Wuthering Heights

I'd join him. I don't love you! How should I? Weep away. As far as I can see, it will be your chief diversion hereafter: unless Linton make amends for other losses; and your provident parent appears to fancy he may. His letters of advice and consolation entertained me vastly. In his last, he recommended my jewel to be careful of his; and kind to her when he got her. Careful and kind – that's paternal! But Linton requires his whole stock of care and kindness for himself. Linton can play the little tyrant well. He'll undertake to torture any number of cats if their teeth be drawn, and their claws pared. You'll be able to tell his uncle fine tales of his
kindness,
when you get home again, I assure you.«
    »You're right there!« I said, »explain your son's character. Show his resemblance to yourself; and then, I hope, Miss Cathy will think twice, before she takes the cockatrice!«
    »I don't much mind speaking of his amiable qualities now,« he answered, »because she must either accept him, or remain a prisoner, and you along with her, till your master dies. I can detain you both, quite concealed, here. If you doubt, encourage her to retract her word, and you'll have an opportunity of judging!«
    »I'll not retract my word,« said Catherine. »I'll marry him, within this hour, if I may go to Thrushcross Grange afterwards. Mr. Heathcliff, you're a cruel man, but you're not a fiend; and you wont, from
mere
malice, destroy, irrevocably, all my happiness. If papa thought I had left him, on purpose; and if he died before I returned, could I bear to live? I've given over crying; but I'm going to kneel here, at your knee; and I'll not get up, and I'll not take my eyes from your face, till you look back at me! No, don't turn away!
do
look! You'll see nothing to provoke you. I don't hate you. I'm not angry that you struck me. Have you never loved
anybody,
in all your life, uncle?
never?
Ah! you must look once – I'm so wretched – you can't help being sorry and pitying me.«
    »Keep your eft's fingers off; and move, or I'll kick you!« cried Heathcliff, brutally repulsing her. »I'd rather be hugged by a snake. How the devil can you dream of fawning on me? I
detest
you!«
    He shrugged his shoulders – shook himself, indeed, as if his flesh crept with aversion; and thrust back his chair: while I got up, and opened my mouth, to commence a downright torrent of abuse; but I was rendered dumb in the middle of the first sentence, by a threat that I should be shown into a room by myself, the very next syllable I uttered.
    It was growing dark – we heard a sound of voices at the garden gate. Our host hurried out, instantly;
he
had his wits about him;
we
had not. There was a talk of two or three minutes, and he returned alone.
    »I thought it had been your cousin Hareton,« I observed to Catherine. »I wish he would arrive! Who knows but he might take our part?«
    »It was three servants sent to seek you from the Grange,« said Heathcliff, overhearing me. »You should have opened a lattice, and called out; but I could swear that chit is glad you didn't. She's glad to be obliged to stay, I'm certain.«
    At learning the chance we had missed, we both gave vent to our grief without control; and he allowed us to wail on till nine o'clock; then he bid us go up stairs, through the kitchen, to Zillah's chamber; and I whispered my companion to obey; perhaps, we might contrive to get through the window there, or into a garret, and out by its skylight.
    The window, however, was narrow like those below, and the garret trap was safe from our attempts; for we were fastened in as before.
    We neither of us lay down: Catherine took her station by the lattice, and watched anxiously for morning – a deep sigh being the only answer I could obtain to my frequent entreaties that she would try to rest.
    I seated myself in a chair, and rocked, to and fro, passing harsh judgment on my many derelictions of duty; from which, it struck me then, all the misfortunes of all my employers sprang. It was not the case, in reality, I am aware; but it was, in my imagination, that dismal night, and I thought Heathcliff himself less guilty than I.
    At seven o'clock he came, and inquired if Miss Linton had risen.
    She ran to the door immediately, and answered –
    »Yes.«
    »Here then,« he said, opening it, and pulling her out.
    I rose to follow, but he turned the lock again. I demanded my release.
    »Be patient,« he replied; »I'll send up your breakfast in a