Chapter 5

           Inthecourseoftime,Mr.Earnshawbegantofail.Hehadbeenactiveandhealthy,yethisstrengthlefthimsuddenly;andwhenhewasconfinedtothechimney-cornerhegrewgrievouslyirritable.Anothingvexedhim;andsuspectedslightsofhisauthoritynearlythrewhimintofits.Thiswasespeciallytoberemarkedifanyoneattemptedtoimposeupon,ordomineerover,hisfavourite:hewaspainfullyjealouslestawordshouldbespokenamisstohim;seemingtohavegotintohisheadthenotionthat,becausehelikedHeathcliff,allhated,andlongedtodohimanillturn.Itwasadisadvantagetothelad;forthekinderamongusdidnotwishtofretthemaster,sowehumouredhispartiality;andthathumouringwasrichnourishmenttothechild’sprideandblacktempers.Stillitbecameinamannernecessary;twice,orthrice,Hindley’smanifestationofscorn,whilehisfatherwasnear,rousedtheoldmantoafury:heseizedhissticktostrikehim,andshookwithragethathecouldnotdoit.

           Atlast,ourcurate(wehadacuratethenwhomadethelivinganswerbyteachingthelittleLintonsandEarnshaws,andfarminghisbitoflandhimself)advisedthattheyoungmanshouldbesenttocollege;andMr.Earnshawagreed,thoughwithaheavyspirit,forhesaid—"Hindleywasnought,andwouldneverthriveaswherehewandered."

           Ihopedheartilyweshouldhavepeacenow.Ithurtmetothinkthemastershouldbemadeuncomfortablebyhisowngooddeed.Ifanciedthediscontentofageanddiseasearosefromhisfamilydisagreements:ashewouldhaveitthatitdid:really,youknow,sir,itwasinhissinkingframe.Wemighthavegotontolerably,notwithstanding,butfortwopeople,MissCathyandJoseph,theservant:yousawhimIdaresay,upyonder.