After weeks of illness at Thrushcross Grange, Lockwood receives a visit from Heathcliff and then asks Nelly Dean to continue her history. Nelly resumes after Catherine Earnshaw’s marriage to Edgar Linton, explaining that Catherine initially behaves better than expected. Edgar and Isabella indulge Catherine, Edgar fears upsetting her, and for about half a year the household enjoys a fragile peace.

That peace ends when Heathcliff unexpectedly returns after three years away. Nelly finds him at the Grange door, greatly altered into a tall, dignified, wealthy-looking man, though still stern and intense. Catherine is overwhelmed with joy, while Edgar is offended and jealous but allows Heathcliff to come in for Catherine’s sake. Heathcliff reveals that he had considered seeing Catherine once, avenging himself on Hindley, and killing himself, but Catherine’s welcome changes his immediate plan.

Heathcliff leaves for Wuthering Heights, where Hindley has invited him to stay after gambling with him. Catherine later wakes Nelly to exult over Heathcliff’s return and complain about Edgar’s sulkiness. Catherine explains that Heathcliff intends to lodge at the Heights to be near her and because Hindley’s greed will accept his money. Nelly distrusts the arrangement, but Catherine believes Heathcliff can protect himself and that she can prevent him from harming Hindley.

Heathcliff begins visiting the Grange carefully and gradually establishes himself as an expected guest. Edgar’s unease subsides only to be replaced by alarm when Isabella Linton develops a passionate infatuation with Heathcliff. Catherine warns Isabella that Heathcliff is fierce, pitiless, avaricious, and incapable of loving a Linton, but Isabella interprets the warning as selfish jealousy.

When Edgar is away at a justice meeting, Heathcliff visits while Catherine and Isabella are together. Catherine cruelly exposes Isabella’s secret feelings to Heathcliff, humiliating Isabella until she claws Catherine’s hand and flees. Heathcliff responds with contempt for Isabella, but after learning that Isabella may be Edgar’s heir, he shows a calculating interest. Nelly notices Heathcliff musing ominously afterward and resolves to watch him, fearing that his presence threatens both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange.