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.
The mortal terror of Heathcliff restored Linton’s eloquence. Catherine persisted that she must go, trying to persuade him to subdue his selfish agony. Heathcliff re-entered, announcing their beasts had trotted off. He mocked Linton for snivelling again and ordered him to bed, telling him that in a month or two he would be able to pay Catherine back for her tyrannies. He held the door open, and Linton exited like a spaniel fearing a spiteful squeeze. Heathcliff re-secured the lock and approached the fire where Nelly and Catherine stood. Catherine looked up, instinctively raising her hand to her cheek, but Heathcliff scowled, muttering that her courage was well disguised as she seemed damnably afraid. Catherine replied that she was afraid now because staying would make her father miserable. She promised to marry Linton, as her father would like it and she loved him, asking why Heathcliff wished to force her to do what she would willingly do herself.
Nelly cried out that there was law in the land, but Heathcliff silenced her. He told Catherine he would enjoy himself thinking her father would be miserable. He said she had hit on no surer way to fix her residence under his roof for twenty-four hours than informing him of that event. He vowed she should not quit the place until she married Linton. Catherine wept bitterly, begging him to send Ellen to let her father know she was safe, or to marry her now. Heathcliff answered that Edgar would think she was tired of waiting on him and had run off for amusement. He declared it was natural she should weary of nursing a sick man, even if he was her father. He claimed Edgar’s happiest days were over when Catherine’s began, cursing her for coming into the world as he had. He declared he did not love her and told her to weep away, as it would be her chief diversion unless Linton made amends.
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