Chapter 8

           OnthemorningofafineJuneday,myfirstbonnylittlenursling,andthelastoftheancientEarnshawstock,wasborn.Wewerebusywiththehayinafarawayfield,whenthegirlthatusuallybroughtourbreakfasts,camerunninganhourtoosoon,acrossthemeadowandupthelane,callingmeassheran.

           "Oh,suchagrandbairn!"shepantedout."Thefinestladthateverbreathed!Butthedoctorsaysmissismustgo:hesaysshe’sbeeninaconsumptionthesemanymonths.IheardhimtellMr.Hindley:andnowshehasnothingtokeepher,andshe’llbedeadbeforewinter.Youmustcomehomedirectly.You’retonurseit,Nelly:tofeeditwithsugarandmilk,andtakecareofitdayandnight.IwishIwereyou,becauseitwillbeallyourswhenthereisnomissis!"

           "Butissheveryill?"Iaskedflingingdownmyrake,andtyingmybonnet.

           "Iguesssheis;yetshelooksbravely,"repliedthegirl,"andshetalksasifshethoughtoflivingtoseeitgrowaman.She’soutofherheadforjoy,it’ssuchabeauty!IfIwereher,I’mcertainIshouldnotdie:Ishouldgetbetteratthebaresightofit,inspiteofKenneth.Iwasfairlymadathim.DameArcherbroughtthecherubdowntomaster,inthehouse,andhisfacejustbegantolightup,whentheoldcroakerstepsforward,andsayshe:‘Earnshaw,it’sablessingyourwifehasbeensparedtoleaveyouthisson.Whenshecame,Ifeltconvincedweshouldn’tkeepherlong;andnow,Imusttellyou,thewinterwillprobablyfinishher.