Lockwood briefly resumes the frame narrative, noting that he is recovering and has now heard Nelly Dean’s history in several sittings. Nelly then continues from the evening after her visit to Wuthering Heights, when she still has Heathcliff’s letter for Catherine but delays delivering it for three days because she fears its effect and wants Edgar Linton safely away.

On Sunday, while the family is at church, Nelly leaves the Grange open and sends the remaining servant to the village so Heathcliff can come if necessary. Catherine sits by the open window, physically changed by illness and emotionally detached from ordinary life. When Nelly gives Catherine the letter, Catherine struggles to understand it until Nelly explains that Heathcliff is waiting in the garden and wants to see her.

Heathcliff enters the house on his own and finds Catherine’s room. Catherine and Heathcliff embrace with overwhelming grief, and Heathcliff immediately realizes that Catherine is not truly recovering. Their reunion turns accusatory: Catherine says Heathcliff and Edgar have broken her heart, while Heathcliff insists Catherine betrayed her own heart by marrying Edgar. Both express that separation is worse than death, and their anger shifts into desperate forgiveness and mutual anguish.

As church ends, Nelly warns that Edgar will soon return, but Catherine refuses to release Heathcliff. Heathcliff first tries to leave, then agrees to stay when Catherine cries that it is the last time. Edgar arrives and finds Heathcliff with Catherine; before Edgar can act, Heathcliff places Catherine’s seemingly lifeless body in Edgar’s arms and tells him to help her first.

Edgar and Nelly revive Catherine, but Catherine is confused, moaning, and unable to recognize anyone. Edgar’s concern for Catherine makes him ignore Heathcliff, while Nelly privately urges Heathcliff to leave. Heathcliff agrees to leave the house but declares he will remain in the garden under the larch trees and demands that Nelly report Catherine’s condition the next morning.