I'll believe you are a coward, for yourself, but not a cowardly betrayer of your best friend.’
‘But my father threatened me,’ gasped the boy, clasping his attenuated fingers, ‘and I dread him—I dread him!
I DARE not tell!’
‘Oh, well!’ said Catherine, with scornful compassion, ‘keep your secret: I'M no coward.
Save yourself: I'm not afraid!’
Her magnanimity provoked his tears: he wept wildly, kissing her supporting hands, and yet could not summon courage to speak out.
I was cogitating what the mystery might be, and determined Catherine should never suffer to benefit him or any one else, by my good will; when, hearing a rustle among the ling, I looked up and saw Mr. Heathcliff almost close upon us, descending the Heights.
He didn't cast a glance towards my companions, though they were sufficiently near for Linton's sobs to be audible; but hailing me in the almost hearty tone he assumed to none besides, and the sincerity of which I couldn't avoid doubting, he said—
‘It is something to see you so near to my house, Nelly.
How are you at the Grange?
Let us hear.
The rumour goes,’ he added, in a lower tone, ‘that Edgar Linton is on his death-bed: perhaps they exaggerate his illness?’
‘No; my master is dying,’ I replied: ‘it is true enough.
A sad thing it will be for us all, but a blessing for him!’
‘How long will he last, do you think?’ he asked.
‘I don't know,’ I said.
‘Because,’ he continued, looking at the two young people, who were fixed under his eye—Linton appeared as if he could not venture to stir or raise his head, and Catherine could not move, on his account—‘because that lad yonder seems determined to beat me; and I'd thank his uncle to be quick, and go before him!
Hallo! has the whelp been playing that game long?
I DID give him some lessons about snivelling.
Is he pretty lively with Miss Linton generally?’
‘Lively? no—he has shown the greatest distress,’ I answered. ‘To see him, I should say, that instead of rambling with his sweetheart on the hills, he ought to be in bed, under the hands of a doctor.’
‘He shall be, in a day or two,’ muttered Heathcliff. ‘But first – get up, Linton!
Get up!’ he shouted. ‘Don't grovel on the ground there up, this moment!’
Linton had sunk prostrate again in another paroxysm of helpless fear, caused by his father's glance towards him, I suppose: there was nothing else to produce such humiliation.
He made several efforts to obey, but his little strength was annihilated for the time, and he fell back again with a moan.
Mr. Heathcliff advanced, and lifted him to lean against a ridge of turf.
‘Now,’ said he, with curbed ferocity, ‘I'm getting angry and if you don't command that paltry spirit of yours—DAMN you! get up directly!’
‘I will, father,’ he panted. ‘Only, let me alone, or I shall faint.
I've done as you wished, I'm sure.
Catherine will tell you that I—that I—have been cheerful.
Ah! keep by me, Catherine; give me your hand.’
‘Take mine,’ said his father; ‘stand on your feet.
There now—she'll lend you her arm: that's right, look at her.
You would imagine I was the devil himself, Miss Linton, to excite such horror.
Be so kind as to walk home with him, will you?
He shudders if I touch him.’
‘Linton dear!’ whispered Catherine, ‘I can't go to Wuthering Heights: papa has forbidden me.
He'll not harm you: why are you so afraid?’
‘I can never re-enter that house,’ he answered. ‘I'm NOT to re-enter it without you!’
‘Stop!’ cried his father. ‘We'll respect Catherine's filial scruples. Nelly, take him in, and I'll follow your advice concerning the doctor, without delay.’
‘You'll do well,’ replied I. ‘But I must remain with my mistress: to mind your son is not my business.’
‘You are very stiff,’ said Heathcliff, ‘I know that: but you'll force me to pinch the baby and make it scream before it moves your charity.
Come, then, my hero. Are you willing to return, escorted by me?’
He approached once more, and made as if he would seize the fragile being; but, shrinking back, Linton clung to his cousin, and implored her to accompany him, with a frantic importunity that admitted no denial.
However I disapproved, I couldn't hinder her: indeed, how could she have refused him herself?
What was filling him with dread we had no means of discerning; but there he was, powerless under its gripe, and any addition seemed capable of shocking him into idiotcy.
We reached the threshold; Catherine walked in, and I stood waiting till she had conducted the invalid to a chair, expecting her out immediately; when Mr. Heathcliff, pushing me forward, exclaimed—‘My house is not stricken with the plague, Nelly; and I have a mind to be hospitable to-day: sit down, and allow me to shut the door.’
He shut and locked it also.
I started.
‘You shall have tea before you go home,’ he added. ‘I am by myself.