Chapter 34

           Forsomedaysafterthatevening,Mr.Heathcliffshunnedmeetingusatmeals;yethewouldnotconsentformallytoexcludeHaretonandCathy.Hehadanaversiontoyieldingsocompletelytohisfeelings,choosingrathertoabsenthimself;andeatingonceintwenty-fourhoursseemedsufficientsustenanceforhim.

           Onenight,afterthefamilywereinbed,Iheardhimgodownstairs,andoutatthefrontdoor.Ididnothearhimre-enter,andinthemorningIfoundhewasstillaway.WewereinAprilthen:theweatherwassweetandwarm,thegrassasgreenasshowersandsuncouldmakeit,andthetwodwarfappletreesnearthesouthernwallinfullbloom.Afterbreakfast,Catherineinsistedonmybringingachairandsittingwithmyworkunderthefirtreesattheendofthehouse;andshebeguiledHareton,whohadperfectlyrecoveredfromhisaccident,todigandarrangeherlittlegarden,whichwasshiftedtothatcornerbytheinfluenceofJoseph’scomplaints.Iwascomfortablyrevellinginthespringfragrancearound,andthebeautifulsoftblueoverhead,whenmyyounglady,whohadrundownnearthegatetoprocuresomeprimroserootsforaborder,returnedonlyhalfladen,andinformedusthatMr.Heathcliffwascomingin."Andhespoketome,"sheaddedwithaperplexedcountenance.

           "Whatdidhesay?"askedHareton.

           "HetoldmetobegoneasfastasIcould,"sheanswered."ButhelookedsodifferentfromhisusuallookthatIstoppedamomenttostareathim."

           "How?"heenquired.

           "Why,almostbrightandcheerful.