CATHY stayed at Thrushcross Grange five weeks: till Christmas. Bythat time her ankle was thoroughly cured, and her manners muchimproved. The mistress visited her often in the interval, andcommenced her plan of reform by trying to raise her self-respectwith fine clothes and flattery, which she took readily; so that,instead of a wild, hatless little savage jumping into the house,and rushing to squeeze us all breathless, there 'lighted from ahandsome black pony a very dignified person, with brown ringletsfalling from the cover of a feathered beaver, and a long clothhabit, which she was obliged to hold up with both hands that shemight sail in. Hindley lifted her from her horse, exclaimingdelightedly, 'Why, Cathy, you are quite a beauty! I shouldscarcely have known you: you look like a lady now. IsabellaLinton is not to be compared with her, is she, Frances?' 'Isabellahas not her natural advantages,' replied his wife: 'but she mustmind and not grow wild again here. Ellen, help Miss Catherine offwith her things - Stay, dear, you will disarrange your curls - letme untie your hat.'

I removed the habit, and there shone forth beneath a grand plaidsilk frock, white trousers, and burnished shoes; and, while hereyes sparkled joyfully when the dogs came bounding up to welcomeher, she dared hardly touch them lest they should fawn upon hersplendid garments. She kissed me gently: I was all flour makingthe Christmas cake, and it would not have done to give me a hug;and then she looked round for Heathcliff. Mr. and Mrs. Earnshawwatched anxiously their meeting; thinking it would enable them tojudge, in some measure, what grounds they had for hoping to succeedin separating the two friends.

Heathcliff was hard to discover, at first. If he were careless,and uncared for, before Catherine's absence, he had been ten timesmore so since. Nobody but I even did him the kindness to call hima dirty boy, and bid him wash himself, once a week; and children ofhis age seldom have a natural pleasure in soap and water.Therefore, not to mention his clothes, which had seen three months'service in mire and dust, and his thick uncombed hair, the surfaceof his face and hands was dismally beclouded. He might well skulkbehind the settle, on beholding such a bright, graceful damselenter the house, instead of a rough-headed counterpart of himself,as he expected. 'Is Heathcliff not here?' she demanded, pullingoff her gloves, and displaying fingers wonderfully whitened withdoing nothing and staying indoors.

'Heathcliff, you may come forward,' cried Mr. Hindley, enjoying hisdiscomfiture, and gratified to see what a forbidding youngblackguard he would be compelled to present himself. 'You may comeand wish Miss Catherine welcome, like the other servants.'

Cathy, catching a glimpse of her friend in his concealment, flew toembrace him; she bestowed seven or eight kisses on his cheek withinthe second, and then stopped, and drawing back, burst into a laugh,exclaiming, 'Why, how very black and cross you look! and how - howfunny and grim! But that's because I'm used to Edgar and IsabellaLinton. Well, Heathcliff, have you forgotten me?'

She had some reason to put the question, for shame and pride threwdouble gloom over his countenance, and kept him immovable.

'Shake hands, Heathcliff,' said Mr. Earnshaw, condescendingly;'once in a way, that is permitted.'

'I shall not,' replied the boy, finding his tongue at last; 'Ishall not stand to be laughed at. I shall not bear it!' And hewould have broken from the circle, but Miss Cathy seized him again.

'I did not mean to laugh at you,' she said; 'I could not hindermyself: Heathcliff, shake hands at least! What are you sulky for?It was only that you looked odd. If you wash your face and brushyour hair, it will be all right: but you are so dirty!'

She gazed concernedly at the dusky fingers she held in her own, andalso at her dress; which she feared had gained no embellishmentfrom its contact with his.

'You needn't have touched me!' he answered, following her eye andsnatching away his hand. 'I shall be as dirty as I please: and Ilike to be dirty, and I will be dirty.'

With that he dashed headforemost out of the room, amid themerriment of the master and mistress, and to the seriousdisturbance of Catherine; who could not comprehend how her remarksshould have produced such an exhibition of bad temper.

After playing lady's-maid to the new-comer, and putting my cakes inthe oven, and making the house and kitchen cheerful with greatfires, befitting Christmas-eve, I prepared to sit down and amusemyself by singing carols, all alone; regardless of Joseph'saffirmations that he considered the merry tunes I chose as nextdoor to songs. He had retired to private prayer in his chamber,and Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw were engaging Missy's attention by sundrygay trifles bought for her to present to the little Lintons, as anacknowledgment of their kindness. They had invited them to spendthe morrow at Wuthering Heights, and the invitation had beenaccepted, on one condition: Mrs. Linton begged that her darlingsmight be kept carefully apart from that 'naughty swearing boy.'

Under these circumstances I remained solitary. I smelt the richscent of the heating spices; and admired the shining kitchenutensils, the polished clock, decked in holly, the silver mugsranged on a tray ready to be filled with mulled ale for supper; andabove all, the speckless purity of my particular care - the scouredand well-swept floor. I gave due inward applause to every object,and then I remembered how old Earnshaw used to come in when all wastidied, and call me a cant lass, and slip a shilling into my handas a Christmas-box; and from that I went on to think of hisfondness for Heathcliff, and his dread lest he should sufferneglect after death had removed him: and that naturally led me toconsider the poor lad's situation now, and from singing I changedmy mind to crying. It struck me soon, however, there would be moresense in endeavouring to repair some of his wrongs than sheddingtears over them: I got up and walked into the court to seek him.He was not far; I found him smoothing the glossy coat of the newpony in the stable, and feeding the other beasts, according tocustom.

'Make haste, Heathcliff!' I said, 'the kitchen is so comfortable;and Joseph is up-stairs: make haste, and let me dress you smartbefore Miss Cathy comes out, and then you can sit together, withthe whole hearth to yourselves, and have a long chatter tillbedtime.'

He proceeded with his task, and never turned his head towards me.

'Come - are you coming?' I continued. 'There's a little cake foreach of you, nearly enough; and you'll need half-an-hour'sdonning.'

I waited five minutes, but getting no answer left him. Catherinesupped with her brother and sister-in-law: Joseph and I joined atan unsociable meal, seasoned with reproofs on one side andsauciness on the other. His cake and cheese remained on the tableall night for the fairies. He managed to continue work till nineo'clock, and then marched dumb and dour to his chamber. Cathy satup late, having a world of things to order for the reception of hernew friends: she came into the kitchen once to speak to her oldone; but he was gone, and she only stayed to ask what was thematter with him, and then went back. In the morning he rose early;and, as it was a holiday, carried his ill-humour on to the moors;not re-appearing till the family were departed for church. Fastingand reflection seemed to have brought him to a better spirit. Hehung about me for a while, and having screwed up his courage,exclaimed abruptly - 'Nelly, make me decent, I'm going to be good.'

'High time, Heathcliff,' I said; 'you HAVE grieved Catherine:she's sorry she ever came home, I daresay! It looks as if youenvied her, because she is more thought of than you.'

The notion of ENVYING Catherine was incomprehensible to him, butthe notion of grieving her he understood clearly enough.

'Did she say she was grieved?' he inquired, looking very serious.

'She cried when I told her you were off again this morning.'

'Well, I cried last night,' he returned, 'and I had more reason tocry than she.'

'Yes: you had the reason of going to bed with a proud heart and anempty stomach,' said I. 'Proud people breed sad sorrows forthemselves. But, if you be ashamed of your touchiness, you mustask pardon, mind, when she comes in. You must go up and offer tokiss her, and say - you know best what to say; only do it heartily,and not as if you thought her converted into a stranger by hergrand dress. And now, though I have dinner to get ready, I'llsteal time to arrange you so that Edgar Linton shall look quite adoll beside you: and that he does. You are younger, and yet, I'llbe bound, you are taller and twice as broad across the shoulders;you could knock him down in a twinkling; don't you feel that youcould?'

Heathcliff's face brightened a moment; then it was overcast afresh,and he sighed.

'But, Nelly, if I knocked him down twenty times, that wouldn't makehim less handsome or me more so. I wish I had light hair and afair skin, and was dressed and behaved as well, and had a chance ofbeing as rich as he will be!'

'And cried for mamma at every turn,' I added, 'and trembled if acountry lad heaved his fist against you, and sat at home all dayfor a shower of rain. Oh, Heathcliff, you are showing a poorspirit! Come to the glass, and I'll let you see what you shouldwish. Do you mark those two lines between your eyes; and thosethick brows, that, instead of rising arched, sink in the middle;and that couple of black fiends, so deeply buried, who never opentheir windows boldly, but lurk glinting under them, like devil'sspies? Wish and learn to smooth away the surly wrinkles, to raiseyour lids frankly, and change the fiends to confident, innocentangels, suspecting and doubting nothing, and always seeing friendswhere they are not sure of foes. Don't get the expression of avicious cur that appears to know the kicks it gets are its desert,and yet hates all the world, as well as the kicker, for what itsuffers.'

'In other words, I must wish for Edgar Linton's great blue eyes andeven forehead,' he replied. 'I do - and that won't help me tothem.'

'A good heart will help you to a bonny face, my lad,' I continued,'if you were a regular black; and a bad one will turn the bonniestinto something worse than ugly. And now that we've done washing,and combing, and sulking - tell me whether you don't think yourselfrather handsome? I'll tell you, I do. You're fit for a prince indisguise. Who knows but your father was Emperor of China, and yourmother an Indian queen, each of them able to buy up, with oneweek's income, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange together?And you were kidnapped by wicked sailors and brought to England.Were I in your place, I would frame high notions of my birth; andthe thoughts of what I was should give me courage and dignity tosupport the oppressions of a little farmer!'

So I chattered on; and Heathcliff gradually lost his frown andbegan to look quite pleasant, when all at once our conversation wasinterrupted by a rumbling sound moving up the road and entering thecourt. He ran to the window and I to the door, just in time tobehold the two Lintons descend from the family carriage, smotheredin cloaks and furs, and the Earnshaws dismount from their horses:they often rode to church in winter. Catherine took a hand of eachof the children, and brought them into the house and set thembefore the fire, which quickly put colour into their white faces.

I urged my companion to hasten now and show his amiable humour, andhe willingly obeyed; but ill luck would have it that, as he openedthe door leading from the kitchen on one side, Hindley opened it onthe other. They met, and the master, irritated at seeing him cleanand cheerful, or, perhaps, eager to keep his promise to Mrs.Linton, shoved him back with a sudden thrust, and angrily badeJoseph 'keep the fellow out of the room - send him into the garrettill dinner is over. He'll be cramming his fingers in the tartsand stealing the fruit, if left alone with them a minute.'

'Nay, sir,' I could not avoid answering, 'he'll touch nothing, nothe: and I suppose he must have his share of the dainties as wellas we.'

'He shall have his share of my hand, if I catch him downstairs tilldark,' cried Hindley. 'Begone, you vagabond! What! you areattempting the coxcomb, are you? Wait till I get hold of thoseelegant locks - see if I won't pull them a bit longer!'

'They are long enough already,' observed Master Linton, peepingfrom the doorway; 'I wonder they don't make his head ache. It'slike a colt's mane over his eyes!'

He ventured this remark without any intention to insult; butHeathcliff's violent nature was not prepared to endure theappearance of impertinence from one whom he seemed to hate, eventhen, as a rival. He seized a tureen of hot apple sauce (the firstthing that came under his gripe) and dashed it full against thespeaker's face and neck; who instantly commenced a lament thatbrought Isabella and Catherine hurrying to the place. Mr. Earnshawsnatched up the culprit directly and conveyed him to his chamber;where, doubtless, he administered a rough remedy to cool the fit ofpassion, for he appeared red and breathless. I got the dishcloth,and rather spitefully scrubbed Edgar's nose and mouth, affirming itserved him right for meddling. His sister began weeping to gohome, and Cathy stood by confounded, blushing for all.

'You should not have spoken to him!' she expostulated with MasterLinton. 'He was in a bad temper, and now you've spoilt your visit;and he'll be flogged: I hate him to be flogged! I can't eat mydinner. Why did you speak to him, Edgar?'

'I didn't,' sobbed the youth, escaping from my hands, and finishingthe remainder of the purification with his cambric pocket-handkerchief. 'I promised mamma that I wouldn't say one word tohim, and I didn't.'

'Well, don't cry,' replied Catherine, contemptuously; 'you're notkilled. Don't make more mischief; my brother is coming: be quiet!Hush, Isabella! Has anybody hurt you?'

'There, there, children - to your seats!' cried Hindley, bustlingin. 'That brute of a lad has warmed me nicely. Next time, MasterEdgar, take the law into your own fists - it will give you anappetite!'

The little party recovered its equanimity at sight of the fragrantfeast. They were hungry after their ride, and easily consoled,since no real harm had befallen them. Mr. Earnshaw carvedbountiful platefuls, and the mistress made them merry with livelytalk. I waited behind her chair, and was pained to beholdCatherine, with dry eyes and an indifferent air, commence cuttingup the wing of a goose before her. 'An unfeeling child,' I thoughtto myself; 'how lightly she dismisses her old playmate's troubles.I could not have imagined her to be so selfish.' She lifted amouthful to her lips: then she set it down again: her cheeksflushed, and the tears gushed over them. She slipped her fork tothe floor, and hastily dived under the cloth to conceal heremotion. I did not call her unfeeling long; for I perceived shewas in purgatory throughout the day, and wearying to find anopportunity of getting by herself, or paying a visit to Heathcliff,who had been locked up by the master: as I discovered, onendeavouring to introduce to him a private mess of victuals.

In the evening we had a dance. Cathy begged that he might beliberated then, as Isabella Linton had no partner: her entreatieswere vain, and I was appointed to supply the deficiency. We gotrid of all gloom in the excitement of the exercise, and ourpleasure was increased by the arrival of the Gimmerton band,mustering fifteen strong: a trumpet, a trombone, clarionets,bassoons, French horns, and a bass viol, besides singers. They gothe rounds of all the respectable houses, and receive contributionsevery Christmas, and we esteemed it a first-rate treat to hearthem. After the usual carols had been sung, we set them to songsand glees. Mrs. Earnshaw loved the music, and so they gave usplenty.

Catherine loved it too: but she said it sounded sweetest at thetop of the steps, and she went up in the dark: I followed. Theyshut the house door below, never noting our absence, it was so fullof people. She made no stay at the stairs'-head, but mountedfarther, to the garret where Heathcliff was confined, and calledhim. He stubbornly declined answering for a while: shepersevered, and finally persuaded him to hold communion with herthrough the boards. I let the poor things converse unmolested,till I supposed the songs were going to cease, and the singers toget some refreshment: then I clambered up the ladder to warn her.Instead of finding her outside, I heard her voice within. Thelittle monkey had crept by the skylight of one garret, along theroof, into the skylight of the other, and it was with the utmostdifficulty I could coax her out again. When she did come,Heathcliff came with her, and she insisted that I should take himinto the kitchen, as my fellow-servant had gone to a neighbour's,to be removed from the sound of our 'devil's psalmody,' as itpleased him to call it. I told them I intended by no means toencourage their tricks: but as the prisoner had never broken hisfast since yesterday's dinner, I would wink at his cheating Mr.Hindley that once. He went down: I set him a stool by the fire,and offered him a quantity of good things: but he was sick andcould eat little, and my attempts to entertain him were thrownaway. He leant his two elbows on his knees, and his chin on hishands and remained rapt in dumb meditation. On my inquiring thesubject of his thoughts, he answered gravely - 'I'm trying tosettle how I shall pay Hindley back. I don't care how long I wait,if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do!'

'For shame, Heathcliff!' said I. 'It is for God to punish wickedpeople; we should learn to forgive.'

'No, God won't have the satisfaction that I shall,' he returned.'I only wish I knew the best way! Let me alone, and I'll plan itout: while I'm thinking of that I don't feel pain.'

'But, Mr. Lockwood, I forget these tales cannot divert you. I'mannoyed how I should dream of chattering on at such a rate; andyour gruel cold, and you nodding for bed! I could have toldHeathcliff's history, all that you need hear, in half a dozenwords.'

Thus interrupting herself, the housekeeper rose, and proceeded tolay aside her sewing; but I felt incapable of moving from thehearth, and I was very far from nodding. 'Sit still, Mrs. Dean,' Icried; 'do sit still another half-hour. You've done just right totell the story leisurely. That is the method I like; and you mustfinish it in the same style. I am interested in every characteryou have mentioned, more or less.'

'The clock is on the stroke of eleven, sir.'

'No matter - I'm not accustomed to go to bed in the long hours.One or two is early enough for a person who lies till ten.'

'You shouldn't lie till ten. There's the very prime of the morninggone long before that time. A person who has not done one-half hisday's work by ten o'clock, runs a chance of leaving the other halfundone.'

'Nevertheless, Mrs. Dean, resume your chair; because to-morrow Iintend lengthening the night till afternoon. I prognosticate formyself an obstinate cold, at least.'

'I hope not, sir. Well, you must allow me to leap over some threeyears; during that space Mrs. Earnshaw - '

'No, no, I'll allow nothing of the sort! Are you acquainted withthe mood of mind in which, if you were seated alone, and the catlicking its kitten on the rug before you, you would watch theoperation so intently that puss's neglect of one ear would put youseriously out of temper?'

'A terribly lazy mood, I should say.'

'On the contrary, a tiresomely active one. It is mine, at present;and, therefore, continue minutely. I perceive that people in theseregions acquire over people in towns the value that a spider in adungeon does over a spider in a cottage, to their variousoccupants; and yet the deepened attraction is not entirely owing tothe situation of the looker-on. They DO live more in earnest, morein themselves, and less in surface, change, and frivolous externalthings. I could fancy a love for life here almost possible; and Iwas a fixed unbeliever in any love of a year's standing. One stateresembles setting a hungry man down to a single dish, on which hemay concentrate his entire appetite and do it justice; the other,introducing him to a table laid out by French cooks: he canperhaps extract as much enjoyment from the whole; but each part isa mere atom in his regard and remembrance.'

'Oh! here we are the same as anywhere else, when you get to knowus,' observed Mrs. Dean, somewhat puzzled at my speech.

'Excuse me,' I responded; 'you, my good friend, are a strikingevidence against that assertion. Excepting a few provincialisms ofslight consequence, you have no marks of the manners which I amhabituated to consider as peculiar to your class. I am sure youhave thought a great deal more than the generality of servantsthink. You have been compelled to cultivate your reflectivefaculties for want of occasions for frittering your life away insilly trifles.'

Mrs. Dean laughed.

'I certainly esteem myself a steady, reasonable kind of body,' shesaid; 'not exactly from living among the hills and seeing one setof faces, and one series of actions, from year's end to year's end;but I have undergone sharp discipline, which has taught me wisdom;and then, I have read more than you would fancy, Mr. Lockwood. Youcould not open a book in this library that I have not looked into,and got something out of also: unless it be that range of Greekand Latin, and that of French; and those I know one from another:it is as much as you can expect of a poor man's daughter. However,if I am to follow my story in true gossip's fashion, I had bettergo on; and instead of leaping three years, I will be content topass to the next summer - the summer of 1778, that is nearlytwenty-three years ago.'