Chapter 16

           Abouttwelveo’clockthatnight,wasborntheCatherineyousawatWutheringHeights:apuny,sevenmonths’child;andtwohoursafterthemotherdied,havingneverrecoveredsufficientconsciousnesstomissHeathcliff,orknowEdgar.Thelatter’sdistractionathisbereavementisasubjecttoopainfultobedwelton;itsaftereffectsshowedhowdeepthesorrowsunk.Agreataddition,inmyeyes,washisbeingleftwithoutanheir.Ibemoanedthat,asIgazedonthefeebleorphan;andImentallyabusedoldLintonfor(whatwasonlynaturalpartiality)thesecuringhisestatetohisowndaughter,insteadofhisson’s.Anunwelcomedinfantitwas,poorthing!Itmighthavewailedoutoflife,andnobodycaredamorsel,duringthosefirsthoursofexistence.Weredeemedtheneglectafterwards;butitsbeginningwasasfriendlessasitsendislikelytobe.

           Nextmorning—brightandcheerfuloutofdoors—stolesoftenedinthroughtheblindsofthesilentroom,andsuffusedthecouchanditsoccupantwithamellow,tenderglow.EdgarLintonhadhisheadlaidonthepillow,andhiseyesshut.Hisyoungandfairfeatureswerealmostasdeathlikeasthoseoftheformbesidehim,andalmostasfixed:buthiswasthehushofexhaustedanguish,andhersofperfectpeace.Herbrowsmooth,herlidsclosed,herlipswearingtheexpressionofasmile;noangelinheavencouldbemorebeautifulthansheappeared.AndIpartookoftheinfinitecalminwhichshelay:mymindwasneverinaholierframethanwhileIgazedonthatuntroubledimageofDivinerest.