Chapter 6

           Mr.Hindleycamehometothefuneral;and—athingthatamazedus,andsettheneighboursgossipingrightandleft—hebroughtawifewithhim.Whatshewas,andwhereshewasborn,heneverinformedus:probablyshehadneithermoneynornametorecommendher,orhewouldscarcelyhavekepttheunionfromhisfather.

           Shewasnotonethatwouldhavedisturbedthehousemuchonherownaccount.Everyobjectshesaw,themomentshecrossedthethreshold,appearedtodelighther;andeverycircumstancethattookplaceabouther:exceptthepreparingfortheburial,andthepresenceofthemourners.Ithoughtshewashalfsilly,fromherbehaviourwhilethatwenton:sheranintoherchamber,andmademecomewithher,thoughIshouldhavebeendressingthechildren;andthereshesatshiveringandclaspingherhands,andaskingrepeatedly:"Aretheygoneyet?"Thenshebegandescribingwithhystericalemotiontheeffectitproducedonhertoseeblackandstarted,andtrembled,and,atlast,fellaweeping—andwhenIaskedwhatwasthematter?answered,shedidn’tknow;butshefeltsoafraidofdying!Iimaginedheraslittlelikelytodieasmyself.Shewasratherthin,butyoung,andfresh-complexioned,andhereyessparkledasbrightasdiamonds.Ididremark,tobesure,thatmountingthestairsmadeherbreatheveryquick:thattheleastsuddennoisesetherallinaquiver,andthatshecoughedtroublesomelysometimes:butIknewnothingofwhatthesesymptomsportended,andhadnoimpulsetosympathizewithher.