Chapter 34
Forsomedaysafterthatevening,Mr.Heathcliffshunnedmeetingusatmeals;yethewouldnotconsentformallytoexcludeHaretonandCathy.Hehadanaversiontoyieldingsocompletelytohisfeelings,choosingrathertoabsenthimself;andeatingonceintwenty-fourhoursseemedsufficientsustenanceforhim.
Onenight,afterthefamilywereinbed,Iheardhimgodownstairs,andoutatthefrontdoor.Ididnothearhimre-enter,andinthemorningIfoundhewasstillaway.WewereinAprilthen:theweatherwassweetandwarm,thegrassasgreenasshowersandsuncouldmakeit,andthetwodwarfappletreesnearthesouthernwallinfullbloom.Afterbreakfast,Catherineinsistedonmybringingachairandsittingwithmyworkunderthefirtreesattheendofthehouse;andshebeguiledHareton,whohadperfectlyrecoveredfromhisaccident,todigandarrangeherlittlegarden,whichwasshiftedtothatcornerbytheinfluenceofJoseph’scomplaints.Iwascomfortablyrevellinginthespringfragrancearound,andthebeautifulsoftblueoverhead,whenmyyounglady,whohadrundownnearthegatetoprocuresomeprimroserootsforaborder,returnedonlyhalfladen,andinformedusthatMr.Heathcliffwascomingin."Andhespoketome,"sheaddedwithaperplexedcountenance.
"Whatdidhesay?"askedHareton.
"HetoldmetobegoneasfastasIcould,"sheanswered."ButhelookedsodifferentfromhisusuallookthatIstoppedamomenttostareathim."
"How?"heenquired.
"Why,almostbrightandcheerful.