Wuthering Heights, Page 20

  CHAPTER XX

  To obviate the danger of this threat being fulfilled, Mr. Lintoncommissioned me to take the boy home early, on Catherine's pony; and,said he--'As we shall now have no influence over his destiny, good orbad, you must say nothing of where he is gone to my daughter: she cannotassociate with him hereafter, and it is better for her to remain inignorance of his proximity; lest she should be restless, and anxious tovisit the Heights. Merely tell her his father sent for him suddenly, andhe has been obliged to leave us.'

  Linton was very reluctant to be roused from his bed at five o'clock, andastonished to be informed that he must prepare for further travelling;but I softened off the matter by stating that he was going to spend sometime with his father, Mr. Heathcliff, who wished to see him so much, hedid not like to defer the pleasure till he should recover from his latejourney.

  'My father!' he cried, in strange perplexity. 'Mamma never told me I hada father. Where does he live? I'd rather stay with uncle.'

  'He lives a little distance from the Grange,' I replied; 'just beyondthose 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 lovehim, as you did your mother, and then he will love you.'

  'But why have I not heard of him before?' asked Linton. 'Why didn'tmamma and he live together, as other people do?'

  'He had business to keep him in the north,' I answered, 'and yourmother's health required her to reside in the south.'

  'And why didn't mamma speak to me about him?' persevered the child. 'Sheoften talked of uncle, and I learnt to love him long ago. How am I tolove papa? I don't know him.'

  '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 muchpreferable to an hour's more sleep.'

  'Is _she_ to go with us,' he demanded, 'the little girl I saw yesterday?'

  'Not now,' replied I.

  'Is uncle?' he continued.

  'No, I shall be your companion there,' I said.

  Linton sank back on his pillow and fell into a brown study.

  'I won't go without uncle,' he cried at length: 'I can't tell where youmean to take me.'

  I attempted to persuade him of the naughtiness of showing reluctance tomeet his father; still he obstinately resisted any progress towardsdressing, and I had to call for my master's assistance in coaxing him outof bed. The poor thing was finally got off, with several delusiveassurances that his absence should be short: that Mr. Edgar and Cathywould visit him, and other promises, equally ill-founded, which Iinvented and reiterated at intervals throughout the way. The pureheather-scented air, the bright sunshine, and the gentle canter of Minny,relieved his despondency after a while. He began to put questionsconcerning his new home, and its inhabitants, with greater interest andliveliness.

  'Is Wuthering Heights as pleasant a place as Thrushcross Grange?' heinquired, turning to take a last glance into the valley, whence a lightmist mounted and formed a fleecy cloud on the skirts of the blue.

  '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 ishealthier for you--fresher and drier. You will, perhaps, think thebuilding old and dark at first; though it is a respectable house: thenext best in the neighbourhood. And you will have such nice rambles onthe moors. Hareton Earnshaw--that is, Miss Cathy's other cousin, and soyours in a manner--will show you all the sweetest spots; and you canbring 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.'

  'And what is my father like?' he asked. 'Is he as young and handsome asuncle?'

  'He's as young,' said I; 'but he has black hair and eyes, and lookssterner; and he is taller and bigger altogether. He'll not seem to youso 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 ofyou than any uncle, for you are his own.'

  'Black hair and eyes!' mused Linton. 'I can't fancy him. Then I am notlike him, am I?'

  'Not much,' I answered: not a morsel, I thought, surveying with regretthe white complexion and slim frame of my companion, and his largelanguid eyes--his mother's eyes, save that, unless a morbid touchinesskindled them a moment, they had not a vestige of her sparkling spirit.

  'How strange that he should never come to see mamma and me!' he murmured.'Has he ever seen me? If he has, I must have been a baby. I remembernot a single thing about him!'

  '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 comparedwith what they do to you. It is probable Mr. Heathcliff proposed goingfrom summer to summer, but never found a convenient opportunity; and nowit is too late. Don't trouble him with questions on the subject: it willdisturb him, for no good.'

  The boy was fully occupied with his own cogitations for the remainder ofthe ride, till we halted before the farmhouse garden-gate. I watched tocatch his impressions in his countenance. He surveyed the carved frontand low-browed lattices, the straggling gooseberry-bushes and crookedfirs, with solemn intentness, and then shook his head: his privatefeelings entirely disapproved of the exterior of his new abode. But hehad sense to postpone complaining: there might be compensation within.Before he dismounted, I went and opened the door. It was half-past six;the family had just finished breakfast: the servant was clearing andwiping down the table. Joseph stood by his master's chair telling sometale concerning a lame horse; and Hareton was preparing for the hayfield.

  'Hallo, Nelly!' said Mr. Heathcliff, when he saw me. 'I feared I shouldhave to come down and fetch my property myself. You've brought it, haveyou? Let us see what we can make of it.'

  He got up and strode to the door: Hareton and Joseph followed in gapingcuriosity. Poor Linton ran a frightened eye over the faces of the three.

  '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 ascornful laugh.

  'God! what a beauty! what a lovely, charming thing!' he exclaimed.'Hav'n't they reared it on snails and sour milk, Nelly? Oh, damn mysoul! but that's worse than I expected--and the devil knows I was notsanguine!'

  I bid the trembling and bewildered child get down, and enter. He did notthoroughly comprehend the meaning of his father's speech, or whether itwere intended for him: indeed, he was not yet certain that the grim,sneering stranger was his father. But he clung to me with growingtrepidation; and on Mr. Heathcliff's taking a seat and bidding him 'comehither' he hid his face on my shoulder and wept.

  'Tut, tut!' said Heathcliff, stretching out a hand and dragging himroughly 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 thatthy name? Thou art thy mother's child, entirely! Where is my share inthee, puling chicken?'

  He took off the boy's cap and pushed back his thick flaxen curls, felthis slender arms and his small fingers; during which examination Lintonceased crying, and lifted his great blue eyes to inspect the inspector.

  'Do you know me?' asked Heathcliff, having satisfied himself that thelimbs were all equally frail and feeble.

  'No,' said Linton, with a gaze of vacant fear.

  'You've heard of me, I daresay?'

  'No,' he replied again.

  'No! What a shame of your mother, never to waken your filial regard forme! You are my son, then, I'll tell you; and your mother was a wickedslut 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 notwhite blood. Be a good lad; and I'll do for you. Nelly, if you be tiredyou may sit down; if not, get home again. I guess you'll report what youhear and see to the cipher at the Grange; and this t
hing won't be settledwhile you linger about it.'

  'Well,' replied I, 'I hope you'll be kind to the boy, Mr. Heathcliff, oryou'll not keep him long; and he's all you have akin in the wide world,that you will ever know--remember.'

  'I'll be very kind to him, you needn't fear,' he said, laughing. 'Onlynobody else must be kind to him: I'm jealous of monopolising hisaffection. And, to begin my kindness, Joseph, bring the lad somebreakfast. Hareton, you infernal calf, begone to your work. Yes, Nell,'he added, when they had departed, 'my son is prospective owner of yourplace, and I should not wish him to die till I was certain of being hissuccessor. Besides, he's _mine_, and I want the triumph of seeing _my_descendant fairly lord of their estates; my child hiring their childrento till their fathers' lands for wages. That is the sole considerationwhich can make me endure the whelp: I despise him for himself, and hatehim for the memories he revives! But that consideration is sufficient:he's as safe with me, and shall be tended as carefully as your mastertends his own. I have a room up-stairs, furnished for him in handsomestyle; I've engaged a tutor, also, to come three times a week, fromtwenty miles' distance, to teach him what he pleases to learn. I'veordered Hareton to obey him: and in fact I've arranged everything with aview to preserve the superior and the gentleman in him, above hisassociates. I do regret, however, that he so little deserves thetrouble: if I wished any blessing in the world, it was to find him aworthy object of pride; and I'm bitterly disappointed with thewhey-faced, whining wretch!'

  While he was speaking, Joseph returned bearing a basin of milk-porridge,and placed it before Linton: who stirred round the homely mess with alook of aversion, and affirmed he could not eat it. I saw the oldman-servant shared largely in his master's scorn of the child; though hewas compelled to retain the sentiment in his heart, because Heathcliffplainly meant his underlings to hold him in honour.

  'Cannot ate it?' repeated he, peering in Linton's face, and subduing hisvoice to a whisper, for fear of being overheard. 'But Maister Haretonnivir ate naught else, when he wer a little 'un; and what wer gooidenough for him's gooid enough for ye, I's rayther think!'

  'I _sha'n't_ eat it!' answered Linton, snappishly. 'Take it away.'

  Joseph snatched up the food indignantly, and brought it to us.

  'Is there aught ails th' victuals?' he asked, thrusting the tray underHeathcliff's nose.

  'What should ail them?' he said.

  'Wah!' answered Joseph, 'yon dainty chap says he cannut ate 'em. But Iguess it's raight! His mother wer just soa--we wer a'most too mucky tosow t' corn for makking her breead.'

  'Don't mention his mother to me,' said the master, angrily. 'Get himsomething that he can eat, that's all. What is his usual food, Nelly?'

  I suggested boiled milk or tea; and the housekeeper received instructionsto prepare some. Come, I reflected, his father's selfishness maycontribute to his comfort. He perceives his delicate constitution, andthe necessity of treating him tolerably. I'll console Mr. Edgar byacquainting him with the turn Heathcliff's humour has taken. Having noexcuse for lingering longer, I slipped out, while Linton was engaged intimidly rebuffing the advances of a friendly sheep-dog. But he was toomuch on the alert to be cheated: as I closed the door, I heard a cry, anda frantic repetition of the words--

  'Don't leave me! I'll not stay here! I'll not stay here!'

  Then the latch was raised and fell: they did not suffer him to comeforth. I mounted Minny, and urged her to a trot; and so my briefguardianship ended.