“Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad?
And if not, is he a devil?”
Dear Ellen, it begins, —
I came last night to Wuthering Heights,
and heard, for the first time, that Catherine has been, and is yet, very ill.
I must not write to her, I suppose,
and my brother is either too angry or too distressed to answer what I sent him.
Still, I must write to somebody, and the only choice left me is you.
Inform Edgar that I’d give the world to see his face again —
that my heart returned to Thrushcross Grange in twenty-four hours after I left it,
and is there at this moment, full of warm feelings for him, and Catherine!
I can’t follow it though — (these words are underlined) —
they need not expect me, and they may draw what conclusions they please;
taking care, however, to lay nothing at the door of my weak will or deficient affection.
The remainder of the letter is for yourself alone.
I want to ask you two questions: the first is, —
How did you contrive to preserve the common sympathies of human nature when you resided here?
I cannot recognise any sentiment which those around share with me.
The second question I have great interest in; it is this —
Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad?
And if not, is he a devil?
I sha’n’t tell my reasons for making this inquiry;
but I beseech you to explain, if you can, what I have married:
that is, when you call to see me; and you must call, Ellen, very soon.
Don’t write, but come, and bring me something from Edgar.
References
Wuthering Heights, at Wikipedia
Wuthering Heights (full text), at Project Gutenberg