Chapter 8 Summary

That summer, Hareton Earnshaw, Hindley's son, is born. Hindley's wife is stricken with consumption and dies when Hareton is still a baby. It is Nelly's responsibility to raise him. Catherine is fifteen. She is very beautiful but selfish and Nelly does not like her. Having been denied an education for so long Heathcliff had fallen behind in his studies compared to Catherine. He is reduced to manual labor and no longer believes in himself. Catherine and he are still friends but he shrinks away from her touch.

Edgar has started calling on Catherine and Nelly and is ordered by Hindley to stay in the room on such visits. Catherine does not like this and shows her true character to Edgar by pinching and verbally abusing Nelly in front of him. Edgar tells Catherine he will leave but he turns around and continues his...