第91章

`One time, however, we were near quarrelling.He said the pleasantest manner of spending a hot July day was lying from morning till evening on a bank of heath in the middle of the moors, with the bees humming dreamily about among the bloom, and the larks singing high up overhead, and the blue sky and bright sun shining steadily and cloudlessly.That was his most perfect idea of heaven's happiness: mine was rocking in a rustling green tree, with a west wind blowing, and bright white clouds flitting rapidly above; and not only larks, but throstles, and blackbirds, and linnets, and cuckoos pouring out music on every side, and the moors seen at a distance, broken into cool dusky dells; but close by great swells of long grass undulating in waves to the breeze; and woods and sounding water, and the whole world awake and wild with joy.He wanted all to lie in an ecstasy of peace; Iwanted all to sparkle and dance in a glorious jubilee.I said his heaven would be only half alive; and he said mine would be drunk: I said I should fall asleep in his; and he said he could not breathe in mine, and began to grow very snappish.At last, we agreed to try both, as soon as the right weather came; and then we kissed each other and were friends.

`After sitting still an hour, I looked at the great room with its smooth uncarpeted floor, and thought how nice it would be to play in, if we removed the table; and I asked Linton to call Zillah in to help us, and we'd have a game at blind-man's buff; she should try to catch us: you used to, you know, Ellen.He wouldn't: there was no pleasure in it, he said; but he consented to play at ball with me.We found two in a cupboard, among a heap of old toys, tops, and hoops, and battledores, and shuttlecocks.

One was marked C., and the other H.; I wished to have the C., because that stood for Catherine, and the H.might be for Heathcliff, his name; but the bran came out of H., and Linton didn't like it.I beat him constantly, and he got cross again, and coughed, and returned to his chair.That night, though, he easily recovered his good humour: he was charmed with two or three pretty songs--your songs, Ellen; and when I was obliged to go, he begged and entreated me to come the following evening; and I promised.

Minny and I went flying home as light as air; and I dreamt of Wuthering Heights and my sweet, darling cousin, till morning.

`On the morrow I was sad; partly because you were poorly, and partly that I wished my father knew, and approved of my excursions: but it was beautiful moonlight after tea; and, as I rode on, the gloom cleared.

I shall have another happy evening, I thought to myself: and what delights me more, my pretty Linton will.I trotted up their garden, and was turning round to the back, when that fellow Earnshaw met me, took my bridle, and bid me go in by the front entrance.He patted Minny's neck, and said she was a bonny beast, and appeared as if he wanted me to speak to him.I only told him to leave my horse alone, or else it would kick him.He answered in his vulgar accent, ``It wouldn't do much hurt if it did"; and surveyed its legs with a smile.I was half inclined to make it try; however, he moved off to open the door, and, as he raised the latch, he looked up to the inscription above, and said, with a stupid mixture of awkwardness and elation:

` ``Miss Catherine! I can read yon, nah.''

` ``Wonderful,'' I exclaimed.``Pray let us hear you--you are grown clever!''

`He spelt, and drawled over by syllables, the name--"Hareton Earnshaw".

` ``And the figures?'' I cried encouragingly, perceiving that he came to a dead halt.

` ``I cannot tell them yet,'' he answered.

``Oh, you dunce!'' I said, laughing heartily at his failure.

`The fool stared, with a grin hovering about his lips, and a scowl gathering over his eyes, as if uncertain whether he might not join in my mirth: whether it were not pleasant familiarity, or what it really was, contempt.I settled his doubts, by suddenly retrieving my gravity and desiring him to walk away, for I came to see Linton, not him.He reddened--I saw that by the moonlight--dropped his hand from the latch, and skulked off, a picture of mortified vanity.He imagined himself to be as accomplished as Linton, I suppose, because he could spell his own name; and was marvellously discomfited that I didn't think the same.'

`Stop, Miss Catherine, dear!' I interrupted.`I shall not scold, but I don't like your conduct there.If you had remembered that Hareton was your cousin as much as Master Heathcliff, you would have felt how improper it was to behave in that way.At least, it was praiseworthy ambition for him to desire to be as accomplished as Linton; and probably he did not learn merely to show off: you had made him ashamed of his ignorance before, I have no doubt; and he wished to remedy it and please you.To sneer at his imperfect attempt was very bad breeding.Had you been brought up in his circumstances, would you be less rude? He was as quick and as intelligent a child as ever you were; and I'm hurt that he should be despised now, because that base Heathcliff has treated him so unjustly.'

`Well, Ellen, you won't cry about it, will you?' she exclaimed, surprised at my earnestness.`But wait, and you shall hear if he conned his A B C to please me; and if it were worth while being civil to the brute.

I entered; Linton was lying on the settle, and half got up to welcome me.

` ``I'm ill tonight, Catherine, love,'' he said; ``and you must have all the talk, and let me listen.Come, and sit by me.I was sure you wouldn't break your word, and I'll make you promise again, before you go.''

`I knew now that I mustn't tease him, as he `was ill; and I spoke softly and put no questions, and avoided irritating him in any way.I had brought some of my nicest books for him; he asked me to read a little of one, and I was about to comply, when Earnshaw burst the door open: having gathered venom with reflection.He advanced direct to us, seized Linton by the arm, and swung him off the seat.