| 1 |
TO obviate the danger of this threat being fulfilled,
Mr Linton commissioned me to take the boy home early, on
Catherine's pony, and, said he --
| 2 |
"As we shall now have no influence over his destiny, good or bad,
you must say nothing of where he is gone to my daughter; she cannot
associate with him hereafter; and it is better for her to remain in
ignorance of his proximity, lest she should be restless, and
anxious to visit the Heights -- merely tell her, his father sent
for him suddenly, and he has been obliged to leave us."
| | 3 |
Linton was very reluctant to be roused from his bed, at five
o'clock, and astonished to be informed that he must prepare for
further travelling: but I softened off the matter by stating that
he was going to spend some time with his father, Mr Heathcliff, who
wished to see him so much, he did not like to defer the pleasure
till he should recover from his late journey.
| | 4 |
"My father?" he cried, in strange perplexity.
"Mamma never told me I had a father.
Where does he live?
I'd rather stay with uncle."
| | 5 |
"He lives a little distance from the Grange," I replied, "just
beyond those hills -- not so far, but you may walk over here, when
you get hearty.
And you should be glad to go home, and to see him.
You must try to love him, as you did your mother, and then he will
love you."
| | 6 |
"But why have I not heard of him before?" asked Linton; "why didn't
mamma, and he live together as other people do?"
| | 7 |
"He had business to keep him in the north," I answered;
south."
| | 8 |
"And why didn't mamma speak to me about him?" persevered the child.
"She often talked of uncle, and I learnt to love him long ago.
How am I to love papa?
I don't know him."
| | 9 |
"Oh, all children love their parents," I said.
"Your mother, perhaps, thought you would want to be with him, if
she mentioned him often to you.
Let us make haste.
An early ride on such a beautiful morning is much preferable to an
hour's more sleep."
| | 10 |
"Is she to go with us," he demanded.
"The little girl I saw yesterday?"
| | 11 |
"Not now," replied I.
| | 12 |
"Is uncle?" he continued.
| | 13 |
"No, I shall be your companion there," I said.
| | 14 |
Linton sank back on his pillow, and fell into a brown study.
| | 15 |
"I won't go without uncle;" he cried at length; "I can't tell where
you mean to take me."
| | 16 |
I attempted to persuade him of the naughtiness of showing
reluctance to meet his father: still he obstinately resisted any
progress towards dressing; and I had to call for my master's
assistance, in coaxing him out of bed.
| | 17 |
The poor thing was finally got off with several delusive assurances
that his absence should be short; that Mr Edgar and Cathy would
visit him; and other promises, equally ill-founded, which I
invented and reiterated, at intervals, throughout the way.
| | 18 |
The pure heather-scented air, and the bright sunshine, and the
gentle canter of Minny relieved his despondency, after a while.
He began to put questions concerning his new home, and its
| | 19 |
"Is Wuthering Heights as pleasant a place as Thrushcross Grange?"
he inquired, turning to take a last glance into the valley, whence
a light mist mounted, and formed fleecy cloud, on the skirts of the
blue.
| | 20 |
"It is not so buried in trees," I replied, "and it is not quite so
large, but you can see the country beautifully, all round; and the
air is healthier for you -- fresher, and dryer.
You will, perhaps, think the building old and dark, at first --
though it is a respectable house, the next best in the
neighbourhood.
And you will have such nice rambles on the moors!
Hareton Earnshaw -- that is Miss Cathy's other cousin; and so yours
in a manner -- will show you all the sweetest spots; and you can
bring a book in fine weather, and make a green hollow your study;
and, now and then, your uncle may join you in a walk; he does,
frequently, walk out on the hills."
| | 21 |
"And what is my father like?" he asked.
"Is he as young and handsome as uncle?"
| | 22 |
"He's as young," said I "but he has black hair, and eyes; and looks
sterner, and he is taller and bigger altogether.
He'll not seem to you so gentle and kind at first, perhaps,
because, it is not his way -- still, mind you be frank and cordial
with him; and naturally, he'll be fonder of you than any uncle, for
you are his own."
| | 23 |
"Black hair and eyes!" mused Linton.
"I can't fancy him.
Then I am not like him, am I?"
| | 24 |
"Not much," I answered...
Not a morsel, I thought: surveying with regret the white
complexion, and slim frame of my companion, and his large languid
eyes... his mother's eyes save that, unless a morbid touchiness
kindled them, a moment, they had not a vestige of her sparkling
spirit.
| | 25 |
"How strange that he should never come to see mama, and me" he
murmured.
"Has he ever seen me?
a single thing about him!"
| | 26 |
"Why, Master Linton," said I, "three hundred miles is a great
distance: and ten years seem very different in length, to a grown
up person, compared with what they do to you.
It is probable Mr Heathcliff proposed going, from summer to summer,
but never found a convenient opportunity: and now it is too late --
Don't trouble him with questions on the subject: it will disturb
him for no good."
| | 27 |
The boy was fully occupied with his own cogitations for the
remainder of the ride, till we halted before the farmhouse garden
gate.
I watched to catch his impressions in his countenance.
He surveyed the carved front, and low-browed lattices; the
straggling gooseberry bushes, and crooked firs, with solemn
intentness, and then shook his head: his private feelings entirely
disapproved of the exterior of his new abode; but he had sense to
postpone complaining -- there might be compensation within.
| | 28 |
Before he dismounted, I went and opened the door.
It was half-past six; the family had just finished breakfast; the
servant was clearing and wiping down the table: Joseph stood by his
master's chair telling some tale concerning a lame horse; and
Hareton was preparing for the hay-field.
| | 29 |
"Hallo, Nelly!" cried Mr Heathcliff, when he saw me.
"I feared I should have to come down and fetch my property, myself
-- You've brought it have you?
Let us see what we can make of it.
| | 30 |
He got up and strode to the door: Hareton and Joseph followed in
gaping curiosity.
Poor Linton ran a frightened eye over the faces of the three.
| | 31 |
"Sure-ly," said Joseph after a grave inspection, "he's swopped wi'
ye, maister, an' yon's his lass!"
Heathcliff having stared his son into an ague of confusion, uttered
| | 32 |
"God! what a beauty! what a lovely, charming thing!" he exclaimed.
"Haven't they reared it on snails, and sour milk, Nelly?
Oh, damn my soul! but that's worse than I expected -- and the devil
knows I was not sanguine!"
| | 33 |
I bid the trembling and bewildered child get down, and enter.
He did not thoroughly comprehend the meaning of his father's
speech, or whether it were intended for him: indeed, he was not yet
certain that the grim, sneering stranger was his father; but he
clung to me with growing trepidation; and on Mr Heathcliff's taking
a seat, and bidding him "come hither," he hid his face on my
shoulder, and wept.
| | 34 |
"Tut, tut!" said Heathcliff, stretching out a hand and dragging him
roughly between his knees, and then holding up his head by the
chin.
"None of that nonsense!
We're not going to hurt thee, Linton -- isn't that thy name?
Thou art thy mother's child, entirely!
Where is my share in thee, puling chicken?"
| | 35 |
He took off the boy's cap and pushed back his thick flaxen curls,
felt his slender arms, and his small fingers; during which
examination, Linton ceased crying, and lifted his great blue eyes
to inspect the inspector.
| | 36 |
"Do you know me?" asked Heathcliff, having satisfied himself that
the limbs were all equally frail nnd feeble.
| | 37 |
"No!" said Linton, with a gaze of vacant fear.
| | 38 |
"You've heard of me, I dare say?"
| | 39 |
"No," he replied again.
| | 40 |
"No?
What a shame of your mother, never to waken your filial regard for
me!
You are my son, then, I'll tell you; and your mother was a wicked
slut to leave you in ignorance of the sort of father you possessed
-- Now, don't wince, and colour up!
Though it is something to see you have not white blood --
Be a good lad; and I'll do for you -- Nelly, if you be tired you
report what you hear, and see, to the cipher at the Grange; and
this thing won't be settled while you linger about it."
| | 41 |
"Well," replied I, "I hope you'll be kind to the boy, Mr
Heathcliff, or you'll not keep him long, and he's all you have
akin, in the wide world that you will ever know -- remember."
| | 42 |
"I'll be very kind to him you needn't fear!" he said
laughing.
"Only nobody else must be kind to him -- I'm jealous of
monopolizing his affection -- And, to begin my kindness, Joseph!
bring the lad some breakfast -- Hareton, you infernal calf, begone
to your work.
Yes, Nell," he added when they were departed, "my son is
prospective owner of your place, and I should not wish him to die
till I was certain of being his successor.
Besides, he's mine, and I want the triumph of seeing
my descendent fairly lord of their estates; my child hiring
their children, to till their fathers' lands for wages -- That is
the sole consideration which can make me endure the whelp -- I
despise him for himself, and hate him for the memories he revives!
But, that consideration is sufficient; he's as safe with me, and
shall be tended as carefully, as your master tends his own -- I
have a room up-stairs, furnished for him, in handsome style -- I've
engaged a tutor, also, to come three times a week, from twenty
miles distance, to teach him what he pleases to learn.
I've ordered Hareton to obey him: and in fact, I've arranged
everything with a view to preserve the superior, and the gentleman
in him, above his associates -- I do regret however, that he so
little deserves the trouble -- if I wished any blessing in the
world, it was to find him a worthy object of pride, and I'm
bitterly disappointed with the whey-faced whining wretch!"
| | 43 |
While he was speaking, Joseph returned, bearing a basin
He stirred round the homely mess with a look of aversion, and
affirmed he could not eat it.
| | 44 |
I saw the old man servant shared largely in his master's scorn of
the child, though he was compelled to retain the sentiment in his
heart, because Heathcliff plainly meant his underlings to hold him
in honour.
| | 45 |
"Cannot ate it?" repeated he, peering in Linton's face, and
subduing his voice to a whisper, for fear of being overheard.
"But Maister Hareton nivir ate nowt else, when he wer a little un:
und what wer gooid eneugh fur him's gooid eneugh fur yah, Aw's
rayther think!"
| | 46 |
"I shan't eat it!" answered Linton, snappishly.
"Take it away."
| | 47 |
Joseph snatched up the food indignantly, and brought it to us.
| | 48 |
"Is there owt ails th' victuals?" he asked, thrusting the tray
under Heathcliff's nose.
| | 49 |
"What should ail them?" he said.
| | 50 |
"Wah!" answered Joseph, "yon dainty chap says he cannut ate 'em.
Bud Aw guess it's raight!
His mother wer just soa -- we wer a'most too mucky tuh sow t' corn
for makking her breead."
| | 51 |
"Don't mention his mother to me," said the master, angrily.
"Get him something that he can eat, that's all.
What is his usual food, Nelly?"
| | 52 |
I suggested boiled milk or tea; and the housekeeper received
instructions to prepare some.
| | 53 |
Come, I reflected, his father's selfishness may contribute to his
comfort.
He perceives his delicate constitution, and the necessity of
treating him tolerably.
I'll console Mr Edgar by acquainting him with the turn Heathcliff's
Having no excuse for lingering longer, I slipped out, while Linton
was engaged in timidly rebuffing the advances of a friendly sheep-
dog.
But he was too much on the alert to be cheated -- as I closed the
door, I heard a cry, and a frantic repetition of the words --
| | 54 |
"Don't leave me!
I'll not stay here!
I'll not stay here!"
| | 55 |
Then the latch was raised and fell -- they did not suffer him to
come forth.
I mounted Minny, and urged her to a trot; and so my brief
guardianship ended.
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