Chapter 6
Summary
Hindley returns home, unexpectedly
bringing his wife, a flighty woman with a strange fear of death and symptoms of
consumption (although Ellen did not at first recognize them as such). Hindley
also brought home new manners and rules, and informed the servants that they
would have to live in inferior quarters. Most importantly, he treated Heathcliff as a servant, stopping his education
and making him work in the fields like any farm boy. Heathcliff did not mind
too much at first because Cathy taught him what she learned, and worked and
played with him in the fields. They stayed away from Hindley as much as
possible and grew up uncivilized and free. "It was one of their chief
amusements," Ellen recalls, "to run away to the moors in the morning
and remain there all day, and after punishment grew a mere thing to laugh
at" (46).
One day they ran off after being punished, and at night Heathcliff returned. He
told Ellen what had happened. He and Cathy ran to the Grange to see how people
lived there, and they saw the Linton children Edgar and Isabella in a beautiful
room, crying after an argument over who could hold the pet dog. Amused and
scornful, Heathcliff and Cathy laughed; the Lintons heard them and called for
their parents. After making frightening noises, Cathy and Heathcliff tried to
escape, but a bulldog bit Cathy's leg and refused to let go. She told
Heathcliff to escape but he would not leave her, and tried to pry the animal's
jaws open. Mr. and Mrs. Linton mistook them for thieves and
brought them inside. When Edgar Linton recognized Cathy as Miss Earnshaw,
the Lintons expressed their disgust at the children's wild manners and
especially at Heathcliff's being allowed to keep Cathy company. They coddled
Cathy and drove Heathcliff out; he went back to Wuthering Heights on foot after assuring himself
that Cathy was all right.
When Hindley found out, he welcomed the chance to separate Cathy
and Heathcliff, so Cathy was to stay for a prolonged visit with the Lintons
while her leg healed and Heathcliff was forbidden to speak to her.
Chapter 7
Summary
Ellen resumes the narrative. Cathy stayed at Thrushcross Grange
for five weeks, until Christmas. When she returned home she had been
transformed into a young lady with that role's attending restrictions: she
could no longer kiss Ellen without worrying about getting flour on her dress.
She hurt Heathcliff's feelings by comparing his darkness and dirtiness to Edgar
and Isabella's fair complexions and clean clothes. The boy had become more and
more neglected in her absence, and was cruelly put in his place by Hindley and
especially by Cathy's new polish. Cathy's affection for Heathcliff had not
really changed, but he did not know this and ran out, refusing to come in for
supper. Ellen felt sorry for him.
The Linton children were invited for a Christmas party the next
day. That morning Heathcliff humbly approached Ellen and asked her to
"make him decent" because he was "going to be good" (55).
Ellen applauded his resolution and reassured him that Cathy still liked him and
that she was grieved by his shyness. When Heathcliff said he wished he could be
more like Edgar––fair, rich, and well-behaved––Ellen told him that he could be
perfectly handsome if he smiled more and was more trustful.
However, when Heathcliff, now "clean and cheerful"
(57), tried to join the party, Hindley told him to go away because he was not
fit to be there. Edgar unwisely made fun of his long hair and Heathcliff threw
hot applesauce at him, and was taken away and flogged by Hindley. Cathy was
angry at Edgar for mocking Heathcliff and getting him into trouble, but she
didn't want to ruin her party. She kept up a good front, but didn't enjoy
herself, thinking of Heathcliff alone and beaten. At her first chance after
her guests gone home, she crept into the garret where he was confined.
Later Ellen gave Heathcliff dinner, since he hadn't eaten all
day, but he ate little and when she asked what was wrong, he said he was
thinking of how to avenge himself on Hindley. At this point Ellen's narrative
breaks off and she and Lockwood briefly discuss the merits of the active and
contemplative life, with Lockwood defending his lazy habits and Ellen saying
she should get things done rather than just telling Lockwood the story. He
persuades her to go on.
Chapter 8
Summary
Hindley's wife Frances gave birth to
a child, Hareton, but did not survive long afterwards: she had consumption.
Despite the doctor's warnings, Hindley persisted in believing that she would
recover, and she seemed to think so too, always saying she felt better, but she
died a few weeks after Hareton's birth. Ellen was happy to take care of the
baby. Hindley "grew desperate; his sorrow was of a kind that will not
lament, he neither wept nor prayed––he cursed and defied––execrated God and
man, and gave himself up to reckless dissipation" (65). The household more
or less collapsed into violent confusion––respectable neighbors ceased to
visit, except for Edgar, entranced by Catherine. Heathcliff's ill treatment and
the bad example posed by Hindley made him "daily more notable for savage
sullenness and ferocity." Catherine disliked having Edgar visit Wuthering
Heights because she had a hard time behaving consistently when Edgar and
Heathcliff met, or when they talked about each other. Edgar's presence made her
feel as though she had to behave like a Linton, which was not natural for her.
One day when Hindley was away, Heathcliff was offended to find
Catherine dressing for Edgar's visit. He asked her to turn Edgar away and spend
the time with him instead but she refused. Edgar was by this time a gentle,
sweet young man. He came and Heathcliff left, but Ellen stayed as a chaperone,
much to Catherine's annoyance. She revealed her bad character by pinching
Ellen, who was glad to have a chance to show Edgar what Catherine was like, and
cried out. Catherine denied having pinched her, blushing with rage, and slapped
her, then slapped Edgar for reproving her. He said he would go; she, recovering
her senses, asked him to stay, and he was too weak and enchanted by her stronger
will to leave. Brought closer by the quarrel, the two "confess[ed]
themselves lovers" (72). Ellen heard Hindley come home drunk, and out of
precaution unloaded his gun.
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