after this time his household and the household here should drop intercommunication, as nothing could come of keeping it up.’

Mrs. Heathcliff’s lip quivered slightly, and she returned to her seat in the window. Her husband took his stand on the hearthstone, near me, and began to put questions concerning Catherine. I told him as much as I thought proper of her illness, and he extorted from me, by cross-examination, most of the facts connected with its origin. I blamed her, as she deserved, for bringing it all on herself; and ended by hoping that he would follow Mr. Linton’s example and avoid future interference with his family, for good or evil.

‘Mrs. Linton is now just recovering,’ I said; ‘she’ll never be like she was, but her life is spared; and