Chapter XV — Wuthering Heights

Lockwood resumes Nelly's tale the evening she returned from the Heights, still carrying Heathcliff's letter in her pocket. She delays three days until Sunday, when Edgar and the family are at church. She sends the servant for oranges, leaves the doors open, and brings the letter to Catherine at the window while chapel bells and the beck in the valley sound softly outside.

Catherine looks changed, dreamy, doomed. She barely understands the note until Nelly says Heathcliff waits in the garden. He walks in, embraces her, and cannot bear to look at her face: both know she will die. They accuse each other of breaking hearts and killing, clutch hair and arms until his grip leaves four blue marks. Passion turns to pleading, then to another violent embrace.

Nelly hears the congregation returning from church. Heathcliff tries to leave; Catherine shrieks it is the last time. She faints. He places her in Edgar's arms and withdraws to the garden, vowing to stay under the larch trees tomorrow. Edgar forgets his hated rival in anxiety for his wife while Nelly begs Heathcliff to depart. The reunion proves that delivering the message at the last possible hour cannot restore what delay already cost.