Wuthering Heights  A novel ,  By Ellis Bell ,  in three volumes ...  London :  Thomas Cautley Newby , publisher , 72 Mortimer St. , Cavendish Sq .  1847.  CHAPTER I .  1801 — — I have just returned from a visit to my landlord — the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with .  This is certainly , a beautiful country !  In all England , I do not believe that I could have fixed on a situation so completely removed from the stir of society .  A perfect misanthropist 'sHeaven — and Mr. Heathcliff and I are such a suitable pair to divide the desolation between us .  A capital fellow !  He little imagined how my heart warmed towards him when I beheld his black eyes withdraw so suspiciously under their brows , as I rode up , and when his fingers sheltered themselves , with a jealous resolution , still further in his waistcoat , as I announced my name .  " Mr. Heathcliff ?  " I said .  A nod was the answer .  " Mr. Lockwood your new tenant , sir — I do myself the honour of calling as soon as possible , after my arrival , to express the hope that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in soliciting the occupation of Thrushcross Grange : I heard , yesterday , you had had some thoughts — "  " Thrushcross Grange is my own , sir , " he interrupted wincing , " I should not allow any one to inconvenience me , if I could hinder it — walk in !  "  The " walk in , " was uttered with closed teeth and expressed the sentiment , " Go to the Deuce !  " even the gate over which he leant manifested no sympathizing movement to the words ; and I think that circumstance determined me to accept the invitation : I felt interested in a man who seemed more exaggeratedly reserved than myself .  When he saw my horse 'sbreast fairly pushing the barrier , he did pull out his hand to unchain it , and then sullenly preceded me up the causeway , calling , as we entered the court :  " Joseph , take Mr. Lockwood 'shorse ; and bring up some wine .  "  " Here we have the whole establishment of domestics , I suppose , " was the reflection , suggested by this compound order , " No wonder the grass grows up between the flags , and cattle are the only hedge-cutters .  "  Joseph was an elderly , nay , an old man , very old , perhaps , though hale and sinewy .  " The Lord help us !  " he soliloquised in an undertone of peevish displeasure , while relieving me of my horse : looking , meantime , in my face so sourly that I charitably conjectured he must have need of divine aid to digest his dinner , and his pious ejaculation had no reference to my unexpected advent .  Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. Heathcliff 'sdwelling .  " Wuthering " being a significant provincial adjective , descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed , in stormy weather .  Pure , bracing ventilation they must have up there , at all times , indeed : one may guess the power of the north wind , blowing over the edge , by the excessive slant of a few , stunted firs at the end of the house ; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way , as if craving alms of the sun .  Happily , the architect had foresight to build it strong : the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall ; and the corners defended with large jutting stones .  Before passing the threshold , I paused to admire a quantity of grotesque carving lavished over the front , and especially about the principal door , above which , among a wilderness of crumbling griffins , and shameless little boys , I detected the date " 1500 , " and the name " Hareton Earnshaw , " I would have made a few comments , and requested a short history of the place , from the surly owner , but his attitude at the door appeared to demand my speedy entrance , or complete departure , and I had no desire to aggravate his impatience , previous to inspecting the penetralium .  One step brought us into the family sitting-room , without any introductory lobby , or passage : they call it here " the house " preeminently .  It includes kitchen , and parlor , generally , but I believe at Wuthering Heights , the kitchen is forced to retreat altogether , into another quarter , at least I distinguished a chatter of tongues , and a clatter of culinary utensils , deep within ; and I observed no signs of roasting , boiling , or baking , about the huge fire-place ; nor any glitter of copper saucepans and tin cullenders on the walls .  One end , indeed , reflected splendidly both light and heat , from ranks of immense pewter dishes ; interspersed with silver jugs , and tankards , towering row after row , in a vast oak dresser , to the very roof .  The latter had never been under-drawn , its entire anatomy lay bare to an inquiring eye , except where a frame of wood laden with oatcakes , and clusters of legs of beef , mutton and ham , concealed it .  Above the chimney were sundry villanous old guns , and a couple of horse-pistols , and , by way of ornament , three gaudily painted canisters disposed along its ledge .  The floor was of smooth , white stone : the chairs , high-backed , primitive structures , painted green : one or two heavy black ones lurking in the shade .  In an arch , under the dresser , reposed a huge , liver-coloured bitch pointer surrounded by a swarm of squealing puppies , and other dogs , haunted other recesses .  The apartment , and furniture would have been nothing extraordinary as belonging to a homely , northern farmer with a stubborn countenance , and stalwart limbs , set out to advantage in knee-breeches , and gaiters .  Such an individual , seated in his arm-chair , his mug of ale frothing on the round table before him , is to be seen in any circuit of five or six miles among these hills , if you go at the right time , after dinner .  But , Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living .  He is a dark skinned gypsy , in aspect , in dress , and manners , a gentleman , that is , as much a gentleman as many a country squire : rather slovenly , perhaps , yet not looking amiss , with his negligence , because he has an erect and handsome figure — and rather morose — possibly , some people might suspect him of a degree of under-bred pride — I have a sympathetic chord within that tells me it is nothing of the sort ; I know , by instinct , his reserve springs from an aversion to showy displays of feeling — to manifestations of mutual kindliness .  He 'lllove and hate , equally under cover , and esteem it a species of impertinence , to be loved or hated again — No , I 'mrunning on too fast — I bestow my own attributes over liberally on him .  Mr. Heathcliff may have entirely dissimilar reasons for keeping his hand out of the way , when he meets a would be acquaintance , to those which actuate me .  Let me hope my constitution is almost peculiar : my dear mother used to say I should never have a comfortable home , and only last summer , I proved myself perfectly unworthy of one .  While enjoying a month of fine weather at the sea-coast , I was thrown into the company of a most fascinating creature , a real goddess , in my eyes , as long as she took no notice of me .  I " never told my love " vocally ; still , if looks have language , the merest idiot might have guessed I was over head and ears : she understood me , at last , and looked a return — the sweetest of all imaginable looks — and what did I do ?  I confess it with shame — shrunk icily into myself , like a snail , at every glance retired colder and farther ; till , finally , the poor innocent was led to doubt her own senses , and , overwhelmed with confusion at her supposed mistake , persuaded her mamma to decamp .  By this curious turn of disposition I have gained the reputation of deliberate heartlessness , how undeserved , I alone can appreciate .  I took a seat at the end of the hearthstone opposite that towards which my landlord advanced , and filled up an interval of silence by attempting to caress the canine mother , who had left her nursery , and was sneaking wolfishly to the back of my legs , her lip curled up , and her white teeth watering for a snatch .  My caress provoked a long , guttural gnarl .  " You 'dbetter let the dog alone , " growled Mr. Heathcliff , in unison , checking fiercer demonstrations with a punch of his foot .  " She 'snot accustomed to be spoiled — not kept for a pet .  "  Then , striding to a side-door , he shouted again .  " Joseph !  "  Joseph mumbled indistinctly in the depths of the cellar ; but , gave no intimation of ascending ; so , his master dived down to him , leaving me vis-à-vis the ruffianly bitch , and a pair of grim , shaggy sheep dogs , who shared with her a jealous guardianship over all my movements .  Not anxious to come in contact with their fangs , I sat still — but , imagining they would scarcely understand tacit insults , I unfortunately indulged in winking and making faces at the trio , and some turn of my physiognomy so irritated madam , that she suddenly broke into a fury , and leapt on my knees .  I flung her back , and hastened to interpose the table between us .  This proceeding roused the whole hive .  Half-a-dozen four-footed fiends , of various sizes , and ages , issued from hidden dens to the common centre .  I felt my heels , and coat-laps peculiar subjects of assault ; and , parrying off the larger combatants , as effectually as I could , with the poker , I was constrained to demand , aloud , assistance from some of the household , in re-establishing peace .  Mr. Heathcliff and his man climbed the cellar steps with vexatious phlegm .  I do n't think they moved one second faster than usual , though the hearth was an absolute tempest of worrying and yelping .  Happily , an inhabitant of the kitchen made more dispatch ; a lusty dame , with tucked up gown , bare arms , and fire-flushed cheeks , rushed into the midst of us flourishing a fryingpan ; and used that weapon , and her tongue to such purpose , that the storm subsided magically , and she only remained , heaving like a sea after a high wind , when her master entered on the scene .  " What the devil is the matter ?  " he asked , eyeing me in a manner that I could ill endure after this inhospitable treatment .  " What the devil , indeed !  " I muttered .  " The herd of possessed swine could have had no worse spirits in them than those animals of yours , sir .  You might as well leave a stranger with a brood of tigers !  "  " They wont meddle with persons who touch nothing , " he remarked , putting the bottle before me , and restoring the displaced table .  " The dogs do right to be vigilant .  Take a glass of wine ?  "  " No , thank you .  "  " Not bitten , are you ?  "  " If I had been , I would have set my signet on the biter .  "  Heathcliff 'scountenance relaxed into a grin .  " Come , come , " he said , " you are flurried , Mr. Lockwood .  Here , take a little wine .  Guests are so exceedingly rare in this house that I and my dogs , I am willing to own , hardly know how to receive them .  Your health , sir !  "  I bowed and returned the pledge ; beginning to perceive that it would be foolish to sit sulking for the misbehaviour of a pack of curs : besides , I felt loath to yield the fellow further amusement , at my expense ; since his humour took that turn .  He-probably swayed by prudential considerations of the folly of offending a good tenant — relaxed , a little , in the laconic style of chipping of his pronouns , and auxiliary verbs ; and introduced , what he supposed would be a subject of interest to me , a discourse on the advantages and disadvantages of my present place of retirement .  I found him very intelligent on the topics we touched ; and , before I went home , I was encouraged so far as to volunteer another visit , to-morrow .  He evidently wished no repetition of my intrusion .  I shall go , notwithstanding .  It is astonishing how sociable I feel myself compared with him .  CHAPTER II .  Yesterday afternoon set in misty and cold .  I had half a mind to spend it by my study fire , instead of wading through heath and mud to Wuthering Heights .  On coming up from dinner , however , ( N .  B .  I dine between twelve and one o'clock ; the housekeeper , a matronly lady taken as a fixture along with the house , could not , or would not comprehend my request that I might be served at five .  ) On mounting the stairs with this lazy intention , and stepping into the room , I saw a servant-girl on her knees , surrounded by brushes , and coal-scuttles ; and raising an infernal dust as she extinguished the flames with heaps of cinders .  This spectacle drove me back immediately ; I took my hat , and , after a four miles walk , arrived at Heathcliff 'sgarden gate just in time to escape the first feathery flakes of a snow shower .  On that bleak hill top the earth was hard with a black frost , and the air made me shiver through every limb .  Being unable to remove the chain , I jumped over , and , running up the flagged causeway bordered with straggling gooseberry bushes , knocked vainly for admittance , till my knuckles tingled , and the dogs howled .  " Wretched inmates !  " I ejaculated , mentally , " you deserve perpetual isolation from your species for your churlish inhospitality .  At least , I would not keep my doors barred in the day time — I do n't care — I will get in !  "  So resolved , I grasped the latch , and shook it vehemently .  Vinegar-faced Joseph projected his head from a round window of the barn .  " Whet are ye for ?  " he shouted .  " T 'maisters dahn i 't'fowld .  Goa rahnd by th 'end ut 'laith , if yah went tuh spake tull him .  "  " Is there nobody inside to open the door ?  " I hallooed , responsively .  " They 'snobbut t 'missis ; and shoo 'llnut oppe n't an ye mak yer flaysome dins till neeght .  "  " Why ?  cannot you tell her who I am , eh , Joseph ?  "  " Nor-ne me !  Aw 'llhae noa hend wi't , " muttered the head vanishing .  The snow began to drive thickly .  I seized the handle to essay another trial ; when a young man , without coat , and shouldering a pitchfork , appeared in the yard behind .  He hailed me to follow him , and , after marching through a washhouse , and a paved area containing a coal-shed , pump , and pigeon cote , we at length arrived in the large , warm , cheerful apartment , where I was formerly received .  It glowed delightfully in the radiance of an immense fire , compounded of coal , peat , and wood : and near the table , laid for a plentiful evening meal , I was pleased to observe the " missis , " an individual whose existence I had never previously suspected .  I bowed and waited , thinking she would bid me take a seat .  She looked at me , leaning back in her chair , and remained motionless and mute .  " Rough weather !  " I remarked .  " I 'mafraid , Mrs. Heathcliff , the floor must bear the consequence of your servant 'sleisure attendance : I had hard work to make them hear me !  "  She never opened her mouth .  I stared — she stared also .  At any rate , she kept her eyes on me , in a cool , regardless manner , exceedingly embarrassing and disagreeable .  " Sit down , " said the young man , gruffly .  " He 'llbe in soon .  "  I obeyed ; and hemmed , and called the villain Juno , who deigned , at this second interview , to move the extreme tip of her tail , in token of owning my acquaintance .  " A beautiful animal !  " I commenced again .  " Do you intend parting with the little ones , madam ?  "  " They are not mine , " said the amiable hostess more repellingly than Heathcliff himself could have replied .  " Ah , your favourites are among these !  " I continued , turning to an obscure cushion full of something like cats .  " A strange choice of favourites , " she observed scornfully .  Unluckily , it was a heap of dead rabbits — I hemmed once more , and drew closer to the hearth , repeating my comment on the wildness of the evening .  " You should not have come out , " she said , rising and reaching from the chimney piece two of the painted canisters .  Her position before was sheltered from the light : now , I had a distinct view of her whole figure and countenance .  She was slender , and apparently scarcely past girlhood : an admirable form , and the most exquisite little face that I have ever had the pleasure of beholding : small features , very fair ; flaxen ringlets , or rather golden , hanging loose on her delicate neck ; and eyes — had they been agreeable in expression , they would have been irresistible — fortunately for my susceptible heart , the only sentiment they evinced hovered between scorn and a kind of desperation , singularly unnatural to be detected there .  The canisters were almost out of her reach ; I made a motion to aid her ; she turned upon me as a miser might turn , if any one attempted to assist him in counting his gold .  " I do n't want your help , " she snapped , " I can get them for myself .  "  " I beg your pardon , " I hastened to reply .  " Were you asked to tea ?  " she demanded , tying an apron over her neat black frock , and standing with a spoonful of the leaf poised over the pot .  " I shall be glad to have a cup , " I answered .  " Were you asked ?  " she repeated .  " No ; " I said , half smiling .  " You are the proper person to ask me .  "  She flung the tea back , spoon and all ; and resumed her chair in a pet , her forehead corrugated , and her red under-lip pushed out , like a child 's, ready to cry .  Meanwhile , the young man had slung onto his person a decidedly shabby upper garment , and , erecting himself before the blaze , looked down on me , from the corner of his eyes , for all the world as if there were some mortal feud unavenged between us .  I began to doubt whether he were a servant or not ; his dress and speech were both rude , entirely devoid of the superiority observable in Mr. and Mrs. Heathcliff ; his thick , brown curls were rough and uncultivated , his whiskers encroached bearishly over his cheeks , and his hands were embrowned like those of a common labourer , still his bearing was free , almost haughty ; and he showed none of a domestic 'sassiduity in attending on the lady of the house .  In the absence of clear proofs of his condition , I deemed it best to abstain from noticing his curious conduct , and , five minutes afterwards , the entrance of Heathcliff relieved me , in some measure , from my uncomfortable state .  " You see , sir , I am come according to promise !  " I exclaimed , assuming the cheerful " and I fear I shall be weather-bound for half an hour , if you can afford me shelter during that space .  "  " Half an hour ?  " he said , shaking the white flakes from his clothes ; " I wonder you should select the thick of a snow-storm to ramble about in .  Do you know that you run a risk of being lost in the marshes ?  People familiar with these moors often miss their road on such evenings , and , I can tell you , there is no chance of a change at present .  "  " Perhaps I can get a guide among your lads , and he might stay at the Grange till morning — could you spare me one ?  "  " No , I could not .  "  " Oh , indeed !  Well then , I must trust to my own sagacity .  "  " Umph !  "  " Are you going to mak th'tea ?  " demanded he of the shabby coat , shifting his ferocious gaze from me to the young lady .  " Is he to have any ?  " she asked , appealing to Heathcliff .  " Get it ready , will you ?  " was the answer , uttered so savagely that I started .  The tone in which the words were said , revealed a genuine bad nature .  I no longer felt Inclined to call Heathcliff a capital fellow .  When the preparations were finished , he invited me with —  " Now , sir , bring forward your chair .  " And we all , including the rustic youth , drew round the table , an austere silence prevailing while we discussed our meal .  I thought , if I had caused the cloud , it was my duty to make an effort to dispel it .  They could not every day sit so grim and taciturn , and it was impossible , however ill-tempered they might be , that the universal scowl they wore was their every day countenance .  " It is strange , " I began in the interval of swallowing one cup of tea , and receiving another , " it is strange how custom can mould our tastes and ideas ; many could not imagine the existence of happiness in a life of such complete exile from the world as you spend , Mr. Heathcliff ; yet , I 'llventure to say , that , surrounded by your family , and with your amiable lady as the presiding genius over your home and heart — "  " My amiable lady !  " he interrupted , with an almost diabolical sneer on his face .  " Where is she — my amiable lady ?  "  " Mrs. Heathcliff , your wife , I mean .  "  " Well , yes — Oh !  you would intimate that her spirit has taken the post of ministering angel , and guards the fortunes of Wuthering Heights , even when her body is gone .  Is that it ?  "  Perceiving myself in a blunder , I attempted to correct it .  I might have seen there was too great a disparity between the ages of the parties to make it likely that they were man and wife .  One was about forty ; a period of mental vigour at which men seldom cherish the delusion of being married for love , by girls : that dream is reserved for the solace of our declining years .  The other did not look seventeen .  Then it flashed upon me ; " the clown at my elbow , who is drinking his tea out of a basin , and eating his bread with unwashed hands , may be her husband .  Heathcliff , junior , of course .  Here is the consequence of being buried alive : she has thrown herself away upon that boor , from sheer ignorance that better individuals existed !  A sad pity — I must beware how I cause her to regret her choice .  "  The last reflection may seem conceited ; it was not .  My neighbour struck me as bordering on repulsive .  I knew , through experience , that I was tolerably attractive .  " Mrs. Heathcliff is my daughter-in-law , " said Heathcliff , corroborating my surmise .  He turned , as he spoke , a peculiar look in her direction , a look of hatred unless he has a most perverse set of facial muscles that will not , like those of other people , interpret the language of his soul .  " Ah , certainly — I see now ; you are the favoured possessor of the beneficent fairy , " I remarked , turning to my neighbour .  This was worse than before : the youth grew crimson , and clenched his fist with every appearance of a meditated assault .  But he seemed to recollect himself , presently ; and smothered the storm in a brutal curse , muttered on my behalf , which , however , I took care not to notice .  "  " Unhappy in your conjectures , sir !  " observed my host ; " we neither of us have the privilege of owning your good fairy ; her mate is dead .  I said she was my daughter-in-law , therefore , she must have married my son .  "  " And this young man is — "  " Not my son , assuredly !  "  Heathcliff smiled again , as if it were rather too bold a jest to attribute the paternity of that bear to him .  " My name is Hareton Earnshaw , " growled the other ; " and I 'dcounsel you to respect it !  " I 'veshown no disrespect , " was my reply , laughing internally at the dignity with which he announced himself .  He fixed his eye on me longer than I cared to return the stare , for fear I might be tempted either to box his ears , or render my hilarity audible .  I began to feel unmistakably out of place in that pleasant family circle .  The dismal spiritual atmosphere overcame , and more than neutralized the glowing physical comforts round me ; and I resolved to be cautious how I ventured under those rafters a third time .  The business of eating being concluded , and no one uttering a word of sociable conversation , I approached a window to examine the weather .  A sorrowful sight I saw ; dark night coming down prematurely , and sky and hills mingled in one bitter whirl of wind and suffocating snow .  " I do n't think it possible for me to get home now , without a guide , " I could not help exclaiming .  " The roads will be buried already ; and , if they were bare , I could scarcely distinguish a foot in advance .  "  " Hareton , drive those dozen sheep into the barn porch .  They 'llbe covered if left in the fold all night ; and put a plank before them , " said Heathcliff .  " How must I do ?  " I continued , with rising irritation .  There was no reply to my question ; and , on looking round , I saw only Joseph bringing in a pail of porridge for the dogs ; and Mrs. Heathcliff , leaning over the fire , diverting herself with burning a bundle of matches which had fallen from the chimney-piece as she restored the tea-canister to its place .  The former , when he had deposited his burden , took a critical survey of the room ; and , in cracked tones , grated out :  " Aw woonder hagh yah can faishion tuh stand thear i 'idleness un war , when all on ' em 'sgoan aght !  Bud yah 'rea nowt , and it 'snoa use talking — yah 'llniver mend uh yer ill ways ; bud , goa raight tuh t 'divil , like yer mother afore ye !  "  I imagined , for a moment , that this piece of eloquence was addressed to me ; and , sufficiently enraged , stepped towards the aged rascal with an intention of kicking him out of the door .  Mrs. Heathcliff , however , checked me by her answer .  " You scandalous old hypocrite !  " she replied .  " Are you not afraid of being carried away bodily , whenever you mention the devil 'sname ?  I warn you to refrain from provoking me , or I 'llask your abduction as a special favour .  Stop , look here , Joseph , " she continued , taking a long , dark book from a shelf .  " I 'llshow you how far I 'veprogressed in the Black Art — I shall soon be competent to make a clear house of it .  The red cow did n't die by chance ; and your rheumatism can hardly be reckoned among providential visitations !  "  " Oh , wicked , wicked !  " gasped the elder , " may the Lord deliver us from evil !  "  " No , reprobate !  you are a castaway — be off , or I 'llhurt you seriously !  I 'llhave you all modlled in wax and clay ; and the first who passes the limits , I fix , shall — I 'llnot say what he shall be done to — but , you 'llsee !  Go , I 'mlooking at you !  "  The little witch put a mock malignity into her beautiful eyes , and Joseph , trembling with sincere horror , hurried out praying and ejaculating " wicked " as he went .  I thought her conduct must be prompted by a species of dreary fun ; and , now that we were alone , I endeavoured to interest her in my distress .  " Mrs. Heathcliff , " I said , earnestly , " you must excuse me for troubling you — I presume , because , with that face , I 'msure you cannot help being good-hearted .  Do point out some landmarks by which I may know my way home — I have no more idea how to get there than you would have how to get to London !  "  " Take the road you came , " she answered , ensconcing herself in a chair , with a candle , and the long book open before her .  " It is brief advice ; but , as sound as I can give .  "  " Then , if you hear of me being discovered dead in a bog , or a pit full of snow , your conscience wont whisper that it is partly your fault ?  "  " How so ?  I cannot escort you .  They would n't let me go to the end of the garden-wall .  "  " You !  I should be sorry to ask you to cross the threshold , for my convenience , on such a night , " I cried .  " I want you to tell me my way , not to show it ; or else to persuade Mr. Heathcliff to give me a guide .  "  " Who ?  There is himself , Earnshaw , Zillah , Joseph , and I .  Which would you have ?  "  " Are there no boys at the farm ?  "  " No , those are all .  "  " Then , it follows that I am compelled to stay .  "  " That you may settle with your host .  I have nothing to do with it .  "  " I hope it will be a lesson to you , to make no more rash journeys on these hills , " cried Heathcliff 'sstern voice from the kitchen entrance .  " As to staying here , I do n't keep accommodations for visiters ; you must share a bed with Hareton , or Joseph , if you do .  "  " I can sleep on a chair in this room , " I replied .  " No , no !  A stranger is a stranger , be he rich or poor — it will not suit me to permit any one the range of the place while I am off guard !  " said the unmannerly wretch .  With this insult my patience was at an end .  I uttered an expression of disgust , and pushed past him into the yard , running against Earnshaw in my haste .  It was so dark that I could not see the means of exit , and , as I wandered round , I heard another specimen of their civil behaviour amongst each other .  At first , the young man appeared about to befriend me .  " I 'llgo with him as far as the park , " he said .  " You 'llgo with him to hell !  " exclaimed his master , or whatever relation he bore .  " And who is to look after the horses , eh ?  "  " A man 'slife is of more consequence than one evening 'sneglect of the horses ; somebody must go , " murmured Mrs. Heathcliff , more kindly than I expected .  " Not at your command !  " retorted Hareton .  " If you set store on him , you 'dbetter be quiet .  "  " Then I hope his ghost will haunt you ; and I hope Mr. Heathcliff will never get another tenant , till the Grange is a ruin !  " she answered sharply .  " Hearken , hearken , shoo 'scursing on em !  " muttered Joseph , towards whom I had been steering .  He sat within earshot , milking the cows , by the aid of a lantern which I seized unceremoniously , and calling out that I would send it back on the morrow , rushed to the nearest postern .  " Maister , maister , he 'sstaling t 'lantern !  " shouted the ancient , pursuing my retreat .  " Hey , Gnasher !  Hey , dog !  Hey , wolf , holld him , holld him !  "  On opening the little door , two hairy monsters flew at my throat , bearing me down , and extinguishing the light , while a mingled guffaw , from Heathcliff and Hareton , put the copestone on my rage and humiliation .  Fortunately , the beasts seemed more bent on stretching their paws , and yawning , and flourishing their tails , than devouring me alive ; but , they would suffer no resurrection , and I was forced to lie till their malignant masters pleased to deliver me : then hatless , and trembling with wrath , I ordered the miscreants to let me out — on their peril to keep me one minute longer — with several incoherent threats of retaliation , that in their indefinite depth of virulency , smacked of King Lear .  The vehemence of my agitation brought on a copious bleeding at the nose , and still Heathcliff laughed , and still I scolded .  I do n't know what would have concluded the scene had there not been one person at hand rather more rational than myself , and more benevolent than my entertainer .  This was Zillah , the stout housewife ; who at length issued forth to inquire into the nature of the uproar .  She thought that some of them had been laying violent hands on me ; and , not daring to attack her master , she turned her vocal artillery against the younger scoundrel .  " Well , Mr. Earnshaw , " she cried , " I wonder what you 'llhave agait next !  Are we going to murder folk on our very door-stones ?  I see this house will never do for me — look at t 'poor lad , he 'sfair choking !  Wisht , wisht !  you mun' n't go on so — come in , and I 'llcure that .  There now , hold ye still .  "  With these words she suddenly splashed a pint of icy water down my neck , and pulled me into the kitchen .  Mr. Heathcliff followed , his accidental merriment expiring quickly in his habitual moroseness .  I was sick exceedingly , and dizzy and faint ; and thus compelled , perforce , to accept lodgings under his roof .  He told Zillah to give me a glass of brandy , and then passed on to the inner room , while she condoled with me on my sorry predicament , and having obeyed his orders , whereby I was somewhat revived , ushered me to bed .  CHAPTER III .  While leading the way up-stairs , she recommended that I should hide the candle , and not make a noise , for her master had an odd notion about the chamber she would put me in ; and never let anybody lodge there willingly .  I asked the reason .  She did not know , she answered ; she had only lived there a year or two ; and they had so many queer goings on , she could not begin to be curious .  Too stupified to be curious myself , I fastened my door and glanced round for the bed .  The whole furniture consisted of a chair , a clothes-press , and a large oak case , with squares cut out near the top , resembling coach windows .  Having approached this structure , I looked inside , and perceived it to be a singular sort of old-fashioned couch , very conveniently designed to obviate the necessity for every member of the family having a room to himself .  In fact , it formed a little closet , and the ledge of a window , which it enclosed , served as a table .  I slid back the panelled sides , got in with my light , pulled them together again , and felt secure against the vigilance of Heathcliff , and every one else .  The ledge , where I placed my candle , had a few mildewed books piled up in one corner ; and it was covered with writing scratched on the paint .  This writing , however , was nothing but a name repeated in all kinds of characters , large and small — Catherine Earnshaw ; here and there varied to Catherine Heathcliff , and then again to Catherine Linton .  "  In vapid listlessness I leant my head against the window , and continued spelling over Catherine Earnshaw — Heathcliff — Linton , till my eyes closed ; but they had not rested five minutes when a glare of white letters started from the dark , as vivid as spectres — the air swarmed with Catherines ; and rousing myself to dispel the obtrusive name , I discovered my candle wick reclining on one of the antique volumes , and perfuming the place with an odour of roasted calf-skin .  I snuffed it off , and , very ill at ease , under the influence of cold and lingering nausea , sat up , and spread open the injured tome on my knee .  It was a Testament , in lean type , and smelling dreadfully musty : a fly-leaf bore the inscription — " Catherine Earnshaw , her book , " and a date some quarter of a century back .  I shut it , and took up another , and another , till I had examined all .  Catherine 'slibrary was select ; and its state of dilapidation proved it to have been well used , though not altogether for a legitimate purpose ; scarcely one chapter had escaped a pen and ink commentary , at least , the appearance of one , covering every morsel of blank that the printer had left .  Some were detached sentences ; other parts took the form of a regular diary , scrawled in an unformed , childish hand .  At the top of an extra page , quite a treasure probably when first lighted on , I was greatly amused to behold an excellent caricature of my friend Joseph , rudely yet powerfully sketched .  An immediate interest kindled within me for the unknown Catherine , and I began , forthwith , to decypher her faded hieroglyphics .  " An awful Sunday !  " commenced the paragraph beneath .  " I wish my father were back again .  Hindley is a detestable substitute — his conduct to Heathcliff is atrocious — H .  and I are going to rebel — we took our initiatory step this evening .  " All day had been flooding with rain ; we could not go to church , so Joseph must needs get up a congregation in the garret ; and , while Hindley and his wife basked down stairs before a comfortable fire , doing anything but reading their bibles , I 'llanswer for it ; Heathcliff , myself , and the unhappy plough-boy , were commanded to take our Prayer-books , and mount — we were ranged in a row , on a sack of corn , groaning and shivering , and hoping that Joseph would shiver too , so that he might give us a short homily for his own sake .  A vain idea !  The service lasted precisely three hours ; and yet my brother had the face to exclaim , when he saw us descending ,  " ' What , done already ?  "  " On Sunday evenings we used to be permitted to play , if we did not make much noise ; now a mere titter is sufficient to send us into corners !  " ' You forget you have a master here , " says the tyrant .  ' I 'lldemolish the first who puts me out of temper !  I insist on perfect sobriety and silence .  Oh , boy !  was that you ?  Frances , darling , pull his hair as you go by ; I heard him snap his fingers .  " Frances pulled his hair heartily ; and then went and seated herself on her husband 'sknee , and there they were , like two babies , kissing and talking nonsense by the hour — foolish palaver that we should be ashamed of .  " We made ourselves as snug as our means allowed in the arch of the dresser .  I had just fastened our pinafores together , and hung them up for a curtain ; when in comes Joseph , on an errand from the stables .  He tears down my handywork , boxes my ears , and croaks :  " ' T 'maister nobbut just buried , and Sabbath nut oe'red , und t ' sabnd , uh't gospel still i ' yer lugs , and yah darr be laiking !  shame on ye !  sit ye dahn , ill chllder !  they 'sgood books eneugh if ye 'llread ' em ; sit ye dahn , and think uh yer sowls !  "  Saying this , he compelled us so to square our positions that we might receive , from the far-off fire , a dull ray to show us the text of the lumber he thrust upon us .  " I could not bear the employment .  I took my dingy volume by the scroop , and hurled it into the dog-kennel , vowing I hated a good book .  " Heathcliff kicked his to the same place .  " Then there was a hubbub !  " ' Maister Hindley !  ' shouted our chaplain .  ' Maister , coom hither !  Miss Cathy 'sriven th 'back off ' Th 'Helmet uh Salvation , ' un 'Heathcliff 's pawsed his fit intuh t 'first part uh 'T 'Brooad Way to Destruction !  ' It 'sfair flaysome ut yah let ' em goa on this gait .  Ech !  th 'owd man ud uh laced ' em properly — bud he 'sgoan !  '  " Hindley hurried up from his paradise on the hearth , and seizing one of us by the collar , and the other by the arm , hurled both into the back-kitchen ; where , Joseph asseverated , " owd Nick " would fetch us as sure as we were living ; and , so comforted , we each sought a separate nook to await his advent .  " I reached this book , and a pot of ink from a shelf , and pushed the house-door ajar to give me light , and I have got the time on with writing for twenty minutes ; but my companion is impatient and proposes that we should appropriate the dairy woman 'scloak , and have a scamper on the moors , under its shelter .  A pleasant suggestion — and then , if the surly old man come in , he may believe his prophesy verified — we cannot be damper , or colder , in the rain than we are here .  "  I suppose Catherine fulfilled her project , for the next sentence took up another subject ; she waxed lachrymose .  " How little did I dream that Hindley would ever make me cry so !  " she wrote .  " My head aches , till I cannot keep it on the pillow ; and still I ca n't give over .  Poor Heathcliff !  Hindley calls him a vagabond , and wont let him sit with us , nor eat with us any more ; and , he says , he and I must not play together , and threatens to turn him out of the house if we break his orders .  " He has been blaming our father ( how dared he ?  ) for treating H .  too liberally ; and swears he will reduce him to his right place — "  I began to nod drowsily over the dim page ; my eye wandered from manuscript to print .  I saw a red ornamented title .  .  .  " Seventy Times Seven , and the First of the Seventy First .  A Pious Discourse delivered by the Reverend Jabes Branderham , in the Chapel of Gimmerden Sough .  " And while I was , half consciously , worrying my brain to guess what Jabes Branderham would make of his subject , I sank back in bed , and fell asleep .  Alas , for the effects of bad tea and bad temper !  what else could it be that made me pass such a terrible night ?  I do n't remember another that I can at all compare with it since I was capable of suffering .  I began to dream , almost before I ceased to be sensible of my locality .  I thought it was morning ; and I had set out on my way home , with Joseph for a guide .  The snow lay yards deep in our road ; and , as we floundered on , my companion wearied me with constant reproaches that I had not brought a pilgrim 'sstaff : telling me I could never get into the house without one , and boastfully flourishing a heavy-headed cudgel , which I understood to be so denominated .  For a moment I considered it absurd that I should need such a weapon to gain admittance into my own residence .  Then , a new idea flashed across me .  I was not going there ; we were journeying to hear the famous Jabes Branderham preach from the text — " Seventy Times Seven ; " and either Joseph , the preacher , or I had committed the " First of the Seventy First , " and were to be publicly exposed and excommunicated .  We came to the chapel — I have passed it really in my walks , twice or thrice : it lies in a hollow , between two hills — an elevated hollow — near a swamp , whose peaty moisture is said to answer all the purposes of embalming on the few corpses deposited there .  The roof has been kept whole hitherto , but , as the clergyman 'sstipend is only twenty pounds per annum , and a house with two rooms , threatening speedily to determine into one , no clergyman will undertake the duties of pastor , especially , as it is currently reported that his flock would rather let him starve than increase the living by one penny from their own pockets .  However , in my dream , Jabes had a full and attentive congregation : and he preached — good God — what a sermon !  Divided into four hundred and ninety parts — each fully equal to an ordinary address from the pulpit — and each discussing a separate sin !  Where he searched for them , I cannot tell ; he had his private manner of interpreting the phrase , and it seemed necessary the brother should sin different sins on every occasion .  They were of the most curious character — odd trangressions that I never imagined previously .  Oh , how weary I grew .  How I writhed , and yawned , and nodded , and revived !  How I pinched and pricked myself , and rubbed my eyes , and stood up , and sat down again , and nudged Joseph to inform me if he would ever have done !  "  I was condemned to hear all out — finally , he reached the " First of the Seventy-First .  " At that crisis , a sudden inspiration descended on me ; I was moved to rise and denounce Jabes Branderham as the sinner of the sin that no christian need pardon .  " Sir , " I exclaimed , " sitting here , within these four walls , at one stretch , I have endured and forgiven the four hundred and ninety heads of your discourse .  Seventy times seven times have I plucked up ray hat , and been about to depart — Seventy times seven times have you preposterously forced me to resume my seat .  The four hundred and ninety-first is too much .  Fellow martyrs , have at him !  Drag him down , and crush him to atoms , that the place which knows him may know him no more !  "  " Thou art the Man ! " cried Jabes , after a solemn pause , leaning over his cushion .  " Seventy times seven times didst thou gapingly contort thy visage — seventy times seven did I take counsel with my soul — Lo , this is human weakness ; this also may be absolved !  The First of the Seventy-First is come .  Brethren , execute upon him the judgment written !  such honour have all His saints !  "  With that concluding word , the whole assembly , exalting their pilgrim 'sstaves , rushed round me in a body , and I , having no weapon to raise in self-defence , commenced grappling with Joseph , my nearest and most ferocious assailant , for his .  In the confluence of the multitude , several clubs crossed ; blows , aimed at me , fell on other sconses .  Presently the whole chapel resounded with rappings and counter-rappings .  Every man 'shand was against his neighbour ; and Branderham , unwilling to remain idle , poured forth his zeal in a shower of loud taps on the boards of the pulpit which responded so smartly , that , at last , to my unspeakable relief , they woke me .  And what was it that had suggested the tremendous tumult , what bad played Jabes 'part in the row ?  Merely , the branch of a fir-tree that touched my lattice , as the blast wailed by , and rattled its dry cones against the panes !  I listened doubtingly an instant ; detected the disturber , then turned and dosed , and dreamt again ; if possible , still more disagreebly than before .  This time , I remembered I was lying in the oak closet , and I heard distinctly the gusty wind , and the driving of the snow ; I heard also , the firbough repeat its teasing sound , and ascribed it to the right cause : but , it annoyed me so much , that I resolved to silence it , if possible ; and , I thought , I rose and endeavoured to unhasp the casement .  The hook was soldered into the staple , a circumstance observed by me , when awake , but forgotten .  " I must stop it , nevertheless !  " I muttered , knocking my knuckles through the glass , and stretching an arm out to seize the importunate branch : instead of which , my fingers closed on the fingers of a little , ice-cold hand !  The intense horror of nightmare came over me ; I tried to draw back my arm , but , the hand clung to it , and a most melancholy voice , sobbed ,  " Let me in — let me in !  "  " Who are you ?  " I asked struggling , meanwhile , to disengage myself .  " Catherine Linton , " it replied , shiveringly , ( why did I think of Linton ?  I had read Earnshaw , twenty times for Linton ) " I 'mcome home , I 'dlost my way on the moor !  "  As it spoke , I discerned , obscurely , a child 'sface looking through the window — Terror made me cruel ; and , finding it useless to attempt shaking the creature off , I pulled its wrist on to the broken pane , and rubbed it to and fro till the blood ran down and soaked the bed-clothes : still it wailed , " Let me in !  " and maintained its tenacious gripe , almost maddening me with fear .  " How can I ?  " I said at length .  " Let me go , if you want me to let you in !  "  The fingers relaxed , I snatched mine through the hole , hurriedly piled the books up in a pyramid against it , and stopped my ears to exclude the lamentable prayer .  I seemed to keep them closed above a quarter of an hour , yet , the instant I listened , again , there was the doleful cry moaning on !  " Begone !  " I shouted , " I 'llnever let you in , not if you beg for twenty years !  "  " It 'stwenty years , " mourned the voice , " twenty years , I 'vebeen a waif for twenty years !  "  Thereat began a feeble scratching outside , and the pile of books moved as if thrust forward .  I tried to jump up ; but , could not stir a limb ; and so , yelled aloud , in a frenzy of fright .  To my confusion , I discovered the yell was not ideal .  Hasty footsteps approached my chamber door : somebody pushed it open , with a vigorous hand , and a light glimmered through the squares at the top of the bed .  I sat shuddering , yet , and wiping the perspiration from my forehead : the intruder appeared to hesitate and muttered to himself .  At last , he said in a half-whisper , plainly not expecting an answer ,  " Is any one here ?  "  I considered it best to confess my presence , for I knew Heathcliff 'saccents , and feared he might search further , if I kept quiet .  With this intention , I turned and opened the panels — I shall not soon forget the effect my action produced .  Heathcliff stood near the entrance , in his shirt and trousers ; with a candle dripping over his fingers , and his face as white as the wall behind him .  The first creak of the oak startled him like an electric shock : the light leaped from his hold to a distance of some feet , and his agitation was so extreme , that he could hardly pick it up .  " It is only your guest , slr , " I called out , desirous to spare him the humiliation of exposing his cowardice further .  " I had the misfortune to scream in my sleep , owing to a frightful nightmare .  I 'msorry I disturbed you .  "  " Oh , God confound you , Mr. Lockwood !  I wish you were at the — " commenced my host setting the candle on a chair , because he found it impossible to hold it steady .  " And who showed you up to this room ?  " he continued , crushing his nails into his palms , and grinding his teeth to subdue the maxillary convulsions .  " Who was it ?  I 'vea good mind to turn them out of the house , this moment !  "  " It was your servant , Zillah , " I replied flinging myself , on to the floor , and rapidly resuming my garments .  " I should not care if you did , Mr. Heathcliff ; she richly deserves it .  I suppose that she wanted to get another proof that the place was haunted , at my expense — Well , it is — swarming with ghosts and goblins !  You have reason in shutting it up , I assure you .  No one will thank you for a dose in such a den !  "  " What do you mean ?  " asked Heathcliff , " and what are you doing ?  Lie down and finish out the night , since you are here ; but , for Heaven 'ssake !  do n't repeat that horrid noise — Nothing could excuse it , unless you were having your throat cut !  "  " If the little fiend had got in at the window , she probably would have strangled me !  " I returned .  " I 'mnot going to endure the persecutions of your hospitable ancestors , again — Was not the Reverend Jabes Branderham akin to you on the mother 'sside ?  And that minx , Catherine Linton , or Earnshaw , or however she was called — she must have been a changling — wicked little soul !  She told me she had been walking the earth these twenty years : a just punishment for her mortal transgressions , I 'veno doubt !  "  Scarcely were these words uttered , when I recollected the association of Heathcliff 'swith Catherine 'sname in the book , which had completely slipped from my memory till thus awakened .  I blushed at my inconsideration ; but without showing further consciousness of the offence , I hastened to add ,  " The truth is , sir , I passed the first part of the night in — " Here , I stopped afresh — I was about to say " perusing those old volumes , " then it would have revealed my knowledge of their written , as well as their printed contents ; so correcting myself , I went on ,  " In spelling over the name scratched on that window-ledge .  A monotonous occupation , calculated to set me asleep , like counting , or — "  " What can you mean , by talking in this way to me !  " thundered Heathcliff with savage vehemence .  " How — how dare you , under my roof — God !  he 'smad to speak so !  " And he struck his forehead with rage .  I did not know whether to resent this language , or pursue my explanation ; but he seemed so powerfully affected that I took pity and proceeded with my dreams ; affirming I had never heard the appellation of " Catherine Linton , " before , but , reading it often over produced an impression which personified itself when I had no longer my imagination under control .  Heathcliff gradually fell back into the shelter of the bed , as I spoke , finally , sitting down almost concealed behind it .  I guessed , however , by his irregular and intercepted breathing , that he struggled to vanquish an access of violent emotion .  Not liking to show him that I heard the conflict , I continued my toilette rather noisily , looked at my watch , and soliloquised on the length of the night :  " Not three o'clock , yet !  I could have taken oath it had been six — time stagnates here — we must surely have retired to rest at eight !  "  " Always at nine in winter , and always rise at four , " said my host , suppressing a groan ; and , as I fancied , by the motion of his shadow 'sarm , dashing a tear from his eyes .  " Mr Lockwood , " he added , " you may go into my room ; you 'llonly be in the way , coming down stairs so early : and your childish outcry has sent sleep to the devil for me .  "  " And for me too , " I replied .  " I 'llwalk in the yard till daylight , and then I 'llbe off ; and you need not dread a repetition of my intrusion .  I am now quite cured of seeking pleasure in society , be it country or town .  A sensible man ought to find sufficient company in himself .  "  " Delightful company !  " muttered Heathcliff .  " Take the candle , and go where you please .  I shall join you directly .  Keep out of the yard though the dogs are unchained ; and the house — Juno mounts sentinel there — and — nay , you can only ramble about the steps and passages — but , away with you !  I 'llcome in two minutes .  "  I obeyed , so far as to quit the chamber ; when , ignorant where the narrow lobbies led , I stood still , and was witness , involuntarily , to a piece of superstition on the part of my landlord , which belied , oddly , his apparent sense .  He got on to the bed , and wrenched open the lattice , bursting , as he pulled at it , into an uncontrollable passion of tears .  " Come in !  come in !  " he sobbed .  " Cathy , do come .  Oh do — once more !  Oh !  my heart 'sdarling , hear me this time — Catherine , at last !  "  The spectre showed a spectre 'sordinary caprice ; it gave no sign of being ; but the snow and wind whirled wildly through , even reaching my station , and blowing out the light .  There was such anguish in the gush of grief that accompanied this raving , that my compassion made me overlook its folly , and I drew off , half angry to have listened at all , and vexed at having related my ridiculous nightmare , since it produced that agony ; though why , was beyond my comprehension .  I descended cautiously to the lower regions and landed in the back-kitchen , where a gleam of fire , raked compactly together , enabled me to rekindle my candle .  Nothing was stirring except a brindled , grey cat , which crept from the ashes , and saluted me with a querulous mew .  Two benches , shaped in sections of a circle , nearly enclosed the hearth ; on one of these I stretched myself , and Grimalkin mounted the other .  We were both of us nodding , ere any one invaded our retreat ; and then it was Joseph shuffling down a wooden ladder that vanished in the roof , through a trap , the assent to his garret , I suppose .  He cast a sinister look at the little flame which I had enticed to play between the ribs , swept the cat from its elevation , and bestowing himself In the vacancy , commenced the operation of stuffing a three-inch pipe with tobacco ; my presence in his sanctum was evidently esteemed a piece of impudence too shameful for remark .  He silently applied the tube to his lips , folded his arms , and puffed away .  I let him enjoy the luxury , unannoyed ; and after sucking out the last wreath , and heaving a profound sigh , he got up , and departed as solemnly as he came .  A more elastic footstep entered next , and now I opened my mouth for a " good morning , " but closed it again , the salutation unachieved ; for Hareton Earnshaw was performing his orisons , sotto voce , in a series of curses directed against every object he touched , while he rummaged a corner , for a spade or shovel to dig through the drifts .  He glanced over the back of the bench dilating his nostrils , and thought as little of exchanging civilities with me , as with my companion , the cat .  I guessed by his preparations that egress was allowed , and leaving my hard couch , made a movement to follow him .  He noticed this , and thrust at an inner door with the end of his spade , intimating by an inarticulate sound , that there was the place where I must go , if I changed my locality .  It opened into the house , where the females were already astir .  Zillah urging flakes of flame up the chimney with a colossal bellows ; and Mrs. Heathcliff , kneeling on the hearth , reading a book by the aid of the blaze .  She held her hand interposed between the furnace-heat and her eyes ; and seemed absorbed in her occupation : desisting from it only to chide the servant for covering her with sparks , or to push away a dog , now and then , that snoozled its nose over forwardly into her face .  I was surprised to see Heathcliff there also .  He stood by the fire , his back towards me , just finishing a stormy scene to poor Zillah , who ever and anon interrupted her labour to pluck up the corner of her apron , and heave an indignant groan .  " And you , you worthless — " he broke out as I entered , turning to his daughter-in-law , and employing an epithet as harmless as duck , or sheep , but generally represented by a dash .  " There you are at your idle tricks again !  The rest of them do earn their bread — you live on my charity !  Put your trash away , and find something to do .  You shall pay me for the plague of having you eternally in my sight — do you hear , damnable jade ?  "  " I 'llput my trash away , because you can make me , if I refuse , " answered the young lady , closing her book , and throwing it on a chair .  " But I 'llnot do anything , though you should swear your tongue out , except what I please !  "  Heathcliff lifted his hand , and the speaker sprang to a safer distance , obviously acquainted with its weight .  Having no desire to be entertained by a cat and dog combat , I stepped forward briskly , as if eager to partake the warmth of the hearth , and innocent of any knowledge of the interrupted dispute .  Each had enough decorum to suspend further hostilities ; Heathcliff placed his fists , out of temptation , in his pockets : Mrs. Heathcliff curled her lip , and walked to a seat far off ; where she kept her word by playing the part of a statue during the remainder of my stay .  That was not long .  I declined joining their breakfast , and , at the first gleam of dawn , took an opportunity of escaping into the free air , now clear , and still , and cold as impalpable ice .  My landlord hallooed for me to stop ere I reached the bottom of the garden , and offered to accompany me across the moor .  It was well he did , for the whole hill-back was one billowy , white ocean ; the swells and falls not indicating corresponding rises and depressions in the ground — many pits , at least , were filled to a level ; and entire ranges of mounds , the refuse of the quarries , blotted from the chart which my yesterday 'swalk left pictured in my mind .  I had remarked on one side of the road , at intervals of six or seven yards , a line of upright stones , continued through the whole length of the barren : these were erected , and daubed with lime , on purpose to serve as guides in the dark , and also , when a fall , like the present , confounded the deep swamps on either hand with the firmer path : but , excepting a dirty dot pointing up , here and there , all traces of their existence had vanished ; and my companion found it necessary to warn me frequently to steer to the right , or left , when I imagined I was following , correctly , the windings of the road .  We exchanged little conversation , and he halted at the entrance of Thrushcross park , saying , I could make no error there .  Our adieux were limited to a hasty bow , and then I pushed forward , trusting to my own resources , for the porter 'slodge is untenanted as yet .  The distance from the gate to the Grange is to miles : I believe I managed to make it four ; what with losing myself among the trees , and sinking up to the neck in snow , a predicament which only those who have experienced it can appreciate .  At any rate , whatever were my wanderings , the clock chimed twelve as I entered the house ; and that gave exactly an hour for every mile of the usual way from Wuthering Heights .  My human fixture , and her satellites rushed to welcome me ; exclaiming , tumultuously , they had completely given me up ; everybody conjectured that I perished last night ; and they were wondering how they must set about the search for my remains .  I bid them be quiet , now that they saw me returned , and , benumbed to my very heart , I dragged up-stairs , whence , after putting on dry clothes , and pacing to and fro , thirty or forty minutes , to restore the animal heat , I am adjourned to my study , feeble as a kitten , almost too much so to enjoy the cheerful fire , and smoking coffee which the servant has prepared for my refreshment .  CHAPTER IV .  What vain weather-cocks we are !  I , who had determined to held myself independent of all social intercourse , and thanked my stars that , at length , I had lighted on a spot where it was next to impracticable .  I , weak wretch , after maintaining till dusk a struggle with low spirits , and solitude , was finally compelled to strike my colours ; and , under pretence of gaining information concerning the necessities of my establishment , I desired Mrs. Dean , when she brought in supper , to sit down while I ate it , hoping sincerely she would prove a regular gossip , and either rouse me to animation , or lull me to sleep by her talk .  " You have lived here a considerable time , " I commenced ; " did you not say sixteen years ?  "  " Eighteen , sir ; I came , when the mistress was married , to wait on her ; after she died , the master retained me for his house-keeper .  "  " Indeed .  "  There ensued a pause .  She was not a gossip , I feared , unless about her own affairs , and those could hardly interest me .  However , having studied for an interval , with a fist on either knee , and a cloud of meditation over her ruddy countenance , she ejaculated —  " Ah , times are greatly changed since then !  "  " Yes , " I remarked , " you 'veseen a good many alterations , I suppose ?  "  " I have : and troubles too , " she said .  " Oh , I 'llturn the talk on my landlord 'sfamily !  " I thought to myself .  " A good subject to start — and that pretty girl — widow , I should like to know her history ; whether she be a native of the country , or , as is more probable , an exotic that the surly indigenae will not recognise for kin .  "  With this intention I asked Mrs. Dean why Heathcliif let Thrushcross Grange , and preferred living in a situation and residence so much inferior .  " Is he not rich enough to keep the estate in good order ?  " I enquired .  " Rich sir !  " she returned .  " He has , nobody knows what money , and every year it increases .  Yes , yes , he 'srich enough to live in a finer house than this ; but he 'svery near — close-handed ; and , if he had meant to flit to Thrushcross Grange , as soon as he heard of a good tenant , he could not have borne to miss the chance of getting a few hundreds more .  It is strange people should be so greedy , when they are alone in the world !  "  " He had a son , it seems ?  "  " Yes , he had one — he is dead .  "  " And that young lady , Mrs. Heathcliff , is his widow ?  "  " Yes .  "  " Where did she come from originally ?  "  " Why , sir , she is my late master 'sdaughter ; Catherine Linton was her maiden name .  I nursed her , poor thing !  I did wish Mr. Heathcliff would remove here , and then we might have been together again .  "  " What , Catherine Linton !  " I exclaimed , astonished .  But a minute 'sreflection convinced me it was not my ghostly Catherine .  " Then , " I continued , " my predecessor 'sname was Linton ?  "  " It was .  "  " And who is that Earnshaw , Hareton Earnshaw , who lives with Mr. Heathcliff ?  are they relations ?  "  " No ; he is the late Mrs. Linton 'snephew .  "  " The young lady 'scousin then ?  "  " Yes ; and her husband was her cousin also — one , on the mother 's— the other , on the father 'sside — Heathcliff married Mr. Linton 'ssister .  "  " I see the house at Wuthering Heights has ' Earnshaw 'carved over the front door .  Are they an old family ?  "  " Very old , sir ; and Hareton is the last of them , as our Miss Cathy is of us — I mean , of the Lintons .  Have you been to Wuthering Heights ?  I beg pardon for asking ; but I should like to hear how she is !  "  " Mrs. Heathcliff ?  she looked very well , and very handsome ; yet , I think , not very happy .  "  " Oh dear , I do n't wonder !  " And how did you like the master ?  "  " A rough fellow , rather , Mrs. Dean .  Is not that his character ?  "  " Rough as a saw-edge , and hard as whinstone !  The less you meddle with him the better .  "  " He must have had some ups and downs in life to make him such a churl .  Do you know anything of his history ?  "  " It 'sa cuckoo 's; sir — I know all about it ; except where he was born , and who were his parents , and how he got his money , at first — And Hareton has been cast out like an unfledged dunnock — The unfortunate lad is the only one , in all this parish , that does not guess how he has been cheated !  "  " Well , Mrs. Dean , it will be a charitable deed to tell me something of my neighbours — I feel I shall not rest , if I go to bed ; so , be good enough to sit , and chat an hour .  "  " Oh , certainly , sir !  I 'lljust fetch a little sewing , and then I 'llsit as long as you please but you 'vecaught cold , I saw you shivering , and you must have some gruel to drive it out .  "  The worthy woman bustled off ; and I crouched nearer the fire : my head felt hot , and the rest of me chill : moreover I was excited , almost to a pitch of foolishness through my nerves and brain .  This caused me to feel , not uncomfortable , but rather fearful , as I am still , of serious effects from the incidents of today and yesterday .  She returned presently , bringing a smoking basin , and a basket of work ; and , having placed the former on the hob , drew in her seat , evidently pleased to find me so companionable .  " Before I came to live here , " she commenced , waiting no further invitation to her story ; " I was almost always at Wuthering Heights ; because , my mother had nursed Mr. Hindley Earnshaw , that was Hareton 'sfather , and I got used to playing with the children — I ran errands too , and helped to make hay , and hung about the farm ready for anything that anybody would set me to .  " One fine summer morning — it was the beginning of harvest , I remember — Mr. Earnshaw , the old master , came down stairs , dressed for a journey ; and , after he had told Joseph what was to be done during the day , he turned to Hindley , and Cathy , and me — for I sat eating my porridge , with them , and he said , speaking to his son ,  " Now my bonny man , I 'mgoing to Liverpool , to-day .  .  .What shall I bring you ?  You may choose what you like ; only let it be little , for I shall walk there and back ; sixty miles each way , that is a long spell !  "  Hindley named a fiddle , and then he asked Miss Cathy ; she was hardly six years old , but she could ride any horse in the stable , and she chose a whip .  He did not forget me , for , he had a kind heart , though he was rather severe , sometimes .  He promised to bring me a pocketful of apples , and pears , and then he kissed his children , good bye , and set off .  It seemed a long while to us all — the three days of his absence — and often did little Cathy ask when he would be home : Mrs. Earnshaw , expected him by supper-time , on the third evening ; and she put the meal off hour after hour ; there were no signs of his coming , however , and at last the children got tired of running down to the gate to look — Then it grew dark , she would have had them to bed , but they begged sadly to be allowed to stay up : and , just about eleven o'clock , the door-latch was raised quietly and in stept the master .  He threw himself into a chair , laughing and groaning , and bid them all stand off , for he was nearly killed — he would not have such another walk for the three kingdoms .  " And at the end of it , to be flighted to death !  " he said opening his great coat , which he held bundled up in his arms , " See here , wife ; I was never so beaten with anything in my life ; but you must e'en take it as a gift of God ; though it 'sas dark almost as if it came from the devil .  "  We crowded round , and , over Miss Cathy 'shead , I had a peep at a dirty , ragged , black-haired child ; big enough both to walk and talk — indeed , its face looked older than Catherine 's— yet , when it was set on its feet , it only stared round , and repeated over and over again , some gibberish that nobody could understand .  I was frightened , and Mrs. Earnshaw was ready to fling it out of doors : she did fly up — asking how he could fashion to bring that gipsy brat into the house , when they had their own bairns to feed , and fend for ?  What he meant to do with it , and whether he were mad ?  The master tried to explain the matter ; but , he was really half dead with fatigue , and all that I could make out , amongst her scolding , was a tale of his seeing it starving , and houseless , and as good as dumb in the streets of Liverpool where he picked it up and inquired for its owner — Not a soul knew to whom it belonged , he said , and his money and time , being both limited , he thought it better , to take it home with him , at once , than run , into vain expences there ; because he was determined he would not leave as he found it .  Well , the conclusion was that my mistress grumbled herself calm ; and Mr Earnshaw told me to wash it , and give it clean things , and let it sleep with the children .  Hindley and Cathy contented themselves with looking and listening till peace was restored : then , both began searching their father 'spockets for the presents he had promised them .  The former was a boy of fourteen , but when he drew out , what had been a fiddle crushed to morsels in the great coat , he blubbered aloud , and Cathy , when she learnt the master had lost her whip in attending on the stranger , showed her humour by grinning and spitting at the stupid little thing , earning for her pains , a sound blow from her father to teach her cleaner manners .  They entirely refused to have it in bed with them , or even in their room , and I had no more sense , so , I put it on the landing of the stairs , hoping it might be gone on the morrow .  By chance , or else attracted by hearing his voice , it crept to Mr. Earnshaw 'sdoor and there he found it on quitting his chamber .  Inquiries were made as to how it got there ; I was obliged to confess , and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house .  This was Heathcliff 'sfirst introduction to the family : on coming back a few days afterwards , for I did not consider my banishment perpetual , I found they had christened him " Heathcliff , " it was the name of a son who died in childhood , and it has served him ever since , both for christian and surname .  Miss Cathy and he were now very thick ; but Hindley hated him , and to say the truth I did the same ; and we plagued and went on with him shamefully , for I was'nt reasonable enough to feel my injustice , and the mistress never put in a word on his behalf , when she saw him wronged .  He seemed a sullen , patient child ; hardened , perhaps , to ill-treatment : he would stand Hindley 'sblows without winking or shedding a tear , and my pinches moved him only to draw in a breath , and open his eyes as if he had hurt himself by accident , and nobody was to blame .  This endurance made old Earnshaw furious when he discovered his son persecuting the poor , fatherless child , as he called him .  He took to Heathcliff strangely , believing , all he said , ( for that matter , he said precious little , and generally the truth , ) and petting him up far above Cathy , who was too mischievous and wayward for a favourite .  So , from the very beginning , he bred bad feeling in the house ; and at Mrs Earnshaw 'sdeath , which happened in less than two years after , the young master had learnt to regard his father as an oppressor rather than a friend , and Heathcliff as a usurper of his parent 'saflfections , and his privileges , and he grew bitter with brooding over these injuries .  I sympathised awhile , but , when the children fell ill of the measles and I had to tend them , and take on me the cares of a woman , at once , I changed my ideas .  Heathcliff was dangerously sick , and while he lay at the worst he would have me constantly by his pillow ; I suppose he felt I did a good deal for him , and he had'nt wit to guess that I was compelled to do it .  However , I will say this , he was the quietest child that ever nurse watched over .  The difference between him and the others forced me to be less partial : Cathy and her brother harassed me terribly : he was as uncomplaining as a lamb ; though hardness , not gentleness , made him give little trouble .  He got through , and the doctor affirmed it was in a great measure owing to me , and praised me for my care .  I was vain of his commendations , and softened towards the being by whose means , I earned them , and thus Hindley lost his last ally ; still I could n't dote on Heathcliff , and I wondered often what my master saw to admire so much in the sullen boy who never , to my recollection , repaid his indulgence by any sign of gratitude .  He was not insolent to his benefactor ; he was simply insensible , though knowing perfectly the hold he had on his heart , and conscious he had only to speak and all the house would be obliged to bend to his wishes .  As an instance , I remember Mr. Earnshaw once bought a couple of colts at the parish fair , and gave the lads each one .  Heathcliff took the handsomest , but it soon fell lame , and when he discovered it , he said to Hindley ,  " You must exchange horses with me ; I do n't like mine , and , if you wo n't I shall tell your father of the three thrashings you 'vegiven me this week , and show him my arm which is black to the shoulder .  "  Hindley put out his tongue , and cuffed him over the ears .  " You 'dbetter do it , at once , " he persisted escaping to the porch , ( they were in the stable ) " you will have to , and , if I speak , of these blows , you 'llget them again with interest .  "  " Off dog !  " cried Hindley , threatening him with an iron weight , used for weighing potatoes , and hay .  " Throw it , " he replied , standing still , " and then I 'lltell how you boasted that you would turn me out of doors as soon as he died , and see whether he will not turn you out directly .  "  Hindley threw it , hitting him on the breast and down he fell but staggered up , immediately , breathless and white , and had not I prevented it he would have gone just so to the master , and got full revenge by letting his condition plead for him , intimating who had caused it .  "  " Take my colt , gipsy , then !  " said young Earnshaw , " And I pray that he may break your neck , take him , and be damned , you beggarly interloper !  and wheedle my father out of all he has , only , afterwards , show him what you are , imp of Satan — And take that , I hope he 'llkick out your brains !  "  Heathcliff had gone to loose the beast , and shift it to his own stall — He was passing behind it , when Hindley finished his speech by knocking him under its feet , and without stopping to examine whether his hopes were fulfilled , ran away as fast as he could .  I was surprised to witness how coolly the child gathered himself up , and went on with his intention , exchanging saddles and all ; and then sitting down on a bundle of hay to overcome the qualm which the violent blow occasioned , before he entered the house .  I persuaded him easily to let me lay the blame of his bruises on the horse ; he minded little what tale was told since he had what he wanted .  He complained so seldom , indeed , of such stirs as these , that I really thought him not vindictive — I was deceived , completely , as you will hear .  CHAPTER V.  In the course of time , Mr. Earnshaw began to fail .  He had been active and healthy , yet his strength left him suddenly ; and when he was confined to the chimney-corner he grew grievously irritable .  A nothing vexed him , and suspected slights of his authority nearly threw him into fits .  This was especially to be remarked if any one attempted to impose upon , or domineer over his favourite ; he was painfully jealous lest a word should be spoken amiss to him , seeming to have got into his head the notion that , because he liked Heathcliff , all hated , and longed to do him an ill-turn .  It was a disadvantage to the lad , for the kinder among us did not wish to fret the master , so we humoured his partiality ; and that humouring was rich nourishment to the child 'spride and black tempers .  Still it became in a manner necessary ; twice , or thrice , Hindley 'smanifestations of scorn , while his father was near , roused the old man to a fury .  He seized his stick to strike him , and shook with rage that he could not do it .  At last , our curate , ( we had a curate then who made the living answer by teaching the little Lintons and Earnshaws , and farming his bit of land himself , ) he advised that the young man should be sent to college , and Mr , Earnshaw agreed , though with a heavy spirit , for he said —  " Hindley was naught , and would never thrive as where he wandered .  "  I hoped heartily we should have peace now .  It hurt me to think the master should be made uncomfortable by his own good deed .  I fancied the discontent of age and disease arose from his family disagreements , as he would have it that it did — really , you know , sir , it was in his sinking frame .  We might have got on tolerably , notwithstanding ; but , for two people .  Miss Cathy , and Joseph , the servant ; you saw him , I dare say , up yonder .  He was , and is yet , most likely , the wearisomest , self-righteous pharisee that ever ransacked a bible to rake the promises to himself , and fling the curses on his neighbours .  By his knack of sermonizing and pious discoursing , he contrived to make a great impression on Mr. Earnshaw , and , the more feeble the master became , the more influence he gained .  He was relentless in worrying him about his soul 'sconcerns , and about ruling his children rigidly .  He encouraged him to regard Hindley as a reprobate ; and , night after night , he regularly grumbled out a long string of tales against Heathcliff and Catherine ; always minding to flatter Earnshaw 'sweakness by heaping the heaviest blame on the last .  Certainly , she had ways with her such as I never saw a child take up before ; and she put all of us past our patience fifty times and oftener in a day : from the hour she came down stairs , till the hour she went to bed , we had not a minute 'ssecurity that she would n't be in mischief .  Her spirits were always at high-water mark , her tongue always going — singing , laughing , and plaguing everybody who would not do the same .  A wild , wick slip she was — but , she had the bonniest eye , and sweetest smile , and lightest foot in the parish ; and , after all , I believe she meant no harm ; for when once she made you cry in good earnest , it seldom happened that she would not keep you company ; and oblige you to be quiet that you might comfort her .  She was much too fond of Heathcliff .  The greatest punishment we could invent for her was to keep her separate from him : yet , she got chided more than any of us on his account .  In play , she liked , exceedingly , to act the little mistress ; using her hands freely , and commanding her companions : she did so to me , but I would not bear slapping , and ordering ; and so I let her know .  Now , Mr. Earnshaw did not understand jokes from his children : he had always been strict and grave with them ; and Catherine , on her part , had no idea why her father should be crosser and less patient in his ailing condition , than he was in his prime .  His peevish reproofs wakened in her a naughty delight to provoke him ; she was never so happy as when we were all scolding her at once , and she defying us with her bold , saucy look , and her ready words ; turning Joseph 'sreligious curses into ridicule , baiting me , and doing just what her father hated most , showing how her pretended insolence , which he thought real , had more power over Heathcliff than his kindness .  How the boy would do her bidding in anything , and his only when it suited his own inclination .  After behaving as badly as possible all day , she sometimes came fondling to make it up at night .  " Nay , Cathy , " the old man would say , " I cannot love thee ; thou'rt worse than thy brother .  Go , say thy prayers , child , and ask God 'spardon .  I doubt thy mother and I must rue that we ever reared thee !  "  That made her cry , at first ; and then , being repulsed continually hardened her , and she laughed if I told her to say she was sorry for her faults , and beg to be forgiven .  But the hour came , at last , that ended Mr. Earnshaw 'stroubles on earth .  He died quietly in his chair one October evening , seated by the fire-side .  A high wind blustered round the house , and roared in the chimney : it sounded wild and stormy , yet it was not cold , and we were all together — I , a little removed from the hearth , busy at my knitting , and Joseph reading his Bible near the table , ( for the servants generally sat in the house then , after their work was done .  ) Miss Cathy had been sick , and that made her still ; she leant against her father 'sknee , and Heathcliff was lying on the floor with his head in her lap .  I remember the master , before he fell into a doze , stroking her bonny hair — it pleased him rarely to see her gentle — and saying —  " Why canst thou not always be a good lass , Cathy ?  "  And she turned her face up to his , and laughed , and answered ,  " Why cannot you always be a good man , father ?  "  But as soon as she saw him vexed again , she kissed his hand , and said she would sing him to sleep .  She began singing very low , till his fingers dropped from hers , and his head sank on his breast .  Then I told her to hush , and not stir , for fear she should wake him .  We all kept as mute as mice a full half-hour , and should have done longer , only Joseph , having finished his chapter , got up and said that he must rouse the master for prayers and bed .  He stepped forward , and called him by name , and touched his shoulder , but he would not move — so he took the candle and looked at him .  I thought there was something wrong as he set down the light ; and seizing the children each by an arm , whispered them to " frame up-stairs , and make little din — they might pray alone that evening — he had summut to do .  "  " I shall bid father good-night first , " said Catherine , putting her arms round his neck , before we could hinder her .  The poor thing discovered her loss directly — she screamed out —  " Oh , he 'sdead , Heathcliff !  he 'sdead !  "  And they both set up a heart-breaking cry .  I joined my wail to theirs , loud and bitter ; but Joseph asked what we could be thinking of to roar in that way over a saint in Heaven .  He told me to put on my cloak and run to Gimmerton for the doctor and the parson .  I could not guess the use that either would be of , then .  However , I went , through wind and rain , and brought one , the doctor , back with me ; the other said he would come in the morning .  Leaving Joseph to explain matters , I ran to the children 'sroom ; their door was ajar , I saw they had never laid down , though it was past midnight ; but they were calmer , and did not need me to console them .  The little souls were comforting each other with better thoughts than I could have hit on ; no parson in the world ever pictured Heaven so beautifully as they did , in their innocent talk ; and , while I sobbed , and listened , I could not help wishing we were all there safe together .  CHAPTER VI .  Mr. Hindley came home to the funeral ; and — a thing that amazed us , and set the neighbours gossipping right and left — he brought a wife with him .  What she was , and where she was born he never informed us ; probably , she had neither money nor name to recommend her , or he would scarcely have kept the union from his father .  She was not one that would have disturbed the house much on her own account .  Every object she saw , the moment she crossed the threshold , appeared to delight her ; and every circumstance that took place about her , except the preparing for the burial , and the presence of the mourners .  I thought she was half silly from her behaviour while that went on ; she ran into her chamber , and made me come with her , though I should have been dressing the children ; and there she sat shivering and clasping her hands , and asking repeatedly —  " Are they gone yet ?  "  Then she began describing with hysterical emotion the effect it produced on her to see black ; and started , and trembled , and , at last , fell a weeping — and when I asked what was the matter ?  answered , she did n't know ; but she felt so afraid of dying !  I imagined her as little likely to die as myself .  She was rather thin , but young , and fresh complexioned , and her eyes sparkled as bright as diamonds .  I did remark , to be sure , that mounting the stairs made her breathe very quick , that the least sudden noise set her all in a quiver , and that she coughed troublesomely sometimes : but , I knew nothing of what these symptoms portended , and had no impulse to sympathize with her .  We do n't in general take to foreigners here , Mr. Lockwood , unless they take to us first .  Young Earnshaw was altered considerably in the three years of his absence .  He had grown sparer , and lost his colour , and spoke and dressed quite differently : and , on the very day of his return , he told Joseph and me we must thenceforth quarter ourselves in the back-kitchen , and leave the house for him .  Indeed he would have carpeted and papered a small spare room for a parlour ; but his wife expressed such pleasure at the white floor , and huge glowing fire-place , at the pewter dishes , and delf-case , and dog-kennel , and the wide space there was to move about in , where they usually sat , that he thought it unnecessary to her comfort , and so dropped the intention .  She expressed pleasure , too , at finding a sister among her new acquaintance , and she prattled to Catherine , and kissed her , and ran about with her , and gave her quantities of presents , at the beginning .  Her affection tired very soon , however , and when she grew peevish , Hindley became tyrannical .  A few words from her , evincing a dislike to Heathcliff , were enough to rouse in him all his old hatred of the boy .  He drove him from their company to the servants , deprived him of the instructions of the curate , and insisted that he should labour out of doors instead , compelling him to do so , as hard as any other lad on the farm .  He bore his degradation pretty well at first , because Cathy taught him what she learnt , and worked or played with him in the fields .  They both promised fair to grow up as rude as savages , the young master being entirely negligent how they behaved , and what they did , so they kept clear of him .  He would not even have seen after their going to church on Sundays , only Joseph and the curate reprimanded his carelessness when they absented themselves , and that reminded him to order Heathcliff a flogging , and Catherine a fast from dinner or supper .  But it was one of their chief amusements to run away to the moors in the morning and remain there all day , and the after punishment grew a mere thing to laugh at .  The curate might set as many chapters as he pleased for Catherine to get by heart , and Joseph might thrash Heathcliff till his arm ached ; they forgot everything the minute they were together again , at least the minute they had contrived some naughty plan of revenge , and many a time I 'vecried to myself to watch them growing more reckless daily , and I not daring to speak a syllable for fear of losing the small power I still retained over the unfriended creatures .  One Sunday evening , it chanced that they were banished from the sitting-room , for making a noise , or a light offence of the kind , and when I went to call them to supper , I could discover them nowhere .  We searched the house , above and below , and the yard , and stables , they were invisible ; and , at last , Hindley in a passion told us to bolt the doors , and swore nobody should let them in that night .  The household went to bed ; and I , too anxious to lie down , opened my lattice and put my head out to hearken , though it rained , determined to admit them in spite of the prohibition , should they return .  In a while , I distinguished steps coming up the road , and the light of a lantern glimmered through the gate .  I threw a shawl over my head and ran to prevent them from waking Mr. Earnshaw by knocking .  There was Heathcliff , by himself ; it gave me a start to see him alone .  " Where is Miss Catherine ?  " I cried hurriedly .  " No accident , I hope ?  "  " At Thrushcross Grange , " he answered , " and I would have been there too , but they had not the manners to ask me to stay .  "  " Well , you will catch it !  " I said , " you 'llnever be content till you 'resent about your business .  What in the world led you wandering to Thrushcross Grange ?  "  " Let me get off my wet clothes , and I 'lltell you all about it , Nelly , " he replied .  I bid him beware of rousing the master , and while he undressed , and I waited to put out the candle , he continued —  " Cathy and I escaped from the wash house to have a ramble at liberty , and getting a glimpse of the Grange lights , we thought we would just go and see whether the Lintons passed their Sunday evenings standing shivering in corners , while their father and mother sat eating and drinking and singing and laughing , and burning their eyes out before the fire .  Do you think they do ?  Or reading sermons , and being catechised by their manservant , and set to learn a column of Scripture names , if they do n't answer properly ?  "  " Probably not , " I responded .  " They are good children , no doubt , and do n't deserve the treatment you receive , for your bad conduct .  "  " Do n't you cant , Nelly , " he said " nonsense !  We ran from the top of the Heights to the park , without stopping — Catherine completely beaten in the race , because she was barefoot .  You 'llhave to seek for her shoes in the bog to-morrow .  We crept through a broken hedge , groped our way up the path , and planted ourselves on a flower-plot under the drawing room window .  The light came from thence ; they had not put up the shutters , and the curtains were only half closed .  Both of us were able to look in by standing on the basement , and clinging to the ledge , and we saw — ah !  it was beautiful — a splendid place carpeted with crimson , and crimson-covered chairs and tables , and a pure white ceiling bordered by gold , a shower of glass-drops hanging in silver chains from the centre , and shimmering with little soft tapers .  Old Mr. and Mrs. Linton were not there .  Edgar and his sister had it entirely to themselves ; should n't they have been happy ?  We should have thought ourselves in heaven !  And now , guess what your good children were doing ?  Isabella , I believe she is eleven , a year younger than Cathy , lay screaming at the farther end of the room , shrieking as if witches were running red hot needles into her .  Edgar stood on the hearth weeping silently , and in the middle of the table sat a little dog shaking its paw and yelping , which , from their mutual accusations , we understood they had nearly pulled in two between them .  The idiots !  That was their pleasure !  to quarrel who should hold a heap of warm hair , and each begin to cry because both , after struggling to get it , refused to take it .  We laughed outright at the petted things , we did despise them !  When would you catch me wishing to have what Catherine wanted ?  or find us by ourselves , seeking entertainment in yelling , and sobbing , and rolling on the ground , divided by the whole room ?  I 'dnot exchange , for a thousand lives , my condition here , for Edgar Linton 'sat Thrushcross Grange — not if I might have the privilege of flinging Joseph off the highest gable , and painting the house-front with Hindley 'sblood !  "  " Hush , hush !  " I interrupted .  " Still you have not told me , Heathcliff , how Catherine is left behind ?  "  " I told you we laughed , " he answered .  The Linton 'sheard us , and with one accord , they shot like arrows to the door ; there was silence , and then a cry , ' Oh , mamma , mamma !  Oh , papa !  Oh , mamma , come here .  Oh papa , oh !  ' They really did howl out , something in that way .  We made frightful noises to terrify them still more , and then we dropped off the ledge , because somebody was drawing the bars , and we felt we had better flee .  I had Cathy by the hand , and was urging her on , when all at once she fell down .  " Run , Heathcliff , run !  " she whispered .  " They have let the bull-dog loose , and he holds me !  "  " The devil had seized her ankle , Nelly ; I heard his abominable snorting .  She did not yell out — no !  She would have scorned to do it , if she had been spitted on the horns of a mad cow .  I did , though , I vociferated curses enough to annihilate any fiend in Christendom , and I got a stone and thrust it between his jaws , and tried with all my might to cram it down his throat .  A beast of a servant came up with a lantern , at last , shouting —  " Keep fast , Skulker , keep fast !  "  " He changed his note , however , when he saw Skulker 'sgame .  The dog was throttled off , his huge , purple tongue hanging half a foot out of his mouth , and his pendant lips streaming with bloody slaver .  " The man took Cathy up ; she was sick ; not from fear , I 'mcertain , but from pain .  He carried her in ; I followed grumbling execrations and vengeance .  "  " What prey , Robert ?  " hallooed Linton from the entrance .  "  " Skulker has caught a little girl , sir , " he replied , and there 'sa lad here , " ha added , making a clutch at me , " who looks an out-and-outer !  Very like , the robbers were for putting them through the window , to open the doors to the gang , after all were asleep , that they might murder us at their ease .  Hold your tongue , you foul-mouthed thief , you !  you shall go to the gallows for this .  Mr. Linton , sir , do n't lay by your gun !  "  " No , no , Robert !  " said the old fool .  " The rascals knew that yesterday was my rent day ; they thought to have me cleverly .  Come in ; I 'llfurnish them a reception .  There , John , fasten the chain .  Give Skulker some water , Jenny .  To beard a magistrate in his strong-hold , and on the Sabbath , too !  where will their insolence stop ?  Oh , my dear Mary , look here !  Do n't be afraid , it is but a boy — yet , the villain scowls so plainly in his face , would it not be a kindness to the country to hang him at once , before he shows his nature in acts , as well as features ?  "  He pulled me under the chandelier , and Mrs. Linton placed her spectacles on her nose and raised her hands in horror .  The cowardly children crept nearer also , Isabella lisping —  " Frightful thing !  Put him in the cellar , papa .  He 'sexactly like the son of the fortune-teller , that stole my tame pheasant .  Is n't he , Edgar ?  "  " While they examined me , Cathy came round ; she heard the last speech , and laughed .  Edgar Linton , after an inquisitive stare , collected sufficient wit to recognise her .  They see us at church , you know , though we seldom meet them elsewhere .  "  " That 'sMiss Earnshaw !  " he whispered to his mother , " and look how Skulker has bitten her — how her foot bleeds !  "  " Miss Earnshaw ?  Nonsense !  " cried the dame , " Miss Earnshaw scouring the country with a gipsy !  Aud yet , my dear , the child is in mourning — surely it is — and she may be lamed for life !  "  " What culpable carelessness in her brother !  " exclaimed Mr. Linton , turning from me to Catherine .  " I 'veunderstood from Shielders ( that was the curate sir ) that he lets her grow up in absolute heathenism .  But who is this ?  Where did she pick up this companion ?  Oho !  I declare he is that strange acquisition my late neighbour made in his journey to Liverpool — a little Lascar , or an American or Spanish castaway .  "  " A wicked boy , at all events , " remarked the old lady , " and quite unfit for a decent house !  Did you notice his language , Linton ?  I 'mshocked that my children should have heard it .  "  " I recommenced cursing — do n't be angry Nelly — and so Robert was ordered to take me off — I refused to go without Cathy — he dragged me into the garden , pushed the lantern into my hand , assured me that Mr. Earnshaw , should be informed of my behaviour , and bidding me march , directly , secured the door again .  " The curtains were still looped up at one corner ; and I resumed my station as spy , because , if Catherine had wished to return , I intended shattering their great glass panes to a million fragments , unless they let her out .  " She sat on the sofa quietly , Mrs. Linton took off the grey cloak of the dairy maid which we had borrowed for our excursion ; shaking her head , and expostulating with her , I suppose ; she was a young lady and they made a distinction between her treatment , and mine .  Then the woman servant brought a basin of warm water , and washed her feet ; and Mr. Linton mixed a tumbler of negus , and Isabella emptied a plateful of cakes into her lap , and Edgar , stood gaping at a distance .  Afterwards , they dried and combed her beautiful hair , and gave her a pair of enormous slippers , and wheeled her to the fire , and I left her , as merry as she could be , dividing her food , between the little dog and Skulker whose nose she pinched as he ate ; and kindling a spark of spirit in the vacant blue eyes of the Lintons — a dim reflection from her own enchanting face — I saw they were full of stupid admiration ; she is so immeasurably superior to them — to everybody on earth ; is she not , Nelly ?  "  " There will more come of this business than you reckon on .  " I answered covering him up and extinguishing the light , " You are incurable Heathcliff , and Mr. Hindley will have to proceed to extremities , see if he wont .