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 13 For two months the fugitives remained absent.
In those two months Mrs Linton encountered and conquered the worst shock of what was denominated a brain fever.
No mother could have nursed an only child more devotedly than Edgar tended her.
Day and night he was watching and patiently enduring all the annoyances that irritable nerves and a shaken reason could inflict.
And though Kenneth remarked that what he saved from the grave would only recompense his care by forming the source of constant future anxiety,
In fact that his health and strength were being sacrificed to preserve a mere ruin of humanity,
He knew no limits in gratitude and joy when Catherine's life was declared out of danger.
And hour after hour he would sit beside her tracing the gradual return to bodily health and flattering his two sanguine hopes with the illusion that her mind would settle back to its right balance also and she would soon be entirely her former self.
The first time she left her chamber was at the commencement of the following march.
Mr Linton had put on her pillow in the morning a handful of golden crocuses.
Her eye,
Long stranger to any gleam of pleasure,
Caught them in waking and shone delighted as she gathered them eagerly together.
These are the earliest flowers at the heights,
She exclaimed.
They remind me of soft thaw winds and warm sunshine and nearly melted snow.
Edgar,
Is there not a south wind and is the snow almost gone?
The snow is quite gone down here,
Darling,
Replied her husband,
And I only see two white spots on the whole range of the moors.
The sky is blue and the larks are singing and the becks and brooks are all brimful.
Catherine,
Last spring at this time I was longing to have you under this roof.
Now I wish you were a miler to up those hills.
The air blows so sweetly.
I feel it would cure you.
I shall never be there but once more,
Said the invalid,
And then you'll leave me and I shall remain forever.
Next spring you'll long again to have me under this roof and you'll look back and think you were happy today.
Linton lavished on her the kindest caresses,
Said Nelly,
And tried to cheer her by the fondest words but vaguely regarding the flowers she let the tears collect on her lashes and streamed down her cheeks unheeding.
We knew she was really better and therefore decided that long confinement to a single place produced much of this despondency and it might be partially removed by a change of scene.
The master told me to light a fire in the many weeks deserted parlour and to set up an easy chair in the sunshine by the window and then he brought her down and she sat a long while enjoying the genial heat.
I had to arrange the parlour sofa for her bed till another room could be prepared.
To obviate the fatigue of mounting and descending the stairs we fitted up this where you lie at present on the same floor with the parlour and she was soon strong enough to move from one to the other leaning on Edgar's arm.
I thought myself she might recover so I waited on her as she was and there was double cause to desire it for on her existence depended that of another.
We cherish the hope that in a little while Mr Linton's heart will be gladdened and his land secured from the stranger's gripe by the birth of an heir.
I should mention that Isabella sent to her brother some six weeks from her departure a short note announcing her marriage with Heathcliff.
It appeared dry and cold but at the bottom was dotted in with pencil and obscure an apology and an entreaty for kind remembrance and reconciliation if her proceeding had offended him asserting that she could not help it then and being done she had no power to repeal it.
Linton did not reply to this I believe and in a fortnight more I got a long letter which I considered odd coming from the pen of a bride just out of honeymoon.
I'll read it for I kept it yet any relic of the dead is precious if they were valued living.
Dear Ellen,
It begins,
I came last night to Wuthering Heights and heard for the first time that Catherine's been very ill.
I must not write to her suppose and my brother is either too angry or too distressed to answer what I sent him.
Still I must write to somebody she said and the only choice left me is you.
Inform Edgar I'd give the world to see his face again that my heart returned to Thrushrush Grange in 24 hours after I left it and is there at the moment full of warm feelings for him and Catherine.
I can't follow it though she adds they need not expect me and they may draw what conclusions they please taking care however to keep nothing at the door of my weak will or deficient affection.
Then she said the remainder of the letter is for yourself alone Nellie.
I want to ask you two questions the first is how did you contrive to preserve the common sympathies of human nature when you resided here?
I cannot recognize any sentiment which those around share with me.
The second question I had great interest in is Mr Heathcliff a man?
If so is he mad and if not is he a devil?
I shan't tell my reasons for making this inquiry she said but I beseech you to explain if you can what I have married.
When you call to see me and you must call Ellen very soon don't write but come and bring me something from Edgar.
Now you shall hear how I've been received in my new home as I'm led to imagine the heights will be.
It is to amuse myself I dwell on such objects as the lack of external comforts they never occupy my thoughts except at the moment when I miss them.
I should laugh and dance for joy she said if I found their absence was the total of my miseries and the rest was an unnatural dream.
Then she goes on to describe their return to Thrushcross Grange.
As we turned onto the mall she said I judged it to be six o'clock and my companion halted half an hour to inspect the park and the gardens and probably the place itself as well as he could so it was dark when we dismounted in the paved yard of the farmhouse and Joseph issued out to receive us by the light of a dip candle did it with a curtsy that redounded to his credit.
He took the two horses and led them into the stables reappearing for the purpose of locking the outer gate as if we lived in an ancient castle.
Heathcliff stayed to speak to him and I went into the kitchen.
By the fire stood a ruffling child strong in limb and dirty in garb with a look of Catherine in his eyes and about his mouth and I said to myself this is Edgar's legal nephew mine in a manner so I must shake hands and kiss him.
It is right to establish a good understanding at the beginning.
Then I approached and attempting to take his chubby fist I said how do you do my dear?
Shall you and I be friends Hairton?
I said.
Hey throttler lad.
He replied.
Love for my life urged a compliance.
I stepped over the threshold to wait until the other should enter.
Mr Heathcliff was now nowhere visible and Joseph whom I followed to the stables requested to accompany me in but I walked around the yard through a wicket to another door at which I took the liberty of knocking in hopes some more civil servant might show himself.
After a short suspense it was opened by a tall gaunt man without neckerchief and otherwise extremely slovenly.
His features were lost in masses of shaggy hair that hung on his shoulders and his eyes too were like a ghostly Catherine's with all their beauty annihilated.
It was Mr Earnshaw.
What's your business here demanded grimly and I said my name is Isabella Linton.
You've seen me before sir I'm lately married to Mr Heathcliff and he's brought me here by your permission.
Has he come back then asked Mr Earnshaw glaring like a hungry wolf.
Yes I said we came just now but he left me by the kitchen door and when I would have gone in your little boy played sentinel over the place and frightened me off.
Then he ordered me in and shut and refastened the door.
I inquired whether I might call the maid she says and be conducted to a bedroom but Mr Earnshaw vouchsafed no answer just walked up and down with his hands in his pockets quite forgetting my presence.
His abstraction was evidently so deep and his whole aspect so misanthropic that I shrank from disturbing him again.
You'll not be surprised Ellen she said at my feeling particularly cheerless seated in worse than solitude on that inhospitable hearth and remembering that four miles away lay my delightful home containing the only people I loved on earth.
I questioned with myself where must I turn for comfort.
Mind you don't tell Edgar or Catherine she says.
I was not aware how openly I grieved to Earnshaw haunted opposite in his measured walk and gave me a stare of newly awakened surprise.
I'm tired with my journey I told him and I want to go to bed where is the maid servant direct me to her as she won't come to me then he said we have none and you must wait on yourself.
Where must I sleep then moaned Isabella I was beyond regarding self-respect she says weighed down by fatigue and wretchedness.
Joseph will show you Heathcliff's chamber said Earnshaw open that door he's in there now.
I was going to obey but he suddenly arrested me added in the strangers toe.
Be so good as to turn your lock and draw your bolt don't admit it.
But why Mr.
Earnshaw I asked.
I did not relish the notion of deliberately fastening myself in with Heathcliff.
Look here he replied pulling from his waistcoat curiously constructed pistol having a double-edged spring knife attached to the barrel that's a great tempter to a desperate man is it not.
I can't resist going up with this every night and trying his door if once I find it open he's done for.
Not all the angels in heaven shall save him.
But what has Heathcliff done to you I asked.
What's he wronged you to warrant this appalling hatred.
Wouldn't it be wiser to bid him quit the house.
No Mr.
Earnshaw replied should he offer to leave me he's a dead man.
Persuade him to attempt it and you're a murderess.
Am I to lose all without a chance of retrieval.
His hair tend to be a beggar.
I will have it back and I'll have his gold too and his blood and hell shall have his soul.
It will be ten times blacker with that guest than ever it was before.
Then she addresses me directly you've acquainted me Ellen she says with your old master's habits.
He's clearly on the verge of madness.
He was so last night at least.
I shuddered to be near him she says and thought on the servant's ill-bred moroseness as comparatively agreeable.
When Mr.
Heathcliff came back at last she continued I told him I was staying up so late because he had the key of our room in his pocket.
That adjective our gave mortal offence.
He swore it was not nor ever should be my room.
Then he told me of Catherine's illness and accused my brother of causing it promising I should be Edgar's proxy in suffering till he could get hold of him.
I do hate him Nellie.
I'm wretched she said.
I've been a fool.
Beware of uttering one breath of this to anyone at the Grange.
I shall expect you every day.
Don't disappoint me.
Signed Isabella
