English
ALETTER,edgedinblack,announcedthedayofmymaster’sreturn.
Isabellawasdead;andhewrotetobidmegetmourningforhisdaughter,andarrangearoom,andotheraccommodations,forhisyouthfulnephew.
Catherineranwildwithjoyattheideaofwelcomingherfatherback;andindulgedmostsanguineanticipationsoftheinnumerableexcellencesofher“real”cousin.
Theeveningoftheirexpectedarrivalcame.
Sinceearlymorning,shehadbeenbusyorderingherownsmallaffairs;andnow,attiredinhernewblackfrock—poorthing!
heraunt’sdeathimpressedherwithnodefinitesorrow—sheobligedme,byconstantworrying,towalkwithherdownthroughthegroundstomeetthem.
“LintonisjustsixmonthsyoungerthanIam,”shechattered,aswestrolledleisurelyovertheswellsandhollowsofmossyturf,undershadowofthetrees.
“Howdelightfulitwillbetohavehimforaplay-fellow!
AuntIsabellasentpapaabeautifullockofhishair;itwaslighterthanmine—moreflaxen,andquiteasfine.
Ihaveitcarefullypreservedinalittleglassbox:andI’veoftenthoughtwhatpleasureitwouldbetoseeitsowner.Oh!Iamhappy—andpapa,dear,dearpapa!Come,Ellen,letusrun!come,run.”
Sheran,andreturnedandranagainmanytimesbeforemysoberfootstepsreachedthegate,andthensheseatedherselfonthegrassybankbesidethepath,andtriedtowaitpatiently;butthatwasimpossible:shecouldn’tbestillaminute.
“Howlongtheyare!”sheexclaimed.
“Ah,Iseesomedustontheroad—theyarecoming?No!Whenwilltheybehere?
Maywenotgoalittleway—halfamile,Ellen:onlyjusthalfamile?
Dosayyes:tothatclumpofbirchesattheturn!”
Irefusedstaunchly.Atlengthhersuspensewasended:thetravellingcarriagerolledinsight.
MissCathyshriekedandstretchedoutherarms,assoonasshecaughtherfather’sfacelookingfromthewindow.
Hedescended,nearlyaseagerasherself:andaconsiderableintervalelapsederetheyhadathoughttospareforanybutthemselves.
Whiletheyexchangedcaresses,ItookapeepintoseeafterLinton.
Hewasasleepinacorner,wrappedinawarm,fur-linedcloak,asifithadbeenwinter.
Apale,delicate,effeminateboy,whomighthavebeentakenformymaster’syoungerbrothersostrongwastheresemblance:buttherewasasicklypeevishnessinhisaspect,thatEdgarLintonneverhad.
Thelattersawmelooking;andhavingshakenhands,advisedmetoclosethedoor,andleavehimundisturbed;forthejourneyhadfatiguedhim.
Cathywouldfainhavetakenoneglance,butherfathertoldhertocome,andtheywalkedtogetherupthepark,whileIhastenedbeforetopreparetheservants.
“Nowdarling”saidMr.Linton,addressinghisdaughter,astheyhaltedatthebottomofthefrontsteps;“yourcousinisnotsostrongormerryasyouare,andhehaslosthismother,remember,averyshorttimesince;therefore,don’texpecthimtoplayandrunaboutwithyoudirectly.
Anddon’tharasshimmuchbytalking:lethimbequietthisevening,atleast,willyou?”
“Yes,yes,papa,”answeredCatherine:“butIdowanttoseehim;andhehasn’toncelookedout.”
Thecarriagestopped;andthesleeperbeingroused,wasliftedtothegroundbyhisuncle.
“ThisisyourcousinCathy,Linton,”hesaid,puttingtheirlittlehandstogether.
“She’sfondofyoualready;andmindyoudon’tgrieveherbycryingto-night.
Trytobecheerfulnow;thetravellingisatanend,andyouhavenothingtodobutrestandamuseyourselfasyouplease.”
“Letmegotobed,then,”answeredtheboy,shrinkingfromCatherine’ssalute;andheputuphisfingerstoremoveincipienttears.
“Come,come,there’sagoodchild,”Iwhispered,leadinghimin.“You’llmakeherweeptoo—seehowsorrysheisforyou!”
Idonotknowwhetheritwassorrowforhim,buthiscousinputonassadacountenanceashimself,andreturnedtoherfather.
Allthreeentered,andmountedtothelibrary,whereteawaslaidready.
IproceededtoremoveLinton’scapandmantle,andplacedhimonachairbythetable;buthewasnosoonerseatedthanhebegantocryafresh.Mymasterenquiredwhatwasthematter.
“Ican’tsitonachair,”sobbedtheboy.
“Gotothesofa,then,andEllenshallbringyousometea,”answeredhisunclepatiently.
Hehadbeengreatlytriedduringthejourney,Ifeltconvinced,byhisfretfulailingcharge.
Lintonslowlytrailedhimselfoff,andlaydown.
Cathycarriedafootstoolandhercuptohisside.
Atfirstshesatsilent;butthatcouldnotlast:shehadresolvedtomakeapetofherlittlecousin,asshewouldhavehimtobe;andshecommencedstrokinghiscurls,andkissinghischeek,andofferinghimteainhersaucer,likeababy.
Thispleasedhim,forhewasnotmuchbetter:hedriedhiseyes,andlightenedintoafaintsmile.
“Oh,he’lldoverywell,”saidthemastertome,afterwatchingthemaminute.“Verywell,ifwecankeephim,Ellen.
Thecompanyofachildofhisownagewillinstilnewspiritintohimsoon,andbywishingforstrengthhe’llgainit.”
“Ay,ifwecankeephim!”Imusedtomyself;andsoremisgivingscameovermethattherewasslighthopeofthat.
Andthen,Ithought,howeverwillthatweaklingliveatWutheringHeights?
BetweenhisfatherandHareton,whatplaymatesandinstructorsthey’llbe.
Ourdoubtswerepresentlydecided—evenearlierthanIexpected.
Ihadjusttakenthechildrenupstairs,afterteawasfinished,andseenLintonasleep—hewouldnotsuffermetoleavehimtillthatwasthecase—Ihadcomedown,andwasstandingbythetableinthehall,lightingabedroomcandleforMr.Edgar,whenamaidsteppedoutofthekitchenandinformedmethatMr.Heathcliff’sservantJosephwasatthedoor,andwishedtospeakwiththemaster.
“Ishallaskhimwhathewantsfirst,”Isaid,inconsiderabletrepidation.
“Averyunlikelyhourtobetroublingpeople,andtheinstanttheyhavereturnedfromalongjourney.Idon’tthinkthemastercanseehim.”
JosephhadfulladvancedthroughthekitchenasIutteredthesewords,andnowpresentedhimselfinthehall.
HewasdonnedinhisSundaygarments,withhismostsanctimoniousandsourestface,and,holdinghishatinonehandandhisstickintheother,heproceededtocleanhisshoesonthemat.
“Goodevening,Joseph,”Isaidcoldly.“Whatbusinessbringsyouhereto-night?”
“It’sMaisterLintonImunspaketo,”heanswered,wavingmedisdainfullyaside.
“Mr.Lintonisgoingtobed;unlessyouhavesomethingparticulartosay,I’msurehewon’thearitnow,”Icontinued.“Youhadbettersitdowninthere,andentrustyourmessagetome.”
“Whichishisrahm?”pursuedthefellow,surveyingtherangeofcloseddoors.
Iperceivedhewasbentonrefusingmymediation,soveryreluctantlyIwentuptothelibrary,andannouncedtheunseasonablevisitor,advisingthatheshouldbedismissedtillnextday.
Mr.Lintonhadnottimetoempowermetodoso,forJosephmountedcloseatmyheels,andpushingintotheapartment,plantedhimselfatthefarsideofthetable,withhistwofistsclappedontheheadofhisstick,andbeganinanelevatedtone,asifanticipatingopposition:
“Hathecliffhassentmeforhislad,andImunn’tgoback‘bouthim.”
EdgarLintonwassilentaminute;anexpressionofexceedingsorrowovercasthisfeatures:hewouldhavepitiedthechildonhisownaccount;but,recallingIsabella’shopesandfears,andanxiouswishesforherson,andhercommendationsofhimtohiscare,hegrievedbitterlyattheprospectofyieldinghimup,andsearchedinhishearthowitmightbeavoided.
Noplanoffereditself:theveryexhibitionofanydesiretokeephimwouldhaverenderedtheclaimantmoreperemptory:therewasnothingleftbuttoresignhim.
However,hewasnotgoingtorousehimfromhissleep.
“TellMr.Heathcliff,”heansweredcalmly,“thathissonshallcometoWutheringHeightsto-morrow.
Heisinbed,andtootiredtogothedistancenow.
YoumayalsotellhimthatthemotherofLintondesiredhimtoremainundermyguardianship;and,atpresent,hishealthisveryprecarious.”
“Noa!”saidJoseph,givingathudwithhisproponthefloor,andassuminganauthoritativeair;“nao!thatmeansnaught.
Hathecliffmaksnoa’counto’t’mother,noryenorther;buthe’llheyhislad;undImuntakhim—soanowyeknaw!”
“Youshallnotto-night!”answeredLintondecisively.“Walkdownstairsatonce,andrepeattoyourmasterwhatIhavesaid.Ellen,showhimdown.Go-”
And,aidingtheindignantelderwithaliftbythearm,heridtheroomofhim,andclosedthedoor.
“Varrahweell!”shoutedJoseph,asheslowlydrewoff.“To-morn,he’scomehisseln,andthrusthimout,ifyedarr!”
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