## Characters
**Ellen Dean (Nelly)** - Narrator and housekeeper at Thrushcross Grange
- Role: Present in scene, narrating
- Physical details: Eyes were weak after three weeks of illness, able to move about the house after being bedridden
- Actions: Recovers from illness, asks Catherine to read to her, discovers Catherine's secret visits, tells Mr. Edgar about them
- Relationships: Servant/caretaker to Catherine and Mr. Edgar
**Catherine Linton** - Young mistress of Thrushcross Grange
- Role: Present in scene, main focus
- Physical details: Wears snowy shoes, hat, and mantle when riding; described as having a "peevish, heavy look" when tired
- Personality: Deceptive but ultimately honest when confronted, compassionate toward Linton, contemptuous toward Hareton
- Actions: Secretly visits Wuthering Heights nightly for three weeks, rides her pony Minny, plays games with Linton, confronts Hareton about his reading
- Relationships: Daughter of Mr. Edgar Linton, cousin to both Linton Heathcliff and Hareton Earnshaw
**Mr. Edgar Linton** - Master of Thrushcross Grange
- Role: Mentioned throughout, appears briefly at end
- Actions: Goes to bed early, becomes "alarmed and distressed" upon learning of Catherine's visits, forbids future visits to Wuthering Heights
- Relationships: Catherine's father, brother-in-law to Heathcliff
**Linton Heathcliff** - Sickly son of Heathcliff
- Role: Present in Catherine's recounted visits
- Physical details: Sits in arm-chair, becomes "white and trembling," has "thin face and large eyes," suffers violent coughing fits with blood, described as "not pretty" when angry
- Personality: Moody, self-pitying, manipulative, physically weak, prone to blaming others
- Actions: Enjoys Catherine's company, plays ball games, has violent outburst when locked out, blames Catherine for the fight with Hareton
- Relationships: Son of Heathcliff, cousin to Catherine and Hareton
**Hareton Earnshaw** - Degraded heir of Wuthering Heights
- Role: Present in Catherine's recounted visits
- Physical details: Described as having a "vulgar accent," capable of blushing (seen by moonlight)
- Personality: Eager to learn and please Catherine, becomes angry when mocked, violent when provoked
- Actions: Learns to read his own name, tries to impress Catherine, violently ejects Catherine and Linton from the main room, later apologizes
- Relationships: Degraded by Heathcliff, cousin to Catherine and Linton
**Heathcliff** - Master of Wuthering Heights
- Role: Mentioned, briefly present
- Actions: Avoids Catherine, returns the day after the violent incident, abuses Linton verbally, laughs when Catherine defends Linton
- Relationships: Father of Linton, enemy of the Lintons, degrader of Hareton
**Zillah** - Housekeeper at Wuthering Heights
- Role: Present in Catherine's recounted visits
- Personality: "Exceedingly good-natured," helpful and kind
- Actions: Provides clean room and refreshments, tends to Linton after his collapse, helps Catherine
- Relationships: Housekeeper serving Heathcliff
**Joseph** - Elderly servant at Wuthering Heights
- Role: Present in Catherine's recounted visits
- Physical details: "Bony hands," described as "odious"
- Personality: Malicious, mocking, supports Hareton against the others
- Actions: Attends prayer meetings, mocks Catherine and Linton, locks doors, makes cruel comments
- Relationships: Long-time servant, allied with Hareton
**Michael** - Groom at Thrushcross Grange
- Role: Mentioned as accomplice
- Personality: "Fond of reading," planning to marry soon
- Actions: Helps Catherine by saddling Minny and keeping her secret in exchange for books
- Relationships: Servant at the Grange, accomplice to Catherine
**Minny** - Catherine's pony
- Role: Catherine's means of transportation
- Physical details: Described as "a bonny beast" by Hareton
- Actions: Carries Catherine to and from Wuthering Heights nightly
## Timeline & Events
**Three weeks after Ellen's illness began**: Ellen recovers enough to leave her chamber and move about the house. She sits up in the evening and asks Catherine to read to her in the library after the master has gone to bed.
**That evening and two following evenings**: Catherine shows reluctance and fatigue while reading, eventually complaining of headaches and leaving early.
**Third evening**: Ellen discovers Catherine is missing from the house. She watches from Catherine's window and sees Catherine returning on horseback around the time she would normally be in her room. Catherine enters through the drawing-room casement window.
**Catherine's confession**: Reveals she has been visiting Wuthering Heights every day except three times before Ellen left her room and twice after, usually from half-past six to half-past eight in the evening.
**Catherine's recounted visits** (chronologically):
1. **First visit**: Made possible when Ellen stayed upstairs. Catherine got the key while Michael refastened the park door lock, negotiated with him for help.
2. **Second visit**: Linton in good spirits, Zillah provided hospitality, they talked and laughed, discussed their different visions of paradise, played ball games.
3. **Third visit**: Hareton demonstrates his reading ability, Catherine mocks him. Violence erupts when Hareton ejects Catherine and Linton from the main room. Linton has a violent coughing fit with blood. Catherine flees, is pursued by apologetic Hareton.
4. **Two days later**: Catherine returns to find Linton recovered but refusing to speak to her, blaming her for the incident.
5. **Following day**: Catherine considers not returning but ultimately does.
6. **Subsequent visits**: Mix of pleasant and troubled times. Heathcliff returns and avoids Catherine. On one Sunday, Catherine interrupts Heathcliff abusing Linton.
**The morning after Ellen's discovery**: Ellen tells Mr. Edgar the whole story. Catherine learns of the betrayal and that her visits must end. Mr. Edgar promises Linton may visit the Grange instead.
## Key Facts
- Ellen was bedridden for three weeks with an illness that weakened her eyes
- The library is where evening reading takes place after the master goes to bed
- Catherine's visits to Wuthering Heights occurred daily except for five missed days total
- Visit times were consistently half-past six to half-past eight in the evening
- The park has a door with a lock that Michael maintains
- Michael is planning to get married soon and enjoys reading
- Catherine gave Michael her own books rather than library books
- Wuthering Heights has a front entrance and a back entrance near the garden
- The house has an inscription above the front door
- Joseph attends prayer meetings
- Hareton goes hunting for pheasants in the Grange woods
- There's a small parlour and a great room with "smooth uncarpeted floor" at Wuthering Heights
- Old toys are stored in a cupboard: tops, hoops, battledores, shuttlecocks, and two balls marked "C." and "H."
- Zillah milks cows in a shed behind the barn
- Catherine's pony is named Minny
- The ground was covered with a sprinkling of snow during Ellen's observation
## Ages, Dates & Arithmetic
- Ellen was ill for three weeks before recovering enough to leave her chamber
- Catherine made visits "every day since you fell ill; except thrice before, and twice after you left your room" - indicating approximately 2-3 weeks of daily visits
- Catherine arrived at Heights by "half-past six" and stayed till "half-past eight" - two-hour visits
- "Once in a week perhaps" Catherine was happy during visits
- Joseph was identified as attending prayer meetings (regular religious schedule)
- References to "hot July day" and summer planning indicate these events occur before summer
- "About three times, I think, we have been merry and hopeful" out of all the visits
## Unexplained Changes
- Catherine's sudden skill at deception and night riding (no previous indication of these abilities)
- Hareton's literacy efforts (partial reading ability not previously established)
- Linton's variable health states (sometimes lively, sometimes violently ill)
## Plot Developments
**New threads introduced**:
- Catherine's secret relationship with Linton Heathcliff
- Hareton's attempts at self-improvement through literacy
- The dynamic between all three young cousins
- Ellen's role as informant vs. confidante
**Existing threads advanced**:
- The forbidden romance between Catherine and Linton develops despite family opposition
- Hareton's degradation is shown alongside his attempts to rise above it
- Heathcliff's continued control over Wuthering Heights residents
**Threads complicated**:
- Catherine's dual loyalty to Ellen and to Linton
- The violent confrontation between Hareton and Linton creates new tensions
- Mr. Edgar's intervention threatens to separate the young lovers
**Threads resolved**:
- Ellen's illness subplot concludes with her recovery
- The secret visits are discovered and forbidden
## Foreshadowing & Setups
- The contrast between Catherine's and Linton's visions of paradise ("He wanted all to lie in an ecstasy of peace; I wanted all to sparkle and dance in a glorious jubilee") suggests fundamental incompatibility
- Linton's violent coughing fit with blood indicates serious deteriorating health
- The marked balls "C." and "H." suggest the interconnected fates of Catherine and Heathcliff's line
- Hareton's literacy attempts and Catherine's cruel mockery set up future class conflict and potential redemption
- Heathcliff's deliberate avoidance of Catherine while allowing the visits suggests he's manipulating the situation
- Mr. Edgar's promise that Linton may visit the Grange provides a new venue for the relationship to develop
- Linton's self-awareness of his "distorted nature" and prediction that "He'll never let his friends be at ease, and he'll never be at ease himself" foreshadows future relationship troubles