Chapter XI — Wuthering Heights

On a frosty afternoon Nelly passes the guide-stone marked W.H. and G. Childhood floods back: she sees young Hindley scooping earth with a slate and cries, Poor Hindley! Superstition sends her to the Heights, where Hareton at the gate throws a stone, curses like a practiced adult, and names Heathcliff as his teacher while the curate is forbidden. Hareton calls his master Devil daddy and says Heathcliff pays him back for what Hindley gives. Nelly flees when Heathcliff appears on the door-stones and resolves to mount vigilant guard at the Grange even if it wakes a domestic storm.

Heathcliff soon embraces Isabella in the courtyard while Catherine feeds pigeons. Nelly calls him Judas; Catherine insists on silence and defends his right to visit. In the kitchen Heathcliff tells Catherine he knows she has treated him infernally and will make the most of Isabella's secret. He would cut his throat rather than marry her; Catherine tells him to quarrel with Edgar and deceive his sister as revenge on her. Edgar, hearing Nelly's report, calls two men from the hall and descends to end the argument.

Edgar forbids Heathcliff the house as moral poison and gives him three minutes to leave. Catherine locks the kitchen door and flings the key into the fire; Edgar trembles with humiliation. When Heathcliff mocks Edgar as a lamb, Edgar strikes him on the throat and leaves by the yard. Heathcliff smashes the lock with a poker and escapes. Catherine tells Nelly to say she is in danger of serious illness to frighten Edgar, and vows to break their hearts by breaking her own if she cannot keep Heathcliff.

Edgar demands she choose: give up Heathcliff hereafter or give up him. Catherine refuses, feigns frenzy with sprinkled water, then locks her chamber and will not eat for days. Nelly sees through the performance, refuses to frighten Edgar as instructed, and tells him Catherine resolved on exhibiting a fit of frenzy before he entered. Edgar warns Isabella that encouraging Heathcliff dissolves their bond; Isabella answers evasively while the house splits around an either-or no one will answer honestly.