NovelGuide: Wuthering Heights: Novel Summary: Chapters 5-6

Chapters 5-6

Chapter 5: In a while Mr. Earnshaw grows ill. He does not like it when people speak ill of Heathcliff, and no one wants to bother him, so the people of the house humor Heathcliff, which makes him arrogant. Hindley is sent away to college. Cathy is always getting into mischief and trouble. She is too fond of Heathcliff, so the greatest punishment is to keep her away from him. Mr. Earnshaw dies, and Cathy and Heathcliff console each other, telling each other stories about Heaven.

Chapter 6: Hindley comes home to the funeral, and to everyone's surprise, brings a wife with him. Everyone thinks she is half silly, and as she has neither money nor name, they understand why Hindley has kept their marriage from his father. Soon Hindley's old hatred of Heathcliff is rekindled, and he does not let him have lessons with the curate anymore, but makes him work as a servant. Cathy and Heathcliff still spend much time together, running off to the moors when possible, not minding the punishment. One day they run out, and when it becomes dark, Hindley says to lock the doors so that they cannot return. Mrs. Dean, however, when she hears them returning, goes to let them in. It is just Heathcliff, and he says that Cathy is at Thrushcross Grange. They had been spying on the Linton's, and the family had set the dog after them. When they saw who it was, they got the dog off of Catherine, and took her inside. They called Heathcliff a frightful, wicked boy, and had him leave. The Linton's and their children Edgar and Isabella tended to Cathy with stupid admiration in their eyes. Hindley is furious when he finds out what happened.