Wuthering Heights

madman, and your wife, most likely is convinced you are mad; and, for that reason, she has borne with you hitherto: but now that you say she may go, she'll doubtless avail herself of the permission – You are not so bewitched, ma'am, are you, as to remain with him of your own accord?«
    »Take care, Ellen!« answered Isabella, her eyes sparkling irefully – there was no misdoubting by their expression the full success of her partner's endeavours to make himself detested. »Don't put faith in a single word he speaks. He's a lying fiend, a monster, and not a human being! I've been told I might leave him before; and I've made the atempt, but I dare not repeat it! Only Ellen, promise you'll not mention a syllable of his infamous conversation to my brother or Catherine – whatever he may pretend, he wishes to provoke Edgar to desperation – he says he has married me on purpose to obtain power over him; and he shan't obtain it – I'll die first! I just hope, I pray that he may forget his diabolical prudence, and kill me! The single pleasure I can imagine is to die, or to see him dead!«
    »There – that will do for the present!« said Heathcliff. »If you are called upon in a court of law, you'll remember her language, Nelly! And take a good look at that countenance – she's near the point which would suit me. No, you're not fit to be your own guardian, Isabella, now; and I, being your legal protector, must retain you in my custody, however distasteful the obligation may be – Go upstairs; I have something to say to Ellen Dean, in private. That's not the way – up-stairs, I tell you! Why this is the road up-stairs, child!«
    He seized, and thrust her from the room; and returned muttering,
    »I have no pity! I have no pity! The more the worms writhe, the more I yearn to crush out their entrails! It is a moral teething, and I grind with greater energy, in proportion to the increase of pain.«
    »Do you understand what the word pity means?« I said hastening to resume my bonnet. »Did you ever feel a touch of it in your life?«
    »Put that down!« he interrupted, perceiving my intention to depart. »You are not going yet – Come here now, Nelly – I must either persuade, or compel you to aid me in fulfilling my determination to see Catherine, and that without delay – I swear that I meditate no harm; I don't desire to cause any disturbance, or to exasperate, or insult Mr. Linton; I only wish to hear from herself how she is, and why she has been ill; and to ask, if anything that I could do would be of use to her. Last night, I was in the Grange garden six hours, and I'll return there to-night; and every night I'll haunt the place, and every day, till I find an opportunity of entering. If Edgar Linton meets me, I shall not hesitate to knock him down, and give him enough to insure his quiescence while I stay – If his servants oppose me, I shall threaten them off with these pistols – But wouldn't it be better to prevent my coming in contact with them, or their master? And you could do it so easily! I'd warn you when I came, and then you might let me in unobserved, as soon as she was alone, and watch till I departed – your conscience quite calm, you would be hindering mischief.«
    I protested against playing that treacherous part in my employer's house; and besides, I urged the cruelty, and selfishness of his destroying Mrs. Linton's tranquillity, for his satisfaction.
    »The commonest occurrence startles her painfully,« I said. »She's all nerves, and she couldn't bear the surprise, I'm positive – Don't persist, sir! or else, I shall be obliged to inform my master of your designs, and he'll take measures to secure his house and its inmates from any such unwarrantable intrusions!«
    »In that case, I'll take measures to secure you, woman!« exclaimed Heathcliff, »you shall not leave Wuthering Heights till to-morrow morning. It is a foolish story to assert that Catherine could not bear to see me; and as to surprising her, I don't desire it, you must prepare her – ask her if I may come. You say she never mentions my name, and that I am never mentioned to her. To whom should she mention me if I am a forbidden topic in the house? She thinks you are all spies for her husband – Oh, I've no doubt she's in hell among you! I guess, by her silence as much as anything, what she feels. You say she is often restless, and anxious-looking – is that a proof of tranquillity? You talk of her mind being unsettled – How