Chapter 9

           Heentered,vociferatingoathsdreadfultohear;andcaughtmeintheactofstowinghissonawayinthekitchencupboard.Haretonwasimpressedwithawholesometerrorofencounteringeitherhiswildbeast’sfondnessorhismadman’srage;forinoneheranachanceofbeingsqueezedandkissedtodeath,andintheotherofbeingflungintothefire,ordashedagainstthewall;andthepoorthingremainedperfectlyquietwhereverIchosetoputhim.

           "There,I’vefounditoutatlast!"criedHindley,pullingmebackbytheskinofmyneck,likeadog."Byheavenandhell,you’veswornbetweenyoutomurderthatchild!Iknowhowitis,now,thatheisalwaysoutofmyway.But,withthehelpofSatan,Ishallmakeyouswallowthecarving-knife,Nelly.Youneedn’tlaugh;forI’vejustcrammedKenneth,head-downmost,intheBlackhorsemarsh;andtwoisthesameasone—andIwanttokillsomeofyou:IshallhavenoresttillIdo!"

           "ButIdon’tlikethecarving-knife,Mr.Hindley,"Ianswered:"ithasbeencuttingredherrings.I’dratherbeshot,ifyouplease."

           "You’dratherbedamned!"hesaid;"andsoyoushall.NolawinEnglandcanhinderamanfromkeepinghishousedecent,andmine’sabominable!openyourmouth."

           Heheldtheknifeinhishand,andpusheditspointbetweenmyteeth:but,formypart,Iwasnevermuchafraidofhisvagaries.Ispatout,andaffirmedittasteddetestably—Iwouldnottakeitonanyaccount.