Chapter 18

           Thetwelveyears,continuedMrs.Dean,followingthatdismalperiod,werethehappiestofmylife:mygreatesttroublesintheirpassagerosefromourlittlelady’striflingillnesses,whichshehadtoexperienceincommonwithallchildren,richandpoor.Fortherest,afterthefirstsixmonths,shegrewlikealarchandcouldwalkandtalktoo,inherownway,beforetheheathblossomedasecondtimeoverMrs.Linton’sdust.Shewasthemostwinningthingthateverbroughtsunshineintoadesolatehouse:arealbeautyinface,withtheEarnshaw’shandsomedarkeyes,buttheLintons’fairskinandsmallfeatures,andyellowcurlinghair.Herspiritwashigh,thoughnotrough,andqualifiedbyaheartsensitiveandlivelytoexcessinitsaffections.Thatcapacityforintenseattachmentsremindedmeofhermother:stillshedidnotresembleher;forshecouldbesoftandmildasadove,andshehadagentlevoiceandpensiveexpression:herangerwasneverfurious;herloveneverfierce:itwasdeepandtender.However,itmustbeacknowledged,shehadfaultstofoilhergifts.Apropensitytobesaucywasone;andaperversewill,thatindulgedchildreninvariablyacquire,whethertheybegood-temperedorcross.Ifaservantchancedtovexher,itwasalways—"Ishalltellpapa!"Andifhereprovedher,evenbyalook,youwouldhavethoughtitaheartbreakingbusiness:Idon’tbelieveheeverdidspeakaharshwordtoher.Hetookhereducationentirelyonhimself,andmadeitanamusement.