Wuthering Bites Read Online Free PDF Page B

be off. I am now quite cured of seeking pleasure in society, be it country or town. A sensible man ought to find sufficient company in himself.”
    â€œTake the candle, and go where you please, then,” Heathcliff muttered. “I’ll join you directly. Keep out of the yard, though. The dogs are unchained to keep back the uninvited.”
    I obeyed, leaving the chamber, but unsure as to which way to go, I turned back and found myself an involuntary witness to the rather strange behavior of my landlord.
    Thinking himself alone, no doubt, he got onto the bed and wrenched open the lattice, bursting, as he pulled at it, into an uncontrollable passion of tears.
    â€œCome in! Come in!” he sobbed. “Catherine, do come. Oh do— once more! Oh! My heart’s darling! Hear me this time, Catherine, at last!”
    The specter showed a specter’s ordinary caprice. It gave no sign of its existence, but the snow and wind whirled wildly through, even reaching me and blowing out the light.
    There was such anguish in the gush of grief that accompanied Heathcliff’s raving that my compassion made me overlook its folly. I descended cautiously to the lower floor and landed in the back kitchen, where a gleam of fire enabled me to rekindle my candle. Nothing was stirring except a brindled, gray cat, which crept from the ashes and saluted me with a mew.
    Two benches, shaped in sections of a circle, nearly enclosed the hearth. I stretched myself on one, and the cat mounted the other. We were both of us nodding off when Joseph shuffled down a wooden ladder that vanished in the roof, through a trap. He cast a sinister look at me and swept the cat from its bench, and bestowing himself in the vacancy, began stuffing a three-inch pipe with tobacco. I let him enjoy the luxury undisturbed. After sucking out the last wreath, and heaving a profound sigh, he got up and departed as solemnly as he came.
    A more elastic footstep entered next, and I opened my mouth for a “good morning,” but closed it again. Hareton Earnshaw was directing a curse at every object he touched while he rummaged in a corner. He glanced over the back of the bench, dilating his nostrils, but made no more attempt at exchanging civilities than the cat had.
    When he came up with a spade, I guessed that he meant to use it to dig through the snow. Thinking that I was about to be escorted home, I made ready to follow him. He noticed this and thrust at an inner door with the end of his spade, intimating that there was the place where I must go.
    It opened into the house, where the females were already astir. Zillah was urging flakes of flame up the chimney with a colossal bellows, and Mrs. Heathcliff, kneeling on the hearth, read a book by the aid of the blaze.
    She held her hand interposed between the furnace heat and her eyes, and seemed absorbed in her occupation. I was surprised to see Heathcliff there also. He stood by the fire, his back toward me, just finishing a stormy scene to poor Zillah.
    â€œAnd you, you worthless—” he broke out as I entered, turning to his daughter-in-law and employing an epithet. “There you are, at your idle tricks again? The rest of them earn their bread, but you live on my charity! Put your trash away, and find something to do, you damnable jade.”
    â€œI’ll put it away because you can make me, if I refuse,” answered the young lady, closing her book and throwing it on a chair. “But I’ll not do anything else, except what I please!”
    Heathcliff lifted his hand, and she sprang to a safer distance, obviously acquainted with its sting.
    Having no desire to be entertained by a cat-and-dog combat, I stepped forward briskly, as if eager to take in the warmth of the hearth. Each had enough decorum to suspend further hostilities. Heathcliff placed his fists out of temptation, in his pockets. Mrs. Heathcliff curled her lip and walked to a seat far off, where she remained silent