«
    »Well, we must not leave him asleep,« I answered; »wait till he wakes and be
patient. You are mighty eager to set off, but your longing to see poor Linton
has soon evaporated!«
    »Why did he wish to see me?« returned Catherine. »In his crossest humours,
formerly, I liked him better than I do in his present curious mood. It's just as
if it were a task he was compelled to perform - this interview - for fear his
father should scold him. But, I'm hardly going to come to give Mr. Heathcliff
pleasure; whatever reason he may have for ordering Linton to undergo this
penance. And, though I'm glad he's better in health, I'm sorry he's so much less
pleasant, and so much less affectionate to me.«
    »You think he is better in health, then?« I said.
    »Yes,« she answered; »because he always made such a great deal of his
sufferings, you know. He is not tolerably well, as he told me to tell papa, but
he's better, very likely.«
    »There you differ with me, Miss Cathy,« I remarked; »I should conjecture him
to be far worse.«
    Linton here started from his slumber in bewildered terror, and asked if
anyone had called his name.
    »No,« said Catherine; »unless in dreams. I cannot conceive how you manage to
dose, out of doors, in the morning.«
    »I thought I heard my father,« he gasped, glancing up to the frowning nab
above us. »You are sure nobody spoke?«
    »Quite sure,« replied his cousin. »Only Ellen and I were disputing
concerning your health. Are you truly stronger, Linton, than when we separated
in winter? If you be, I'm certain one thing is not stronger - your regard for me
- speak, are you?«
    The tears gushed from Linton's eyes as he answered -
    »Yes, yes, I am!«
    And, still under the spell of the imaginary voice, his gaze wandered up and
down to detect its owner.
    Cathy rose.
    »For to-day we must part,« she said. »And I won't conceal that I have been
sadly disappointed with our meeting, though I'll mention it to nobody but you -
not that I stand in awe of Mr. Heathcliff!«
    »Hush,« murmured Linton; »
