Wuthering Heights From the story by Emily Bronte

«Don’t you talk to me like that, you little witch,» said her new father-in-law grimly. «Now go off and get your things.»

While Catherine was gone, Heathcliff looked around the room, and took down the portrait of Cathy to keep for himself.

«Do you have any idea, Nelly, how Cathy has haunted me over the years?» he said. «Every time I leave my house, she’s waiting for me on the moors, and whenever I come home I see her at the door. I tried sleeping in her room for a while, but it was pure torment. She was always there, crying to be let in, but as soon as I opened the window she was gone. She’s been teasing me like that for eighteen years – killing me by inches until I’m insane with grief.»

After a while, Miss Catherine came in, ready for her journey. When she kissed me goodbye, her lips felt like ice.

«Come and see me soon, Nelly. Please don’t forget.»

«You’ll do no such thing!» thundered Heathcliff. «I’ll have no more prying in my house!^[87]»

I watched the two of them walk away with a very heavy heart.

Since Miss Catherine left the Grange, almost a year ago, I have never seen her face. But Zillah, the housekeeper, has given me some news. I believe that Catherine tried her hardest to look after her husband. Heathcliff refused to call a doctor, and Linton only lasted a few weeks after their marriage. In the end, he died in agony, with only Catherine by his side. Heathcliff inherited all his son’s property and Catherine has nothing of her own.

It must be so lonely for my dear Catherine up at Wuthering Heights. Joseph and Zillah won’t talk to her because they think that she’s too proud, and Heathcliff despises her. Only Hareton shows her any kindness, but she takes no notice of him because he’s so rough and uneducated. What would make me happiest of all would be to rent a little cottage and live with Miss Catherine again, but I know that Heathcliff would never allow it.

That was the sad end of Nelly Dean’s story. After weeks of listening to her memories, I wanted to leave the moors and return to my life in London again. So I decided to ride over to Wuthering Heights the very next day and tell my landlord about my plans. I certainly don’t intend to spend another winter in this wild and desolate place.

Return to the Heights

The weather was frosty but bright when I rode up to Wuthering Heights, carrying a note from Nelly for young Mrs. Heathcliff. Hareton Earnshaw opened the door and I had a good look at him – he was certainly the most handsome farm worker I’d ever seen. I thought he looked intelligent and kind, in spite of the way that Heathcliff had treated him.

Hareton led me into the kitchen, where Catherine was busy chopping up vegetables. She didn’t even bother to look up when I came in.

«Well,» I thought to myself, «she may be beautiful, but she’s certainly no angel.»

As I passed Catherine’s chair, I dropped Nelly’s note in front of her, but Hareton had noticed it and grabbed it up quickly.

«Mr. Heathcliff will want to look at this,» he said, stuffing it into his pocket^[88]. But then Catherine started to cry. As soon as he saw her tears, Hareton weakened and passed the letter over to her. It was obvious he couldn’t bear to make her sad.

Catherine read through the letter several times, and asked me many questions about life at the Grange. «Please tell Nelly,» she said, «that I would love to answer her letter, but I have no paper and pencils. Heathcliff has taken everything away from me – even my books.»

«No books!» I exclaimed. «How do you manage to live here without anything to read?»

«I used to read all the time but, when Heathcliff realized my books made me happy, he took them away from me. I’ve searched all over the house for them but they’ve gone – all except a few in Hareton’s room. But I can’t see why he needs them because he’s such a dunce he can’t even read!»

Hareton blushed crimson^[89] and I decided to come to his rescue.

«Perhaps he is learning to read?» I suggested.

«Well, he has a lot to learn,» said Catherine scornfully. «You should hear the stupid mistakes he makes – they make me want to laugh out loud!»

Hareton took a deep breath and left the room. In a few minutes he was back again with a pile of books, which he threw on the floor. «Why don’t you take them now?» he said, pale with rage. «I never want to see them again!»

«Well I don’t want them either,» Catherine replied spitefully. «I hate them now because they make me think of you.»

Hareton gathered up the books and threw them into the fire. Then he stormed out of the room^[90].

As Hareton left the kitchen, Heathcliff arrived. He seemed moody and restless, and he was much thinner than the last time I had seen him.

«I’ve come to tell you that I’m leaving the Grange,» I announced. «I’ll pay the rest of my rent, but I’ll be gone within a few days.»