Wuthering Heights From the story by Emily Bronte

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!»

Heathcliff held the key firmly in his fist but she attacked it with her nails and then with her teeth. The next minute, he struck her violently on the side of the face and she staggered back, trembling.

«Now, young lady,» Heathcliff said grimly, «you’ll do as I tell you. I’ll be your father tomorrow and I’ll punish you every day if I see that temper in your eyes again!» Then Heathcliff went out into the yard, locking the door behind him.

Catherine and I raced around the kitchen, trying to find a way to escape, but all the doors and windows were locked. Meanwhile, Linton had settled himself comfortably into a chair, happy to see someone else in trouble. I threatened him with a slapping if he didn’t explain his father’s plans, and he soon poured out the whole story to us.

«Father wants Catherine to marry me, so he has control over her as well. But he’s afraid that I’m going to die, so we have to do it tomorrow. You have to stay here all night, and marry me in the morning.»

«Marry you!» I exclaimed. «The man must be insane! Why should a beautiful, healthy girl like Catherine tie herself to a pathetic creature like you.»

I couldn’t resist giving him a shaking^[84], and that started a terrible coughing fit.

«I must get out of here tonight, if I have to burn down the door,» said Catherine desperately. «I love my father more than you, Linton, and I have to see him now.»

At that moment, Heathcliff returned, having let our horses loose to run over the moors. He ordered Linton to go to bed immediately and turned to us.

«Mr. Heathcliff,» Catherine began bravely, «I must go home now or papa will be miserable. But I promise you I will marry your son. Papa would like me to and I love Linton. So why do you need to force me to do something I’ll do willingly?»

«Well, Miss Linton,» said the villain, «I’m delighted to hear that your father will be miserable – that’s certainly made up my mind to keep you here overnight. And I’ll make sure you don’t leave Wuthering Heights until you’ve kept your promise to marry Linton.»

«Then please send Nelly to tell my father that I’m all right!» sobbed Catherine bitterly. «Poor papa will think we are lost!»

«I won’t do anything to make that man happy,» growled Heathcliff, «and I’ll be glad to see you miserable too. I’ve taught Linton to be a selfish and cruel husband, and I shall enjoy watching you suffer!»