# ■ 7 Heathcliff returns

1783 Well，sir，when Miss Catherine became Mrs Linton，and we went to live at Thrushcross Grange，I must say I was surprised and pleased by her behaviour．She showed great fondness for her husband，and for his sister，Isabella．He，of course，was very anxious that no one should disobey her，or make her angry．If she was depressed for a time，he blamed it on the illness she had had，and was sympathetic．But for most of the time，I believe they shared a deep and growing love for each other．

Unfortunately this happiness did not last．One evening I was bringing in a basket of apples from the garden，when a voice behind me said，‘Ellen，is that you？’

It was a deep，rather unusual voice．I turned，to see a tall，dark man in the shadow near the kitchen door．

‘Don't you know me？’he asked．‘Look，I'm not a stranger！’

‘What！’I cried in surprise，for it had been four years since he dusappeared．‘Heathcliff！Is it really you？’

‘Yes，’he replied，looking up at the windows of the house．‘Are they at home？Where is she？Tell me，Ellen！I must speak to her！’

‘I'm not sure if you should see her，’I hesitated．‘Will the shock be too much for her？

‘Go and tell her I'm here，Ellen！’he said impatiently．‘Don't make me suffer like this！’

I left him at the door，and went upstairs to find Mr and Mrs Linton．They were sitting quietly together，looking out over the peaceful valley．The room，and the view，and the two people，seemed so calm that I did not want to disturb them．But I had to deliver my message．

‘A man wants to see you，madam，’I muttered．

‘I'll go downstairs and see him then，'replied Catherine．‘Bring the tea up，Ellen，while I'm away．’She left the room．

‘Who is it，Ellen？’asked Mr Edgar．

‘It's that Heathcliff，sir．You remember，he used to live at Wuthering Heights．’

‘What！The gipsy，who worked on the farm？’he cried．

‘Mrs Linton would be angry if she heardpyou talking about him like that，sir．She was very upset when he ran away．She's very fond of him，you know．’

Mr Edgar put his head out of the window and called to his wife，‘Don't stand there in the cold，love！Bring the person in，if it's anyone special．’

Catherine rushed upstairs and into the room，wild and breathless．She threw her arms round her husband's neck．

‘Oh Edgar darling！Heathcliff's come back！’

‘Well，well，'said Mr Edgar crossly，‘there's no need to get excited．’

‘I know you didn't like him，'she said，‘but please，I beg you tobbe friends with him now．Shall I ask him to come up？’

‘You're suggesting inviting him up here，into our siting room？Don't you think the kitchen is more suitable for him？’

Catherine looked at her husband，half angry and half laughing．‘No，'she said，‘I can't sit in the kitchen．Ellen，bring two tables，one for your master and Miss Isabella，the other for Heathcliff and myself．We'll sit apart from them，as we're of a lower class！Will that please you，Edgar darling？Decide quickly！I must have him near me！’

‘Ellen，you go and bring him up，'said Mr Edgar．‘And Catherine，try not to behave foolishly．Remember，he's only a servant！’

When Heathcliff entered the sitting-room，I was surprised to see how much he had changed．He wore a confident，intelligent expression on his face，and his manner was no longer rough．Although I recognized the same black fire in his eyes，the farm boy had become a gentleman．

Mr Edgar was as surprised as I was，but welcomed Heath cliff as politely as he could．However，he grew more and more annoyed as he watched his wife's delighted face．She could not take her eyes off Heathcliff．

‘Tomorrow I won't be able tohbelieve that I've seen and touched you，Heathcliff！'she cried，catching hold of his hands．‘But how cruel of you to run away and keep silent for four years，and never think of me！’

‘I've thought of you more than you've thought of me，’he replied quietly．‘I heard you had married，Catherine，and I came，just to see you once，and then take my revenge on your brother Hindley．Your welcome may change my plans．You know，I've had a bitter，hard life since I last heard your voice，and If I've survived，it's all because of you！’

‘Catherine，'said Mr Edgar，trying to remain polite，‘please pour out the tea，or it will be cold．Mr Heathcliff will have a long walk to wherever he's staying tonight，and I'm thirsty．’

But Catherine was too excited，and Mr Edgar too angry，to drink any tea．After a while their guest left．We discovered that he had been invited to stay at Wuthering Heights，by Hindley．I could not understand why Hindley，who hated him，would want his company，and I felt sure it would have been better for all of us if Heathcliff had never come back．

Catherine could not keep her happiness to herself．In the middle of the night she woke me to talk about Heathcliff．

‘I just can't sleep，Ellen！'she said．‘And Edgar won't lis ten when I tell him how happy I am！He's so selfish！’

‘He never liked Heathcliff，’I replied，‘and he'll be angry if you go on talking about him．You think he's weak，but he could be as determined as you，about something he thinks is important．’

‘No！'she laughed．‘I have such confidence in Edgar's love that I think I could kill him，and he wouldn't blame me for it．He will have to learn to accept Heathcliff as my friend．’

‘Do you know why Heathcliff is staying at Wuthering Heights？’

‘Oh，yes．He explained that he went there to look for me．Hindley asked him to play cards，and when he discovered Heathcliff had a lot of money，invited him to stay there．You know how greedy my brother is．He'll make Heathcliff pay rent，and hope to win money from him at cards．Heathcliff wants to stay there to be near me．I'm so happy，Ellen！And I want everyone around me to be happy too！’

Catherine behaved so sweetly to her husband in the next few days that Thrushcross Grange seemed full of sunshine，and in spite of his doubts，Mr Edgar allowed Heathcliff to visit her regularly．However，Heathcliff's visits produced a result which none of us had expected．Isabella，Mr Edgar's sister，a pretty girl of eighteen，suddenly declared that she was in love with Heathcliff．Mr Edgar，who loved her dearly，was shocked．He knew that if he and Catherine had no sons，Isabella would inherit the considerable Linton fortune．He did not like the idea of the fortune passing to Heathcliff，as Isabella's husband．But more importantly，he suspected that Heathcliff was hiding his ture wickedness under his gentleman ly appearance．

Catherine tried hard to persuade Isabella that Heathcliff was not worth loving，but poor Isabella was jealous of Catherine's relationship with Heathcliff and would not listen．Finally，Catherine told Heathcliff himself that Isabella was in love with him．She thought she knew what his answer would be．

‘How could I ever love that stupid girl？’he asked．‘She has a miserable pale face，and weak blue eyes，just like your husband！But…she will inherit the family wealth from him，won't she？’

‘That's true，'replied Catherine．‘But don't think about that，Heathcliff．I hope Edgar and I will have several sons，and then they will inherit it．’

Catherine did not speak of this matter again，but I am sure Heathcliff often thought about it．I watched him carefully in the next few days．I hoped he would do nothing to hurt Mr Edgar，who was a kind master to me．I was worried，too，about what was happening at Wuthering Heights．Hindley and his son Hareton seemed like lost sheep to me，and I knew there was a wicked wolf just waiting for the chance to attack them．

■ 7 希斯克利夫回來了

1783年

好的，先生。凱瑟琳小姐成了林頓夫人，我們就去住到畫眉山莊，我得說她的表現讓我又驚又喜。她看上去對丈夫非常疼愛，對他妹妹伊莎貝拉也不錯。自然，他很上心不叫人逆她的願或給她氣生。在她心情鬱悶時，他就歸咎於她得的那場病，大加同情。但在大部分時間裡，我相信他們相互之間的深情不斷增長著。

遺憾的是這種幸福沒有持續下去。一天晚上，我正拎著一籃子蘋果從花園往家裡去，這時我身後有一個聲音說道，“艾倫，是你麼？”

這聲音低沉，不大熟悉。我轉過身，看到在廚房門旁的陰暗處有一個又高又黑的人。

“你不認識我了？”他問道，“瞧，我不是個生人！”

“什麼！”我驚叫道，因為他已經失蹤四年了，“希斯克利夫！真是你嗎？”

“是的，”他回答，抬頭看著房子的窗戶。“他們在家嗎？她在哪兒？告訴我，艾倫！我得和她說話！”

“我說不好你是不是應該見她，”我猶豫道。“這會不會對她太突然了？”

“去通報她我在這兒，艾倫！”他不耐煩地說。“別讓我這樣受苦！”

我把他留在門口，上樓去找林頓夫婦。他們靜靜地坐在一起，眺望著寧靜的山谷。這房間、這景緻，還有那兩個人，看上去那麼平和安寧，我真不願打攪他們。可我不得不通報訊息。

“有個人想見您，夫人，”我低聲說。

“那我就下樓去見他，”凱瑟琳答應。“艾倫，我不在這會兒你把茶端上來。”她離開了房間。

“是誰，艾倫？”艾加先生問。

“是那個希斯克利夫，先生。您記得，他以前住在呼嘯山莊。”

“什麼！那個吉卜賽人，在農莊幹活兒的那個？”他叫喊道。

“先生，如果林頓夫人聽見您這麼說他，會生氣的。他出走時她很難過。她非常喜歡他，這您知道。”

艾加先生把頭探出窗子，高聲對他妻子說，“別站在涼地裡，親愛的！要是貴客，就把他帶進來。”

凱瑟琳衝上樓進了房間，興奮若狂，氣喘吁吁。她張開雙臂，一下摟住了丈夫的脖子。

“哦，親愛的艾加！希斯克利夫回來啦！”

“好，好，”艾加先生不痛快地說道，“沒有必要激動。”

“我知道你不喜歡他，”她說，“但求求你，我乞求你現在跟他做朋友。我能讓他上來麼？”

“你想請他上到這兒，到我們的起居室？你難道不覺得他去廚房更妥當嗎？”

凱瑟琳似怒似笑地看著她的丈夫。“不，”她說，“我不能坐到廚房裡。艾倫，搬兩張桌子，一張給你的主人和伊莎貝拉，另一張給希斯克利夫和我。我們不跟他們一起坐，因為我們層次低！這樣你高興了罷，親愛的艾加？快拿主意！我必須讓他離我近點！”

“艾倫，你去把他領上來，”艾加先生說，“還有，凱瑟琳，你別做傻事。記住，他只是個下人！”

當希斯克利夫進到起居室，我驚訝地看到他變化太大了。他臉上帶著自信、睿智的表情，舉止也不再粗野。雖然我還能看出他的眼中依然有一團黑色的火焰，但這個幹農活的小夥子已經變成了一個紳士。

艾加先生同我一樣感到驚訝，但他還是儘可能禮貌地對他表示歡迎。可當看到妻子滿臉喜色，他越來越氣惱。她的目光無法離開希斯克利夫。

“到明天我都不能相信我已經見到了你，摸到了你，希斯克利夫！”她抓住他的手，興奮地說，“可你多忍心啊！出走之後杳無音訊都四年了，也從不想我！”

“我想你要比你想我多，”他平靜地說，“我聽說你結婚了，凱瑟琳，我是來見你一面，然後去報復你哥哥亨德雷的。你對我的歡迎也許會改變我的計劃。從最後一次聽到你聲音到現在，我一直過著辛酸艱苦的生活，如果說我還能倖存下來，那都是為了你！”

“凱瑟琳，”艾加先生說道，儘量保持著禮節，“請倒茶吧，否則就涼了。希斯克利夫先生還要走一段長路到他今晚住的地方，我也渴了。”

但凱瑟琳興奮異常，而艾加先生怒氣很盛，茶都喝不下。過了一會兒，他們的客人走了。我們發現他被請去住在呼嘯山莊，是亨德雷先生邀請的。我無法理解亨德雷那麼恨他，為何還想和他在一起，我也肯定如果希斯克利夫壓根兒沒回來對我們大家都會更好些。

凱瑟琳無法獨享她的快樂。大半夜叫醒我聊希斯克利夫的事。

“我就是睡不著，艾倫！”她說，“我要跟艾加講我有多高興，他又不肯聽！他真自私！”

“他向來不喜歡希斯克利夫，”我回答，“如果你再談他，他會生氣的。你認為他軟弱，但只要是他認為重要的事。他可能像你一樣執著。”

“不！”她笑道，“我對艾加的愛太有信心了，我想我就是殺了他，他也不會怪我的。他要學會把希斯克利夫當我的朋友來接受。”

“你知道希斯克利夫為什麼住在呼嘯山莊嗎？”

“噢，是的。他解釋說他去那兒找我。亨德雷請他玩牌，當他看出希斯克利夫很有錢，就請他住在那兒了。你知道我哥哥有多貪財。他會收希斯克利夫的租金，而且指望玩牌贏他的錢。希斯克利夫住在那兒是想離我近點兒。我真高興，艾倫！我希望我身邊的每個人也都高興！”

在接下去的日子裡凱瑟琳對她丈夫表現得非常親熱，畫眉山莊似乎陽光明媚，因此儘管艾加先生心存疑竇，他還是允許希斯克利夫常來看她。然而希斯克利夫的來訪卻導致了一個我們都未曾料想的結果。艾加先生的妹妹伊莎貝拉，一個18歲的可愛姑娘，突如其來地公開說她愛上了希斯克利夫。艾加先生對妹妹十分鐘愛，對此感到震驚。他明白如果他與凱瑟琳沒有兒子的話，伊莎貝拉將繼承林頓家族相當可觀的財產。他不想讓財產落入成了伊莎貝拉丈夫的希斯克利夫手中。而更非同小可的是，他懷疑在希斯克利夫紳士般的外表下隱藏著真實的險惡居心。

凱瑟琳竭力勸伊莎貝拉說希斯克利夫不值得她愛，但可憐的伊莎貝拉妒嫉凱瑟琳與希斯克利夫的關係，對此聽不進去。最後，凱瑟琳告訴希斯克利夫本人說伊莎貝拉愛上了他。她以為自己知道他會怎麼回答。

“我怎麼能愛那個傻姑娘？”他反問道，“她那張臉悽慘蒼白，一雙藍眼睛也毫無神采，像你丈夫似的！可……她將從他那兒繼承家族的財產，對吧？”

“對，”凱瑟琳答道，“但別惦記那個，希斯克利夫。我希望艾加和我會生幾個兒子，然後他們來繼承財產。”

凱瑟琳沒再提起這件事，可我肯定希斯克利夫經常在盤算著它。在過後的幾天裡我留心觀察他。我希望他別做什麼傷害艾加先生的事，艾加先生對我是個仁慈的主人。我也在擔心呼嘯山莊的事態如何。在我看來，亨德雷和他兒子哈里頓像是迷途的綿羊，而我知道有一隻惡狼正在伺機對他們發起進攻。