Wuthering Heights From the story by Emily Bronte

I soon learned to respect my new master, with his kind and gentle ways. I even tried to be less touchy with Cathy in order to please him. For six months, we all lived peacefully together. There were times when Cathy was silent and gloomy, but Edgar was always understanding, believing that her spells of depression^[46] were caused by her long illness. When Cathy became cheerful again, Edgar was happy too, and it seemed to me then that they had a chance of deep and growing happiness. Perhaps such fragile happiness could never have lasted, but the way it came to an end was worse than anyone could have imagined.

One warm September evening, I was coming in from the garden with a basket of apples. The light was fading^[47], and there were deep shadows on the grass. I had stopped by the kitchen door to look up at the moon, when I heard a voice behind me.

«Nelly, is that you?»

It was a man’s voice – but not one I knew – although there was something familiar in the way he pronounced my name.

Something stirred outside the door, and, moving nearer, I saw a tall man in dark clothes with a dark face and hair. He leaned against the side of the porch, his fingers on the door latch, as if he were about to open it.

«Who can it be who knows my name?» I wondered, as I came closer.

«I’ve been waiting here for an hour,» the voice continued, «and all the time the house has been as still as death. But don’t you know who I am, Nelly? Take a look – I’m not a stranger.»

I saw a face half-covered with whiskers and a pair of deep-set, glittering eyes… Of course, I remembered those eyes.

«What!» I cried in amazement, «Have you come back? Is it really you?»

«Yes, it’s Heathcliff,» he replied, impatiently, glancing up at the windows of the house. «Are they at home, Nelly? And where is your mistress? You needn’t be so disturbed. I just want to have one word with her. Go and say that a person from Gimmerton is here and wishes to see her.»

«But how will she take it?» I cried out. «What will she do? The shock of seeing you will send her out of her mind!»

«Go and carry my message,» he interrupted. «I’m in torment until you do!»

Then he lifted the door latch for me and I entered the house.

When I reached the sitting room, I almost turned away. Edgar and Cathy were sitting by the fire, looking wonderfully peaceful in the evening light. I was about to leave them undisturbed, when something made me mutter, «A person from Gimmerton wishes to see you, madam.»

«What does he want?» asked Cathy.

«I didn’t question him.»

«Well, close the curtains, Nelly, and bring us up some tea. I’ll be back very soon.»

After Cathy had left the room, Mr. Edgar asked carelessly who the visitor was.

«Someone the mistress doesn’t expect,» I replied. «It’s that Heathcliff, you remember, who used to live at the Heights.»

«What… the gypsy, the farm boy!» cried Edgar. «Why didn’t you say so to Catherine?»

«Please sir, don’t ever call him those names,» I said. «My mistress will be so angry to hear them. You know she was heartbroken when Heathcliff ran off, and she’ll be overjoyed to see him now.»

Before long, I heard the click of the latch and Cathy flew into the room, breathless and wild, «Oh Edgar, Edgar darling,» she panted, flinging her arms around his neck^[48], «Heathcliff’s come back!» And she tightened her hold to a squeeze.

«Well, well,» said her husband, crossly, «don’t strangle me for that! He never struck me as such a great treasure. There’s no need to be so frantic.»

«I know you didn’t like him,» she answered, trying to be calm, «but, for my sake, you must be friends now. Shall I ask him to come up?»

«Here?» he asked. «Into the sitting room?»

«Where else?»

«I would have thought the kitchen was more suitable for him.»

Cathy gave him a strange look – half-laughing and half-cross.

«No,» she said firmly. «I can’t sit in the kitchen. Please set two tables here, Nelly – one for the grand folks – your master and Miss Isabella – and one for the commoners^[49] – Heathcliff and me. Oh, I must go and find him now!»

She was about to run off, when Edgar stopped her.

«Nelly will ask him to come in,» he said. «And Catherine, try to be glad without being ridiculous. We don’t want all the servants to see you welcoming a runaway farm boy as if he were your brother.»

I went down to the porch and found Heathcliff waiting to be let in. He followed me in silence up the stairs and, as I showed him into the room, I managed to have a proper look at him. I was amazed to see just how much he had changed. He was now a tall, athletic man with a handsome, intelligent face. Beside him, my master Edgar looked like a pretty boy. He was very upright, which made me wonder if he had spent some time in the army. But whatever he’d been doing, this new Heathcliff dressed and acted like a gentleman – there were no signs of the ruffian he used to be. Only his eyes, I noticed, were still full of fire.