Mr. Lockwood, a new tenant at Thrushcross Grange, uncovers the turbulent history of his neighbors, the Earnshaws and Lintons, through the housekeeper Nelly Dean. Her tale recounts the orphan Heathcliff’s degradation and his fierce bond with Catherine Earnshaw, a connection severed by her marriage to Edgar Linton. Heathcliff returns years later to exact a brutal revenge on the families, corrupting the next generation and claiming the estates. Only after his death does the cycle of violence break, allowing the young Catherine and Hareton to heal the wounds of the past.
Cathy declared this wrong and resolved to tell Edgar so, suggesting Linton come to the Grange instead. Linton, however, complained that the walk was too far for him. Heathcliff cast a glance of bitter contempt at his son’s frailty, expressing a twisted preference for Hareton’s brutishness. He noted that while he despised Linton’s weakness, he took pleasure in Hareton’s degradation, seeing in him a reflection of his own past suffering and a tool for revenge. Heathcliff sent the cousins outside, but Linton was too indolent to move, choosing to sit by the fire. Cathy, eager for activity, turned her attention to Hareton, whom Heathcliff had brought in.
Cathy asked if Hareton was her cousin, and Heathcliff confirmed he was her mother’s nephew. When asked if she liked him, Cathy whispered an insult in Heathcliff’s ear. Heathcliff laughed, while Hareton darkened, sensitive to the slight. Heathcliff mockingly ordered Hareton to behave like a gentleman and entertain the young lady, enjoying the cruelty of the situation. As they walked, Hareton averted his face, studying the landscape with an artist’s interest, while Cathy tripped merrily, finding amusement in his strange ways. Heathcliff remarked to Nelly on his satisfaction in Hareton’s coarseness, comparing him to gold used for paving-stones, while Linton was merely tin polished to look like silver. He relished the thought of Hindley’s pride in such a son, should he be alive to see him.
Linton, regretting his missed opportunity, was finally spurred by his father to join the others outside. Cathy asked Hareton about the inscription over the door, but he could not read it. Linton giggled, mocking Hareton’s illiteracy and calling him a colossal dunce. Cathy questioned if Hareton was simple, and Linton taunted him further about his Yorkshire pronunciation. Hareton, enraged and insulted, retreated after a clumsy retort. Heathcliff smiled at Hareton’s departure but looked with singular aversion at Linton, whose spiteful amusement and lack of spirit disgusted him. Nelly found herself disliking Linton more than pitying him.
They stayed until afternoon, and fortunately Edgar remained unaware of their absence. On the walk home, Nelly tried to enlighten Cathy on the characters of the people they had left, but Cathy accused her of prejudice and sided with her “uncle.” The next day, Cathy confessed the visit to Edgar. She recounted the excursion and scolded him for hiding Linton so near, defending Heathcliff’s cordiality and blaming her father for the old quarrel.
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