Chapter 24 Chapter Twenty

To avoid the danger of this menace being carried out, Mr. Linton sent me to take the boy home early, to ride Catherine's pony.He said,——"Since we can't influence his fate now, whether it's good or bad, you must never tell my daughter where he went, and she can't have any contact with him in the future. It's best not to Let her know that he is near; otherwise she will be restless and anxious to go to Wuthering Heights. Just tell her that his father has sent for him suddenly, and he will have to leave us." Linton was roused with difficulty from bed at five o'clock, and was startled to learn that he had to be ready to go again; but I told him that he must stay with his father, Mr. Heathcliff, and that he Father wanted to see him so much, and he didn't want to delay the joy of seeing him any longer. He couldn't wait for him to recover from the fatigue of the journey, so he eased things down.

"My Father Nai," he called out, wondering for no reason. "Mum never told me I had a father. Where does he live? I'd rather live with my uncle." "He lives not far from the cottage," I answered, "just beyond those hills, and it's not too far away, and when you're better you can walk here. You should be happy to go home and see him." Him. You must try to love him as a mother, and then he will love you too." "But why haven't I heard of him before?" asked Linton. "Why doesn't mom live with him like other people's homes?"

"He has business to stay in the North," I replied, "and your mother's health requires her to live in the South." "But why didn't mother tell me about him?" the child asked persistently. "She used to talk about my uncle. I've known to love him. How can I love Papa? I don't know him." "Oh, all children love their parents," I said. "Perhaps your mother thought you might want to live with him if she kept talking about him. Let's hurry. In such a beautiful place." It's better to ride out early in the morning than to sleep an hour longer."

"Is that little girl I saw yesterday going with us?" he asked. "Not now." I replied. "Where's uncle?" he asked again. "No, I will accompany you there." I said. Linton sank back on his pillow, and fell into thought. "I won't go without my uncle," he cried at last. "I don't know where you're taking me." I tried to convince him that it was not proper for him to show that he did not want to see his father; he still resisted obstinately, and would not allow me to dress him, so I had to call the master to help coax him out of bed.I made a lot of vague promises that he would be back soon, that Mr. Edgar and Katie would visit him, and other promises that had no basis and were all made up on the spur of the moment. Yes, and I repeated those promises from time to time along the way.At last the poor little thing set off.After a while the clean, grass-scented air, the bright sunlight, and Minnie's slow walk eased his despondency.He began to question him with greater interest about his new home, and who lived there.

"Isn't Wuthering Heights a fun place like Thrushcross Grange?" he asked, turning his head for a last look down the valley, from where a light mist rose and formed a white cloud on the edge of the blue sky . "It's not hidden in the shade like this," I answered, "and it's not so big, but you have beautiful country views all around you; and the air is better for your health--fresher and drier. Maybe you The house will seem old and dark at first; though it is a very handsome house, one of the best in the neighborhood. And you can have a nice walk in the moors. Hareton Earnshaw—that is, Miss Kitty's other cousin, which is yours,--he'll show you all the loveliest spots; and when the weather's nice, you'll take a book with you, and make the green valley your study , and, sometimes, your uncle can take a walk with you, he often comes out for a walk in the mountains."

"What was my father like?" he asked. "Is he as young and beautiful as uncle?" "He's so young, too," said I, "but he's got black hair and eyes, and he looks sterner, and taller. Perhaps you don't think he's very kind at first, because that's not his style; but , you must remember, still be frank and kind with him; he will naturally like you more than any uncle, because you are his own child." "Black hair, black eyes," Linton mused. "I can't imagine it. Then I don't look like him, do I?" "Not quite," I answered, thinking: not at all, looking regretfully at my companion's fair features and thin bones, and his large, lifeless eyes—his mother His eyes, except, occasionally lit by a morbid impatience, bore no trace of her gleam.

"How strange he's never been to see Mom and me!" he grunted. "Did he see me? If he did, it must have been when I was a baby. I don't remember a thing about him!" "Ah, Master Linton," said I, "three hundred miles is a very long distance; and ten years is a different length to a grown man than it is to you. Perhaps Heathcliff intends to go every summer, But the proper occasion was never found; and it is too late now. Don't trouble him by asking him about it: it will disturb him, and it won't do any good." The boy then thought only of himself the whole way, until I stopped at the gate of the house garden.I watched carefully to see what impression appeared on his face.He gazed gravely at the carved frontage and the low-eaved latticed windows, the overgrown gooseberry bushes and crooked fir-trees, and shook his head; he himself did not like the appearance of his new abode at all.But he also knows not to complain first: maybe the inside is better, and he can make up for it.Before he dismounted, I went to open the door.It was half-past six; the family had just had breakfast; the servants were clearing and mopping the table.Joseph, standing by his master's chair, was talking about a lame horse; Hareton was getting ready to go into the hay.

"Well, Nelly!" said Heathcliff, when he saw me, "I'm afraid I'll have to go down to get what's mine. You brought him, didn't you? Let's see how we What kind of talent can he be made into?" He got up and strode to the door, followed by Hareton and Joseph, mouths open in curiosity.Poor Linton glanced fearfully into the faces of the three men. "Certainly," said Joseph, after examining it gravely, "he has changed with you, master, and this is his daughter!" Heathcliff stared at his son, which made him tremble, and he let out a mocking laugh.

"God, what a beauty! What a lovely, coquettish thing!" he cried. "Didn't they feed him on snails and sour milk, Nelly? Damn it! But it was worse than I expected—the devil knows if I've ever had color myself!" I dismounted the trembling, bewildered child and came in.He did not quite understand what his father was saying, or thought he was not referring to it: indeed, he was not quite convinced that this formidable, sneering stranger was his father.But he clung to me more and more tremblingly; and when Heathcliff sat down and called him, "Come," he threw his face on my shoulder and wept.

"Yes!" said Heathcliff, putting out a hand, and drawing him roughly between his knees, he raised his head by lifting his chin. "Don't fool around! We don't mean to hurt you, Linton, is that your name? You are really your mother's child, quite! Where is my part in you, squeaky chicken? " He took off the boy's cap, pushed back his thick flaxen curls, and felt his thin arm and his little finger; while he was thus examining Linton ceased crying, and looked up. His large blue eyes also scanned the examiner. "Do you know me?" asked Heathcliff, who had examined the boy's limbs with the same frailty.

"No!" said Linton, gazing at him with a sort of blank terror. "I bet you've always heard of me?" "No." He replied again. "No! This is your mother's disgrace, which never aroused your filial piety! Well, I tell you, you are my son; What a father. Now, don't cringe, don't blush! But you can tell your blood isn't white after all. Be a good boy, and I'll do my best for you. If you're tired, Nelly, you can sit Come down; if not, go home. I reckon you'll report all you hear and see to that wretch at the Grange; and this thing ain't settling down while you hang around." "Well," I answered, "I hope you will be kind to the boy, Mr. Heathcliff, or you won't be able to keep him, and he's the only kinsman you've ever known in the wide world. — remember." "I'll be very kind to him, and you needn't be afraid," he said, laughing. "But he doesn't need affection; I want to monopolize his affections. And, begin my affection now, Joseph, and bring the boy some breakfast. Hareton, you fool of hell, do it to you." Live. Yes, Nell," he added, when they were all gone, "my son is the future lord of your place, and I should not wish him to die till I am sure he is heir. Besides , he is mine, and I would triumphantly see my descendants stately masters of their estates, my children employing their children to plant their father's land for wages. This is the only motive that makes me bear this Paparazzi: I despise him for himself, and hate him for the memories he brings up! But that motive is enough; he's just as safe with me, and will greet your master as well As careful as his own children. I have a room upstairs, which I have made beautifully for him; and I have hired a teacher from twenty miles away, three times a week, to teach him whatever he wants. What. I also commanded Hareton to obey him, and in fact I arranged everything to cultivate in him superiority and gentlemanliness, to place him above those with whom he was with. But I am sorry: he is not worthy People are so worried, if I still hope for any happiness in this world, it is to find him a thing to be proud of, but this white-faced, whimpering thing makes me very disappointed!" As he spoke Joseph returned with a bowl of porridge with milk, and set it before Linton: Linton stirred the unpalatable porridge with a look of disgust, and assured him he could not eat it.I saw that the old servant, like his master, despised the boy; though he was compelled to keep it to himself, for Heathcliff evidently desired the respect of his servants. "Can't eat?" he repeated, looking into Linton's face, and grunting again in a low voice, lest he should be overheard. "But Master Hareton never ate anything else when he was a boy, and I suppose you can eat what he can!" "I won't eat it!" replied Linton obstinately. "Take it away." Angrily, Joseph snatched the food and brought it to us. "What's so bad about it?" he asked, pushing his plate up to Heathcliff's nose. "What's wrong?" he said. "Yes!" replied Joseph, "you fine boy said he couldn't eat it. But I think it's all right, his mother's like that--we grow corn and make her bread, and she thinks we're dirty." "Don't tell me about his mother," said the master angrily, "just get him something he can eat. What does he usually eat, Nelly?" I suggested boiling milk or tea, which the housekeeper was ordered to prepare.Well, I think his father's selfishness made life easier for him.He saw Linton's delicate constitution, and it was necessary to be lenient to him.I shall comfort Mr. Edgar by telling him what change of temper Heathcliff has had.Having no reason to stay any longer, I slipped out, while Linton timidly resisted the friendly gestures of a sheepdog.But he was too alert to deceive him: as soon as I closed the door, I heard a cry, and a series of repeated shouts: "Don't leave me, I don't want to be here! I don't want to be here! " Then the latch was raised and lowered: they would not let him out.I mount Minnie, and tell her to run; and so my brief duty of protection ends.