There was a violent wind, as well as thunder, and either one or the other split a tree off at the corner of the building: a huge bough fell across the roof, and knocked down a portion of the east chimney-stack, sending a clatter of stones and soot into the kitchen-fire. We thought a bolt had fallen in the middle of us; and Joseph swung on to his knees, beseeching the Lord to remember the patriarchs Noah and Lot, and, as in former times, spare the righteous, though he smote the ungodly. I felt some sentiment that it must be a judgment on us also. He replied audibly enough, in a fashion which made my companion vociferate, more clamorously than before, that a wide distinction might be drawn between saints like himself and sinners like his master. But the uproar passed away in twenty minutes, leaving us all unharmed; excepting Cathy, who got thoroughly drenched for her obstinacy in refusing to take shelter, and standing bonnetless and shawlless to catch as much water as she could with her hair and clothes. She came in and lay down on the settle, all soaked as she was, turning her face to the back, and putting her hands before it.
“Well, Miss!” I exclaimed, touching her shoulder; “you are not bent on getting your death, are you? Do you know what oclock it is? Half-past twelvee, come to bed! theres no use waiting any longer on that foolish boy: hell be gone to Gimmerton, and hell stay there now. He guesses we shouldnt wait for him till this late hour: at least, he guesses that only Mr. Hindley would be up; and hed rather avoid having the door opened by the master.”
Earnshaw; and I shook the handle of his den that I might ascertain if he were yet living
“Nay, nay, hes noan at Gimmerton,” said Joseph. “Is niver wonder but hes at t bothom of a bog-hoile. This visitation wornt for nowt, and I wod hev ye to look out, Miss-yah muh be t next. Thank Hivin for all! All warks togither for gooid to them as is chozzen, and piked out fro th rubbidge! Yah knaw whet t Scripture ses.” And he began quoting several texts, referring us to chapters and verses where we might find them.
I, having vainly begged the wilful girl to rise and remove her wet things, left him preaching and her shivering, and betook myself to bed with little Hareton, who slept as fast as if everyone had been sleeping round him. I heard Joseph read on a while afterwards; then I distinguished his slow step on the ladder, and then I dropped asleep.
Coming down somewhat later than usual, I saw, by the sunbeams piercing the chinks of the shutters, Miss Catherine still seated near the fireplace. The house-door was ajar, too; light entered from its unclosed windows; Hindley had come out, and stood on the kitchen hearth, haggard and drowsy.
“What ails you, Cathy?” he was saying when I entered: “you look as dismal as a drowned whelp. Why are you so damp online payday loans in KY and pale, child?”
“Oh, she is naughty!” I cried, perceiving the master to be tolerably sober. “She got steeped in the shower of yesterday evening, and there she has sat the night through, and I couldnt prevail on her to stir.”
The Jonah, in my mind, was Mr
Mr. Earnshaw stared at us in surprise. “The night through,” he repeated. “What kept her up? not fear of the thunder, surely? That was over hours since.”