Wuthering Heights

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 Hareton – indeed, I don't believe she has ever breathed a syllable, in the latter's hearing, against her oppressor, since.
    When this slight disagreement was over, they were thick 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 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 spurto 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 had beheld 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. He came upon us quite unexpectedly, entering by the front way, and had a full view of the whole three, ere we could raise our heads to glance at him.
    Well, I reflected, there never was a pleasanter, or more harmless sight; and it will be a burning shame to scold them. The red fire-light glowed on their two bonny heads, and revealed their faces, animated with the eager interest of children; for, though he was twenty-three, and she eighteen, 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. Heathcliff – perhaps, you have 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 Hareton the resemblance is carried farther, it is singular, at all times – then it was particularly striking: because his senses were alert, and his mental faculties wakened to unwonted activity.
    I suppose this resemblance disarmed Mr. Heathcliff: he walked to the hearth in evident agitation, but it quickly subsided, as he looked at the young man; or, I should say, altered its character, for it was there yet.
    He took the book from his hand, and glanced at the open page, then returned it without any observation; merely signing Catherine away – her companion lingered very little behind her, and I was about to depart also, but he bid 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 termination 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 off either roof has 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 had been labouring 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.
    Nelly, there is a strange change approaching – I'm in its shadow at present – I take so little interest in my daily life, that I hardly remember to eat, and drink – Those two, who have left the room are the only objects which retain a distinct material appearance to me; and, that appearance causes me pain, amounting to agony. About
her
I won't speak; and I don't desire to think; but I earnestly wish she were invisible – her presence invokes only maddening sensations.
He
moves me differently; and yet if I could do it without seeming