Грозовой перевал / Wuthering Heights

«My lady is looking sadly the worse for her marriage,» I dared to say, «somebody here clearly doesn’t know how to love.»

«It’s her own fault,» Heathcliff answered scornfully. «As you can see, she makes no effort at all to please me. But she suits my house better by not being too ladylike, and I’ll make sure she doesn’t disgrace me by wandering around outside.»

«Well, sir,» I insisted, «Miss Isabella is used to having servants to care for her. She should have a maid to look after her and you should treat her more kindly»

«I’ll treat her how I please!» thundered Heathcliff. «You wouldn’t believe, Nelly, what a pitiful, quivering creature she is. She doesn’t even have the courage to kill me, even though I know she would dearly love to!» He turned to his wife. «Go upstairs, child,» he ordered her, «I’ve something to say to Nelly on her own.»

I started to put on my bonnet, not wanting to hear any more from Heathcliff, but he shouted at me, «Put that down, Nelly! Either I’ll persuade you to let me see Cathy, or I’ll have to force you to do it. I swear I won’t do her any harm – I just need to see her and know how she is.

«Last night, I was in the Grange garden, waiting under Cathy’s window for six long hours, and I’ll return there tonight and every night until I’m let in. If Edgar tries to stop me, I won’t hesitate to knock him down, and if any servant dares to get in my way I’ll shoot at them with my pistol. But wouldn’t it be better to arrange a peaceful meeting? And you could do it so easily, Nelly! I’d warn you when I came, and you could let me in secretly and wait until I left. Then you wouldn’t be doing any harm.»

I protested that the shock of seeing him would be more than Cathy could bear. «She’s all nerves, sir, and the shock could kill her. I’m serious, Heathcliff, and if you insist on seeing her, I shall be forced to tell my master so he can stop you.»

«Then I shall be forced to keep you prisoner here,» cried Heathcliff. «Nelly, you will not leave Wuthering Heights until you agree.»

Well, I argued and complained and flatly refused fifty times, but in the end I had to give in. Heathcliff made me take a letter to Cathy and promise to let him know when Edgar was next away.

Was I right or was I wrong? I’m very much afraid that I was wrong, as the rest of my story will show.

Births and Deaths

I kept Heathcliff’s letter safe in my pocket, waiting for a time when my master was out. But it was four days later when I finally saw my chance. Mr. Edgar and the rest of the servants set off to walk to church, and I was left alone in the house with my mistress.

Cathy sat by an open window, enjoying the warm spring sunshine. Her appearance was greatly changed since her illness, and there was a strange, unearthly beauty in her face. Her once-flashing eyes were dreamy and melancholy, and she seemed to be always gazing into the distance – as if she were looking at something beyond this world.

«Here’s a letter for you, madam,» I said, putting it into her lifeless hand. «You must read it now, because it needs an answer. Shall I open it for you?»

«Yes, Nelly,» she answered, but then she let it fall[64]. I gave it back to her.

«Shall I read it for you, madam? It’s from Mr. Heathcliff.»

She looked startled.

«He says he wishes to see you,» I said as gently as I could, «and he’s in the garden now, waiting for your answer.»

As I spoke, we heard footsteps in the hall. Cathy bent forward, listening breathlessly, and a minute later Heathcliff had found the door. In just two strides he was at Cathy’s side, and had grasped her in his arms.

For five whole minutes, Heathcliff held Cathy in silence, covering her with kisses, and I saw he could hardly bear to look at her face. He had seen immediately that she would never recover, and was sure to die very soon.

«Oh, Cathy! Oh, my life! How can I bear it?» he cried out in despair.

«What?» said Cathy, leaning back weakly. «Am I meant to pity you now? You and Edgar have both treated me so cruelly – you’ve broken my heart. Together you have killed me, but you will go on living. See how strong you are, Heathcliff! How many years do you plan to live after I am dead? Will you forget me and be happy when I am in my grave?»

«Oh, Cathy, please don’t torture me like this,» he cried, grinding his teeth. «How can you talk to me like this when I can see that you’re dying? Don’t you realize your words will be burned forever into my memory[65], after you’ve left me and you are at peace?»

«I shall never be at peace,» moaned Cathy. «How can I be at peace if we are parted?»

Heathcliff could bear it no longer, and he walked away from Cathy, his chest heaving with emotion. So she turned to me instead.

«Oh, Nelly, I’m so tired of this prison. I’m longing to escape to a different, glorious world. And soon I shall be there. Then I’ll be beyond and above you all. But now I want to be with Heathcliff… Heathcliff, won’t you please come to me now?»