Wuthering Heights

wouldn't have that noise repeated.
    I delivered Catherine's message. He cursed to himself, and in a few minutes, came out with a lighted candle, and proceeded to their room. I followed – Mrs. Heathcliff was seated by the bedside, with her hands folded on her knees. Her father-in-law went up, held the light to Linton's face, looked at him, and touched him, afterwards he turned to her.
    »›Now – Catherine,‹ he said, ›how do you feel?‹
    She was dumb.
    ›How do you feel, Catherine?‹ he repeated.
    ›He's safe, and I'm free,‹ she answered, ›I should feel well – but,‹ she continued with a bitterness she couldn't conceal, ›You have left me so long to struggle against death, alone, that I feel and see only death! I feel like death!‹
    And she looked like it, too! I gave her a little wine. Hareton and Joseph who had been wakened by the ringing, and the sound of feet, and heard our talk from outside, now entered. Joseph was fain, I believe, of the lad's removal: Hareton seemed a thought bothered, though he was more taken up with staring at Catherine than thinking of Linton. But the master bid him get off to bed again – we didn't want his help. He afterwards made Joseph remove the body to his chamber, and told me to return to mine, and Mrs. Heathcliff remained by herself.
    In the morning, he sent me to tell her she must come down to breakfast – she had undressed, and appeared going to sleep; and said she was ill; at which I hardly wondered. I informed Mr. Heathcliff, and he replied,
    ›Well, let her be till after the funeral; and go up now and then to get her what is needful; and as soon as she seems better, tell me.‹«
    Cathy stayed up-stairs a fortnight, according to Zillah, who visited her twice a-day, and would have been rather more friendly, but her attempts at increasing kindness were proudly and promptly repelled.
    Heathcliff went up once, to show her Linton's will. He had bequeathed the whole of his, and what had been her moveable property to his father. The poor creature was threatened, or coaxed into that act, during her week's absence, when his uncle died. The lands, being a minor he could not meddle with. However, Mr. Heathcliff has claimed, and kept them in his wife's right, and his also – I suppose legally, at any rate Catherine, destitute of cash and friends, cannot disturb his possession.
    »Nobody,« said Zillah, »ever approached her door, except that once, but I ... and nobody asked anything about her. The first occasion of her coming down into the house, was on a Sunday afternoon.
    She had cried out, when I carried up her dinner that she couldn't bear any longer being in the cold; and I told her the master was going to Thrushcross Grange; and Earnshaw and I needn't hinder her from descending; so, as soon as she heard Heathcliff's horse trot off, she made her appearance, donned in black, and her yellow curls combed back behind her ears, as plain as a quaker, she couldn't comb them out.«
    »Joseph, and I generally go to chapel on Sundays, (the Kirk, you know, has no minister, now, explained Mrs. Dean, and they call the Methodists' or Baptists' place, I can't say which it is, at Gimmerton, a chapel.)« »Joseph had gone,« she continued, »but I thought proper to bide at home. Young folks are always the better for an elder's over-looking, and Hareton with all his bashfulness, isn't a model of nice behaviour. I let him know that his cousin would very likely sit with us, and she had been always used to see the Sabbath respected, so he had as good leave his guns, and bits of in-door work alone, while she stayed.
    He coloured up at the news; and cast his eyes over his hands and clothes. The train-oil, and gunpowder were shoved out of sight in a minute. I saw he meant to give her his company; and I guessed, by his way, he wanted to be presentable; so, laughing, as I durst not laugh when the master is by, I offered to help him, if he would, and joked at his confusion. He grew sullen, and began to swear.
    Now, Mrs. Dean,« she went on, seeing me not pleased by her manner, »you happen think your young lady too fine for Mr. Hareton, and happen you're right – but, I own, I should love well to bring her pride a peg lower. And what will all her learning and her daintiness do for her, now? She's as poor as you, or I – poorer – I'll be bound, you're saving – and I'm doing my little all, that road.«
    Hareton allowed Zillah to give him her aid; and she flattered him into a good