Poor Hareton was squalling and kicking
in his father's arms with all his might, and redoubled his yells
when he carried him upstairs and lifted him over the banister. I cried
out that he would frighten the child into fits, and ran to rescue him.
As I reached them, Hindley leant forward on the rails to listen to
a noise below; almost forgetting what he had in his hands. 'Who
is that?' he asked, hearing some one approaching the stairs'-foot.
There
was scarcely time to experience a thrill of horror before we saw that
the little wretch was safe. Heathcliff arrived underneath just at the
critical moment; by a natural impulse he arrested his descent, and setting
him on his feet, looked up to discover the author of the accident.
Once or twice, after we had gone to
bed, I've happened to open my door again and seen her sitting
crying on the stairs'-top; and then I've shut myself in
quick, for fear of being moved to interfere.
Chapter 9