Chapter 9 Summary

Hindley's drinking has increased since his wife's death. Nelly grows accustomed to hiding Hareton and removing the bullets from Hindley's rifle on nights he has been drinking heavily. One night Hindley catches Nelly trying to hide Hareton in the kitchen cabinet and accuses her of trying to kill the young boy. He threatens her life and takes the child away. Hindley brings his son upstairs and Nelly follows. The three hear steps below; Nelly recognizes them as Heathcliff's. Hindley looses his grip on his son and he falls to the ground. Heathcliff catches him just in time. Nelly knows that Heathcliff realizes that by saving Hindley's son he had missed his opportunity at the greatest revenge. Nelly believed that if they had not already saw Heathcliff save the child he would have smashed it upon the ground himself.

Nelly took Hareton down to...