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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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35 was called--she must have been a changeling--wicked little soul! She told me she had been walking the earth these twenty years; a just punishment for her mortal transgressions, I’ve no doubt!” Scarcely were these words uttered, when I recollected the association of Heathcliff’s with Catherine’s name in the book, which had completely slipped from my memory till thus awakened. I blushed at my inconsideration; but, without showing further consciousness of the offence, I hastened to add-- “The truth is, sir, I passed the first part of the night in--” here I stopped afresh--I was about to say ‘perusing those old volumes’, then it would have revealed my knowledge of their written, as well as their printed, contents; so, correcting myself, I went on--“in spelling over the name scratched on that window-ledge. A monotonous occupation, calculated to set me asleep, like counting, or--” “What can you mean by talking in this way to me?” thundered Heathcliff with savage vehemence. “How--how dare you, under my roof?--God! he’s mad to speak so!” And he struck his forehead with rage. I did not know whether to resent this language or pursue my explanation; but he seemed so powerfully affected that I took pity and proceeded with my dreams; affirming I had never heard the appellation of ‘Catherine Linton’ before, but reading it often over produced an impression which personified itself when I had no longer my imagination under control. Heathcliff gradually fell back into the shelter of the bed, as I spoke, finally sitting down almost concealed behind it. I guessed, however, by his irregular and intercepted breathing, that he struggled to vanquish an excess of violent emotion. Not liking to |
