within an hour.

"Quick then, Ellen!" she cried. "I know where I'm going; I'm going where there's a flock of grouse: see if they've made a nest." "That's a long way off," I answered. "They don't breed on the edge of the moor." "No, it won't," she said. "My father and I have been there before, it's very close." I put on my hat and set off, thinking no more about it.She danced in front of me, came back to me, and ran away again, like a little terrier; at first I thought it was funny, listening to the larks singing near and far, enjoying the sweet, warm sunshine Look at her, my darling, my joy, with her golden curls thrown back, her radiant face as tender and pure as a wild rose in full bloom, her eyes radiant with carefree joy .What a happy little thing, and in those days, she was an angel too.It's a pity she won't be content.

"Well," said I, "where's your grouse, Miss Catty? We ought to see: the Grange hedge is quite far from us now." "Ah, go a little more—just a little, Ellen," she kept answering. "Climb up that hill, go over that slope, and as soon as you get there, I can make the bird appear." But there were so many hills and slopes to climb and go over that at last I started to get tired and told her we had to stop and go back.I yelled at her because she was already far ahead of me.Maybe she didn't hear it, maybe she just ignored it, because she still walked forward, and I had no choice but to follow her.At last she descended into a hollow; and before I saw her again she was two miles nearer Wuthering Heights than her own home; Mr. Heathcliff himself.

Katie was caught stealing, or at least searching for grouse nests.The villa is Heathcliff's land, and he is reprimanding the poacher. "I took nothing and found nothing," she said, spreading her hands to prove her words, when I was already walking toward them. "I didn't come here to get anything, but Dad told me there were a lot of them, and I just wanted to see the eggs." Heathcliff glanced at me with a malicious smile, showing that he already knew the other person, and therefore also showing that he was malicious, and asked: "Who is your father?" "Mr Linton of Thrushcross Grange," she answered. "I suppose you don't know me, or you wouldn't talk to me like that."

"So you think your father is very respected and respected?" he said sarcastically. "Who are you?" Catherine asked, staring curiously at the speaker. "I have seen that man. Is he your son?" She pointed to Hareton, who was the other man, who had changed nothing in two years, except that he was thicker and stronger: he was as clumsy and rough as ever. "Miss Kitty," I put in, "we've been out for more than an hour, and now it's almost three hours, and we really must go home." "No, that man is not my son," replied Heathcliff, pushing me away. "But I have one, and you've seen him before, and though your nurse is so busy walking, I think you and her had better rest for a while. Would you turn round this evergreen hill and walk to my How about going home? You get some rest, you can get home earlier, and you'll be entertained."

I whispered to Catherine that in any case she could not agree to the proposal: it was out of the question. "Why?" she asked aloud. "I'm tired of running, and there's dew on the ground; I can't sit here. Let's go, Ellen. Besides, he says I've seen his son. I think he's mistaken; but I guess Where he lived; at the farmhouse I went to when I came from Peniston Rock. Wasn't it?" "Yes. Come, Nelly, don't talk much—it will be a joy to her to come and see us. Hareton, go with the girl. Nelly, you come with me." "No, she can't go to such a place," I cried, trying to free my arm from his grasp: but she was almost at the door-step, and was running quickly around the eaves.Her assigned companion did not pretend to be an escort:

He walked timidly to the side of the road and slipped away. "That's very wrong, Mr. Heathcliff," I went on. "You know you mean it. She's going to see Linton there, and she'll tell everything as soon as we get back, and I will be blamed." "I want her to see Linton," he answered, "he's looking better these days; he's not always fit to be seen. Later we can persuade her to keep the visit a secret. What's the matter?" What's the harm?" "The harm is that her father will hate me if he finds out that I have allowed her to come to your house; and I believe you have evil intentions in encouraging her to do so," I answered. "My intentions are very honest. I can tell you all about it," he said. "It is that these two cousins ​​should love each other and marry. I have done very generously to your master! There is no hope for his young girl, and if she will make my wish she will do it with Linton." The heir, you will have someone to rely on immediately." "If Linton dies," I answered, "his life is in danger, and Catherine will be the heir." "No, she won't," he said. "There is no provision in the will so assuring that his property will go to me; but to avoid disputes, I would like their union, and am determined to bring it about." "And I am determined that she will never come to your house with me again," I retorted, as we reached the gate.Miss Kitty was there waiting for us to come. Heathcliff told me to hold my breath, and coming up in front of us, he hastened to open the door.My lady looked at him several times, as if she could not make up her mind what to do with him, but now when his eyes met hers, he smiled and spoke softly to her; Memory might take away his desire to hurt her.Linton stood by the fire.He had only been out for a walk in the fields, for his cap was still on, and was asking Joseph to fetch him a pair of clean shoes.He had grown tall for his age, and was a few months away from turning sixteen.He was a good-looking man, with brighter eyes and complexion than I remember, though that was only a temporary brilliance borrowed from the wholesome air and genial sunshine. "Look, who's that?" Heathcliff turned to Cathy. "Can you tell?" "Your son?" She looked at the two of them in turn suspiciously, and then said. "Yes, yes," he answered, "is this the first time you have seen him? Think! Ah! You have a bad memory. Linton, you don't remember your cousin, you always talk to us Are you making a fuss about seeing her?" "What, Linton!" cried Katie, delighted at the surprise hearing of the name. "Is that little Linton? He's taller than I am! Are you Linton?" The young man stepped forward and admitted that he was.She kissed him fervently, and they gazed at each other, marveling at the changes that time had wrought on each other's appearance.Catherine had grown tall enough; her figure was plump and slender, elastic as steel wire, and her whole features were refreshed with health.Linton's air and movements were very dull, and his figure was very emaciated; but there was a refinement in his manner which softened these defects, and made him not obnoxious.After exchanging with him many forms of affection, his cousin approached Mr. Heathcliff, who was remaining at the door, keeping his eyes on the people in the house as well as on the things outside; that is to say, Pretend to look outside, but actually only pay attention to the inside of the house. "Then you are my uncle!" she cried, coming forward and bowing to him. "I thought I liked you quite a bit, though you were unfriendly to me at first. Why didn't you bring Linton to the Grange? It's odd that you never came to see us, living so close together all these years; why did you do that?" ?” "Before you were born, I went too often;" he answered, "oh—bad luck! If you have any spare kisses, give them to Linton—I'm wasting them. " "Naughty Ellen!" Catherine yelled, then swooped in on me with her overly warm embrace. "Bad Ellen! Don't want me to come in. But I'm going to walk here every morning, will you, Uncle? And bring Papa sometimes. Would you like to see us?" "Of course," replied the uncle, with an irrepressible smirk caused by his dislike for the two incoming guests. "But wait," he said, turning to the lady again, "now that I think of it, I'd better tell you. Mr. Linton has a prejudice against me. We had a quarrel once, and it was very violent, and if you tell him As long as you've been here, he'll forbid you to come at all, so you must not mention it, unless you don't mind seeing your cousin in the future: you can come if you like, but you mustn't tell." "Why are you quarreling?" asked Catherine, looking downcast. "He thinks me too poor to marry his sister," replied Heathcliff, "and it pains him that I have her at last. His pride is wounded, and he can never forgive it. " "That's wrong!" said the lady. "I shall tell him so sooner or later. But Linton and I did not take part in your quarrel. Then I shall not come; he will go to the Grange." "It's too far for me," grunted his cousin, "and it wears me out four miles. No, come, Miss Catherine, come here anytime—not every morning." Come, once or twice a week." The father glanced contemptuously at his son. "Nellie, I'm afraid I shall be wasting my labors in vain," he whispered to me. "Miss Catherine (as the fool called her) would find his worth, and throw him away. If Hareton—though Hareton is all degraded, I envy him twenty times a day Well! I would have loved the boy if it had been any other. But I think he can't get her love. I'll turn Hareton against that useless thing, unless he picks himself up quickly. Figure he's very Hard to live to be eighteen. Oh, damned wretch! He was so engrossed in wiping his feet that he didn't even look at her.—Linton!" "Ah, father," the boy promised. "Isn't there anywhere near where you can show your cousin? Not even a rabbit's or a weasel's nest? Take her to play in the garden before you change your shoes, and to the stables." Look at your horse." "Wouldn't you rather sit here?" Linton asked Catherine in a voice that expressed reluctance. "I don't know," she replied, casting a wistful glance toward the door, evidently expecting an event. He was still sitting, moving closer to the fire.Heathcliff got up, went to the kitchen, and thence to the yard to call Hareton.Hareton consented, and the two entered again at once.The young man had just come out of the shower, which could be seen from the radiance of his face and his wet hair. "Oh, I'm going to ask you, Uncle," cried Catherine, remembering the steward's words, "that's not my cousin, is he?" "Yes," he answered, "your mother's nephew. Don't you like him?" Catherine looked strange. "Isn't he a handsome lad?" he went on. The impolite little creature stood on tiptoe and whispered something into Heathcliff's ear.He laughed, and Hareton's face fell; I suppose he was sensitive to suspected contempt, and evidently had a vague notion of his inferiority.But his master or protector turned his anger away, crying: "You're going to be our baby, Hareton! She says you're a—what? Well, flatterer's talk. Here, you walk around the Grange with her. Be a gentleman, remember." Don't use any bad words; don't stare at the lady when she isn't looking at you, and when she looks at you, be ready to avert your face; and when you speak, be slow and Get your hands out of your pockets. Go, and entertain her as well as you can." He watched the pair pass by the window.Earnshaw kept his face completely away from his companion.He seemed to be studying the familiar landscape with the interest of a stranger and an artist, and Catherine glanced at him furtively, without expressing the slightest admiration.Then she turned her attention to some amuse- ment , and trotted along merrily, singing a tune to make up for the lack of conversation. "I tied his tongue," observed Heathcliff. "He'll never dare say a word! Do you remember me, Nelly, when I was his age?—no, younger than he is. Was I such a fool, too: 'inexplicable' as Joseph called it?" ?” "Worse," I answered, "because you're darker than him." "I'm interested in him," he continued, speaking his mind out loud. "He did what I wanted. If he had been a natural idiot, I wouldn't have half the fun. But he's not an idiot; I can sympathize with all his feelings, because I've felt them myself. For instance, I accurately Know what pain he feels now; though that is only the beginning of what he is to suffer. He will never be free from his wild ignorance. I hold him tighter than his rascal father holds me, and Lower still; for he prides himself on his savagery. I taught him to laugh at all that is not beastly, as foolish and weak. Don't you think Hindley would be proud if he could see his son? Almost as proud as I am of my own son. But there's this difference; one is gold but used for paving stones, the other is tin polished to imitate silver. My son is worthless. But I Has a knack for keeping such scumbags together as best they can. His son has a first-rate gift, and he's wasted, worse than useless. I have nothing to regret; he'll have plenty, but who but me Nor did he notice. The best thing is, Hareton is very fond of me, and you can admit that I have the advantage of Hindley in this. If the dead rascal will rise from the grave to condemn my mistreatment of his children, I will Would be glad to see this so-called heir beat him back, outraged that he dared insult his only friend in the world!" Heathcliff chuckled a devilish laugh at the thought.I ignored him because I could tell he wasn't expecting me to answer either.Meanwhile our young companion, who sat too far away from us to hear us, began to show signs of uneasiness, probably regretting his refusal to play with Catherine for fear of being a little tired.His father noticed his uneasy eyes always wandering towards the window, his hand hesitantly reaching towards the hat. "Get up, you lazy boy!" he cried, with feigned enthusiasm. "Follow them, they're on the corner, beyond the hive." Linton pulled himself together, and turned away from the fire.The window was open, and as he went out I heard Katie asking her awkward squire what was carved on the door?Hareton stared up, scratching his head like a fool. "Ghost words," he replied. "I don't recognize it." "Don't recognize it?" cried Catherine. "I can read: that's in English. But I wonder why it's written there." Linton chuckled: for the first time he looked happy. "He can't read," he said to his cousin. "Can you believe that such a big fool exists?" "Has he always been like this?" asked Miss Catty gravely. "Or he's simple-minded—isn't he? I've asked him twice, and each time he's made such a fool, I thought he didn't understand me. I bet I don't quite understand him either!" Linton laughed again, and cast a mocking glance at Hareton; Hareton must not have seemed to understand at the moment. "No other reason than laziness; is it, Earnshaw?" said he. "My cousin thinks you're an idiot. Here's a taste of what you sneer at when you say 'book-gnawing.' Did you notice his dreadful Yorkshire accent, Catherine?" "Well, what the hell is that good for?" grunted Hareton, much more conveniently speaking back to his usual companion.He was about to go on, but suddenly the two young men burst out laughing together: my frivolous lady was delighted to find that she could laugh at his strange remarks. "What's the use of adding the word 'ghost' to that sentence?" Linton sneered. "Papa told you not to say any bad words, and you can't speak without one bad word. Try to be a gentleman, try it now!" "If you weren't more of a woman than a man, I'd like to knock you down right away, and I would; poor skinny plank!" returned the angry countryman, Backed off, when his face was burning red with anger and shame: because he was aware of being insulted, but too embarrassed to know how to resent. Heathcliff, who heard this as well as I, smiled when he saw him go away; but immediately cast a particularly disgusted glance at the frivolous pair, who remained at the door talking babble. the boy's spirits come when he discusses Hareton's faults and faults, and recounts his eccentricities and anecdotes; The malice expressed in the words.I began to dislike Linton, more with hatred than I had pity, and to forgive his father for his contempt. We stayed till the afternoon: I could not have taken Catherine away sooner; but fortunately my master never left his house, and never knew how long we were absent.As we walked back, I would have liked to enlighten those in my care by speaking of the character of those we had just left; "Aha," she cried, "you're on papa's side, Ellen. I know you're partial, or you wouldn't have lied to me all these years that Linton lived far from here. I'm really very angry, but I'm too happy to lose my temper! But you mustn't talk about my uncle; he's my uncle. Remember, and I'll scold papa because I quarreled with him." She went on and on like this until I had to give up trying to make her realize her mistake.She did not speak of the visit that evening because she did not see Mr. Linton.It was all said the next day, much to my chagrin; but I was not very sorry: I thought the burden of direction and vigilance would be much more effectually borne by him than by me.But he was too cowardly to give such satisfactory reasons, as he would have wished, for breaking her ties with the Heights family, while Catherine required good reasons for obeying every restraint of her arrogant will. . "Papa," she cried, after saying good morning, "guess who I saw yesterday in my walk in the moor. Oh, papa, you're surprised! Now you know what you're doing wrong, don't you? I see—but listen, hear how I see you through; and Ellen, who's allied with you, and pretends to pity me when I've always hoped for Linton's return, and was always disappointed. look." She told the truth about her excursions and results; and my master, though more than once cast me a reproachful look, waited till she had finished speaking without saying a word.Then he drew her up to him, and asked her if she knew why he kept from her the fact that Linton lived in the neighbourhood!Did she think it was just keeping her out of harmless pleasures? "That's because you don't like Mr. Heathcliff," she answered. "So you believe I care more about myself than you, Katie?" he said. "No, that's not because I don't like Mr. Heathcliff, but because Mr. Heathcliff doesn't like me; he's a most vicious man, and loves to frame and destroy those he hates, as long as they Gave him a little chance. I know that if you keep company with your cousin, you can't avoid him; Beware that you should never see Linton again. I meant to explain the matter to you when you were older, and I regret that I put it off." "But Mr. Heathcliff is very sincere, father," said Catherine.Not convinced at all. "And he has no objection to our meeting; he says I can go to his house whenever I like, but I must never tell you, because you have quarreled with him and cannot forgive him for marrying Aunt Isabella. You No really. You're the one to blame; he would have made us friends, at least Linton and me; and you wouldn't." My master, seeing that she did not believe what he had said viciously about her uncle, gave a sketchy outline of Heathcliff's conduct towards Isabella, and how Wuthering Heights had come to be his property. .He could not say much about it; for if he did say a little, he still felt that sense of horror and hatred for his former enemy which had occupied him since Mrs. Linton's death. 'If it weren't for him, she might still be alive! ’ was his constant, painful thought; Heathcliff seemed to him a murderer.Miss Kitty--not at all exposed to any evil except her own disobedience, misunderstanding, or tantrums, caused by her own quick temper or indiscretion.And if you commit a crime on the same day, you will rectify it on the same day. Therefore, Catherine is very impressed by the ability to plan and hide revenge for many years in the depths of a person's heart, and to realize his plan without any remorse. surprise.This new view of human nature seemed to impress and shock her--which had hitherto been outside all her studies and reflections--so that Mr. Edgar thought there was no It is necessary to discuss this subject again.He just said it again: "You'll know later, my dear, why I wished you to stay away from his house and his family; and now you go about your usual business, go about your usual play, and think no more of it!" Catherine kissed her father, and sat down quietly to read her lessons, as usual, for two hours.Then she walked with him in the garden, and the day passed as usual.But at night, when she went to her room to rest and I undressed her, I found her kneeling by the bed and crying. "Oh, shame on you, silly boy!" I cried. "If you had any real sorrow, you would be ashamed of your tears for such a little mischief. You never had a shadow of real sorrow, Miss Catherine. Suppose, the master and I died at once." Now, you are left alone in the world: how will you feel then? Compare your present situation with such a distress, and you should be thankful that you have friends, and stop wanting more." "I'm not crying for myself, Ellen," she answered, "for him. He hopes to see me again tomorrow. But he'll be disappointed: he'll be waiting for me, and I won't go!" "Boring!" said I. "Do you think he's thinking of you too? Didn't he have Hareton for company? Not one man in a hundred sees twice to lose one—just two afternoons." Weeping for my relatives. Linton will guess what is the matter, and will not worry about you any more." "But can I text him and tell him why I can't go?" she asked, standing up. "Just send the books I promised to lend him? His books aren't as good as mine, and he was dying to see them when I told him how interesting mine were. Can't I, Ellen? " "No, really not!" I replied decisively. "Then he will write to you again, and there will be no end to it. No, Miss Catherine, there must be a complete break: papa so wishes, and I must do so." "But how can a small note—?" She spoke again, with a pleading look on her face. "Stop talking nonsense!" I interrupted her. "Let's not talk about your little note anymore. go to bed. " She made a very naughty expression on me, so naughty that I didn't want to kiss her good night at first, I covered her with a quilt and closed her door very unhappy; but, regretting it halfway, I gently Turn around quickly, and voila!The young lady was standing by the table, with a blank sheet of paper in front of her, and a pencil in her hand, which she was secretly hiding as soon as I entered. "You can't find someone to take it to you, Catherine," I said, "and if you write, I'm going to put out your candle by now." When I put the extinguishing cap on the flame, I got a blow on the hand, and heard an impatient "squeaky thing!"Then I left her again, and she bolted the door in the worst, most perverse mood.The letter was written anyway, and delivered to its destination by a milkman from the village; but I didn't know it then, and didn't until much later.As the weeks passed, Katie's temper also subsided; but she became especially fond of hiding in a corner by herself; On the book, obviously trying to cover the book.I could see loose edges sticking out of the pages.She also has a trick of going downstairs early in the morning and lingering in the kitchen, as if she were waiting for something to arrive, and in a bookcase in the library, she has a small drawer: she often rummages for a long time, Always take special care to take the key of the drawer with you when you leave. One day, when she was looking through this drawer, I saw that the toys and odds and ends that had been placed in it recently had all turned into sheets of folded paper.My curiosity and doubts were piqued and I decided to take a peek at her mysterious treasure.So at night, when she and my master were safe upstairs, I searched through my bunch of house keys for a key that would open the drawer lock.As soon as the drawer was opened, I emptied the contents into my apron, and took it to my own room to examine it at my leisure.Notwithstanding my early suspicions, I was still surprised to find that there was a great mass of letters--it must have been almost every day--from Linton Heathcliff: replies to letters she had written.The early letters were prim and short; but gradually they developed into rich love letters, clumsily written, as is natural for the author's age; Borrowed from someone more experienced.Some letters struck me as simply queer, a mixture of enthusiasm and flatness; beginning with strong emotion, ending in artificial, long-winded prose, like a schoolboy writing to his imaginary, unreal lover.Whether these would satisfy Katie, I don't know; but they seemed to me very worthless rubbish.Having gone through some of the letters which I thought was due, I wrapped them in my handkerchief, set them aside, and relocked the empty drawer. My miss, as was her custom, went downstairs early to the kitchen: I saw her come to the door when some little boy came, and while the milkmaid was pouring milk into her jug, She stuffed something into his vest pocket and pulled something out of it.I went round to the garden, and waited there for the messenger; he fought valiantly to protect his trust, and we spilled the milk; but at last I succeeded in drawing the letter; And threatened him with serious consequences if he didn't go home by himself, and I stayed under the wall and read Miss Catty's love stories.It was much more succinct and fluent than her cousin's letter: beautifully written and silly.I shook my head, and walked into the room thoughtfully.The day was so humid that she could not amuse herself with a walk in the garden; so when her morning reading was over she turned to the drawer for comfort.Her father was sitting at the table reading a book; as for me, I deliberately found something to do, and went to fix some fringes on the curtains that could not be opened, and kept my eyes on her movements.任何鸟儿飞回它那先前离开时还充满着啾啾鸣叫的小雏，后来却被抢劫一空的巢里时，所发出的悲鸣与骚动，都比不上那一声简单的“啊！”和她那快乐的脸色因突变而表现出那种完完全全的绝望的神态。林惇先生抬头望望。 “怎么啦，宝贝儿？碰痛你哪儿啦？”他说。 他的声调和表情使她确信他不是发现宝藏的人。 “不是，爸爸！”她喘息着。“艾伦！艾伦！上楼吧——我病了！” 我服从了她的召唤，陪她出去了。 “啊，艾伦！你把那些拿去啦，”当我们走到屋里，没有别人的时候，她马上就开口了，还跪了下来！“啊，把那些给我吧，我再也不，再也不这样作啦！别告诉爸爸。你没有告诉爸爸吧，艾伦？说你没有，我是太淘气啦，可是我以后再也不这样啦！” 我带着极严肃的神情叫她站起来。 “所以，”我慨叹着，“凯瑟琳小姐，看来你任性得太过分啦，你该为这些害羞！你真的在闲的时候读这么一大堆废物呀：咳，好得可以拿去出版啦，我要是把信摆在主人面前，你以为他有什么想法呢？我还没有给他看，可你用不着幻想我会保守你这荒唐的秘密。羞！一定是你领头写这些愚蠢的东西！我肯定他是不会想到的。” “我没有！我没有！”凯蒂抽泣着，简直伤心透了。“我一次也没有想到过爱他，直到——” “爱！”我叫着，尽量用讥嘲的语气吐出这个字来。“爱！有什么人听到过这类事情么！那我也可以对一年来买一次我们谷子的那个磨坊主大谈其爱啦。好一个爱，真是！而你这辈子才看见过林惇两次，加起来还不到四个钟头！喏，这是小孩子的胡说八道。我要把信带到书房里去；我们要看看你父亲对于这种爱说什么。” 她跳起来抢她的宝贝信，可是我把它们高举在头顶上；然后她发出许多狂热的恳求，恳求我烧掉它们——随便怎么处置也比公开它们好。我真是想笑又想骂——因为我估计这完全是女孩子的虚荣心——我终于有几分心软了，便问道—— “如果我同意烧掉它们，你能诚实地答应不再送出或收进一封信，或者一本书（因为我看见你给他送过书），或者一卷头发，或者戒指，或者玩意儿？” “我们不送玩意儿，”凯瑟琳叫着，她的骄傲征服了她的羞耻。 “那么，什么也不送，我的小姐？”我说。“除非你愿意这样，要不然我就走啦。” “我答应，艾伦，”她叫着，拉住我的衣服。“啊，把它们丢在火里吧，丢吧，丢吧！” 但是当我用火钳拨开一块地方时，这样的牺牲可真是太痛苦了。她热切地哀求我给她留下一两封。 “一两封，艾伦，为了林惇的缘故留下来吧！” 我解开手绢，开始把它们从手绢角里向外倒，火焰卷上了烟囱。 “我要一封，你这残忍的坏人！”她尖声叫着，伸手到火里，抓出一些烧了一半的纸片，当然她的手指头也因此吃了点亏。 “很好——我也要留点拿给爸爸看看，”我回答着，把剩下的又抖回手绢去，重新转身向门口走。 她把她那些烧焦了的纸片又扔到火里去，向我做手势要我完成这个祭祀。烧完了，我搅搅灰烬，用一铲子煤把这些埋起来，她一声也不吭，怀着十分委屈的心情，退到她自己的屋里，我下楼告诉我主人，小姐的急病差不多已经好了。可是我认为最好让她躺一会。她不肯吃饭；可是在吃茶时她又出现了，面色苍白，眼圈红红的，外表上克制得惊人。 第二天早上我用一张纸条当作回信，上面写着，“请希刺克厉夫少爷不要再写信给林惇小姐，她是不会接受的。”自此以后那个小男孩来时，口袋便是空空的了。