21 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 21 We had sad work with little Cathy that day.

She rose in high glee,

Eager to join her cousin Linton,

And such passionate tears and lamentations followed the news of his departure that Edgar himself was obliged to soothe her by affirming he should come back soon and adding,

If I can get him.

There were no hopes of that.

This promise poorly pacified her but time was more potent and though still at intervals she inquired of her father when Linton would return,

Before she did see him again his features had waxed so dim in her memory she did not recognize him.

When I chanced to encounter the housekeeper of Wuthering Heights in paying business visits to Gimmerton,

I used to ask how the young master got on,

For he lived almost as secluded as Catherine herself and was never to be seen.

I could gather from her he continued in weak health and was a tiresome inmate.

She said Mr Heathcliff seemed to dislike him ever longer and worse though he took some trouble to conceal it.

He had an antipathy to the sound of his voice and could do not at all with his sitting in the same room with him many minutes together.

There seldom passed much talk between them.

Linton learned his lessons and spent his evenings in a small apartment they called the parlor or else he lay in bed all day for he was constantly getting coughs and colds and aches and pains.

I never knew such a faint-hearted creature added the woman nor one so careful of his own.

He will go on if I leave the window open a bit late in the evening oh it's a killing it's a breath of night air and he must have a fire in the middle of summer and Joseph's backer pipe is poisoning he must have sweets and dainties and always milk milk forever aiding now how the rest of us are pinched in winter and there he'll sit wrapped in his fur coat in his chair by the fire with toast and water or some slop on the hob to sip at.

I believe the master would relish her and Shaw's thrashing him to a mummy if he were not his son and I'm certainly be fit to turn him out of doors if he knew half the nursing he gives himself but then he won't go into danger of temptation he never enters the parlor and should Linton show those ways in the house where he is he sends him upstairs directly.

Utter lack of sympathy had rendered young Heathcliff selfish and disagreeable Nellie continued if he were not so originally and my interest in him decayed.

Mr Redgar encouraged me to gain information on him and he thought a great deal about him he would have run some risk to see him I fancy and he told me once to ask the housekeeper whether he ever came into the village he'd only been twice on horseback accompanying his father and both times he pretended to be quite knocked up for three or four days afterwards that housekeeper left if I recollect rightly two years after he came and then another was her successor and she lives there still.

Time wore on at the Grange in its former pleasant way till Miss Kathy reached 16.

On the anniversary of her birth we never manifested any signs of rejoicing because it was also the anniversary of my late mistress's death her father invariably spent the day alone in the library and walked at dusk as far as Gimmerton Kirkyard where he'd frequently prolong his stay beyond midnight therefore Katherine was thrown on her owner's horses for amusement.

That 20th of March was a beautiful spring day and when her father retired my young lady came down dressed for going out and she said she asked to have a ramble on the edge of the moor with me and Mr Lynn didn't give a leave if we only went a short distance and were back within the hour.

Make haste Ellen she cried I know where I wish to go where a colony of moor game are settled I want to see whether they made their nest yet.

That must be a good distance up I answered they don't breed on the edge of the moor.

No it's not she said I've gone very near with papa.

I put on my bonnet and sallied out thinking nothing more of the matter she bounded before me and returned to my side and was off again like a young greyhound.

At first I found plenty of entertainment in listening to the lark singing far and near and enjoying the sweet warm sunshine.

I watched her my pet and my delight with her golden ringlets flying loose behind and her bright cheek as soft and pure in its bloom as a wild rose.

She was a happy creature and an angel in those days it's a pity she couldn't be content.

Well said I where are your moor game Miss Cathy we should be at them the Grange Park fence is a great way off now.

Only a little further Ellen was her answer continually but there were so many hillocks and banks to climb and past that at length I began to be very weary and I told her we must halt and retrace our steps.

I shouted to her because she had outstripped me a long way but she either did not hear nor regard for she still sprang on and I was compelled to follow.

Finally she dived into a hollow and before I came in sight of her again she was two miles nearer Wuthering Heights than her own home.

I beheld a couple of persons arrest her one of whom I felt convinced was Mr Heathcliff himself.

Cathy had been caught in the fact of plundering or at least hunting out the nests of the grouse.

The heights were Heathcliff's land and he was reproving the poacher.

I've neither taken any nor found any she said as I toiled to them expanding her hands in corroboration of the statement.

I didn't mean to take them but Papa told me there were quantities up here and I wish to see the eggs.

Heathcliff glanced at me with an ill-meaning smile expressing his acquaintance with the party and consequently his malevolence towards it.

He demanded who Papa was.

Mr Linton of Thrushcross Grange she replied.

I thought you did not know me or you wouldn't have spoken to me in that way.

You suppose Papa is highly esteemed and respected then he said sarcastically.

And what are you inquired Catherine gazing curiously on the speaker.

That man I've seen before is he your son?

She pointed ahead and the other individual who gained nothing but increased bulk and strength by the addition of two years to his age.

He seemed as awkward and rough as ever.

Miss Cathy I interrupted it'll be three hours instead of that one we're out presently we must go back.

That man is not my son answered Heathcliff pushing me aside but I have one and you've seen him before and though your nurse is in a hurry I think both you and she would be the better for a little rest.

Will you just turn this knap of heath and walk into my house you'll get home earlier for the ease and you shall receive a kind welcome.

I whispered Catherine she mustn't on any account to see to the proposal it was entirely out of the question.

Why she asked aloud I'm tired of running and the ground's dewy I can't sit here let us go Ellen besides he says I've seen his son he's mistaken I think but I guess where he lives at the farmhouse I visited him coming from Penistone Crags don't you?

I do come Nellie hold your tongue it'll be a treat for her to look in on us.

Let him get forward with the lass you shall walk with me Nellie.

She's not going to any such place I cried struggling to release my arm which he'd seized but she was almost at the doorstones already scampering around the brow at full speed.

Her appointed companion did not pretend to escort her but he shied off by the roadside and vanished.

Mr Heathcliff it's very wrong I continued you know you mean no good and she'll see Linton and all will be told as ever we return and I shall have the blame.

I want her to see Linton he answered he's looking better these few days he's not often fit to be seen and will soon persuade her to keep the visit secret where's the harm of it?

The harm of it is her father would hate me if he found out I suffered her to enter your house and I'm convinced you have a bad design encouraging her to do so I replied.

My design is as honest as possible I'll inform you of its whole scope he said then the two cousins may fall in love and get married I'm acting generously to your master this young chit has no expectations and should she second my wishes she'll be provided for at once as joint successor with Linton.

If Linton died I answered and his life is quite uncertain Catherine would be the heir.

No she would not he said there's no clause in the will to secure it his property would go to me but to prevent disputes I desire their union and I'm resolved to bring it about and I resolve she shall never approach your house with me again I returned.

Heathcliff bid me quiet and proceeding us up the path he hastened to open the door my young lady gave him several looks as if she could not exactly make up her mind what to think of him but now he smiled when he met her eye and softened his voice in addressing her and I was foolish enough to imagine the memory of her mother might disarm him from desiring her injury Linton was standing on the hearth he'd been out walking in the fields for his cap was on and he was calling Joseph to bring him dry shoes he'd grown tall of his age still wanting some months of 16 his features were pretty yet and his eye and complexion brighter than I remember them though with me temporary luster borrowed from the salubrious air and genius now who is that asked Mr Heathcliff turning to Cathy can you tell your son she said having doubtfully surveyed first one then the other yes yes answered he but this is the only time you've beheld him think ah you have a short memory Linton don't you recall your cousin that you used to tease with wishing to see what Linton cried Cathy cried Cathy kindling into joyful surprise at the name is that little Linton he's taller than I am aren't you Linton the youth stepped forward and acknowledged himself she kissed him fervently and they gazed with wonder at the change time had wrought in the appearance of each Catherine had reached her full height her figure was plump and slender elastic as steel and her whole aspect sparkling with health and spirits Linton's looks and movements were very languid and his form extremely slight but there was a grace in his manner that mitigated these defects and rendered him not unpleasing after exchanging numerous marks of fondness with him his cousin went to Mr Heathcliff who lingered by the door divided his attention between the objects inside and those that lay without pretending that is to observe the latter and really noticing the former alone and you are my uncle then Cathy cried reaching up to salute him I thought I liked you though you were across at first why don't you visit at the Grange with Linton to live all these years such close neighbors and never see us is hot why haven't you done so I visited it once or twice too often before you were born he answered there damn it if you have any kisses to spare give them to Linton they're thrown away on me naughty Ellen exclaimed Catherine flying to attack me next with her lavish caresses wicked Ellen to try to hinder me from entering but I'll take this walk every morning in future may I uncle and sometimes bring papa won't you be glad to see us of course replied Heathcliff with a hardly suppressed grimace resulting from his deep aversion to both the proposed visitors but stay he continued turning towards the young lady now I think of it I'd better tell you Mr Linton has a prejudice against me we quarreled at one time of our lives with unchristian ferocity and if you mention coming here to him he'll put a veto on your visits altogether therefore you must not mention it unless you be careless of seeing your cousin hereafter you may come if you will but you must not mention this why did you quarrel asked Catherine considerably crestfallen he thought me too poor to wed his sister answered Heathcliff and he was grieved I got her his pride was hurt and he'll never forgive it that's wrong said little Cathy sometime I'll tell him so but Linton and I have no share in your quarrel you'll not come here then he shall come to the Grange it'll be too far for me murmured Linton to walk four miles would kill me come here Catherine now and then not every morning but once or twice a week Heathcliff launched towards his son a glance of bitter contempt would you rather sit here asked Linton addressing Cathy in a tone which expressed reluctance to move again I don't know she replied casting a longing look to the door she was evidently eager to be active but he kept his seat and shrank closer to the fire Heathcliff rose and went into the kitchen and from thence to the yard calling out for Hayton Hayton responded and presently the two re-entered the young man had been washing himself and was visible by the glow on his cheeks and his wetted hair oh I'll ask you uncle cried Miss Cathy recollecting the housekeeper's assertion that's not my cousin is he yes he replied your mother's nephew don't you like him Catherine looked queer is he not a handsome lad he continued then the uncivil little thing stood on tiptoe and whispered a sentence in Heathcliff's ear he laughed and Hayton darkened I perceive he was very sensitive to suspected slights and had obviously a dim notion of his inferiority but his master or guardian chased the frown by exclaiming you'll be the favorite among us Hayton Cathy says you are a what was it well something well something very flattering you go with her around the farm and behave like a gentleman mind don't choose any bad words and don't stare when the young lady's not looking at you and be ready to hide your face when she is and when you speak say your words slowly and keep your hands out of your pockets be off now and entertain little Cathy as nicely as you can