Nelly Dean

"A person who has not done one half his day's work by ten o'clock, runs a chance of leaving the other half undone"

- Chapter 7

Nelly Dean is a major character and narrator in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. She is a servant to the Earnshaw and the Linton family, and a caregiver/mother-figure to Hareton Earnshaw and Cathy Linton.

She is also one of the main narrators, as she narrates the main part of the novel all witnessed in her point of view, while Lockwood documents it all.

Description
Nelly Dean is a certain character who witnesses the majority of the story of Wuthering Heights and tells it in her own words what she had seen and heard. Having grown up along with some of the major characters, including Heathcliff, she knew that the life she had seen was not always perfect and it would only worsen the older she becomes. But she had managed to cope with those struggles with her personalities and physical strength.

Nelly has been a longtime servant to both families: the Earnshaw's of Wuthering Heights and the Linton's of Thrushcross Grange. For years she had seen the brutal feud between the Earnshaw's Heathcliff and the opposing Linton's, and she even serves as some sort of "bridge" as her employment to both houses brings them closer and allows Heathcliff to carry out his vengeful acts. But with the power of her kindness and helpfulness she was able to protect and guide the suffering characters who were victimized by Heathcliff, such as Cathy Linton.

Aside from being a housekeeper and servant, she also serves as a mother-figure. When Hindley Earnshaw's wife died of consumption, she was offered to look after his infant son Hareton and raise him as her own for a couple of years until she left him to be with Catherine and Edgar at the Grange. After her mistress died in childbirth, Nelly was assigned again to look after the namesake daughter and serve as a mother-figure to her. Even as Cathy becomes imprisoned and kept in the Heights, Nelly offered to be a servant there as well, just so she can still be with the young girl she had been close and protective over since Cathy's infancy.

Early Years at Wuthering Heights
Nelly Dean was the daughter of a nursemaid/wet nurse who looked after Hindley Earnshaw, and he had a sister named Catherine Earnshaw. They are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw, who lived at Wuthering Heights in the mid 1770s. She grew fond of the children and played with them, and had even done some errands such as harvesting hay.

One summer morning, at the beginning of harvest season, Mr. Earnshaw prepares to go on a business trip to Liverpool. He instructs the servant Joseph what to do for the day, and then asks his children what they would like him to bring home for them. Hindley requests a fiddle and Catherine a whip. He promises Nelly he will bring her some apples and pears before he bids his family goodbye and leaves.

Three days pass following Mr. Earnshaw’s departure. Catherine would ask her mother when her father would be home, and Mrs. Earnshaw hopes he will return on the third evening; she had even placed their meal on hold. By the evening, Mr. Earnshaw is not home yet, and the children get tired of running to the gate. As it grows dark, the children begged to stay up late, and at 11 o’clock, Mr. Earnshaw comes in. He sits down, groaning but laughing, and rants of his exhausting trip home.

Everyone gathers around and sees a dirty, dark-haired child around Catherine’s age. He looked around curiously and spoke in a language they couldn’t understand. Nelly is frightened, and Mrs. Earnshaw is wanting to throw the boy out of their house, as they already have children of their own to look after. Mr. Earnshaw, still fatigued, explains how he found the boy starving and homeless on the streets of Liverpool. He tried to find its owners, but nobody knows who he was or who he belonged to. His time in Liverpool was limited, and decided to take the child back home with him.

Mr. Earnshaw asks Nelly to wash the boy, dress him in clean clothes and let him sleep with the children. Hindley and Catherine are disappointed when they learned that they did not receive the gifts their father has promised them, and they refused to share their rooms with the child. Nelly leaves him on the stairs landing, hoping he might be gone tomorrow, but he goes to Mr. Earnshaw’s room and he finds him there. Nelly was made to confess, and as punishment, Mr. Earnshaw makes her leave the house. When she returns a few days later, she discovers that they have christened the gipsy child and is named Heathcliff, after a deceased infant son. Catherine has grown fond of him, while Hindley hates him and Nelly did, too, as well as Mrs. Earnshaw.

Heathcliff was known as a quiet, sulky child, who took his beatings by Hindley without crying and whenever Nelly pinched him, he would make it look like an accident. Mr. Earnshaw would be enraged when he sees that Heathcliff is being mistreated, and he chose him as his favourite child over Catherine. After Mrs. Earnshaw’s death less than two years later, Hindley became more cruel to Heathcliff due to his jealousy of his father being more affectionate to Heathcliff than his other son. Nelly shows sympathy for Heathcliff for a while, and when the children, including Heathcliff, contracted scarlet fever, Nelly has to tend them. Heathcliff was severely ill and Nelly is constantly looking after him. While Catherine and Hindley bothered her during their treatment, Heathcliff was quiet and never complained.

Heatchliff recovers, and the doctor praises Nelly for nursing Heathcliff and the children back to health. For that moment on, Nelly lightens up on Heathcliff; although she couldn’t truly dote on him, and Hindley is on his own to oppose his foster brother. She wonders about her master’s affection towards his adopted child, but in addition, the boy hardly shows any gratitude. One time, Mr. Earnshaw bought two young horses for his sons, and when Heathcliff’s falls lame, he fights with Hindley over the handsome one. Nelly steps in to stop the fight, and if she didn’t, Heathcliff would have run off to tell Mr. Earnshaw. Hindley ends up giving up his horse, insulting and threatening him, and then he knocks Heathcliff under his feet just as he took the horse. Nelly is surprised to see how calmly Heathcliff took it. He exchanges saddles and sits down on the hay to overcome the painful blow he received. Nelly persuades him that he got his bruises from the horse, but Heathcliff doesn’t look concerned. Nelly thinks him vindictive at first but would later be deceived.

Several years later, Mr. Earnshaw’s health begins to fail. He becomes more irritable as he spends most of his time alone and nobody in the household bothers him. He still adores Heathcliff and would get more angry whenever Hindley still bullies Heathcliff. His curate advises him to send his son to college and he agrees with that idea. With Hindley gone, Nelly hopes there will be some peace at home, although she is hurt at the fact of her master having to agree to the good deed. Mr. Earnshaw grows more weaker and Joseph offers him comfort.

Catherine is constantly causing mischief everyday and is now more fond of Heathcliff. Nelly and the servants try to keep them separate, yet she still acts bossy to everyone else. She would tease her ailing, irritated father, and he would scold her for her wild behaviour, even recalling she is worse than her brother. Whenever Catherine cried after being punished, Nelly tried to console her for her faults, but her mistress just laughs.

One stormy night in October, Nelly was knitting while Mr. Earnshaw sat by the fireplace, and Catherine and Heathcliff snuggled themselves with their father. Mr. Earnshaw asks Catherine if she would be a good daughter, and she kisses him and sings him to sleep. Nelly then tells her to be quiet and everyone is silent for half an hour while Joseph finishes his Bible and would say his prayers to the master before going to bed. He attempts to wake him and the master doesn’t move. Joseph shines his light on him and tells the children to go to bed. Catherine wants to say goodnight to her father, but sees that Mr. Earnshaw is dead.

Nelly joins Catherine and Heathcliff as they wept, until Joseph tells her to put on her cloak and go to the nearby village of Gimmerton to fetch the doctor and parson. Nelly travels through the storm and only brings back the doctor, as the parson would come in the morning. Nelly goes to the children’s bedroom to find their door ajar, and finds Heathcliff and Catherine were still awake after midnight. She sees how calm they are and they talked about Heaven being a beautiful place; leaving her sobbing as she listens.

Hindley returns home for his father’s funeral, and he brings home his new wife, Frances, who nobody knows who she was or where she had came from. She took some delight in her new home, though Nelly finds her to be a silly woman. Nelly had to accompany her to one of the rooms instead of tending the children. Frances sat down shivering and turns hysterical. Nelly asks what is wrong with her, and that she is afraid of death. Hindley has changed into a polished gentleman during his 3-year absence and after he arrived at Wuthering Heights, he makes Joseph and Nelly move to the back kitchen as he takes control of the house. Frances fails to bond with her sister-in-law Catherine and Hindley becomes more strict in the household as his wife becomes more irritated. Frances’ resentment to Heathcliff makes Hindley take out his hatred on him by cutting off his education and make him work as one of the servants.

Despite his hard labour, Heathcliff seeks comfort with Catherine as they would spend their time together in the fields and behave like savages. Hindley mostly ignores Heathcliff and Catherine, even not seeing them after they went to church on Sunday’s. Joseph and the curate would scold him for his reckless supervision of the young couple, and they convince him to flog Heathcliff and Catherine as punishment without dinner.

Heathcliff and Catherine would run outside in the morning and stay outside all day. They would laugh at the punishments given to them by the curate and Joseph, until they forget the time they were together. The couple then began plotting a plan of revenge, which leaves Nelly concerned of their behaviour.

One Sunday night, Heathcliff and Catherine were sent away from the sitting room for being disruptive. Nelly calls them for supper but couldn’t find them anywhere. Nelly and the others searched the house, yard and stables, but they were gone. Hindley orders all the doors to be locked and not let the couple in. After everyone went to bed, Nelly stays awake, anxious to sleep, and opens her window. She listens through the rain for the missing couple, determined to let them in despite Hindley’s orders. She sees someone coming up the road with a glowing lantern and puts on her shawl to warn the person to prevent waking Hindley from knocking.

It was Heathcliff and Nelly is startled to see him without Catherine. Nelly asks her where she is, and Heathcliff replies she is at Thrushcross Grange but the residents there won’t let him stay there. Nelly wonders why he and Catherine were at the Grange. Heathcliff says he needs to change his wet clothes first and then tell her what has happened. Nelly reminds him to be careful from waking up the master. He quickly undresses as Nelly prepares to put out the candle.

Heathcliff explains that he and Catherine left the wash house to seek freedom and go to Thrushcross Grange, as they decided to see how the Linton family there spends their Sunday evenings. He wonders if the Linton children’s parents spend their average evening time such as eating, singing, sitting by the fire or listening to their servant deliver a sermon. Nelly assures that the Linton children are well-behaved and don’t deserve strict religious treatment. Heathcliff continues that he and Catherine raced from the Heights to the Grange. Catherine trails behind barefoot and Heathcliff says to Nelly she needs to find her shoes in the bog tomorrow morning. They sneaked through a broken hedge, went up the path and stood on a flower pot underneath the drawing room window. The room was brightened with the shutters still open and the curtains half closed. They were able to stand on some rocks and peek through the window while clinging to the ledge.

Inside the crimson-covered drawing room, Mr. and Mrs. Linton were absent, but only their children Edgar and Isabella. Isabella was screaming at the far end of the room while Edgar was crying at the hearth and a little dog was barking on a table between them. The Linton children fought over the dog with Heathcliff and Catherine laughing at them. Nelly interrupts him on how Catherine got separated. Heathcliff explains further that he and Catherine laughed until the Linton’s spotted them and ran off. A moment later they called for their parents. Heathcliff and Catherine made noises to scare them, until they hear the door being unlocked and decided they must flee. Heathcliff held Catherine’s hand as they tried to run until she fell down. She begs Heathcliff to run away as the Linton’s guard dog bites her ankle. Heathcliff attempts to use a stone to pry open the dog’s jaws to free her, and a servant comes out with a lantern to see the dog Skulker with Catherine. Skulker runs off and the servant picks up Catherine, taking her inside. Heathcliff follows him in where he hears the servant telling his master how the dog caught Catherine. The servant sees Heathcliff and assumes he is a thief. Heathcliff is brought in by Mr. Linton and the family are shocked at his filthy appearance, with Isabella demanding her father to put him in the cellar and wonders if he is the son of a fortune teller.

While Heathcliff is being examined, Catherine laughs as she listens and Edgar recognizes her at church. He sees that her foot is bleeding from being bitten. Mrs. Linton finds it nonsense of the girl roaming around with a gipsy boy while she and her family were in mourning. Mr. Linton blames Hindley for his carelessness and remembers Heathcliff as the gipsy orphan his late neighbour found at Liverpool. Mrs. Linton insults Heathcliff and that he is unfit to be in their household. She is also shocked that her children are being exposed to his native language.

Heathcliff refused to leave without Catherine but the servant dragged him out to the garden and gives him a lantern. He assures him to inform his master of his behaviour and goes back inside. Heathcliff peeked through the window to see Catherine seated on the sofa and Mrs. Linton taking off a maid's grey cloak. The maid then brought in a basin of warm water and washed Catherine's feet. Mrs. Linton gave Catherine a hot drink and Isabella offered her some cakes as Edgar watched from a distance. Catherine's hair was then dried and combed and put on her a pair of slippers. She was wheeled to the fire and before Heathcliff leaves, he sees how much Catherine loves the attention from the Linton's.

Nelly puts out the candle and covers up Heathcliff, warning him of the situation Hindley will have to deal with. The next day, Mr. Linton comes over to lecture the master for his negligence. Instead of beating Heathcliff, Hindley forbids him from talking to Catherine and Frances was to look after her sister-in-law in her care without force.

5 weeks later, Catherine returns as a proper, noble woman. A Christmas party is arranged and the Linton's are invited. Heathcliff is not invited but the night before, Nelly saw how much kindness he had received from the late Mr. Earnshaw and now he is alone and neglected. She takes pity on him and offers to help him clean and dress up properly to impress Catherine. He refuses at first, but after coming back from the moors the next day, he changes his mind and allows Nelly to dress him. She reminds him to handle his behaviour when he is around Edgar, since he is weaker than Heathcliff.

During the party, however, after Edgar criticizes Heathcliff's appearance, the Gipsy boy throws applesauce at his opposer's face before he is locked away in the attic. After dinner, Nelly releases him from his room and gives him some food, as he hasn't eaten for 2 days and he tells her he is planning revenge on Hindley. She urges him to learn how to forgive and revenge isn't necessary, but it won't let him change his mind.

In the summary of 1778, Frances gives birth to a boy named Hareton. Nelly was out on the fields when she was informed by a servant about the child's birth but his mother's health is failing and is on the brink of death. She was told to nurse the infant and raise him herself. After Frances died a week later, Nelly looks after Hareton, while Hindley starts drinking heavily and takes his rage out on the servants and inhabitants. Meanwhile, Catherine stays in touch with the Linton's and Heathcliff is disapproved of his soulmate being closer to their neighbours.

Some time later, Nelly is told by Hindley to chaperone Catherine, who is with Edgar after he comes over. Catherine demands her to leave, and when Nelly refuses, she is pinched by her and shakes Hareton who accompanies his caregiver wherever she goes. She eventually leaves the couple alone but when she returns later that night to warn them that Hindley is coming home drunk, she senses that Catherine and Edgar have made their love confessions.

Nelly hides Hareton in the kitchen cupboard and unloads the ammo from Hindley's gun he would use while drunk. Her master appears and she is threatened with a knife by him, then he takes his son and drops him over the banister, but Heathcliff arrives and saves Hareton's life. She is later in the kitchen rocking Hareton on her knee and humming to him, when Catherine, hearing her from her room, comes in and asks her if she is alone, before she enters and goes by the hearth, looking anxious. Nelly continues her song when Catherine interrupts her by asking where is Heathcliff. Nelly replies he is working in the stable. There is a long pause when Nelly notices Catherine shedding a tear and wonders if she regrets having her outburst earlier. Catherine then cries that she is miserable, and Nelly remarks that she is difficult to control. Catherine kneels down, looks up at Nelly and begs her to keep a secret. Nelly asks her if it is worth it.

Catherine says she must as it worries her and she needs to expose it. She reveals Edgar had just proposed marriage to her, and has responded to his request. Before she reveals if she accepted or rejected him, she asks Nelly which one it could have been. Nelly doesn’t know what to tell her, but hints that due to her tantrum that she threw and Edgar foolishly proposing her afterward, she had turned him down. Not wanting to talk anymore, Catherine impatiently rises up and confirms she accepted him. Nelly is surprised at her choice but asks her why she still wants to talk about it, since she is unable to draw back now. Catherine angrily wants her how she had chosen either choice. Nelly expresses that she had so much to consider before she could properly accept the proposal. She asks her if she really does love Edgar. Catherine says she does.

Nelly began asking her a series of questions, such as exactly why Catherine loves Edgar. Catherine replies that he is handsome, young and cheerful and enjoyed being with him. She also says that he is wealthy, loves her too, and will be well-off once she marries him. Nelly detests her replies and then asks her how does she love him. Catherine says she loves everything Edgar is surrounded by as well as the way he looks, speaks and does. Nelly wants to know why, but Catherine berates her for making a joke of it and turns toward the fireplace. Nelly says she is being serious and tells Catherine that while she loves Edgar for those reasons, but didn’t give a proper answer to the last question. Catherine says she should be compassionate to him but would hate him if he was ugly and foolish. Nelly reminds her that there are other young men more handsome and rich than Edgar and what is making it difficult from loving any of them. Catherine claims none of them are like Edgar, and Nelly says there are still some other interesting men, as Edgar won’t always be handsome, young and rich. Catherine still thinks Edgar is what he is, and wants Nelly to be more reasonable.

Nelly eventually gives in and would allow Catherine to marry Edgar. Catherine doesn’t want her permission as she will marry him but Nelly still hasn’t told her if she is right. Nelly agrees she is right and would like to know what’s making her unhappy. She explains that Hindley would be pleased of her and Mr. and Mrs. Linton would be glad to have her. She would be able to live in an upper-class home and she and Edgar love each other, but is curious what is standing in her way.

Catherine strikes herself on her forehead and breast, claiming she isn’t convinced from her soul and heart. Nelly is confused what she meant, and Catherine says it is her secret. If Nelly won’t laugh at her, she will talk about it. Even though she can’t say it clearly, she still want to tell her how she feels. She sits down, looking miserable and trembling; after a few minutes she asks Nelly if she has strange dreams. She replies she does now and then. Catherine explains that she had dreams that stayed with her forever and changed her thoughts through her mind. This dream she is ready to reveal but reminds Nelly not to laugh. Nelly tells her to be more cheerful like Hareton when he’s sleeping. Catherine remarks on his father cursing when he’s alone, and how he used to be young and innocent like his son. She now wants to talk about her dream and won’t be cheerful afterwards.

Nelly repeatedly says she won’t hear it, since she is superstitious about dreams and Catherine’s misery made her fear something terrible will happen; but Catherine didn’t do anything in her confusion. Catherine then changes the subject and says she would be miserable if she is in heaven. Nelly tells her she won’t go there as all sinners would be in heaven. Catherine claims she dreamed of it once, and Nelly interrupts her by saying she won’t listen to her dreams and she’ll go to bed. She prepares to leave her chair but Catherine laughs and puts her back on her seat.

Catherine replies that she was just explaining that heaven wasn’t her home and she heartbreakingly cried to be brought back to earth. The infuriated angels brought her back to the moors at Wuthering Heights, where she woke up weeping with joy, and is willing to reveal a secret she has and another one. She is willing to marry Edgar than being in heaven; and due to Heathcliff’s low social status by Hindley’s mistreatment, Catherine knew she would be degraded if she married him. But she still loves Heathcliff so much, that Catherine claims they share the same souls, and Edgar’s is different from theirs.

Afterwards, Nelly felt Heathcliff’s presence, and hearing a slight movement, she turns her head to see Heathcliff get up from a bench and run out. Unknown to her and Catherine, Heathcliff had been listening to their conversation and left when Catherine said marrying him would degrade her. She prevents Catherine from discovering Heathcliff’s presence and departure, and tells her it is just Joseph coming up the road and Heathcliff will follow him shortly. She isn’t sure if he was at the door the exact moment. Catherine doesn’t think Joseph overheard their conversation. She asks Nelly to give Hareton to her while she prepares dinner and then eat with her, while she mocks Heathcliff’s misunderstanding of the wealthy.

Nelly reminds Catherine that if she chooses Heathcliff, he would be miserable with her. If she chooses Edgar, Heathcliff would lose her and be alone. She questions her on how she would deal the situation of her being separated from Heathcliff, but Catherine declares that nothing will keep her and Heathcliff apart for as long as she lives. In actuality, she says that Heathcliff will still mean everything to her; and while Edgar may not get along with him, he will understand Catherine’s true feelings of Heathcliff. Edgar may not get along with, but he will understand Catherine’s true feelings towards Heathcliff. She thinks that if marries Heathcliff, they would both be poor; but if she marries Edgar, she could help Heathcliff leave behind his impoverished lifestyle. Nelly is concerned if Catherine is able to do that with her husband’s money, and thinks it is the worst thing she could do as Edgar’s wife.

Catherine retorts that it will be the best thing she’ll ever do, as it’s satisfy her and Edgar for his sake and her feelings for him. She remarks that she shared Heathcliff’s troubles, and if everything dies and he lives, she would live, too; but if everything remains and Heathcliff dies, the universe would turn stranger. Her relationship with Edgar will change overtime, while her love with Heathcliff would be eternal like the rocks underneath. She then declares that she is Heathcliff; not as her pleasure, but as her own being. She tells Nelly not to discuss her separation from Heathcliff again, then she paused and hid her face in Nelly’s gown. Nelly jerks it forcibly away from her, as she is fed up with her foolishness.

Nelly says to Catherine that she is too foolish to be a married woman and she won’t accept any of her secrets or keep them. When Catherine asks her if she would still keep her secret, Nelly refuses. Catherine was about to insist when Joseph enters and ends the conversation. Catherine looks after Hareton at her corner seat while Nelly prepares dinner. Afterwards, she and another servant argue who should bring some to Hindley; and the food went cold when they settled on it. They agreed that they will let him ask for it, as they feared to deliver the food in his presence. Joseph asks about Heathcliff’s whereabouts, and Nelly would go call him, assuming he’s in the barn.

She went and called for him, but there wasn’t any answer. She whispers to Catherine how Heathcliff heard most of their conversation and fled from the kitchen when she talked about brother’s conduct of him. Catherine sits up frightened, flings Hareton onto the settle, and runs to find Heathcliff, without considered why she was so anxious or how her conversation affected him. After Catherine is absent for a while, Joseph suggests they shouldn’t wait anymore, guessing that they were staying away from him making his blessing. He also added that he would have made his special prayers and a grace at supper, if only had Catherine interrupted him by running away and bringing Heathcliff back.

Nelly insisted she still and wants to talk to Heathcliff before going to bed. She says the gate is still open and he should be out there, as he didn’t reply to her calls; even if she yelled as loud as she could. Joseph protested at first, and then put on his hat and walked out. Meanwhile, Catherine paces around the floor, wondering where Heathcliff is, what she had said during her talk or he was bothered by her tantrum earlier, and hopes he would turn up. Nelly chastises her of her worries, assuming Heathcliff went out for an evening walk on the moors or wasn’t in a mood to reply to Nelly in the hay-loft. She searches again, but again couldn’t find him. Joseph also couldn’t find Heathcliff, and complained that Heathcliff has gotten worse; since he allegedly left the gate open and allowing Catherine’s horse to trod on the corn fields and Hindley complaining about it the next day. Catherine interrupts him if he has found Heathcliff yet and if he was doing as she told him to do. Joseph says he is more interested looking for the horse than Heathcliff, and won’t look for either of them on a dark night, even saying Heathcliff is not the kind of boy who would respond to his calls.

As it was a very dark evening in the summer and storm clouds appear, Nelly suggests they all sit down and wait; as the approaching rainstorm would surely let Heathcliff come home. Catherine won’t sit still, and searches the house again, from the gate and front door while agitated. She stayed at a side of the wall near the road, and despite the rain and thunder, Catherine called out and cried louder than Hareton. At around midnight, the storm rages over Wuthering Heights, with strong winds and thunder; with a tree nearby being split in half by either of them. A large tree branch fell across the roof, knocking down part of the east chimney stack, and sending down rocks and soot into the kitchen fireplace. Joseph gets onto his knees and beseeches to the Lord about Noah and Lot. Nelly thinks there is judgement among them, and in her mind, Jonah is Mr. Earnshaw; even shaking the handle of his room as if she’s sure he’s still alive, and an audible reply causes Joseph to yell about something might be drawn between saints like himself and sinners like his former master. The thunder soon passed after about 20 minutes.

Shortly afterwards, Catherine comes in drenched from standing outside in the rain and refusing to shelter herself. She sits down on the settle, and Nelly touches her shoulder, telling her it’s half past midnight and she must go to bed. It is now useless to wait for Heathcliff now as he may have gone to Gimmerton and would stay there right now. He thinks nobody would wait for him this late, and that Hindley would still be awake when he comes back. Joseph says he is not at Gimmerton but thinks he had sunk into the bog. Nelly begs Catherine to take off her wet clothes with Joseph preaching before Nelly goes to bed with Hareton. She hears Joseph read for a bit, then he descends up the ladder to his room in the attic and she then falls asleep.

Sometime later, Nelly goes downstairs to see Catherine still sitting by the fireplace as the sun lightens the room. Hindley gets up and asks Catherine why she is damp and miserable, and she replies she’s been wet and cold. Seeing that Hindley is sober, she tells him that Catherine was out in the rain last night, and sat at the hearth all night without going to bed. Hindley is curious what kept her up all night, and nobody mentions Heathcliff being missing for as long as they could hide it. Nelly replies about it, not knowing how Catherine would respond, but she says nothing. Nelly opens the latticed window and lets the morning scent come in. Catherine demands her to close the window and says she’s starving.

Hindley takes her wrist and notices she is not feeling well. He guesses this is why she wasn’t in bed and can’t have her sick here. He asks her why she was out in the rain. Joseph says she was out chasing after Heathcliff and Edgar, and tells Hindley to keep them out of the house. He claims Edgar comes sneaking around the property, and while Catherine is with Nelly in the kitchen, Edgar is close nearby; while Joseph considers it normal for Catherine to run out on the fields with Heathcliff after midnight, and turning to Nelly, he berates her for running back to the house the moment the master returned home.

Catherine snaps back and tells Hindley she saw Edgar yesterday before she told him to leave, knowing Hindley would not appreciate having him in the house during his drunken state. Hindley accuses her of lying, but instead of talking about Edgar, he asks her if she was with Heathcliff last night, and demands her to tell the truth. She shouldn’t be afraid of harming him, but since Hindley hates Heathcliff, that the gipsy’s time with him nearly drove him to kill him. Instead, he plans on sending him away this morning and wants everyone to be quick to notice. Catherine denies being with Heathcliff and should Hindley make him leave the house, she will go with him. But tells Hindley he will not do it now as he is presumably gone and cries uncontrollably, unable to speak.

Hindley lashes out at her and orders her to go to her room now. Nelly makes Catherine obey her brother, and when she saw the girl in her room, she thinks she is going mad and begs Joseph to go fetch the doctor. After the doctor Mr. Kenneth examines her, he diagnoses her as having a serious fever. After bleeding her, Mr. Kenneth tells Nelly to feed Catherine only whey and gruel, as well as making sure she doesn’t jump down the stairs or out of the window before he leaves.

Nelly tries to look after Catherine, while Joseph and Hindley hardly helped her, while Catherine manages to battle her illness. Mrs. Linton visited Wuthering Heights several times, to make sure everything was alright and reprimanding Nelly and the inhabitants. As Catherine recovers, Mrs. Linton insists she lets her stay at Thrushcross Grange, and everyone is grateful for her help. But Mr and Mrs. Linton ended up contracting the fever and both died within a few days.

Catherine returns home more passionate and stubborn than she was before. Nobody has heard of Heathcliff since the stormy night he disappeared; until one day Catherine provokes her to let her take the blame for Heathcliff’s disappearance. For several months, Catherine stops talking to Nelly, except letting her be her servant. Joseph starts lecturing her as she if she still a young girl, although she considers herself to be treated with respect. The doctor says she should just behave the way she is, and is impossible for anyone to stand up to her. She kept her distance from her brother and the household, while she was tutored by Mr. Kenneth. When she showed signs of having an angry outburst, Hindley allows her to throw her fits and doesn’t get mad at her for it.

Hindley wishes that Catherine would bring honour to the family by befriending the Linton’s, just as long as Catherine mistreats anyone and leaving Edgar infatuated. 3 years later, Catherine and Edgar were married at the Gimmerton Chapel.

Thrushcross Grange
After Catherine and Edgar’s wedding, Nelly is persuaded to move to Thrushcross Grange with the newlyweds and accompany her there. Hareton, nearly 5 years old, was learning his letters by Nelly. She refused to leave him at first, and Catherine complains to Edgar and Hindley. Nelly is given some money, and Hindley tells her to pack up and leave, as he refuses to have any women in his house, and Hareton would be tutored by a curate. Nelly tells him he got rid of some decent people only to have himself ruined for it. Nelly kisses Hareton goodbye and leaves him in the misery of his father.

After arriving at Thrushcross Grange, Catherine behaves more better and is more fond of her husband. In addition, Isabella offers her affection and both she and her brother paid close attention to Catherine. Edgar was afraid not to bother his wife, even if he kept this secretive from her. But whenever Nelly utters sharply or or a servant turns silly by Catherine’s orders, he would reprimand Nelly for being impudent, and she learns not to be upset from her master.

For 6 months, everything was normal. Once and a while, Catherine felt depressed, but she and Edgar had a happy marriage. But one September night, Nelly was coming in from the garden with a basket of apples she was gathering, when she placed the basket on the steps by the kitchen and sat down to to rest gazing at the moon and her back to the entrance. She then heard someone say her name, and was a deep, foreign voice that sounded familiar to Nelly. She turned around to see who had spoke, where she sees something stirring at the porch before a tall man with dark hair, clothes and face came closer. He held the latch as if he would open it. Nelly thought it is Mr. Earnshaw, but his voice didn’t sound like him.

The man said he has been waiting there for an hour, as Nelly continues to stares at him. He didn’t dare to enter and insist he isn’t a stranger. The moonlight ray fell on his face, and Nelly recognizes Heathcliff’s face and surprised he returned. Heathcliff replies he is and looks up at the windows, asking if anyone is home and where Catherine is. He tells her to go and tell her mistress someone from Gimmerton wants to see her. Nelly claims on how would Catherine react if she saw him again and she can’t understand it. She asks Heathcliff is he was a soldier, but he impatiently tells her to deliver his message to Catherine.

Heathcliff lifts the latch and Nelly goes inside and makes her way to the parlour where Mr. and Mrs Linton are. She isn’t sure if she should proceed but then makes an excuse to ask the couple to light the candles. They were sitting together comfortably, and Nelly left them at first but a sense of her foolishness let her change her mind. She goes inside and mutters to Catherine that someone from Gimmerton wants to see her. Catherine asks what does he want but Nelly didn’t ask him. Catherine tells her to close the curtains and bring some tea, and will be right back shortly.

Catherine leaves the room and Edgar asks who is the man seeing his wife, and Nelly reveals it is Heathcliff. Edgar is shocked and asks Nelly why didn’t she inform Catherine it was him. Nelly reminds him not to call Heathcliff names as it would upset Catherine. She was already heartbroken when Heathcliff ran away, and thinks his return would make her overjoyed. Edgar goes toward the window overlooking the courtyard, unfastens it and looks out. Nelly assumes the couple are below, and Edgar calls his wife to bring the guest in. Nelly hears the click of the latch and Catherine runs up, breathless and excited. She embraces Edgar tightly and tells him Heathcliff has returned. Edgar says there is no need to get too excited.

Catherine replies that Edgar may not like Heathcliff, but for her sake, they should be friends now. She asks if she invite Heathcliff inside and Edgar, annoyed, asks if it has to be in the parkour and suggests he go into the kitchen instead. Catherine looked at him, and laughed while angry at him. Afterwards, Catherine refuses to go in the kitchen and orders Nelly to arrange separate tables; one for Edgar and Isabella to sit at and the other for Catherine and Heathcliff; she asks Nelly if she would be fine with that and she’ll go to greet her guest.

Catherine gets up to go but Edgar stops her. He tells Nelly to go get Heathcliff and reminds his wife to be on her best behaviour when Heathcliff comes in. Nelly leaves and finds Heathcliff under the porch, eagerly waiting to be invited in. Nelly guides him into the house and to the Linton’s. Catherine ran toward Heathcliff upon seeing him, took his hands and led him to Edgar, where she placed her husbands on her former lover’s. With his appearance fully revealed in the candlelight, Nelly is amazed to see how much Heathcliff has changed; he has become tall, strong and well-built man, compared to her master who is slim and still young. Nelly assumes by Heathcliff’s posture that he could have been in the army, and his appearance looked and more intelligent, showing no signs of degradation. Despite his rough-looking appearance, Heathcliff had a graceful attitude.

Edgar was speechless for a minute on how to address Heathcliff, and his guest looked at him coolly until Edgar asks him to sit down while Catherine would have him offer his friendly reception and would be gratified when anything happens that would please her. Heathcliff says he would stay for an hour or two. He sits opposite to Catherine and she kept her gaze onto Heathcliff, fearing he would disappear if she removes her gaze. Heathcliff only made a few glances at her, as they were too absorbed in their joy to suffer embarrassment. Catherine then gets up, seizes Heathcliff’s hands and laughs; saying that tomorrow would be a dream as she cannot believe she has seen, spoke and touched Heathcliff again. She tells him he doesn’t deserve a welcome for being absent for 3 years and never thought of her.

Heathcliff says he has heard about Catherine’s marriage for a while, and when he was waiting in the courtyard, he came up with a plan. He would see one glimpse of her, then he will go and take his revenge on Hindley, and then commit suicide. Heathcliff declares that Catherine will not drive him off again, and asked her if she really did felt sorry for him. He had a difficult time since he last heard of her, and hopes she would forgive him; adding he had struggled for her. Edgar interrupts by calling Catherine over to the table for tea, while Heathcliff would go out and stay wherever he is. Isabella comes in by the summoning bell, and as the household stay for dinner, Nelly leaves the room. The meal lasted for only 10 minutes, as Catherine and Edgar could barely eat or drink.

Heathcliff prepares to leave, and Nelly asks him if he has been to Gimmerton. Heathcliff replies he is going to Wuthering Heights, as Mr. Earnshaw has invited him there when he called this morning. Nelly is astonished that Hindley had invited Heathcliff and he had called on him. She ponders about what he said after he leaves, wondering if he is turning into a hypocrite and returned to the country to cause mischief. She muses, and had a feeling in her that he should stay away.

In the middle of the night, Nelly was awakened by Catherine running into her bedroom. She sits on her bedside and pulls at her hair to rouse her. Catherine apologizes that she cannot rest, and wants someone to keep her company. She claims Edgar is sulky, as he only says silly, pettish things.