Summerwasalreadypastitsprime, whenEdgarreluctantlyyieldedhisassenttotheirentreaties, andCatherineandIsetoutonourfirstridetojoinhercousin.
Itwasaclose, sultryday: devoidofsunshine, butwithaskytoodappledandhazytothreatenrain; andourplaceofmeetinghadbeenfixedattheguide-stone, , however, alittleherd-boy, despatchedasamessenger, toldusthat—
‘MaisterLintonwerjustutthissideth’ Heights: andhe’dbemitchobleegedtoustogangonabitfurther.’
‘ThenMasterLintonhasforgotthefirstinjunctionofhisuncle,’ Iobserved: ‘hebiduskeepontheGrangeland, andhereweare, offatonce.’
‘Well, we’llturnourhorses’ headsround, whenwereachhim,’ answeredmycompanion, ‘ourexcursionshalllietowardshome.’
Butwhenwereachedhim, andthatwasscarcelyaquarterofamilefromhisowndoor, wefoundhehadnohorse; andwewereforcedtodismount, , awaitingourapproach, , andlookedsopale, thatIimmediatelyexclaimed—
‘Why, MasterHeathcliff, youarenotfitforenjoyingaramble, !’
Catherinesurveyedhimwithgriefandastonishment; andchangedtheejaculationofjoyonherlips, tooneofalarm; andthecongratulationontheirlongpostponedmeetingtoananxiousinquiry, whetherhewereworsethanusual?
‘No—better—better!’ hepanted, trembling, andretainingherhandasifheneededitssupport, whilehislargeblueeyeswanderedtimidlyoverher; thehollownessroundthemtransformingtohaggardwildnessthelanguidexpressiontheyoncepossessed.
‘Butyouhavebeenworse,’ persistedhiscousin; ‘worsethanwhenIsawyoulast—youarethinner, and—’
