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Wuthering Heights

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‘My father IS very ill,’ she said; ‘and why am I called<br />

from his bedside? Why didn’t you send to absolve me from<br />

my promise, when you wished I wouldn’t keep it? Come! I<br />

desire an explanation: playing and trifling are completely<br />

banished out of my mind; and I can’t dance attendance on<br />

your affectations now!’<br />

‘My affectations!’ he murmured; ‘what are they? For<br />

heaven’s sake, Catherine, don’t look so angry! Despise me<br />

as much as you please; I am a worthless, cowardly wretch: I<br />

can’t be scorned enough; but I’m too mean for your anger.<br />

Hate my father, and spare me for contempt.’<br />

‘Nonsense!’ cried Catherine in a passion. ‘Foolish, silly<br />

boy! And there! he trembles: as if I were really going to<br />

touch him! You needn’t bespeak contempt, Linton: anybody<br />

will have it spontaneously at your service. Get off! I shall return<br />

home: it is folly dragging you from the hearth-stone,<br />

and pretending what do we pretend? Let go my frock! If I<br />

pitied you for crying and looking so very frightened, you<br />

should spurn such pity. Ellen, tell him how disgraceful this<br />

conduct is. Rise, and don’t degrade yourself into an abject<br />

reptile DON’T!’<br />

With streaming face and an expression of agony, Linton<br />

had thrown his nerveless frame along the ground: he<br />

seemed convulsed with exquisite terror.<br />

‘Oh!’ he sobbed, ‘I cannot bear it! Catherine, Catherine,<br />

I’m a traitor, too, and I dare not tell you! But leave me, and<br />

I shall be killed! DEAR Catherine, my life is in your hands:<br />

and you have said you loved me, and if you did, it wouldn’t<br />

harm you. You’ll not go, then? kind, sweet, good Catherine!<br />

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