Nelly continues her story, beginning with a description of Mr. Earnshaw’s failing health. Heathcliff’s situation becomes more complicated, as the more protective Mr. Earnshaw becomes, “seeming to have got into his head the notion that, because he liked Heathcliff, all hated, and longed to do him an ill-turn” (28), much to the jealousy of Hindley. The local curate advises Mr. Earnshaw to send Hindley away to be educated while he “encouraged [Mr. Earnshaw] to regard Hindley as a reprobate[...] [and]“grumbled out a long string of tales against Heathcliff and Catherine” (29). Nelly describes Catherine’s spirits as “always at high-water mark” and that she was “much too fond of Heathcliff” (29); as Mr. Earnshaw’s health weakens, he becomes more irritable with his daughter’s behavior.

One windy day in October, Mr. Earnshaw dies “quietly in his chair” (30), after falling asleep with the children playing nearby on the floor by his feet. Upon realizing their father is dead, Catherine and Heathcliff “both set up a heart-breaking cry” (30). Joseph sends for the parson, and “they were calmer, and did not need [Nelly] to console them” (30), imagining their father in heaven.