10 Wuthering Heights - Abridged By Stephanie Poppins

Hello.

Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

Your go-to romantic podcast that guarantees you a calm and entertaining transition into a great night's sleep.

Come with me as we immerse ourselves in a romantic journey to a time long since forgotten.

Emily Bronte was born in Yorkshire in 1818 and along with her brother and sisters Anne and Charlotte wrote from childhood onwards.

Wuthering Heights is the story she is best remembered for.

But before we begin let's take a moment to focus on where we are now.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.

That's it.

Now close your eyes and feel yourself sink deeper into the support beneath you.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.

Happy listening.

Chapter 10 A charming introduction to a hermit's life.

Four weeks torture,

Tossing and sickness.

All these bleak winds and bitter northern skies and impassable roads and deletery country surgeons and all this dearth of human physiognomy and worse than all the terrible intimation of Kenneth that I need not expect to be out of doors till spring.

Mr Heathcliff has just honoured me with a call.

About seven days ago he sent me a brace of grouse the last of the season.

Scoundrel.

He's not altogether guiltless in this illness of mine and that I had a great mind to tell him.

But alas how could I offend a man who was charitable enough to sit at my bedside a good hour and talk on some other subject than pills and draughts,

Blisters and leeches.

This is quite an easy interval.

I am too weak to read yet I feel as if I could enjoy something interesting.

Why not have up Mrs Dean to finish her tale?

I can recollect its chief incidence as far as she'd gone.

I remember her hero had run off and never been heard of for three years and the heroine was married.

I'll ring.

She'll be delighted to find me capable of talking cheerfully.

Mrs Dean came.

It wants 20 minutes sir to take the medicine.

She commenced.

Away with it I replied.

I desire to have.

The doctor says you must drop the powders.

With all my heart.

Don't interrupt me.

Come and take your seat here.

Keep your fingers from that bitter flanks of vials.

Draw your knitting out of your pocket that'll do and continue the history of Mr Heathcliff if you will.

From where you left off to the present day.

Did he finish his education on the continent and come back a gentleman or did he get a place at college or escape to America or did he get a place at college or escape to America or make a fortune more promptly on the English highways?

He may have done little in all those vocations Mr Lockwood but I couldn't give my word for any.

I stated before I didn't know how he gained his money and neither am I aware of the means he took to raise his mind from the savage ignorance into wish it was sunk.

But with your leave I'll proceed in my own fashion if you think it'll amuse and not weary you.

Are you feeling better this morning?

Much.

That's good news.

Well I'll start then.

I got Miss Catherine and myself to thrush cross grange and to my agreeable disappointment she behaved infinitely better than I dared to expect.

She seemed almost over fond of Mr Linton and even to his sister she showed plenty of affection.

They were both very attentive to her comfort.

Certainly it was not the thorn bending to the honeysuckles but the honeysuckles embracing the thorn.

There were no mutual concessions.

One stood erect and the other shielded and who can be ill-natured and bad-tempered when they encounter neither opposition or indifference.

I observed that Mr Edgar had a deep-rooted fear of ruffling her humor.

He concealed it from her but if ever he heard me answer sharply or saw any other servant grow cloudy at some imperious order of hers he'd show his trouble by a frown of displeasure that never darkened on his own account.

He many a time spoke sternly to me about my pertness and averred that the stab of a knife and averred that the stab of a knife could not inflict a worse pang than he suffered at seeing his lady vexed.

So I learned to be less touchy and for the space of half a year the gunpowder lays harmless as sand because no fire came near to explode it.

Catherine had seasons of gloom and silence now and then.

They were respected with sympathizing silence by her husband who ascribed them to an alteration in a constitution produced by her perilous illness as she was never subject to depression of spirits before.

The return of sunshine was welcomed by answering sunshine from him.

I believe I may assert they were really in possession of deep and growing happiness.

It ended.

Well we must be ourselves in the long run for the mild and generous are only more justly selfish than domineering and it ended when circumstances caused each to feel that the one's interest was not the chief consideration in the other's thoughts.

On a mellow evening in September I was coming from the garden with a heavy basket of apples which I'd been gathering.

It had got dusk and the moon looked over the high wall of the court causing undefined shadows to lurk in the corners of the numerous projecting portions of the building.

I set my burden on the house steps by the kitchen door and lingered to rest and drew in a few more breaths of the soft sweet air.

My eyes were on the moon and my back to the entrance when I heard a voice behind me say,

Nellie is that you?

It was a deep voice and foreign in tone yet there was something in the manner of pronouncing my name which made it sound familiar.

I turned about to discover who spoke fearfully but the doors were shut and I'd seen nobody on approaching the steps.

Something stirred in the porch and moving nearer I distinguished a tall man dressed in dark clothes with dark face and hair.

He leant against the side and held his fingers on the latch as if intending to open it for himself.

Who can it be?

I thought.

Mr Ranshaw?

Oh no the voice has no resemblance to his.

I have waited here an hour he resumed while I continued staring and the whole of that time all around has been as still as death.

I dared not enter.

You do not know me?

Look I'm not a stranger.

A ray fell on his features the cheeks were sallow and half covered with black whiskers the brows lower in the eyes deep set and singular.

I remembered the eyes.

What?

I cried uncertain whether to regard him as a worldly visitor.

You came back?

Is it really you is it?

Yes Heathcliff he replied glancing for me up to the windows which reflected a score of glittering moons but showed no lights from within.

Are they at home?

Where is she?

Nellie you're not glad?

You needn't be so disturbed.

Is she here?

I want to have one word with her.

Go and say some person from Gimmerton desires to see her.

How will she take it?

I exclaimed.

What will she do?

The surprise bewilders me.

It will put her out of her head.

Go and carry my message he interrupted impatiently.

I'm in hell till you do.

Then he lifted the latch and I entered but when I got to the parlor where Mr.

And Mrs.

Lington were I could not persuade myself to proceed.

At length I resolved on making an excuse to ask if they'd have the candles lighted and I opened the door.

They sat together in a window whose lattice lay back against the wall.

Beyond the tark trees outside in the wild green park the valley of Gimmerton had a long line of mist winding nearly to its top.

Wuthering Heights rose above the silvery vapor but our old house was invisible.

It rather dips down on the other side.

Both the room and its occupants and the scene they Both the room and its occupants and the scene they gazed on looked wondrously peaceful.

I shrank reluctantly from performing my errand and was actually going away leaving it unsaid when a sense of my folly compelled me to return and mutter.

A person from Gimmerton wishes to see you mum.

What does he want?

Asked Mrs.

Linton.

I didn't question him,

I answered.

Well close the curtains Nellie,

She said,

And bring up tea.

I'll be back again directly.

Who is it?

Mr.

Edgar inquired carelessly.

Someone the mistress doesn't expect,

I replied.

That Heathcliff,

You recollect him sir,

Who used to live at Mr.

Earnshaw's?

What the gypsy?

The plough boy?

He cried.

Why did you not say so to Catherine?

Ah she must not call him by those names master,

I said.

She'd be sadly grieved to hear you.

She was nearly heartbroken when you ran off.

I guess his return will make a jubilee to her.

Mr.

Linton walked onto a window on the other side of the room that overlooked the court.

He unfastened it and leaned out.

I suppose they were below,

For he exclaimed quickly.

Don't stand there love,

Bring the person in if he be any one particular.

E'er long I heard the click of the latch and Catherine flew upstairs breathless and wild,

Too excited to show gladness.

By her face she would have surmised an awful calamity.

Oh Edgar,

Edgar,

She panted,

Flinging her arms round his neck.

Heathcliff's come back he is.

Then she tightened her embrace to a squeeze.

Well,

Well,

Cried her husband crossly,

Don't strangle me.

He never struck me as such a marvellous creature.

There's no need to be frantic.

I know you didn't like him,

She answered,

Repressing a little intensity,

Yet for my sake you must be friends now.

Shall I tell him to come up?

Here,

He said,

Into the parlour.

Where else?

She cried.

Mr.

Edgar looked vexed and suggested the kitchen as a more suitable place.

Mrs.

Linton eyed him with droll expression,

Half angry,

Half laughing at his fastidiousness.

I descended and found Heathcliff waiting under the porch,

Evidently anticipating an invitation to enter.

He followed my guidance without waste of words and I ushered him into the presence of the master and mistress,

Whose flushed cheeks betrayed signs of warm talking.

But the ladies glowed with another feeling when her friend appeared at the door.

She sprang forward,

Took both his hands and led him to Linton,

Then seized Linton's reluctant fingers and crushed them into his.

Now fully revealed by the fire in the candlelight,

I was amazed more than ever to behold the transformation of Heathcliff.

He'd grown a tall,

Athletic,

Well-formed man,

Beside whom my master seemed quite slender and youth-like.

His upright carriage suggested the idea of his having been in the army.

His countenance was much older in expression and decision of feature than Mr.

Linton's.

It looked intelligent and retained no marks of former degradation.

A half-civilized ferocity lurked still in the depressed brows and eyes full of black fire,

But it was subdued and his manner was even dignified,

Quite divested of roughness,

Though stern for grace.

My master's surprise equaled or exceeded mine.

He remained for a minute at a loss as to how to address the ploughboy as he called him.

Heathcliff dropped his slight hand and stood looking at him coolly until he chose to speak.

Sit down,

Sir,

He said at length.

Mrs.

Linton,

Recalling old times,

Would have me give you a cordial reception,

And of course I'm gratified when anything occurs to please her.

And I also,

Answered Heathcliff,

Especially if it be anything in which I have a part,

I shall stay an hour or two,

Willingly.

He took a seat opposite Catherine,

Who kept her gaze fixed on him as if she feared he would vanish were she to remove it.

He did not raise his to her often,

A quick glance now and then sufficed,

But he flashed back each time more confidently the undisguised delight he drank from hers.

They were too much absorbed in their mutual joy to suffer embarrassment.

They were too much absorbed in their mutual joy to suffer embarrassment.

Not so,

Mr.

Edgar.

He grew pale with pure annoyance,

A feeling that reached its climax when his lady rose and,

Stepping across the rug,

Seized Heathcliff's hands again and laughed like one beside herself.

I shall think it a dream tomorrow,

She cried.

I shall not be able to believe that I have seen and touched and spoken to you once more.

And yet,

Cruel Heathcliff,

You don't deserve this welcome,

To be absent and silent for three years and never to think of me.

A little more than you've thought of me,

He murmured.

I heard of your marriage,

Cathy,

Not long since,

And while waiting in the yard below I meditated this plan,

Just to have one glimpse of your face.

Afterwards,

Then afterwards settle my score with Hindley.

But your welcome has put these ideas out of my mind.

You'll not drive me off again?

You were really sorry for me,

Weren't you?

Well,

There was cause.

I fought through a bitter life since I last heard your voice,

And you must forgive me,

For I struggled only for you.

Catherine,

Unless we're to have cold tea,

Please come to the table,

Interrupted Linton,

Striving to preserve his ordinary tone and a due measure of politeness.

Mr.

Heathcliff will have a long walk,

Wherever he may lodge tonight,

And I'm thirsty.

Catherine took her place before the urn,

And Miss Isabella came,

Summoned by the bell.

Then,

Having handed their chairs forward,

I left the room.

The meal hardly endured ten minutes.

Catherine's cup was never filled,

She couldn't eat or drink.

Edgar had made a slop in his saucer,

And scarcely swallowed a mouthful.

Their guest did not protract his stay that evening above an hour longer.

I asked,

As he departed,

If he went to Gimmerton.

No,

To Wuthering Heights,

He answered.

Mr.

Earnshaw invited me when I called this morning.

Mr.

Earnshaw invited him,

And he called on Mr.

Earnshaw?

I pondered this sentence painfully after he was gone.

Is he turning out to be a bit of a hypocrite,

I asked myself,

And coming into the country to work mischief under a cloak?

Then,

About the middle of the night,

I was waken from my first nap by Mrs.

Linton gliding into my chamber,

And I heard her voice.

Mrs.

Linton gliding into my chamber,

Taking the seat on my bedside,

And pulling me by the hair to rouse me.

I cannot rest,

Ellen,

She said,

By way of apology,

And I want some living creature to keep me company in my happiness.

Edgar is sulky because I'm glad of a thing that doesn't interest him.

He refuses to open his mouth,

Except to utter pettish,

Silly speeches,

And he affirmed I was cruel and selfish for wishing to talk to him when he was so sick and sleepy.

He always contrives to be sick at the least cross.

I gave a few sentences of commendation to Heathcliff,

And he began to cry.

What use is it praising Heathcliff to him,

I answered,

As lads are in aversion to each other,

And Heathcliff would hate just as much to hear him praised as human nature.

Let Mr.

Linton alone about him,

Unless you'd like to be an open quarrel between them.

Does it not show great weakness,

Pursued she.

I'm not envious.

I never feel hurt at the brightness of Isabella's yellow hair,

And the whiteness of her skin,

At her dainty elegance,

And the fondness of all the family.

Even you,

Nellie,

If we have a dispute sometimes,

You back Isabella at once,

And I yield like a foolish mother.

I call her a darling and flatter her into a good temper,

And it pleases her brother to see his cordial.

You're mistaken,

Mrs.

Linton,

Said I.

They humour you.

I know what there would be to do if they didn't.

You can well afford to indulge their passing whims as long as their business is to anticipate all your desires.

You may,

However,

Fall out at last over something of equal consequence to both sides.

Then those who turn weak are very capable of being as obstinate as you.