`I'll not retract my word,' said Catherine.`I'll marry him within this hour, if I may go to Thrushcross Grange afterwards.Mr Heathcliff, you're a cruel man, but you're not a fiend; and you won't, from mere malice, destroy irrevocably all my happiness.If papa thought I had left him on purpose, and if he died before I returned, could I bear to live?
I've given over crying: but I'm going to kneel here, at your knee; and I'll not get up, and I'll not take my eyes from your face till you look back at me! No, don't turn away! do look! You'll see nothing to provoke you.I don't hate you.I'm not angry that you struck me.Have you never loved anybody in all your life, uncle? never? Ah! you must look once.I'm so wretched, you can't help being sorry and pitying me.'
`Keep your eft's fingers off; and move, or I'll kick you!' cried Heathcliff, brutally repulsing her.`I'd rather be hugged by a snake.How the devil can you dream of fawning on me? I detest you!'
He shrugged his shoulders: shook himself, indeed, as if his flesh crept with aversion; and thrust back his chair; while I got up, and opened my mouth, to commence a downright torrent of abuse.But I was rendered dumb in the middle of the first sentence, by a threat that I should be shown into a room by myself the very next syllable I uttered.It was growing dark--we heard a sound of voices at the garden gate.Our host hurried out instantly: he had his wits about him; we had not.There was a talk of two or three minutes, and he returned alone.
`I thought it had been your cousin Hareton,' I observed to Catherine.
`I wish he would arrive! Who knows but he might take our part?'
`It was three servants sent to seek you from the Grange,' said Heathcliff, overhearing me.`You should have opened a lattice and called out: but I could swear that chit is glad you didn't.She's glad to be obliged to stay, I'm certain.'
At learning the chance we had missed, we both gave vent to our grief without control; and he allowed us to wail on till nine o'clock.
Then he bid us go upstairs, through the kitchen, to Zillah's chamber; and I whispered my companion to obey: perhaps we might contrive to get through the window there, or into a garret, and out by its skylight.The window, however, was narrow, like those below, and the garret trap was safe from our attempts; for we were fastened in as before.We neither of us lay down:
Catherine took her station by the lattice, and watched anxiously for morning;a deep sigh being the only answer I could obtain to my frequent entreaties that she would try to rest.I seated myself in a chair, and rocked to and fro, passing harsh judgment on my many derelictions of duty; from which, it struck me then, all the misfortunes of all my employers sprang.It was not the case, in reality, I am aware; but it was, in my imagination, that dismal night; and I thought Heathcliff himself less guilty than I.
At seven o'clock he came, and inquired if Miss Linton had risen.
She ran to the door immediately, and answered, `Yes.' `Here, then,'
he said, opening it, and pulling her out I rose to follow, but he turned the lock again.I demanded my release.
`Be patient,' he replied; `I'll send up your breakfast in a while.'
I thumped on the panels, and rattled the latch angrily; and Catherine asked why I was still shut up? He answered, I must try to endure it another hour, and they went away.I endured it two or three hours; at length, Iheard a footstep: not Heathcliff's.
`I've brought you something to eat,' said a voice; `oppen t door!'
Complying eagerly, I beheld Hareton, laden with food enough to last me all day.
`Tak it,' he added, thrusting the tray into my hand.
`Stay one minute,' I began.
`Nay,' cried he, and retired, regardless of any prayers I could pour forth to detain him.
And there I remained enclosed the whole day, and the whole of the next night; and another, and another.Five nights and four days I remained, altogether, seeing nobody but Hareton, once every morning; and he was a model of a jailer: surly, and dumb, and deaf to every attempt at moving his sense of justice or compassion.
