Wuthering Heights Q&A

 Heathcliff and Cathy grow up as playmates under the care of Mr. Earnshaw and spend long periods exploring the Moors. They can understand one another away from everyone else, and can thus behave however they please. Their bond of friendship is further strengthened by the loss of Mr. Earnshaw, as Nelly describes how deeply they were affected by his death and relied on each other for comfort. The isolated setting of Wuthering Heights meant that Catherine and Heathcliff did not have access to a larger circle of friends and had just one another.

 Lockwood is thoroughly impressed with Cathy's beauty and wishes to be on closer terms with her. Nelly Dean's statements also indicate that she may have been telling Lockwood the history of Earnshaws and Lintons to influence Lockwood into marrying Cathy Linton and thereby rescue her from Heatcliff's influence.