rm. I've persuaded my conscience that it was a duty to warn him how people talked regarding his ways; and then I've recollected his confirmed

held it a favourite spot twenty years before. I gazed long at the weather-worn block; and, stooping down, perceived a hole near the bottom still full of snail-shells and pebbles, which we were fond of storing there with more perishable things; and, as fresh as reality, it appeared that I beheld my early playmate seated on the withered turf: his dark, square head bent forward, and his little hand scooping out the earth with a piece of slate. 'Poor Hindley!' I exclaimed, involuntarily. I started: my bodily eye was cheated into a momentary belief that the child lifted its face and stared straight into mine! It vanished in a twin

etting instantaneously my foolish fears.

arm's length, and pi

essing from the action that Nelly, if she lived in

her he comprehended them or not, were delivered with practised emphasis, and distorted his baby features into a shocking expression of malignity. You may be certain this grieved more than angered me. Fit to cry, I too

e fine words, my bairn?'

and thee! Gie me

essons, and you shall have it

dy,' was h

learn from dadd

raised it higher. 'What do

out of his gait. Daddy cannot

eaches you to swear

,' he d

, th

thcl

he liked Mr.

answere

er the sentences-'I known't: he pays dad back what he gies to

t teach you to read and

eth dashed down his-throat, if he stepped ove

he door-stones; and I turned directly and ran down the road as hard as ever I could race, making no halt till I gained the guide-post, and feeling as scared as if I had raised a goblin. This is not much connected with Miss Isabella's

gle unnecessary civility on Miss Linton, I knew. Now, as soon as he beheld her, his first precaution was to take a sweeping survey of the house-front. I was standing by the kitchen-window, but I drew out of sight. He then stepped across the pavement to her, and said something: she seemed emb

. 'You are a hypocrite, too, a

my elbow: I had been over-intent on watch

has caught a glimpse of us-he is coming in! I wonder will he have the heart to

e door. I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation; but Catherine angrily insisted on silence, a

ht place! Heathcliff, what are you about, raising this stir? I said you must let Isabella alone!-I beg

in. I detested him just then. 'God keep him meek and pati

or! 'Don't vex me. Why have you disregarded m

ss her, if she chooses; and you have no right to objec

e: you sha'n't scowl at me! If you like Isabella, you shall marry her. But do you li

rove of his sister marryi

approve,' returned

at I know you have treated me infernally-infernally! Do you hear? And if you flatter yourself that I don't perceive it, you are a fool; and if you think I can be consoled by sweet words, you are an idiot: and if

azement. 'I've treated you infernally-and you'll take your revenge! How

hem. You are welcome to torture me to death for your amusement, only allow me to amuse myself a little in the same style, and refrain from insult as much as you are able. Having le

inflicting misery. You prove it. Edgar is restored from the ill-temper he gave way to at your coming; I begin to be secure and tranquil; and you, restless to know us at peace, appea

ing intractable: she could neither lay nor control it. He stood on the hearth with folded arms, brooding on his evi

n I entered, 'have yo

g too soft, and now it's come to this-.' And I related the scene in the court, and, as near as I dared, the whole subsequent dispute. I fancied it could not be very prejudicial to Mrs. Linton; u

a friend, and force his company on me! Call me two men out of the hall, Ellen. Cather

rs. Linton, at least, was scolding with renewed vigour; Heathcliff had moved to the window, and hung his head, somewhat cowed by her violent rating appar

the language which has been held to you by that blackguard? I suppose, because it is his ordinary talk you

lessness and contempt of his irritation. Heathcliff, who had raised his eyes at the former speech, gave a sneering laugh at the latter; on pur

therine wishing to keep up your acquaintance, I acquiesced-foolishly. Your presence is a moral poison that would contaminate the most virtuous: for that cause, and to prevent worse conse

t and breadth of the speaker

in danger of splitting its skull against my knuckles. By God! Mr.

hazarding a personal encounter. I obeyed the hint; but Mrs. Linton, suspecting something, foll

re valour than you possess. No, I'll swallow the key before you shall get it! I'm delightfully rewarded for my kindness to each! After constant indulgence of one's weak nature, and the other's bad o

ng it into the hottest part of the fire; whereupon Mr. Edgar was taken with a nervous trembling, and his countenance grew deadly pale. For his life he

we are vanquished! Heathcliff would as soon lift a finger at you as the king would march his army aga

at is the slavering, shivering thing you preferred to me! I would not strike him with my fist, but I'd kick

kly sprang erect, and struck him full on the throat a blow that would have levelled a slighter man. It took his breath for

of pistols and half-a-dozen assistants. If he did overhear us, of course he'd never forgive you. Y

I'll crush his ribs in like a rotten hazel-nut before I cross the threshold! If I don't floo

deners; you'll surely not wait to be thrust into the road by them! Each has a bludgeon; and mas

urt. Heathcliff, on the second thoughts, resolved to avoid a struggle against three underlings:

er up-stairs. She did not know my share in contributing to

that I am no way blamable in this matter. What possessed him to turn listener? Heathcliff's talk was outrageous, after you left us; but I could soon have diverted him from Isabella, and the rest meant nothing. Now all is dashed wrong; by the fool's craving to hear evil of self, that haunts some people like a demon! Had Edgar never gathered our conversation, he would never have been the worse for it. Really, when he opened on me in that unreasonable tone of displeasure after I had scolded Heathcliff till I was hoarse for him, I did not care hardly what they did to each other; especially as I felt that, however the scene closed, we shou

, beforehand, might, by exerting her will, manage to control herself tolerably, even while under their influence; and I did not wish to 'frighten' her husband, as she said, and multiply his annoyances for the purpose of s

wful despondency. 'I shall not stay. I am neither come to wrangle nor be reconciled; but I wish

t us hear no more of it now! Your cold blood cannot be worked into a fever: your veins are

have found that you can be as stoical as anyone, when you please. Will you give up Heathcliff hereafter, or will you give u

ine, furiously. 'I demand it! Don't you see I

th, so that you might fancy she would crash them to splinters! Mr. Linton stood looking at her in sudden compunction and fear. He told me to fetch some water. She had no breath for speaking. I brought a glass full; and as

whispered. I did not want him to yield, thou

n her lips!' he

he started up-her hair flying over her shoulders, her eyes flashing, the muscles of her neck and arms standing out preternaturally. I made up my mind for broken bones, at least; but she on

nton, on his part, spent his time in the library, and did not inquire concerning his wife's occupations. Isabella and he had had an hour's interview, during which he tried to elicit from her some sentiment of proper horror for Heathcliff's advances: but he could