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1For two months the fugitives remained absent; in those two months, Mrs. Linton encountered and conquered the worst shock
2of what was denominated a brain fever. No mother could have nursed an only child more devotedly than Edgar tended her.
3Day and night he was watching, and patiently enduring all the annoyances that irritable nerves and a shaken reason could
4inflict; and, though Kenneth remarked that what he saved from the grave would only recompense his care by forming the
5source of constant future anxiety--in fact, that his health and strength were being sacrificed to preserve a mere ruin
6of humanity--he knew no limits in gratitude and joy when Catherine's life was declared out of danger; and hour after
7hour he would sit beside her, tracing the gradual return to bodily health, and flattering his too sanguine hopes with
8the illusion that her mind would settle back to its right balance also, and she would soon be entirely her former self.
9The first time she left her chamber was at the commencement of the following March. Mr. Linton had put on her pillow, in
10the morning, a handful of golden crocuses; her eye, long stranger to any gleam of pleasure, caught them in waking, and
11shone delighted as she gathered them eagerly together. "These are the earliest flowers at the Heights," she exclaimed.
12"They remind me of soft thaw winds, and warm sunshine, and nearly melted snow. Edgar, is there not a south wind, and is
13not the snow almost gone?" "The snow is quite gone down here, darling," replied her husband; "and I only see two white
14spots on the whole range of moors: the sky is blue, and the larks are singing, and the becks and brooks are all brim
15full. Catherine, last spring at this time, I was longing to have you under this roof; now, I wish you were a mile or two
16up those hills: the air blows so sweetly, I feel that it would cure you." "I shall never be there but once more," said
17the invalid; "and then you'll leave me, and I shall remain for ever. Next spring you'll long again to have me under this
18roof, and you'll look back and think you were happy to-day." Linton lavished on her the kindest caresses, and tried to
19cheer her by the fondest words; but, vaguely regarding the flowers, she let the tears collect on her lashes and stream
20down her cheeks unheeding. We knew she was really better, and, therefore, decided that long confinement to a single
21place produced much of this despondency, and it might be partially removed by a change of scene. The master told me to
22light a fire in the many-weeks' deserted parlour, and to set an easy-chair in the sunshine by the window; and then he
23brought her down, and she sat a long while enjoying the genial heat, and, as we expected, revived by the objects round
24her: which, though familiar, were free from the dreary associations investing her hated sick chamber. By evening she
25seemed greatly exhausted; yet no arguments could persuade her to return to that apartment, and I had to arrange the
26parlour sofa for her bed, till another room could be prepared. To obviate the fatigue of mounting and descending the
27stairs, we fitted up this, where you lie at present--on the same floor with the parlour; and she was soon strong enough
28to move from one to the other, leaning on Edgar's arm. Ah, I thought myself, she might recover, so waited on as she was.
29And there was double cause to desire it, for on her existence depended that of another: we cherished the hope that in a
30little while Mr. Linton's heart would be gladdened, and his lands secured from a stranger's gripe, by the birth of an
31heir. I should mention that Isabella sent to her brother, some six weeks from her departure, a short note, announcing
32her marriage with Heathcliff. It appeared dry and cold; but at the bottom was dotted in with pencil an obscure apology,
33and an entreaty for kind remembrance and reconciliation, if her proceeding had offended him: asserting that she could
34not help it then, and being done, she had now no power to repeal it. Linton did not reply to this, I believe; and, in a
35fortnight more, I got a long letter, which I considered odd, coming from the pen of a bride just out of the honeymoon.
36I'll read it: for I keep it yet. Any relic of the dead is precious, if they were valued living. DEAR ELLEN, it
37begins,--I came last night to Wuthering Heights, and heard, for the first time, that Catherine has been, and is yet,
38very ill. I must not write to her, I suppose, and my brother is either too angry or too distressed to answer what I sent
39him. Still, I must write to somebody, and the only choice left me is you. Inform Edgar that I'd give the world to see
40his face again--that my heart returned to Thrushcross Grange in twenty-four hours after I left it, and is there at this
41moment, full of warm feelings for him, and Catherine! I can't follow it though--(these words are underlined)--they need
42not expect me, and they may draw what conclusions they please; taking care, however, to lay nothing at the door of my
43weak will or deficient affection. The remainder of the letter is for yourself alone. I want to ask you two questions:
44the first is,--How did you contrive to preserve the common sympathies of human nature when you resided here? I cannot
45recognise any sentiment which those around share with me. The second question I have great interest in; it is this--Is
46Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil? I sha'n't tell my reasons for making this inquiry;
47but I beseech you to explain, if you can, what I have married: that is, when you call to see me; and you must call,
48Ellen, very soon. Don't write, but come, and bring me something from Edgar. Now, you shall hear how I have been received
49in my new home, as I am led to imagine the Heights will be. It is to amuse myself that I dwell on such subjects as the
50lack of external comforts: they never occupy my thoughts, except at the moment when I miss them. I should laugh and
51dance for joy, if I found their absence was the total of my miseries, and the rest was an unnatural dream! The sun set
52behind the Grange as we turned on to the moors; by that, I judged it to be six o'clock; and my companion halted half an
53hour, to inspect the park, and the gardens, and, probably, the place itself, as well as he could; so it was dark when we
54dismounted in the paved yard of the farmhouse, and your old fellow-servant, Joseph, issued out to receive us by the
55light of a dip candle. He did it with a courtesy that redounded to his credit. His first act was to elevate his torch to
56a level with my face, squint malignantly, project his under-lip, and turn away. Then he took the two horses, and led
57them into the stables; reappearing for the purpose of locking the outer gate, as if we lived in an ancient castle.
58Heathcliff stayed to speak to him, and I entered the kitchen--a dingy, untidy hole; I daresay you would not know it, it
59is so changed since it was in your charge. By the fire stood a ruffianly child, strong in limb and dirty in garb, with a
60look of Catherine in his eyes and about his mouth. "This is Edgar's legal nephew," I reflected--"mine in a manner; I
61must shake hands, and--yes--I must kiss him. It is right to establish a good understanding at the beginning." I
62approached, and, attempting to take his chubby fist, said--"How do you do, my dear?" He replied in a jargon I did not
63comprehend. "Shall you and I be friends, Hareton?" was my next essay at conversation. An oath, and a threat to set
64Throttler on me if I did not "frame off" rewarded my perseverance. "Hey, Throttler, lad!" whispered the little wretch,
65rousing a half-bred bull-dog from its lair in a corner. "Now, wilt thou be ganging?" he asked authoritatively. Love for
66my life urged a compliance; I stepped over the threshold to wait till the others should enter. Mr. Heathcliff was
67nowhere visible; and Joseph, whom I followed to the stables, and requested to accompany me in, after staring and
68muttering to himself, screwed up his nose and replied--"Mim! mim! mim! Did iver Christian body hear aught like it?
69Mincing un' munching! How can I tell whet ye say?"
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