Wuthering Heights From the story by Emily Bronte

My master was also surprised to see how the farm boy had changed, and at first he didn’t seem to know how to treat his guest. But Heathcliff just stood staring at Edgar, waiting coolly for him to speak.

«Sit down, sir,» Edgar said, at last. «My wife wishes to welcome you into our home, and of course I am delighted when anything pleases her.»

«And so am I,» answered Heathcliff. «I shall gladly stay for an hour or two.»

Then he took a seat opposite Cathy, who kept her eyes fixed on him all the time, as if she was afraid he would vanish any minute. Heathcliff didn’t raise his eyes very often, but each time he did, I noticed his delight at seeing Cathy again.

The two of them were much too absorbed in each other to notice anyone else, but Edgar was pale with annoyance. This rapidly turned to anger when Cathy jumped up and seized both of Heathcliff’s hands.

«Tomorrow, I shall think that this was all a dream!» she cried. «I shan’t be able to believe that I’ve seen you and touched you again! And yet, cruel Heathcliff, you don’t deserve this welcome… when you’ve been away for three whole years, and never thought of me!»

«A little more than you have thought of me!» he murmured. «Promise me you’ll never drive me away again, Cathy. I’ve fought through a bitter life since I last saw you, and all my struggles have been only for you!

«Catherine,» interrupted Edgar, trying hard to stay calm, «please come to the table – we don’t all want our tea to go cold. I’m sure Mr. Heathcliff has a long walk ahead of him and I, for one, am becoming thirsty.»

Cathy took the teapot, and Miss Isabella arrived to join in the meal. But it hardly lasted ten minutes. Cathy’s cup was never filled – she couldn’t eat or drink, and Edgar managed to spill his tea and hardly swallowed a mouthful.

Heathcliff didn’t stay much longer, and I was soon called to show him out. As he was on his way out, I asked if he was walking back to Gimmerton.

«No, to Wuthering Heights,» he answered. «Hindley invited me there when I called on him this morning.»

I was too amazed to reply. Hindley had invited Heathcliff… his old enemy? And Heathcliff had chosen to call on Hindley? What could he be plotting now? I thought about it long and hard after Heathcliff had gone, and the more I thought, the more worried I became. I had a heavy feeling in the bottom of my heart, and I wished for all our sakes that Heathcliff had stayed away.

Heathcliff moved into Wuthering Heights, and the news soon spread that he was staying up until all hours, playing cards and drinking with Mr. Hindley. I wondered what his plans could be, but I kept my fears to myself.

Meanwhile, Heathcliff began to pay visits to the Grange. But I noticed he was careful not to come too often or to stay too long, as if he were testing Edgar’s patience. During these visits, Heathcliff said very little and Cathy managed to control her excitement, so Edgar began to feel that he could relax.

But Edgar soon had something new to worry about. After a few weeks of visits from Heathcliff, Isabella began to fall in love with him. She was now a charming young lady of eighteen, but with childish manners and a quick temper. Her brother loved her dearly and was horrified by her choice. He had the sense to realize that, although Heathcliff’s appearance might have changed, he could never be trusted. Edgar felt and dreaded Heathcliff’s savage power, and shrank from the thought of allowing his sister into its grasp.

We all noticed Miss Isabella’s moods, and put up with her sighs and grumbles as well as we could. But one morning, Cathy couldn’t bear it any longer. She insisted that Isabella should go to bed, while I went to fetch the doctor to see what was wrong.

«There’s nothing wrong with me,» sobbed Isabella. «It’s just your cruelty that’s making me unhappy!»

«When have I been cruel to you?» asked Cathy in amazement.

«Yesterday!» cried Isabella. «On our walk on the moor, you told me to go away while you talked to Heathcliff!»

«And that’s your idea of cruelty? I simply thought that Heathcliff’s talk was not very interesting to you.»

«That’s not the reason you sent me away,» said Isabella. «You knew I wanted to be with him. But you had to keep him all to yourself!»

«You’re an impertinent little monkey!» exclaimed Cathy in surprise. «But I don’t believe this foolishness. Do you really want to be loved by Heathcliff? I hope I’ve misunderstood you, Isabella.»

«No you haven’t,» Isabella insisted. «I love him more than you ever loved Edgar. And he might love me too, if only you’d let him.»