Chapter 29

           Theeveningafterthefuneral,myyoungladyandIwereseatedinthelibrary;nowmusingmournfully—oneofusdespairingly—onourloss,nowventuringconjecturesastothegloomyfuture.

           WehadjustagreedthebestdestinywhichcouldawaitCatherine,wouldbeapermissiontocontinueresidentattheGrange;atleast,duringLinton’slife:hebeingallowedtojoinherthere,andItoremainashousekeeper.Thatseemedrathertoofavourableanarrangementtobehopedfor:andyetIdidhope,andbegantocheerupundertheprospectofretainingmyhomeandmyemployment,and,aboveall,mybelovedyoungmistress;whenaservant—oneofthediscardedones,notyetdeparted—rushedhastilyin,andsaid"thatdevilHeathcliff"wascomingthroughthecourt:shouldhefastenthedoorinhisface?

           Ifwehadbeenmadenoughtoorderthatproceeding,wehadnottime.Hemadenoceremonyofknockingorannouncinghisname:hewasmaster,andavailedhimselfofthemaster’sprivilegetowalkstraightin,withoutsayingaword.Thesoundofourinformant’svoicedirectedhimtothelibrary:heentered,andmotioninghimout,shutthedoor.

           Itwasthesameroomintowhichhehadbeenushered,asaguest,eighteenyearsbefore:thesamemoonshonethroughthewindow;andthesameautumnlandscapelayoutside.Wehadnotyetlightedacandle,butalltheapartmentwasvisible,eventotheportraitsonthewall:thesplendidheadofMrs.Linton,andthegracefuloneofherhusband.Heathcliffadvancedtothehearth.Timehadlittlealteredhispersoneither.