Chapter 3

           Whileleadingthewayupstairs,sherecommendedthatIshouldhidethecandle,andnotmakeanoise;forhermasterhadanoddnotionaboutthechambershewouldputmein,andneverletanybodylodgetherewillingly.Iaskedthereason.Shedidnotknow,sheanswered:shehadonlylivedthereayearortwo;andtheyhadsomanyqueergoingson,shecouldnotbegintobecurious.

           Toostupefiedtobecuriousmyself,Ifastenedthedoorandglancedroundforthebed.Thewholefurnitureconsistedofachair,aclothespress,andalargeoakcase,withsquarescutoutnearthetopresemblingcoachwindows.HavingapproachedthisstructureIlookedinside,andperceivedittobeasingularsortofold-fashionedcouch,veryconvenientlydesignedtoobviatethenecessityforeverymemberofthefamilyhavingaroomtohimself.Infact,itformedalittlecloset,andtheledgeofawindow,whichitenclosed,servedasatable.Islidbackthepanelledsides,gotinwithmylight,pulledthemtogetheragain,andfeltsecureagainstthevigilanceofHeathcliff,andeveryoneelse.

           Theledge,whereIplacedmycandle,hadafewmildewedbookspiledupinonecorner;anditwascoveredwithwritingscratchedonthepaint.Thiswriting,however,wasnothingbutanamerepeatedinallkindsofcharacters,largeandsmall—CatherineEarnshaw,hereandtherevariedtoCatherineHeathcliff,andthenagaintoCatherineLinton.

           InvapidlistlessnessIleantmyheadagainstthewindow,andcontinuedspellingoverCatherineEarnshaw—Heathcliff—Linton,tillmyeyesclosed;buttheyhadnotrestedfiveminuteswhenaglareofwhitelettersstartedfromthedarkasvividasspectres—theairswarmedwithCatherines;