第66章

`The charge,exploded, and the knife, in springing back, closed into its owners wrist.Heathcliff pulled it away by main force, slitting up the flesh as it passed on, and thrust it dripping into his pocket.He then took a stone, struck down the division between two windows, and sprang in.His adversary had fallen senseless with excessive pain and the flow of blood, that gushed from an artery or a large vein.The ruffian kicked and trampled on him, and dashed his head repeatedly against the flags, holding me with one hand, meantime, to prevent me summoning Joseph.He exerted preterhuman self-denial in abstaining from finishing him completely;but getting out of breath he finally desisted, and dragged the apparently inanimate body on to the settle.There he tore off the sleeve of Earnshaw's coat, and bound up the wound with brutal roughness; spitting and cursing during the operation as energetically as he had kicked before.Being at liberty, I lost no time in seeking the old servant; who, having gathered by degrees the purport of my hasty tale, hurried below, gasping, as he descended the steps two at once.

``What is there to do, now? what is there to do, now?''

`"There's this to do,'' thundered Heathcliff, ``that your master's mad; and should he last another month, I'll have him to an asylum.And how the devil did you come to fasten me out, you toothless hound? Don't stand muttering and mumbling there.Come, I'm not going to nurse him.Wash that stuff away; and mind the sparks of your candle--it is more than half brandy!''

`"And so, ye've been murthering on him?'' exclaimed Joseph, lifting his hands and eyes in horror.``If iver I seed a seeght loike this! May the Lord-- -''

`Heathcliff gave him a push on to his knees in the middle of the blood, and flung a towel to him; but instead of proceeding to dry it up, he joined his hands and began a prayer, which excited my laughter from its odd phraseology.I was in the condition of mind to be shocked at nothing:

in fact, I was as reckless as some malefactors show themselves at the foot of the gallows.

`"Oh, I forgot you,'' said the tyrant.``You shall do that.Down with you.And you conspire with him against me, do you, viper? There, that is work fit for you!''

`He shook me till my teeth rattled, and pitched me beside Joseph, who steadily concluded his supplications and then rose, vowing he would set off for the Grange directly.Mr Linton was a magistrate, and though he had fifty wives dead, he should inquire into this.He was so obstinate in his resolution, that Heathcliff deemed it expedient to compel from my lips a recapitulation of what had taken place; standing over me, heaving with malevolence, as I reluctantly delivered the account in answer to his questions.It required a great deal of labour to satisfy the old man that Heathcliff was not the aggressor; especially with my hardly wrung replies.

However, Mr Earnshaw soon convinced him that he was alive still; Joseph hastened to administer a dose of spirits, and by their succour his master presently regained motion and consciousness.Heathcliff, aware that his opponent was ignorant of the treatment received while insensible, called him deliriously intoxicated; and said he should not notice his atrocious conduct further, but advised him to get to bed.To my joy, he left us, after giving this judicious counsel, and Hindley stretched himself on the hearthstone.I departed to my own room, marvelling that I had escaped so easily.

`This morning, when I came down, about half an hour before noon, Mr Earnshaw was sitting by the fire, deadly sick; his evil genius, almost as gaunt and ghastly, leant against the chimney.Neither appeared inclined to dine, and, having waited till all was cold on the table, I commenced alone.Nothing hindered me from eating heartily, and I experienced a certain sense of satisfaction and superiority, as, at intervals, I cast a look towards my silent companions, and felt the comfort of a quiet conscience within me.After I had done, I ventured on the unusual liberty of drawing near the fire, going round Earnshaw's seat, and kneeling in the corner beside him.

`Heathcliff did not glance my way, and I gazed up, and contemplated his features almost as confidently as if they had been turned to stone.

His forehead, that I once thought so manly, and that I now think so diabolical, was shaded with a heavy cloud; his basilisk eyes were nearly quenched by sleeplessness, and weeping, perhaps, for the lashes were wet then; his lips devoid of their ferocious sneer, and sealed in an expression of unspeakable sadness.Had it been another, I would have covered my face in the presence of such grief.In his case, I was gratified; and, ignoble as it seems to insult a fallen enemy, I couldn't miss this chance of sticking in a dart: his weakness was the only time when I could taste the delight of paying wrong for wrong.

`Fie, fie, miss!' I interrupted.`One might suppose you had never opened a Bible in your life.If God afflict your enemies, surely that ought to suffice you.It is both mean and presumptuous to add your torture to His!'

`In general I'll allow that it would be, Ellen,' she continued;`but what misery laid on Heathcliff could content me, unless I have a hand in it? I'd rather he suffered less , if I might cause his sufferings and he might know that I was the cause.O, I owe him so much.On only one condition can I hope to forgive him.It is, if I may take an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; for every wrench of agony return a wrench:

reduce him to my level.As he was the first to injure, make him the first to implore pardon; and then--why then, Ellen, I might show you some generosity.

But it is utterly impossible I can ever be revenged, and therefore I cannot forgive him.Hindley wanted some water, and I handed him a glass, and asked him how he was.

``Not as ill as I wish,'' he replied.``But leaving out my arm, every inch of me is as sore as if I had been fighting with a legion of imps!''