27 Wuthering Heights Read 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.

In this Episode: Nelly, Cathy and Linton are forced back to Wuthering Heights under the coercion of Heathcliff himself.

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.

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 27 Seven days glided away,

Everyone marking its course by the henceforth rapid alteration of Edgar Linton's state.

The havoc that months had previously wrought was now emulated by the of deluded yet but her own quick spirit refused to delude her.

It divined in secret and brooded on the dreadful probability gradually ripening to certainty.

She had not the heart to mention her ride.

When Thursday came round I mentioned it for her and obtained permission to order her out of doors for the library where her father stopped a short time daily,

The brief period he could bear to sit up,

And his chamber had become her whole world.

She grudged each moment that did not find her bending over his pillow or seated by his side.

Her countenance grew wan with watching and sorrow and my master gladly dismissed her to what he flattered himself would be a happy change of scene and society,

Drawing comfort from the hope that she would not now be left entirely alone after his death.

He had a fixed idea I guess by several observations he let fall that as his nephew resembled him in person he would resemble him in mind.

For Linton's letters bore few or no indications of his defective character and I through pardonable weakness refrained from correcting the error.

Asked myself what good there was in being disturbed in his last moments with information he had neither power nor opportunity to turn to account.

We deferred our excursion till the afternoon,

A golden afternoon of August,

Every breath from the hills so full of life it seemed whoever respired it though dying might revive.

Catherine's face was just like the landscape,

Shadows and sunshine flitting over it in rapid succession but the shadows rested longer and the sunshine was more transient and her poor little heart reproached itself for even that passing forgetfulness of its cares.

We discerned Linton watching at the same spot he'd selected before.

My young mistress alighted and told me that as she was resolved to stay a very little while I'd better hold the pony and remain on horseback but I descended anyway.

I wouldn't risk losing sight of the charge committed to me a minute so we climbed the slope of Heath together.

Master Heathcliff received us with greater animation on this occasion,

Not the animation of high spirits though nor yet of joy,

It looked more like fear.

It is late,

He said,

Speaking short and with difficulty,

It's not your father very ill I thought you wouldn't come.

Why won't you be candid,

Cried Catherine swallowing her greeting,

Why cannot you say it once you don't want me Linton,

It's strange that for the second time you've brought me here on purpose apparently to distress us both and for no reason besides.

Linton shivered and glanced at her half supplicating half ashamed but his cousin's patience was not sufficient to endure this enigmatical behaviour.

My father is very ill she said and why am I called from his bedside,

Why didn't you send to absolve me from my promise when you wished I wouldn't keep it,

Come I desire an explanation,

Playing and trifling are completely banished out of my mind and I can't dance the tendance on your affections now.

My affections,

He murmured,

What are they?

For heaven's sake Catherine don't look so angry,

Despise me as much as you please,

I'm a worthless cowardly wretch,

I can't be scorned enough but I'm too mean for your anger,

Hate my father and spare me for contempt.

Nonsense,

Cried Catherine in a passion,

Foolish silly boy and dairy trembles as if I was really going to touch him,

You needn't bespeak contempt Linton,

Anybody will have it spontaneously at your service,

Get off I shall return home,

It's folly dragging you from the hearthstone of pretending,

What do we pretend,

Let go my frock,

If I pitied you for crying and looking so very frightened you should spurn such pity,

Ellen tell him how disgraceful his conduct is,

Rise and don't degrade yourself into an abject reptile,

Don't.

With streaming face and expression of agony,

Linton threw his nerveless frame along the ground and he seemed convulsed with exquisite terror.

Oh he sobbed,

I cannot bear it Catherine,

Catherine I'm a traitor too and I dare not tell you but leave me and I shall be killed,

Dear Catherine my life is in your hands and you have said you love me and if you did it wouldn't harm you,

You will not go then,

Kind sweet good Catherine and perhaps you will consent and he'll let me die with you.

My young lady on witnessing his intense anguish stooped to raise him up,

The old feeling of indulgent tenderness overcame her vexation and she grew thoroughly moved and alarmed,

Consent to what she asked,

To stay,

Tell me the meaning of this strange talk Linton and I will,

You contradict your own words and distract me,

Be calm and frank and confess at once all that weighs on your heart,

You wouldn't injure me Linton would you,

You wouldn't let any enemy hurt me if you could prevent it,

I believe you're a coward for yourself but not cowardly betrayal of your best friend,

But my father threatened me gasped the boy clasping his attenuated fingers and I dread him,

I dread him,

I dare not tell,

Oh well said Catherine with scornful compassion,

Keep your secret then,

I'm no coward,

Save yourself,

I'm not afraid.

Her magnanimity provoked his tears and he wept wildly kissing her supporting hands and yet could not summon courage to speak out,

I meanwhile was cogitating what the mystery might be and determined Catherine should never suffer to benefit him or anyone else by my good will,

When hearing a rustling among the ling I looked up and saw Mr Heathcliff almost upon us descending the heights,

We didn't cast a glance towards my companions though they were sufficiently near for Linton's sobs to be audible but hailing me in the most hearty tone he assumed to number sides and the sincerity of which I couldn't avoid doubting he said,

It is something to see you so near to my house Nellie,

How are you at the Grange,

Let us hear,

The rumour goes he added in a lower tone,

That Edgar Linton is on his deathbed,

Perhaps they exaggerate his illness.

No my master is dying I replied,

It's true enough,

The sad thing it'll be for us all but a blessing for him,

How long will he last you think he asked,

I don't know I said,

Because he continued looking at the two people who were fixed under his eye,

Linton appeared as if he could not venture to stir or raise his head and Catherine could not move on his account,

Because that lad yonder seems determined to beat me and I thank his uncle to be quick and go before him,

Hello has the world been playing that game long,

I did give him some lessons about snivelling,

He's pretty lively with Miss Linton generally is he,

Lively no he's shown great distress I answered,

To see him I should say that instead of rambling with his sweetheart on the heels he ought to be in bed under the hands of a doctor,

He shall be in a day or two muttered Heathcliff,

But first get up Linton get up he shouted,

Don't grovel on the ground there up this moment,

Linton had sunk prostrate again in another paroxysm of helpless fear caused by his father's glance towards him,

There was nothing else to produce such humiliation I suppose,

He made several efforts to obey but this little strength was annihilated for the time and he fell back again with a moan,

Mr Heathcliff advanced and lifted him to lean against a ridge of turf,

Now said he with curved ferocity,

I'm getting angry and if you don't command that paltry spirit of yours damn you,

Get up directly,

I will father he panted,

Only let me alone or I shall faint,

I've done as you wished I'm sure Catherine will tell you I've been cheerful keep by me Catherine give me your hand,

Take mine said his father,

Stand on your feet there now she'll lend you her arm that's right look at her,

You would imagine I was the devil himself Miss Linton to excite such horror,

Be so kind as to walk home with him will you he shudders if I touch him,

Linton dear whispered Catherine,

I can't go to Wuthering Heights papa's forbidden me,

He'll not harm you,

Why are you so afraid,

I can never re-enter that house he answered,

I'm not to re-enter it without you,

Stop cried his father,

We'll respect Catherine's filial scruples,

Nellie take him in and I'll follow your advice concerning the doctor without delay you'll do well replied I,

But I must remain with my mistress to mind your son is not my business you are very stiff said Heathcliff,

I know that but you'll force me to pinch the baby and make it scream before it moves your charity,

Come then my hero are you willing to return escorted by me he approached once more and made as if he would seize the fragile being but shrinking back Linton clung to Cathy and implored her to accompany him with a frantic importunity that admitted no denial,

However I disapproved I couldn't hinder her indeed how could she have refused him at first what was filling in with dread we had no means of discerning but there he was powerless under its gripe and any addition seem capable of shocking him into idiocy we reached the threshold Catherine walked in and I stood waiting till she conducted the invalid to a chair expecting her out immediately when Mr Heathcliff pushing me forward exclaimed my house is not stricken with a plague Nellie and I have a mind to be hospitable today so sit down and allow me to shut the door he shut it and locked it also and I started you shall have tea before you go home he added I am by myself Ayrton's gone with some cattle to the Lees and Zilla and Joseph are off on a journey of pleasure and though I'm used to being alone I'd rather have some interest in company if I can get it Miss Linton take your seat by him and I give you what I have the present is hardly worth accepting but I have nothing else to offer it is Linton I mean how she does stare it's odd what a savage feeling I have to anything that seems afraid of me that I've been born where laws are less strict and tastes less dainty I should treat myself to a so vivisection of those two as an evening's amusement he drew in his breath struck the table and swore to himself by hell I hate them I am not afraid of you exclaimed Catherine who could not hear the latter part of his speech she stepped close up her black eyes flashing with passion resolution give me that key I will have it she said I wouldn't eat or drink here if I was starving Heathcliff had the key in his hand that remained on the table he looked up seized with a sort of surprise at her boldness or possibly reminded by her voice and glance of the person from whom she inherited it she snatched at the instrument and half succeeded in getting it out of his loosened fingers but her action recalled him to the present and he recovered it speedily now Catherine Linton he said stand off or I shall knock you down and that will make Mrs Nelly Dean mad regardless of this warning Cathy captured his closed hand and its contents again we will go she repeated exerting her utmost efforts to cause the iron muscles to relax and finding that her nails made no impression she applied her teeth pretty sharply Heathcliff glanced me a glance that kept me from interfering a moment Catherine was too intent on his fingers to notice his face he opened them suddenly and resigned the object of dispute but if she had well secured it he seized her with a liberated hand and pulling her on his knee administered with the other a shower of terrific slaps on both sides of the head each sufficient to have fulfilled his threat had she been able to fall at this diabolical violence I rushed on him furiously you villain I began to cry you villain a touch on the chest silenced me I am stout and I soon put out a breath and what with that and the rage I staggered thisly back and felt ready to suffocate or to burst a blood vessel the scene was over in two minutes Catherine released put her two hands to her temples and looked just as if she were not sure whether her ears were on or off she trembled like a reed poor thing and leaned against the table perfectly bewildered I know how to chastise children you see said the scoundrel grimly as he stooped to repossess himself of the key which had dropped to the floor go to Linton now as I told you and cry at your ease I shall be your father tomorrow all the father you'll have in a few days and you shall have plenty of that you can bear plenty you know weakling you'll have a daily taste if I catch such a devil of temper in your eyes again Cathy ran to me instead of Linton and knelt down and put her burning cheek on my lap weeping aloud her cousin had shrunk into a corner of the settle as quiet as a mouse congratulating himself I dare say that the correction had alighted on another rather than him Mr Heathcliff perceiving us all confounded rose and expeditiously made the tea himself the cups and saucers were laid ready and he poured it out and handed me a cup wash away your spleen he said and help your own naughty pet and mine it's not poisoned though I prepared it I'm going out to seek your horses

Reviews

Heathcliff has Not improved his character! Eek. Well read, my dear 🙏🏼❤️

Such good writing, and narrating. 💗
😮😪 oh the dark tale.