Wuthering Heights From the story by Emily Bronte

Hindley’s bad temper and drunkenness set a terrible example for the children, and his treatment of Heathcliff was enough to turn a saint into a fiend. But the boy put up with it all without complaining, and even seemed to delight in seeing Hindley sink lower and lower. Eventually, everyone stopped calling at the Heights. Miss Cathy’s tutor had long since gone, and the only visitors we had were young Isabella and Edgar Linton. Of course, Edgar was terrified of Hindley, but he would have braved anything for a chance to see Cathy.

By the time Miss Cathy was fifteen years old, she was the most beautiful girl for miles around. But she could be wild and headstrong when she didn’t get her way^[29]. Heathcliff was equally stubborn, and he had become very rough. For a while he struggled to keep up his studying, but by the time he was sixteen he had given up reading and writing completely. His clothes were always filthy and he had a permanent scowl on his face. When he wasn’t working, Cathy and he were still constant companions, but he had stopped showing any affection for her, and he shrank away with angry suspicion from her hugs and kisses.

One afternoon, I was helping Miss Cathy into her best silk dress, when Heathcliff arrived at the door. Hindley was away and it was raining hard, so Heathcliff had made up his mind to spend the rest of the day with his friend. But when he saw Cathy’s fine dress, his face fell^[30].

«Cathy, are you going out this afternoon?» he asked gruffly.

«No, it’s raining,» was her scornful reply.

«Then why are you wearing that silk dress? Nobody’s coming here, I hope.»

«Not that I know of,» stammered Cathy. «But you should be in the fields now, Heathcliff. It’s an hour past dinner time.»

«I’m not doing any more work today. I’m going to stay with you.»

Cathy frowned and thought for a few minutes. Then she began, «Isabella and Edgar Linton talked about calling this afternoon. As it’s raining they probably won’t come, but if they do, you’ll have to put up with their rudeness to you.»

«Tell Nelly to say you’re busy,» Heathcliff said roughly. «Don’t turn me away for those pitiful friends of yours. Tell them to go, so you can be with me.»

This made Cathy very angry «And why should I always be with you?» she demanded. «What do you ever talk about? You might as well be a baby for anything you say to amuse me!»

Heathcliff turned white. «You never told me before that I talked too little, or that you hated my company, Cathy!»

«It’s no company at all, when people know nothing and say nothing,» she muttered.

Heathcliff stood up suddenly, but before he could reply, they heard the sound of a horse’s hooves outside, and Edgar was at the door.

It was hard not to notice the difference between the two young men as one of them came into the room and the other went out. To me, it seemed like exchanging a wild, windswept moor for a beautiful, sunlit valley. And their way of talking was just as different as their looks. Edgar had a soft, gentle-sounding voice, while Heathcliff’s voice was gruff and harsh.

I lingered over my dusting^[31].

«What are you doing there, Nelly?» Cathy snapped.

«My work, miss,» I replied.

Hindley had ordered me not to leave his sister alone with Edgar, but Cathy had other ideas. She stepped behind me and whispered crossly, «Go away, Nelly, we want to be alone!»

«But this is a good chance to get on with my work, while Mr. Hindley is away.»

Cathy was annoyed. Assuming that Edgar couldn’t see her, she pinched me spitefully on the arm.

«Oh, Miss Cathy!» I yelled out in pain. «That was a mean trick! You’ve no right to hurt me like that.»

«I didn’t touch you, you lying creature,» she cried, her fingers tingling to pinch me again^[32].

But I was determined to show Edgar what she was like, so I held out my arm where a bruise was already forming, «What’s this then?» I replied.

Cathy stamped her foot, hesitated for a moment, and then slapped me hard on the cheek, making my eyes fill with water.

«Catherine, love, Catherine!» Edgar said gently, shocked to see how violent she could be.

But Cathy took no notice. «Please leave the room now, Nelly!» she repeated, trembling all over.

At this point, little Hareton burst into tears, sobbing his complaints about «Wicked Aunt Cathy» and, before he could escape, Cathy had turned on him, and was shaking the poor child until he turned purple. Edgar stepped forward to rescue the boy, and the next minute he was amazed to feel the force of Cathy’s hand on the side of his head.

As soon as he had recovered, Edgar headed straight for the door. His face was very pale and his mouth was quivering noticeably.

«That’s right,» I thought to myself. «Let this be a warning to you to get out fast. It’s good for you to see what she’s really like.»

«Where are you going?» demanded Cathy, quickly moving in front of the door.

Edgar swerved and tried to pass.