“I delivered Catherine’s message. He cursed to himself, and in a few minutes came out with a lighted candle, and proceeded to their room. I followed. Mrs. Heathcliff was seated by the bedside, with her hands folded on her knees. Her father-in-law went up, held the light to Linton’s face, looked at him, and touched him; afterwards he turned to her.

“ ‘Now⁠—Catherine,’ he said, ‘how do you feel?’

“She was dumb.

“ ‘How do you feel, Catherine?’ he repeated.

“ ‘He’s safe, and I’m free,’ she answered: ‘I should feel well⁠—but,’ she continued, with a bitterness she couldn’t conceal, ‘you have left me so long to struggle against death alone, that I feel and see only death! I feel like death!’