After three weeks of illness, Nelly is able to leave her room and sit with Catherine in the library. Catherine grows restless each evening and tries to escape Nelly’s company early, which makes Nelly suspicious. When Nelly searches the house and finds Catherine absent, she watches from Catherine’s room and sees a groom return with Catherine’s pony, Minny, before Catherine slips in through the drawing-room window.

Nelly confronts Catherine, who first lies but then breaks down and confesses. Catherine has been secretly riding to Wuthering Heights almost every evening during Nelly’s illness, using Michael’s help in exchange for books. Catherine explains that she felt bound by her promise to visit Linton, though the visits were often miserable as well as occasionally happy.

Catherine recounts the early visits: Zillah gave Catherine and Linton a warm room, and the cousins talked, imagined summer pleasures, argued over their different ideas of happiness, and played together. Their companionship is fragile because Linton is easily irritated, weak, and self-pitying, yet Catherine’s pity and affection keep drawing Catherine back to Wuthering Heights.

Catherine then describes an encounter with Hareton, who proudly shows that he can read the name above the door. Catherine mocks Hareton’s ignorance, and Nelly rebukes Catherine, pointing out that Hareton is also Catherine’s cousin and has been degraded by Heathcliff’s cruelty. Catherine continues the story: Hareton, humiliated, later bursts in angrily, drives Linton and Catherine out of the room, and indirectly provokes Linton into a violent fit of rage and coughing blood.

Terrified, Catherine calls Zillah, while Hareton carries Linton upstairs and Joseph mocks the whole scene. Catherine threatens to tell Edgar and have Hareton punished, then lashes Hareton with her whip when Hareton later tries to apologize on the road. Catherine stays away briefly, then returns to find Linton recovering; after another quarrel, Linton blames Catherine, but later apologizes by describing his miserable temper, his father’s contempt, and his love for Catherine. Catherine forgives Linton and keeps visiting, enduring Linton’s spite and illness.

Catherine says Heathcliff usually avoids her, though she once overheard Heathcliff cruelly scolding Linton and intervened. Catherine begs Nelly not to tell Edgar, arguing that stopping the visits will make both Catherine and Linton miserable. Nelly decides by going directly to Edgar and revealing the secret visits, except for some details about Catherine’s conversations and Hareton. Edgar, alarmed, forbids Catherine from going to Wuthering Heights, though Edgar promises to write to Linton and allow Linton to visit the Grange instead.