12 Wuthering Heights - Abridged By Stephanie Poppins

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is a gothic novel that follows the antihero, Heathcliff, as he gets revenge on the people who kept him away from his love, Cathy Earnshaw. After over a decade, he finally succeeds in his revenge and gains Thrushcross Grange, the family home of Cathy's husband.

In this episode, Cathy becomes delirious in her sick bed, and Nelly becomes increasingly concerned.
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Transcript

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 12 Kathy never offered to descend to breakfast the next morning,

Continued Nelly.

I went to ask whether she would have had some carried up but no,

She replied.

The same question was repeated at dinner and tea and again on the morrow after that and I received the same answer.

Mr Linton on his part spent his time in the library and he didn't inquire concerning his wife's occupations.

Isabella and he had had an hour's interview during which he tried to elicit from her some sentiment of proper horror for Heathcliff's advances but he could make nothing of her evasive replies and was obliged to close the examination unsatisfactorily adding however a solemn warning that if she was so insane as to encourage that worthless suitor it would dissolve all bonds of relationship between herself and him.

While Miss Linton moped about the park and garden always silent and almost always in tears and her brother shut himself up amongst the books that he never opened,

Katherine would come out of her own accord to ask pardon and seek reconciliation.

At every meal Edgar was ready to choke for her absence and pride alone held him from running to cast himself at her feet.

I went about my household chores convinced that the Grange had but one sensible soul in its walls and that was lodged in my body.

I wasted no condolences on Kathy nor on my mistress and I didn't pay much attention to the size of my master either who yearned to hear his lady's name since he might not hear her voice.

I determined they should come about as they pleased for me and though it was a tiresomely slow process I began to rejoice at length in a faint dawn of its progress as first I thought.

Mrs Linton on the third day unbarred her door and having finished the water in her pitcher and decanter desired a renewed supply and a basin of gruel for she believed she was dying.

That I set down as a speech meant for Mr Edgar's ears and I believed no such thing so I kept it to myself and bought her some tea and dry toast.

She ate and drank eagerly and sat back on her pillow again clenching her hands and groaning.

I will die she exclaimed since no one cares anything about me I wish I'd not taken that.

Then a good while after I heard her murmur no I'll not die he'll be glad he does not love me at all or he would never miss me.

Did you want anything ma'am?

I inquired still preserving my external composure in spite of her ghastly countenance and strange exaggerated manner.

What is that apathetic being doing she demanded pushing the thick entangled locks from her wasted face has he fallen into a lethargy or is he dead?

Neither replied I if you mean Mr Linton he's tolerably well I think though his studies occupy him rather more than they ought he's continually among his books since he has no other society.

I should not have spoken so if I had not known her true condition but I could not get rid of the notion she acted part of her disorder.

Among his books she cried confounded and I dying I on the brink of the grave dear god does he know how I'm altered?

She stared at the reflection in the mirror hanging against the opposite wall is that Catherine Linton?

Nellie if it's not too late can you inform him it's in frightful earnest as soon as I know how he feels I'll choose between these two either to starve at once that will be no punishment unless he had a heart or to recover and leave the country but please persuade him if you will speak of your own mind and say you're certain that I will die of hunger.

No you forget Mrs Linton I suggested you've eaten some food with a relish this evening and tomorrow you'll perceive its good effects.

If I were only sure it would kill him she interrupted I'd kill myself directly.

These three awful nights I've never closed my lids and I've been tormented I've been haunted Nellie but I begin to fancy you don't like me either how strange and what in the name of all that Edgar feels has he got to do with books when I'm dying?

Cathy could not bear the notion which I put into her head of Mr Linton's philosophical resignation tossing about she increased her feverish bewilderment to madness and tore the pillow with her teeth then raising herself up or burning she desired I'd open the window.

We were in the middle of winter the wind blew strong from the northeast and I objected both the expressions flitting over her face and the changes of her mood began to alarm me terribly and it brought to my recollection her former illness and the doctor's injunction that she should not be crossed.

I see in you Nellie she continued dreamily an aged woman with grey hair and bent shoulders and the bed is the fairy cave over Peniston Crag and you're gathering elf bolts to hurt your heifers pretending while I'm near they're only locks of wool that's what you'll come to fifty years hence I know you're not so now I'm not wondering you're mistaken or else I should believe you really were that withered hag and I should think I was on the Peniston Crag and I'm conscious it's night and there's two candles on the table making the black press shine like jet the black press I said where is that you're talking in your sleep it's against the wall as it always is Cathy replied it does appear odd though I see a face in it there's no press in the room and there never was I said resume my seat and then I looped up the curtain that I might watch her don't you see that face she inquired gazing earnestly at the mirror and say what I could I was incapable of making her comprehend it to be her own so I rose and covered it with a shawl it's behind there still she pursued anxiously and it stirred stirred who is it hope it'll not come out when you're gone nearly the room's haunted I'm afraid of being alone I took Cathy's hand in mine and bid her to be composed for a succession of shudders convulsed her frame and she would keep straining her gaze towards the glass there's nobody there I insisted it was yourself Mrs.

Linton you knew it a while since myself gosh Cathy and the clock is striking 12 it's true then that's dreadful her fingers clutched the clothes and gathered them over her eyes I attempted to steal to the door with an intention of calling her husband but I was summoned back by a piercing shriek the shawl had dropped from the frame what's the matter cried I who is it now trembling and bewildered Cathy held me fast but the horror gradually passed my countenance and its paleness gave place to a glow of shame oh dear I thought I was at home she sighed I thought I was lying in my chamber at Wuthering Heights because I'm weak my brain got confused and I screamed don't say anything but stay with me Nellie I dread sleeping my dreams upon me a sound sleep will do you good mom I answered and I hope this suffering will prevent or try and starving again oh but if I were in my own little bed in the old house she went on bitterly wringing her hands and that wind sounding in the first by the lattice do let me feel it it comes straight down the mall let me have one last breath to pacify her I held the casement ajar a few seconds a cold blast rushed through and I closed it and returned to my post Cathy lay still now her face bathed in tears exhaustion of body had entirely subdued her spirit our fiery Catherine was no better than a wailing child how long is it since I shot myself in here she asked suddenly reviving it was Monday evening I replied and this is Thursday night long enough to live on nothing but cold water and ill temper well it seems a weary number of hours she muttered doubtfully it must be more I remember being in the parlor after they quarreled and Edgar being cruelly provoking and me running into this room in despair as soon as ever I barred the door utter blackness overwhelmed me and I fell on the floor I couldn't explain to Edgar how certain I felt of having a fit or go raging mad if he persisted in teasing me oh I'm burning I wish I was out of doors I wish I were a girl again half savage and hardy and free and laughing at my injuries not maddening under them why am I so changed Nelly why does my blood rush into a hell of tumult at a few words I'm sure I should be myself where I once amongst the heather on those heels open the window again ah barceny open quick why don't you move because I won't give you your death of cold I answered you won't give me a chance of life you mean she said suddenly however I'm not helpless yet I'll open it myself sliding from the bed before I could hinder her she crossed the room walking very uncertainly and then she threw it back and bent out careless of the frosty air that cut about her shoulders as keen as a knife I entreated and finally attempted to force her to retire but I soon found her delirious strength surpass mine and I became convinced by her subsequent actions and ravings there was no moon and everything beneath lay in misty darkness not a light gleam from any house far or near all had been extinguished long ago and those at wuthering heights were never visible but still she asserted she caught their shining look she cried eagerly that's my room with a candle in it and the trees swaying before it and the other candles in Joseph's garret Joseph sits up late doesn't he he's waiting till I come home that he may lock the gate well he'll wait a while yet it's a rough journey and a sad heart to travel it and we must pass by Gimmett and Kirk to go to that journey we've braved its ghosts often together and dared to each other to stand among the graves and ask them to come but Heathcliff if I dare you now will you venture if you do I'll keep you I'll not lie here by myself that they may bury me 12 feet deep and throw the church down over me but I won't rest until you're with me Heathcliff I never will then she paused and resumed with a strange smile he's considering Nellie he'd rather I come to him find a way then not through that kirkyard you are slow Heathcliff be content you always followed me didn't you

Reviews

Oh, wow is the foretelling of tragedy of souls. Trampled in the wild winds on the moors. A good chapter.