Wuthering Heights From the story by Emily Bronte

«I have nothing, sir,» I said, thinking it was best to tell the truth. «My master told me to tell his sister not to expect a letter or a visit from him. He sends his love, madam, and his good wishes for your happiness, but he says there can be no contact between his household and yours.»

Isabella’s lip quivered slightly and she returned to her seat by the window. Her husband stood in front of the fire and started to question me.

«Now, Nelly, tell me, how is Cathy?»

I told him as little as I could about her illness.

«She’s recovering slowly now, sir, but she’ll never be the same as she was, and if you have any feelings for her you’ll keep well away^[62].»

«You know I’ll never be able to keep away from her,» he replied. «And you must promise, Nelly, to find a way to let me see her soon.»

«I’ll make no promises to you, Heathcliff. You must not see her – another meeting between you and Edgar would kill her!»

«With your help that could be avoided,» he said slyly.

«No, you will not disturb her now, just as she’s finding some peace and has nearly forgotten you.»

«Do you really think that she has forgotten me?» he said. «Oh, Nelly! You must know that she hasn’t. You know as well as I do that she thinks of me a thousand times more than she thinks of Edgar. He is hardly any dearer to her than her dog or her horse. It’s just not possible for him to love like me.»

«Cathy and Edgar are as fond of each other as any two people can be!» interrupted Isabella. «No one has a right to talk about my brother that way!»

«Your brother is wonderfully fond of you too, isn’t he?» observed Heathcliff cruelly «I see he’s quite happy to turn you out into the world^[63].»

«He doesn’t know what I suffer,» Isabella replied. «I didn’t tell him that.»

«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.