 companion, will only sustain
his affection hereafter, by the remembrance of what she once was, by common
humanity, and a sense of duty!«
    »That is quite possible,« remarked Heathcliff, forcing himself to seem calm,
»quite possible that your master should have nothing but common humanity, and a
sense of duty to fall back upon. But do you imagine that I shall leave Catherine
to his duty and humanity? and can you compare my feelings respecting Catherine,
to his? Before you leave this house, I must exact a promise from you, that
you'll get me an interview with her - consent, or refuse, I will see her! What
do you say?«
    »I say, Mr. Heathcliff,« I replied, »you must not - you never shall through
my means. Another encounter between you and the master, would kill her
altogether!«
    »With your aid, that may be avoided;« he continued, »and should there be
danger of such an event - should he be the cause of adding a single trouble more
to her existence - Why, I think, I shall be justified in going to extremes! I
wish you had sincerity enough to tell me whether Catherine would suffer greatly
from his loss. The fear that she would restrains me: and there you see the
distinction between our feelings - Had he been in my place, and I in his, though
I hated him with a hatred that turned my life to gall, I never would have raised
a hand against him. You may look incredulous, if you please! I never would have
banished him from her society, as long as she desired his. The moment her regard
ceased, I would have torn his heart out, and drunk his blood! But, till then, if
you don't believe me, you don't know me - till then, I would have died by inches
before I touched a single hair of his head!«
    »And yet,« I interrupted, »you have no scruples in completely ruining all
hopes of her perfect restoration, by thrusting yourself in to her remembrance,
now, when she has nearly forgotten you, and involving her in a new tumult of
discord, and distress.«
    »You suppose she has nearly forgotten me?« he said. »Oh! Nelly you know she
has not! You know as well as I do, that for every thought she spends on Linton,
she spends a thousand on me! At a most miserable period of my life, I had a
notion of
