After they enjoyed their delicious picnic lunch, they refreshed themselves with water they retrieved right from the falls, and then whiled away the afternoon reading to one another.
Vincent loved the manner in which Catherine read, and it allowed him to indulge in one of his greatest pleasures, to admire Catherine’s exquisite beauty unobtrusively! He contentedly listened as she read:
My great miseries in this world have been Heathcliff's miseries,
and I watched and felt each from the beginning:
my great thought in living is himself.
If all else perished, and HE remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated,
the universe would turn to a mighty stranger:
I should not seem a part of it.
My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods:
time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees.
My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath:
a source of little visible delight, but necessary.
Nelly, I AM Heathcliff!
He's always, always in my mind:
not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.
So don't talk of our separation again: it is impracticable; and...'
Catherine stopped reading, as she thought of how much what she had just read, mirrored how she felt about Vincent. With the exception of the verse that sights, “little visible delight”, for looking at him, brought Catherine more delight and joy than she could measure.
And, it was true his nearness was now a necessity in her life. Catherine loved being near Vincent, and needed to be more often than ever lately, or the aching would overwhelm her, until they would be together again. As she looked up at Vincent now, she was overtaken by the intensity by which he was looking back at her. Without a word between them, they both knew it was true, they were as one now.
Vincent opened his arms for Catharine to sit next to him, and as she looked up into his astounding face, he kissed her hair. Catherine brought her arm up and held him tightly, resting her head upon his shoulder, she whispered, “I love you Vincent.”
Vincent sat in wonderment, before he spoke in a hushed passion filled tone, and told her, “My love for you abides, safely within my heart, where it shall remain for all of my existence, and ever still after, in the beyond.”
Catherine looked back up at him, and the look in her eyes said she felt the same.
As they sat silently for a time, Catherine then inquired, "Was that Keats, Vincent?”
Wondering what she meant, he asked, "Keats?"
Looking upward, Catherine clarified, "What you just said to me. Of how your love will forever be in your heart."
Now understanding Catherine's inference, Vincent replied, “No, those were not Keats words, but my own. You have inspired those words.”
Catherine smiled as she said, "How sweet."
Curiously, he then inquired, “You are fond of Keats?”
To which she gushed, “Oh yes, very much.”
Without a moments hesitation, Vincent looked at Catherine, and recited:
Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors
No, yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever, or else swoon to death.
Upon hearing Vincent recite his last verse, Catherine snuggled in his arms, and teasingly said, “You are not fighting fairly, showing off with a recitation such as that.”
To which Vincent raised a brow, and as he tipped his head, he confessed, “Perhaps I 'm not, and...perhaps it is wrong to use the words of another, to voice the longing I own of a very sweet desirous intent.”
It was then, Catherine whispered a confession of her own, admitting, “I do love though when you quote such beautiful passages to me.”
Together they sat, wanting never to move from their heavenly earthen place, but knew they better, because it was getting late, and Vincent still wanted to take Catherine, to the new expansion area, where her future chamber would be.
And so they gathered their things, and hiked onward.
As they approached the site, they were welcomed by cheerful greetings from everyone! They were all so happy to see Vincent was recovering so quickly from his accident.
Jacob approached them and said, “Vincent and Catherine! How wonderful to see you both. Come and see what we have managed to accomplish here today.”
Turning his head, as he hobbled on ahead of them, he asked, “How is the arm Vincent?”
Pleasantly he assured his Father, and said, “I am doing fine.”
Firmly, Jacob enforced, “Even still my boy, directly after we dine, I want to have a look at it for myself.”
Mouse, who was carrying a 7 foot long board on his shoulder, ran up to Vincent and Catherine, to tell them, “Vincent, you’re walking around. I am glad you are here! Come look!”
As Mouse turned around, with the 2 x 4, Vincent placed a hand on Catherine’s head forcing her to bend down, and in unison they ducked just in time, nearly getting hit by the board.
Witness to this "Almost" accident, Jacob yelled, “Mouse be more careful please!”
Ronald too saw what nearly happened, and commented, “Thank Heavens you are quicker on your feet than I was!" He then rubbed his head, and continued, "Unfortunate for me!”
Ronald was a tunnel resident, who was perhaps a year or two older than Vincent, and was really quite handsome. He had long black hair, and eyes so dark brown, they too looked black! He was of Sioux Indian descent, with an excellent build and stood nearly as tall as Vincent.
He had been an accountant about 10 years ago, and had quite a lucrative career back then. It was when he had been out of town on business, when he had lost his family in a house fire. Ronald blamed himself for not being there to save them. A tragedy he has never gotten over, and had altered his life forever.
It was through the Wong Family he was introduced to Jacob, and then moved to the tunnels. He had been their accountant for years, and they wanted to help him find purpose to his life again.
Ronald turned to Catherine and pleasantly said, “Hello Catherine.”
Catherine smiled at this nice man and replied, “Hello Ronald, nice to see you again.”
He then happily mentioned, “The news of you moving here is pretty exciting.”
In reply, she said, “I cannot wait.”
Jacob then stepped up, as he was most anxious to show them the changes, explaining the old chambers were still blocked off, but figured within the hour, they should be able to access them.
Vincent said this was great news about the progress, and then asked Jacob, “Please send for me when the entrance is cleared, I would like to be one of the first to inspect.”
Approvingly, Jacob nodded, “Of course my boy, of course.”
Jacob turned back to the excitement of the workmen, exalted by his growing dream, and watched on once more.
Catherine and Vincent stopped in at Rebecca’s chamber, to ask if Catherine could bunk with her. Happily, Rebecca replied, “Of course Catherine may stay! There is plenty of room here with the extra bed. You are most welcome!”
She thanked Rebecca, and told her how much she appreciated putting her up. Rebecca cheerfully offered, "Let's get you settled in before Supper.”
Vincent nodded in agreement, saying, “I'll be back at my chamber to await word on the expansion from Father. Perhaps I will lie down for a bit.”
Catherine turned and gave Vincent a loving hug, and told him, “All right, have a good rest.”
In reply, Vincent said, “I shall, and I will come for you both for supper.”
He then glanced back once more, before stepping out into the tunnels.
With a smile, Rebecca noted, "He sure is transparent! How he feels about you is for all the world to see."
Shyly Catherine replied, "I don't know what to say. I suppose I am the same."
She then changed the subject, and said, "Well I better gather my things from the Guest Chamber."
She then asked, "Does the reason seem silly to you why it is hard for me to stay there?"
To which Rebecca replied, "I understand. It hasn't been that long since your Dad died, and I know you must miss him very much."
With a nod, Catherine then thanked her new friend for understanding and her warm welcoming.
Rebecca said there was no need to thank her, and she was looking forward to getting to know her better, and added, "What better way than to be roomies. Let's go get your things."
And then privately, Rebecca thought of how privileged she felt, Vincent turned to her for helping in this way.
To be continued
Chapter Nine
Vincent loved the manner in which Catherine read, and it allowed him to indulge in one of his greatest pleasures, to admire Catherine’s exquisite beauty unobtrusively! He contentedly listened as she read:
My great miseries in this world have been Heathcliff's miseries,
and I watched and felt each from the beginning:
my great thought in living is himself.
If all else perished, and HE remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated,
the universe would turn to a mighty stranger:
I should not seem a part of it.
My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods:
time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees.
My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath:
a source of little visible delight, but necessary.
Nelly, I AM Heathcliff!
He's always, always in my mind:
not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.
So don't talk of our separation again: it is impracticable; and...'
Catherine stopped reading, as she thought of how much what she had just read, mirrored how she felt about Vincent. With the exception of the verse that sights, “little visible delight”, for looking at him, brought Catherine more delight and joy than she could measure.
And, it was true his nearness was now a necessity in her life. Catherine loved being near Vincent, and needed to be more often than ever lately, or the aching would overwhelm her, until they would be together again. As she looked up at Vincent now, she was overtaken by the intensity by which he was looking back at her. Without a word between them, they both knew it was true, they were as one now.
Vincent opened his arms for Catharine to sit next to him, and as she looked up into his astounding face, he kissed her hair. Catherine brought her arm up and held him tightly, resting her head upon his shoulder, she whispered, “I love you Vincent.”
Vincent sat in wonderment, before he spoke in a hushed passion filled tone, and told her, “My love for you abides, safely within my heart, where it shall remain for all of my existence, and ever still after, in the beyond.”
Catherine looked back up at him, and the look in her eyes said she felt the same.
As they sat silently for a time, Catherine then inquired, "Was that Keats, Vincent?”
Wondering what she meant, he asked, "Keats?"
Looking upward, Catherine clarified, "What you just said to me. Of how your love will forever be in your heart."
Now understanding Catherine's inference, Vincent replied, “No, those were not Keats words, but my own. You have inspired those words.”
Catherine smiled as she said, "How sweet."
Curiously, he then inquired, “You are fond of Keats?”
To which she gushed, “Oh yes, very much.”
Without a moments hesitation, Vincent looked at Catherine, and recited:
Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors
No, yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever, or else swoon to death.
Upon hearing Vincent recite his last verse, Catherine snuggled in his arms, and teasingly said, “You are not fighting fairly, showing off with a recitation such as that.”
To which Vincent raised a brow, and as he tipped his head, he confessed, “Perhaps I 'm not, and...perhaps it is wrong to use the words of another, to voice the longing I own of a very sweet desirous intent.”
It was then, Catherine whispered a confession of her own, admitting, “I do love though when you quote such beautiful passages to me.”
Together they sat, wanting never to move from their heavenly earthen place, but knew they better, because it was getting late, and Vincent still wanted to take Catherine, to the new expansion area, where her future chamber would be.
And so they gathered their things, and hiked onward.
As they approached the site, they were welcomed by cheerful greetings from everyone! They were all so happy to see Vincent was recovering so quickly from his accident.
Jacob approached them and said, “Vincent and Catherine! How wonderful to see you both. Come and see what we have managed to accomplish here today.”
Turning his head, as he hobbled on ahead of them, he asked, “How is the arm Vincent?”
Pleasantly he assured his Father, and said, “I am doing fine.”
Firmly, Jacob enforced, “Even still my boy, directly after we dine, I want to have a look at it for myself.”
Mouse, who was carrying a 7 foot long board on his shoulder, ran up to Vincent and Catherine, to tell them, “Vincent, you’re walking around. I am glad you are here! Come look!”
As Mouse turned around, with the 2 x 4, Vincent placed a hand on Catherine’s head forcing her to bend down, and in unison they ducked just in time, nearly getting hit by the board.
Witness to this "Almost" accident, Jacob yelled, “Mouse be more careful please!”
Ronald too saw what nearly happened, and commented, “Thank Heavens you are quicker on your feet than I was!" He then rubbed his head, and continued, "Unfortunate for me!”
Ronald was a tunnel resident, who was perhaps a year or two older than Vincent, and was really quite handsome. He had long black hair, and eyes so dark brown, they too looked black! He was of Sioux Indian descent, with an excellent build and stood nearly as tall as Vincent.
He had been an accountant about 10 years ago, and had quite a lucrative career back then. It was when he had been out of town on business, when he had lost his family in a house fire. Ronald blamed himself for not being there to save them. A tragedy he has never gotten over, and had altered his life forever.
It was through the Wong Family he was introduced to Jacob, and then moved to the tunnels. He had been their accountant for years, and they wanted to help him find purpose to his life again.
Ronald turned to Catherine and pleasantly said, “Hello Catherine.”
Catherine smiled at this nice man and replied, “Hello Ronald, nice to see you again.”
He then happily mentioned, “The news of you moving here is pretty exciting.”
In reply, she said, “I cannot wait.”
Jacob then stepped up, as he was most anxious to show them the changes, explaining the old chambers were still blocked off, but figured within the hour, they should be able to access them.
Vincent said this was great news about the progress, and then asked Jacob, “Please send for me when the entrance is cleared, I would like to be one of the first to inspect.”
Approvingly, Jacob nodded, “Of course my boy, of course.”
Jacob turned back to the excitement of the workmen, exalted by his growing dream, and watched on once more.
Catherine and Vincent stopped in at Rebecca’s chamber, to ask if Catherine could bunk with her. Happily, Rebecca replied, “Of course Catherine may stay! There is plenty of room here with the extra bed. You are most welcome!”
She thanked Rebecca, and told her how much she appreciated putting her up. Rebecca cheerfully offered, "Let's get you settled in before Supper.”
Vincent nodded in agreement, saying, “I'll be back at my chamber to await word on the expansion from Father. Perhaps I will lie down for a bit.”
Catherine turned and gave Vincent a loving hug, and told him, “All right, have a good rest.”
In reply, Vincent said, “I shall, and I will come for you both for supper.”
He then glanced back once more, before stepping out into the tunnels.
With a smile, Rebecca noted, "He sure is transparent! How he feels about you is for all the world to see."
Shyly Catherine replied, "I don't know what to say. I suppose I am the same."
She then changed the subject, and said, "Well I better gather my things from the Guest Chamber."
She then asked, "Does the reason seem silly to you why it is hard for me to stay there?"
To which Rebecca replied, "I understand. It hasn't been that long since your Dad died, and I know you must miss him very much."
With a nod, Catherine then thanked her new friend for understanding and her warm welcoming.
Rebecca said there was no need to thank her, and she was looking forward to getting to know her better, and added, "What better way than to be roomies. Let's go get your things."
And then privately, Rebecca thought of how privileged she felt, Vincent turned to her for helping in this way.
To be continued
Chapter Nine
| All of My Life! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Eight |
