Грозовой перевал / Wuthering Heights

«I’ve often prayed for death, Nelly, so that I can join my beloved Cathy again. But now I’m afraid of what will happen to Catherine. Young Linton will inherit the Grange when I’m dead, and then where will she live? Perhaps it would be best if Catherine married him.»

«All we can do is wait and see what happens,» was the best answer I could give.

Spring arrived, and Mr. Edgar was no better. I could see he was desperately worried about Miss Catherine’s future and, in the end, he decided to do something about it. So he wrote a letter to Linton inviting him to the Grange. The boy replied immediately, saying his father would not allow him to visit the Grange, but perhaps he could meet his cousin for a ride? Edgar was very unhappy about this, because he wasn’t strong enough to accompany his daughter. But after some more letters from Linton – most of which I’m sure were written by Heathcliff– Edgar at last agreed to a meeting.

It was summer by the time Catherine and I set out on our first ride to meet her cousin. We had arranged to meet at the edge of Thrushcross Park, but then a messenger arrived to tell us Master Linton was up on the moors. I was very worried about this change of plan, and I became even more concerned when I saw the state he was in. Linton was lying back on the heather, struggling to breathe. Catherine looked at him in horror.

«Oh Linton, are you very ill? You seem so much worse.»

«No, I’m better. Really, I’m better,» he insisted. But his large blue eyes filled with tears.

Catherine tried her best to comfort him, but he didn’t seem to want to talk to her at all, and he kept glancing fearfully back at the Heights.

«I think you should go home,» Catherine told her cousin. «I can see my tales and chatter don’t amuse you any more.»

This suggestion made Linton very agitated and he clasped her hand, begging her not to go. «Please stay for another half an hour,» he pleaded. «My father will be so angry with me if you go.»

I immediately suspected some plot[83] of Heathcliff’s and wanted to leave immediately. But Catherine agreed to stay a little longer, and she sat beside her cousin while he dozed and whimpered. Before we left, Linton made Catherine promise to meet him again at the same place in a week’s time.

We rode back to the Grange together, troubled and unhappy. I advised Miss Catherine to tell her father as little as possible about our meeting – he was now very ill, and I didn’t want to worry him with news about his nephew.

Each day that week, Edgar became noticeably weaker. Catherine realized that her father was dying and spent all the time she could by his bedside. By Thursday, she was looking very strained and pale, and I thought that another ride on the moors might do her some good. Mr. Edgar was happy to let Catherine meet her cousin. He had no idea how ill Linton was.

Linton was lying in the same place on the moors, but this time he was even more feverish and frightened.

«I thought you weren’t coming!» he said angrily.

«Why don’t you be honest and say you don’t want to see me?» Catherine replied. «My father is very ill and I ought to be with him.»

Linton began to sob with fear. «Catherine, please don’t leave me. My life is in your hands. I can’t explain, but if you leave me now, my father would kill me. Please agree to what he says and then perhaps he won’t hurt me.»

Catherine weakened. «Agree to what?» she asked. «You’ve got to explain to me, Linton.»

At that moment, I heard a rustle in the heather, and I looked up to see Heathcliff striding over the moors.

«Greetings, Nelly!» he cried out heartily. «How are things at the Grange? Is it true that Edgar Linton is dying?»

«Yes, it is true.»

«How long will he last, do you think?» he asked urgently. «That boy over there is dying too, and I’d thank his uncle to be quick or Linton will die before him and all my plans will be ruined.»

He looked over to where Linton was lying on the grass. «Get up, boy!» he shouted angrily to his son, who flinched away from him. Then he turned to Catherine. «Would you be so kind as to walk home with Linton? The cowardly wretch shudders whenever I touch him.»

«Linton dear,» said Catherine, «you know I can’t go to Wuthering Heights – papa has forbidden it.»

«Well, then the boy will have to come with me,» roared Heathcliff, making a grab for him.

«No, no!» screamed Linton, terrified of what Heathcliff might do to him on their return. «Catherine, you must help me. Come with me please!»

In the end, Catherine simply couldn’t refuse, so we all walked back to the Heights together, Linton leaning heavily on his young cousin’s arm.

As soon as we were inside the house, Heathcliff turned the key in the lock, and I realized with a sinking heart that we were trapped.

«All the servants are out today,» he said calmly, «so we are quite alone.»

«Give me that key,» cried Catherine, her eyes flashing. «I won’t stay here and I’m not afraid of you!»