Wuthering Heights, Part 24 of 25

If you're enjoying this book then I know you will love the exclusive stories on our premium feed. Follow the link in the show notes to try it for free for seven days and dive into more of your favourite sleepy stories. Aisha owns a bistro. She loves it, but the admin, not so much. Luckily her Monzo Business Bank account takes some of the strain, like expensing, with real-time visibility and spend limits all managed in one app. So she's free to cook up a storm without having to make a meal of the admin. Make the switch and join over 800,000 other UK businesses already banking with us. Search Monzo Business today. Team plan starts from £25 a month. UK soul traders are limited company directors only. Teas and seas apply. Hello, it's Elizabeth and I'm excited to share with you the newest show from Slumber Studios. It's called Sleepy History and it's exactly what it sounds like. Intriguing stories, people, mysteries and events from history delivered in a supremely calming atmosphere. Explore the legend of El Dorado. See what life was like for the Roman gladiators. Uncover the myths and mysteries of Stonehenge. You'll find interesting but relaxing episodes like these on Sleepy History and the same great production quality you've come to know and love from the Sleepy Bookshelf. So check it out and perhaps you'll have another way to get a good night's rest. Just search Sleepy History in your preferred podcast player. Good evening and welcome to this Sleepy Bookshelf where we pit down our worries from the day and pick up a good book. I'm your host, Elizabeth, and it is lovely to have you here with me this evening. Tonight we are continuing with Wuthering Heights. Before we do though, let's take a moment to breathe together and let go of the day. Begin by breathing in through your nose, slow and steady, and out through your mouth. As you inhale, try to picture gathering up the loose pieces of the day. Conversations, lists, moments of tension perhaps, like puzzle pieces scattered around you. And with your exhale, let them drift away, like dust in sunlight, floating beyond your reach. Feel what remains now, the weight of your body, the quiet hum of your breath, the peace of having nothing left to hold. Mr Lockwood was on his way from London to a friend's house in the north when he realised he was only 14 miles to Gimton. As he had still paid his rent on the Grange till October, he decided to stay the night there instead of at an inn. When he arrived, an older woman said Mrs Dean was now at Wuthering Heights and was astonished to finally meet the current master of the Grange. She flew into action, preparing the house, and Mr Lockwood told her he would go for a walk and return later. He arrived at Wuthering Heights to a very changed house. All the doors and windows were open and flowers grew around the nearby fruit trees. A young couple were seated in one window and he saw a beautiful woman with golden curls, teaching a handsome, dark-haired young man to read. They finished and stepped out the door to take a stroll on the moors. Not wanting to disturb them, Lockwood found the kitchen entrance and spied Mrs Dean seated on a stool by the door, sowing and singing, with Joseph cursing her happy tunes from inside. She was thrilled to see Mr Lockwood, and when he asked to see Heathcliff, she had to tell him that he had passed away three months ago. She went on to explain how Caffe had eventually repented her meanness to Harreton and won him over with kindness. Harreton let his guard down and allowed her in, and what started as her teaching him to read her books, flourished into friendship and something more. Tonight, Alan continues to explain how Heathcliff died so suddenly, so just lie back and relax as I turn to the next pages of Wuthering Heights. Chapter 33 On the morrow of that Monday, Earnshaw still being unable to follow his ordinary employment and therefore remaining about the house. I speedily found it would be impracticable to return my charge beside me as here to fall. She got downstairs before me and out into the garden, where she had seen her cousin performing some easy work. And when I went to bid them come to breakfast, I saw she had persuaded him to clear a large space of ground from current and gooseberry bushes, and they were busy planning together an importation of plants from the Grange. I was terrified at the devastation which had been accomplished in a brief half hour. The black current tree is where the apple of Joseph's eye, and she had just fixed her choice of a flower bed in the midst of them. There, that will be all shown to the master, I exclaimed. The minute is discovered, and what excuse have you to offer for taking such liberties with the garden? I shall have a fine explosion on the head of it, see if we don't. Mr. Araton, I wonder you should have no more wit than to go and make that mess at her bidding? I'd forgotten they were Joseph's, and so done so, rather puzzled. But I'll tell him I did it. We always ate our meals with Mr. Eathcliff. I held the mistress's post in making tea and carving, so I was indispensable at table. Catherine usually sat by me, but today, she's still nearer to Araton, and I presently saw she would have no more discretion in her friendship than she had in her hostility. Now mind you don't talk with and notice you cousin too much. Were my whispered instructions as we entered the room? It will certainly annoy Mr. Eathcliff, and I'd be mad at you both. I'm not going to, she answered. The minute after, she had sidled to him and was sticking prim roses in his play to porridge. He dared not speak to her there. He dared oddly look, and yet she went on teasing till he was twice on the point of being provoked to laugh. I frowned. Then she glanced toward the master, whose mind was occupied on other subjects than his company as his countenance evinced, and she grew serious for an instant, scrutinising him with deep gravity. Afterward, she turned and recommenced her nonsense. At last, Araton uttered a smothered laugh. Mr. Eathcliff started, as I rapidly surveyed our faces. Catherine met it with her accustomed look of nervousness and yet defiance, which he abhorred. It is well you are out of my reach. He exclaimed, What fiend possesses you to stare back at me continually with those infernal eyes. Down with them. Don't remind me of your existence again. I thought I had cured you of laughing. It was me, muttered Araton. What do you say? Demanded the master. Araton looked at his plate and did not repeat the confession. Mr. Eathcliff looked at him a bit and then silently resumed his breakfast and his interrupted musing. We had nearly finished and the two young people prudently shifted wider asunder, so I anticipated no further disturbance during that sitting. When Joseph appeared at the door, revealing by his quivering lip and furious eyes that the outrage committed on his precious shrubs was detected, he must have seen Kathy and her cousin about the spot before he examined it. For while his jaws worked like those of a cow chewing its cud and rendered his speech difficult to understand, he began, I'm one of my wage and I'm on go. I had him to do where I had served for sixty years and I thought I'd lug my books up to Garrett and all my bits of stuff. And they stood up to kitchen to their sound for to take a quietness. It were hard to get my own arse done but I thought I could do that. But now she was turned my garden from me and by that master I cannot stand it. I may bend at the york and you will are no news to it and no man doesn't soon get used to a new bathroom. I'd rather I'm my bite and my suck we am other than it them road. No, no, idiot interrupted Eathcliff. Cut it short. What's your grievance? I'll interfere in no quarrels between you and Nelly. She may thrust you into the coal hole for anything I care. It's no Nelly. Answered Joseph. I shouldn't shift for Nelly. Nasty'll now to Shoeys. Thank God. Shoe cannot stale to its sole ennobody. She were never so handsome but what a body would look at her about winking. It's John Flaysome, graceless queen that's witched out of lad we are bolding and our forehead weighs till nigh. It fair bruce my heart. He's forgotten all I've done for him and made on him and gone and riven up an old row at grandest current trees in Tickarden. And he lamented outright, unmanned by a sense of his bitter injuries and earned Shoeys ingratitude and dangerous condition. Is the fool drunk? Asked Mr Heathcliff. Harriton, is it you he's finding fault with? I've pulled up two or three bushes. Replied the young man. But I'm going to set him again. And why have you pulled them up? Said the master. Catherine wisely put in her tongue. We wanted to plant some flowers there. She cried. I'm the only person to blame for I wished him to do it. And who the devil gave you leave to touch a stick about the place? Demanded her father-in-law much surprised. And who ordered you to obey her? He added, turning to Harriton. Bellata was speechless. His cousin replied. You shouldn't grudge a few yards of earth for me to ornament when you have taken all my land. Your land, insolent slut. You never had any land. Said Heathcliff. And my money. She continued returning his angry glare. A meantime biting a piece of crust. The remnant of her breakfast. Silence. He exclaimed. Run and be gone. And Harriton's land. And his money. Pursued the reckless thing. Harriton and I are friends now. And I shall tell him all about you. The master seemed confounded a moment. He grew pale and rose up. Ayanna all the while with an expression of mortal hate. If you strike me, Harriton will strike you. She said. So you may as well sit down. If Harriton does not turn you out of the room, I'll strike him to hell. Thundered Heathcliff. Damnable witch. Dare you pretend to rouse him against me. Off with her, do you hear? Flink her into the kitchen. I'll kill her, Allendeen, if you let her come into my sight again. Harriton tried under his breath to persuade her to go. Drag her away. He cried savagely. Are you staying to talk? He approached to execute his own command. He'll not obey you, wicked man anymore. Said Catherine. And he'll soon detest you as much as I do. Whist. Whist. Mutted the young man reproachfully. I will not let you speak so to him. I've done. But you won't let him strike me. She cried. Come then. He whispered earnestly. It was too late. Heathcliff had caught hold of her. Now you go. He said to Earnshaw. Cursed witch. This time she has provoked me when I could not bear it. And I'll make her repent it forever. He had his hand in her hair. Harriton attempted to release her locks. Intreating him not to hurt her that once. Heathcliff's black eyes flashed. He seemed ready to tear Catherine in pieces. And I was just working up to risk coming to the rescue when, of a sudden, his fingers relaxed. He shifted his grasp from her head to her arm. Engaged intently in her face. Then he drew his hand over his eyes. Stood a moment to collect himself apparently. And turning anew to Catherine said with assumed calmness. You must avoid putting me in a passion or I shall really murder you sometime. Go with Mrs. Dean and keep with her and confine your insolence to her ears. As to Harriton Earnshaw. If I see him listen to you I'll send him seeking his bread where he can get it. Your love will make him an outcast and a beggar. Nelly take her and leave me. All of you. Leave me. I led my young lady out. She was too glad of her escape to resist. The other followed. And Mr. Heathcliff had the room to himself till dinner. I had counselled Catherine to dine upstairs but as soon as he perceived her vacant seat he sent me to call her. He spoke to none of us. Ate very little. And went out directly afterwards. Intimating that he should not return before evening. The two new friends established themselves in the house during his absence. Where I heard Harriton sternly check his cousin on her offering a revelation of her father-in-law's conduct to his father. He said he wouldn't suffer a word to be uttered in his disparagement. If he were the devil it didn't signify. He would stand by him. And he'd rather she would abuse himself as she used to than begin on Mr. Heathcliff. Catherine was waxing cross at this. But he found means to make her hold her tongue by asking how she would like him to speak ill of her father. Then she comprehended that Earnshaw took the master's reputation home to himself. And was attached by ties stronger than reason could break. Chains forged by habit which it would be cruel to attempt to loosen. She showed a good heart thenceforth in avoiding both complaints and expressions of antipathy concerning Heathcliff. And confessed to me her sorrow that she had endeavoured to raise a bad spirit between him and Harriton. Indeed I don't believe she has ever breathed a syllable in the latter's hearing against her oppressor sins. When this slight disagreement was over, they were friends again. And as busy as possible in their several occupations of pupil and teacher. I came in to sit with them after I had done my work. And I felt so soothed and comforted to watch them that I did not notice how time had got on. You know they both appeared in a measure my children. I had long been proud of one and now I was sure the other would be a source of equal satisfaction. His honest, warm and intelligent nature shook off rapidly the clouds of ignorance and degradation in which it had been bred. And Catherine's sincere commendations acted as a spur to his industry. His brightening mind brightened his features and added spirit and nobility to their aspect. I could hardly fancy it the same individual I belled on the day I discovered my little lady at Wuthering Heights after her expedition to the crags. While I admired and they laboured, dusk drew on and with it returned the master. They came upon us quite unexpectedly, entering by the front way and had a full view of the whole three. Here we could raise our heads to glance at him. While I reflected there was never a pleasanter or more harmless sight and it will be a burning shame to scold them. The red firelight glowed on their two bonny heads, and revealed their faces animated with eager interest of children. For though he was 23 and she 18, each had so much of novelty to feel and learn, that neither experienced nor evinced the sentiments of sober disenchanted maturity. They lifted their eyes together to encounter Mr. Eathcliff. Perhaps you've never remarked that their eyes are precisely similar, and they are those of Catherine Earnshaw. The present Catherine has no other likeness to her, except a breadth of forehead and a certain arch of the nostril that makes her appear rather haughty, whether she will or not. With Aritan the resemblance has carried father, it is singular to all times. Then it was particularly striking because his senses were alert and his mental faculties wakened to unwanted activity. I suppose this resemblance disarmed Mr. Eathcliff. He walked to the hearth in evident agitation but it quickly subsided as he looked at the young man. Nor should I say altered its character for it was there yet. He took the book from his aunt and glanced at the open page. Then returned it without any observation, merely signing Catherine away. A companion lingered very little behind her and I was about to depart also but he bit me sit still. It is a poor conclusion, is it not? He observed, having brooded a while on the scene he had just witnessed. An absurd determination to my violent exertions. I get levers and mattocks to demolish the two houses and train myself to be capable of working like Hercules. And when everything is ready and in my power I find the will to lift a slate of either roof as vanished. My old enemies have not beaten me. Now would be the precise time to revenge myself on their representatives. I could do it and none could hinder me. But where is the use? I don't care for striking. I can't take the trouble to raise my hand. That sounds as if I have been laboring the whole time only to exhibit a fine trait of magnanimity. It is far from being the case. I have lost the faculty of enjoying their destruction. And I am too idle to destroy for nothing. Nearly there is a strange change approaching. I am in its shadow at present. It takes so little interest in my daily life that I hardly remember to eat and drink. Those too who have left the room are the only objects which retain a distinct material appearance to me. And that appearance causes me pain and mounting to agony. About her, I won't speak and I don't desire to think. But I earnestly wish you were invisible. Her presence invokes only maddening sensations. He moves me differently. And yet if I could do it without seeming insane I'd never see him again. You'll perhaps think me rather inclined to become so. He added, making an effort to smile. If I try to describe the thousand forms of past associations and ideas he awakens or embodies. But you'll not talk of what I tell you. And my mind is so eternally secluded in itself it is tempting last to turn it out to another. Five minutes ago, Harreton seemed a personification of my youth, not a human being. I felt to him in such a variety of ways that it would have been impossible to ever costed him rationally. In the first place his startling likeness to Catherine connected him fearfully with her. That however which you may suppose the most potent to arrest my imagination is actually the least. For what is not connected with her to me and what does not recall her. I cannot look down to this floor but her features are shaped in the flags. In every cloud, in every tree, filling the air at night and caught by glimpses in every object by day. I am surrounded with her image. The most ordinary faces of men and women, my own features mock me with a resemblance. The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist and that I have lost her. Well, Harreton's aspect was the ghost of my immortal love, of my wild endeavours to hold my right, my degradation, my pride, my happiness and my anguish. But it is frenzy to repeat these thoughts to you. Only it will let you know why, with a reluctance to be always alone his society is no benefit, rather an aggravation of the constant torment I suffer. And it partly contributes to render me regardless how he and his cousin go on together. I can give them no attention anymore. But what do you mean by a change, Mr. Eathcliff? I said, alarmed at his manner. Though he was neither in danger of losing his senses nor dying, according to my judgement. He was quite strong and healthy and as to his reason from childhood he had a delight in dwelling on dark things and entertaining odd fancies. He might have had a monomania on the subject of his departed idol, but on every other point his wits were as sound as mine. I shall not know that till it comes, he said. I am only half conscious of it now. You have no feeling of illness, have you? I asked. No, Nelly, I have not. He answered. Then you were not afraid of death? I pursued. Afraid? No, he replied. I have neither fear nor pre-sentiment nor a hope of death. Why should I? With my hard constitution and temperate mode of living and on perilous occupations I ought to and probably shall remain above ground till there is scarcely a black hair on my head. And yet I cannot continue in this condition. I have to remind myself to breathe. Almost remind my heart to beat. And it is like bending back a stiff spring. It is by compulsion that I do the slightest act not prompted by one thought and by compulsion that I notice anything alive or dead which is not associated with one universal idea. I have a single wish and my whole being and faculties are yearning to attain it. They have yearned towards it so long and so unwaveringly that I am convinced it will be reached and soon because it has devoured my existence. I am swallowed up in the anticipation of its fulfilment. My confessions have not relieved me but they may account for some otherwise unaccountable phases of humour which I show. God, it is a long fight. I wish it were ever. He began to pace the room muttering terrible things to himself till I was inclined to believe as he said Joseph did that conscience had turned his heart to unearthly hell. I wondered greatly how it would end though he seldom before had revealed his state of mind even by looks. It was his habitual mood. I had no doubt. He asserted it himself but not a soul from his general bearing would have conjectured the fact. You did not when you saw him Mr Lockwood and at the period which I speak he was just the same as then. Only fonder of continued solitude and perhaps still more the conic in company. I am convinced it will be reached and soon it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached and soon it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached and soon it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached. I am convinced it will be reached.