[00:00.28] Chapter 12.
[00:03.19] Treachery.
[00:06.77] I heard the story of Catherine and Linton over several evenings.
[00:12.56] Then Nelly asked for a few days off to visit her sister.
[00:18.79] I could hardly refuse to let her go, but the evenings were very dull without the sound of her soft country voice and the click of her knitting needles.
[00:32.31] And then, one morning, gazing out over the Moors in the direction of Wuthering Heights, the question came to me like a clap of thunder.
[00:45.35] Could the beautiful girl I met at the house be the Catherine Linton of Nelly's story?
[00:54.80] I asked Betsy, the young servant who had taken over Nelly's duties, if she knew if this was so.
[01:02.76] But she merely said, couldn't say, I'm sure, sir.
[01:11.15] But I felt certain that my guess was right.
[01:15.22] And, on the evening of Nelly's return, I learned that I was indeed correct.
[01:24.86] Catherine Linton that was, she said, Catherine Heathcliff as she is now.
[01:34.13] What?
[01:35.53] I exclaimed.
[01:38.04] She married that brute of a man?
[01:41.61] Why?
[01:43.70] He's old enough to be her father.
[01:48.80] No, sir, no, interrupted Nelly.
[01:53.51] She married Heathcliff's son, Linton.
[02:00.37] To my great satisfaction, the story then continued.
[02:08.25] When I learned of her meetings with Linton, my first thought was to tell her father.
[02:17.03] But then I thought again, sir.
[02:20.88] My master was still very weak and kept mostly to his room.
[02:28.76] What good would it do him to learn of Catherine's behavior?
[02:35.91] And I thought of Catherine too.
[02:41.98] She had no one at all for a companion, and it was small wonder that she had seized whatever chance she could of a little friendship and fun.
[02:55.94] At first, I tried to make her promise me that the meetings would now end.
[03:03.57] But she begged so hard that they might continue that I soon gave in.
[03:10.60] Linton was so often ill, she said, and her visits were his only pleasure.
[03:19.15] This I could well believe with a father like Heathcliff.
[03:25.85] And so, a few mornings later found us both trotting our ponies over the Moors to where I saw Linton waiting in the distance.
[03:38.42] As we drew near, another figure appeared.
[03:42.27] It was Heathcliff.
[03:46.80] Why, miss?
[03:49.55] I said.
[03:52.79] You never told me that he too was present at your meetings?
[04:00.69] Why, Nelly? she replied.
[04:05.14] He never was before.
[04:11.87] I knew from the surprised tone of her voice that she spoke the truth.
[04:19.38] Well, Miss Linton, said Heathcliff.
[04:25.85] I think that today, instead of keeping yourselves to the Moors, you and my son, and you too, Nelly Dean, should pay a more civilized call and take tea at my house.
[04:46.04] I glanced at Linton and saw that he was deathly pale and that he trembled.
[04:53.53] Please, Catherine, he whispered.
[04:57.66] Do as he says.
[05:01.77] No, miss, I said, leaning from my saddle and reaching for the bridle of her pony to turn its head homewards.
[05:10.90] You mustn't, it will be some sort of trick.
[05:17.88] But her thoughts were only of Linton.
[05:21.97] What harm can there be, Nelly? she said.
[05:28.43] Heathcliff echoed her words.
[05:31.57] What harm?
[05:33.89] My house is not stricken with the plague.
[05:42.68] And so we rode on to Wuthering Heights, where he ushered us in, closed the door, and locked it.
[05:54.73] Catherine stood a moment, hardly believing what had happened.
[06:00.74] Then she flew at him and tried to seize the key.
[06:06.06] Stop that, he said, or I shall knock you down.
[06:11.60] She ignored the warning, tried to prize open his fingers, and finally bit his hand, at which he struck her several times on the side of her head.
[06:25.07] I ran to her side and tried to pull him off, but a push in the chest sent me reeling back.
[06:34.89] Being stout, I am easily put out of breath.
[06:40.91] Now, go to Linton, he said to Catherine.
[06:48.24] But she came to me and buried her face in my lap.
[06:53.73] Heathcliff, cool as a cucumber, made the tea.
[06:59.88] None of his servants were in the house, an arrangement made no doubt to fit in with his plan.
[07:08.32] I will now go and see to your horses, he said, and left, for all the world the perfect host, except that the key was again turned in the lock.
[07:23.12] Catherine then turned on Linton.
[07:31.93] You knew that this was what he planned, she said.
[07:37.20] She was angry now, rather than afraid.
[07:42.99] Please, Catherine, whimpered Linton.
[07:49.41] I couldn't help it.
[07:51.87] He said he'd kill me if I didn't do as he asked.
[07:57.88] And what did he ask? she demanded.
[08:02.80] He wants us to get married, said Linton.
[08:09.52] He's afraid of my dying if we wait, and so we're to marry in the morning.
[08:20.29] Then, when I die, and your father dies, Thruscross Grange will be his.
[08:32.35] You little monster, I cried.
[08:37.20] No one would be sorry if you did die, I'm sure.
[08:43.50] And my father isn't going to die, said Catherine, and she looked to me for reassurance.
[08:53.29] He's not, is he, Nelly?
[08:57.25] Indeed, no, I told her.
[09:00.98] He's still weak, but he gains strength every day.
[09:08.17] My lie convinced her that all would be well.
[09:16.21] Soon after this, Heathcliff returned with one of the servants, and we were shown a room where we were to spend the night.
[09:29.52] Once again, a key was turned on us.
[09:35.72] Catherine sat by the window and gazed out, waiting and hoping for someone from the Grange to come to inquire after us.
[09:49.60] But when, after some hours, two servants rode up, we found that the window could not be opened.
[09:59.96] We hammered with our fists, but were too far away for our summons to be heard, and the servants rode away.
[10:12.09] In the morning, Heathcliff knocked on the door and asked if Catherine were awake.
[10:19.48] As if we could have slept, worrying what torments my poor master must be going through.
[10:28.27] When she ran to open the door, he snatched her out, thrust me back, and locked the door again.
[10:38.73] And there I remained, sir, for five days and nights.