Грозовой перевал
Chapter 25
WhatcanIdoforCathy?HowmustIquither?I’dnotcareonemomentforLintonbeingHeathcliff’sson;norforhistakingherfromme,ifhecouldconsoleherformyloss.I’dnotcarethatHeathcliffgainedhisends,andtriumphedinrobbingmeofmylastblessing!ButshouldLintonbeunworthy—onlyafeebletooltohisfather—Icannotabandonhertohim!And,hardthoughitbetocrushherbuoyantspirit,ImustpersevereinmakinghersadwhileIlive,andleavinghersolitarywhenIdie.Darling!I’dratherresignhertoGod,andlayherintheearthbeforeme."
"ResignhertoGodasitis,sir,"Ianswered,"andifweshouldloseyou—whichmayHeforbid—underHisprovidence,I’llstandherfriendandcounsellortothelast.MissCatherineisagoodgirl:Idon’tfearthatshewillgowilfullywrong;andpeoplewhodotheirdutyarealwaysfinallyrewarded."
Springadvanced;yetmymastergatherednorealstrength,thoughheresumedhiswalksinthegroundswithhisdaughter.Toherinexperiencednotions,thisitselfwasasignofconvalescence;andthenhischeekwasoftenflushed,andhiseyeswerebright:shefeltsureofhisrecovering.Onherseventeenthbirthday,hedidnotvisitthechurchyard:itwasraining,andIobserved:
"You’llsurelynotgooutto-night,sir?"
Heanswered:
"No,I’lldeferitthisyearalittlelonger."
HewroteagaintoLinton,expressinghisgreatdesiretoseehim;and,hadtheinvalidbeenpresentable,I’venodoubthisfatherwouldhavepermittedhimtocome.