## Characters
**Ellen (Nelly) Dean** - The housekeeper and narrator
- Present in scene, telling the story to Mr. Lockwood
- Has been caring for Catherine during her illness
- Carries Heathcliff's letter for three days before delivering it
- Acts as intermediary between Catherine and Heathcliff
- Sends the manservant away on a false errand to allow the meeting
- Watches the dramatic encounter with growing alarm
**Mr. Lockwood** - The tenant at Thrushcross Grange
- Mentioned as listener to Nelly's story
- Not present in the main events, only in the frame narrative
- Is recovering from illness and looking forward to spring
**Catherine Linton (née Earnshaw)** - Edgar's wife, formerly Catherine Earnshaw
- Present in scene, seriously ill and weakened
- Physical description: wearing a loose white dress with light shawl, thick long hair "partly removed at the beginning of her illness," now combed simply over temples and neck
- Appearance altered by illness - pale, with "dreamy and melancholy softness" in her eyes that "appeared always to gaze beyond, and far beyond"
- Described as having "unearthly beauty" but "stamped her as one doomed to decay"
- Sits by open window, unable to concentrate on reading
- Shows extreme emotional volatility during encounter with Heathcliff
- Physically weak - heart beats "visibly and audibly under this excess of agitation"
**Heathcliff** - Catherine's former lover
- Present in scene, enters through open doors
- Described as strong and desperate
- Shows extreme emotion - "eyes, wide and wet," "breast heaved convulsively"
- Kneels to embrace Catherine, grips her so hard he leaves "four distinct impressions left blue in the colourless skin"
- Face becomes "livid with emotion"
- Stays hidden in the garden after being forced to leave
**Edgar Linton** - Catherine's husband
- Arrives home from church service
- Described as "sauntering slowly up, probably enjoying the lovely afternoon"
- Finds Heathcliff with his unconscious wife
- Reacts with "astonishment and rage" but focuses on helping Catherine
- Temporarily "forgot her hated friend" in his concern for his wife
**The manservant** - Unnamed servant left to guard the house
- Sent away by Nelly on a false errand to fetch oranges from the village
- Returns from his errand during the afternoon
## Timeline & Events
**Three days before Sunday**: Nelly receives Heathcliff's letter but delays delivering it, waiting for Edgar to leave the house.
**Sunday**: The main events occur
- **Morning/Early afternoon**: Family goes to church, leaving Nelly and a manservant at the house
- Nelly sends the manservant to the village for oranges
- Nelly brings Heathcliff's letter to Catherine in her room
- Catherine struggles to understand the letter's meaning
- Heathcliff enters through the open doors, guided by the dog's reaction
- **Extended period** (described as "some five minutes"): Heathcliff and Catherine embrace and kiss
- **Lengthy emotional confrontation**: Catherine accuses Heathcliff and Edgar of breaking her heart; Heathcliff responds with equal passion
- **Late afternoon**: Nelly notices church service ending, servants returning, Edgar approaching
- Catherine faints during her desperate attempt to keep Heathcliff from leaving
- Edgar arrives, finds Heathcliff with unconscious Catherine
- Catherine is revived but remains bewildered
- Heathcliff retreats to the garden, promises to stay under the larch trees
## Key Facts
- The house doors are usually locked during church service, but Nelly left them "wide open" due to warm weather
- Catherine's hair was "partly removed at the beginning of her illness"
- A book lies on the window sill, placed there by Edgar to try to interest Catherine
- Gimmerton chapel bells can be heard from the house
- The sound of the beck (stream) in the valley is audible
- There are larch trees in the garden where Heathcliff plans to wait
- The house has front stairs where one could avoid meeting others
- There's a parlour where Edgar sits down after the confrontation
## Ages, Dates & Arithmetic
- Nelly carried the letter for exactly three days before delivering it on Sunday
- The church service duration is referenced (ending in late afternoon)
- Time reference: "half an hour" until Edgar's expected return
- Heathcliff pleads for "one hour" to stay, Catherine refuses "one minute"
- Heathcliff promises not to "stray five yards from your window"
## Unexplained Changes
- Catherine's dramatic physical deterioration since her last appearance is emphasized but the timeline of her illness remains vague
- Her mental state shows she can barely focus or understand written words
## Plot Developments
**New threads introduced**:
- Catherine's impending death is now clearly established
- The question of whether Catherine and Heathcliff will have further meetings
**Existing threads advanced**:
- Catherine's illness progresses to a clearly terminal stage
- The passionate connection between Catherine and Heathcliff is fully revealed
- Edgar's role as the "other man" is reinforced
**Threads complicated**:
- Heathcliff now knows Catherine is dying, adding desperation to their relationship
- Edgar has discovered Heathcliff in his house with his wife
- The household dynamics are further strained
## Foreshadowing & Setups
- Catherine's statement: "I shall be incomparably beyond and above you all" suggests her approaching death
- Her words about taking "my Heathcliff" with her: "he's in my soul"
- Heathcliff's promise to stay in the garden under the larch trees sets up future clandestine meetings
- Catherine's declaration "I shall die! I shall die!" when Heathcliff tries to leave
- The emphasis on Catherine being "fated, sure to die" and "doomed to decay"
- Heathcliff's desperate question: "What kind of living will it be when you—oh, God! would you like to live with your soul in the grave?"
The chapter establishes the tragic inevitability of Catherine's death while intensifying the passionate, destructive relationship between the lovers. The physical and emotional violence of their encounter, combined with Catherine's clearly terminal condition, creates a sense of impending catastrophe.