Chapter 34

Linton's welcome home

01 To avoid the danger of this threat being carried out, Mr Linton ordered me to take the boy home early, on Cathy's pony. He added:

02 'You must say nothing to my daughter of where he has gone. She cannot see him in future. Merely tell her that his father sent for him suddenly, and he has had to leave us.'

03 Young Linton was very unwilling to be wakened from his sleep at five o'clock in the morning, and astonished to find he must prepare for further travelling. I softened the matter by saying that he was going to spend some time with his father, who was anxious to see him without delay.

04 'My father!' cried the boy. 'Mama never told me that I had a father. Why didn't Mama and he live together, as other people do?'

05 'He had business to keep him in the north,' I answered, 'and your mother's health made it necessary for her to live in the south.'

06 The boy was not satisfied.

07 'Mama didn't speak to me about him,' he repeated. 'She often talked of Uncle, and I learnt to love him. How am I to love Papa?'

08 'All children love their parents,' I said. 'Let's make haste. An early ride on a beautiful morning is better than another hour's sleep.'

09 'Is she to go with us—the little girl I saw yesterday?'

10 'Not now.'

11 'Is Uncle?'

12 'No. I shall be your companion there.'

13 Linton sank back upon his pillow. 'I won't go without Uncle,' he said at last.

14 I had to call for my master's assistance in getting him out of bed. The poor thing was got off in the end with several declarations that his visit would be short, that his uncle and Cathy would visit him, and other promises, equally without truth, that I invented from time to time. At last, in the pure air and the sunshine, he began to brighten on the way, and to put questions about his new home. Was Wuthering Heights as pleasant a place as Thrushcross Grange? Was his father as good-looking as his uncle?

15 'The house is not quite so large,' I told him, 'but it is the second in the district. Your father is as young as your uncle, but he has black hair and eyes, and looks more severe. He'll not seem so kind and gentle at first, perhaps, because it is not his nature, but of course he'll be fonder of you than any uncle, since you are his own.'

16 The boy was fully occupied with his own thoughts for the rest of the ride. It was half-past six when we arrived. The household had just finished breakfast. The servant was taking away the things and wiping down the table.

17 'Hullo, Nelly!' cried Mr Heathcliff when he saw me. 'You've brought my property, have you? Let me see it.'

18 He got up and came to the door. Hareton and Joseph followed, full of curiosity. Poor Linton took a quick, frightened look at all three.

19 'Surely,' said Joseph, after a careful examination, 'he's changed with you, master, and sent you his girl!'

20 Heathcliff gave a scornful laugh, and a curse.

21 'What a beauty! What a pretty, charming thing!' he exclaimed. 'It's worse than I expected!'

22 I told the trembling child to get down and enter. He did not quite understand his father's speech, nor was he yet quite certain that this hard, scornful stranger was his father, but he held on to me with growing fear, and when Mr Heathcliff took a seat and ordered him to come to him, he hid his face in my shoulder and wept.

23 'Come!' said Heathcliff, stretching out a hand and dragging him roughly between his knees. 'None of that nonsense. We're not going to hurt you, Linton—isn't that your name? You're entirely like your mother. Where is my share in you?'

24 He took off the boy's cap and pushed back his thick fair curls and felt his thin arms and small fingers. Linton stopped crying and lifted his great blue eyes to examine the examiner.

25 'Do you know me?' asked Heathcliff.

26 'No,' said Linton, with a look of fear.

27 'No? What a shame of your mother, never to waken your feeling for me! You are my son. Be a good boy, and I'll look after you. Nelly, if you are tired, sit down. If not, get home. This thing won't be settled while you're still about.'

28 'Well,' I replied, 'I hope you'll be kind to the boy, Mr Heathcliff, or he won't live long.'

29 'I'll be very kind to him, you needn't fear,' he said, laughing. 'And to begin my kindness—Joseph! Bring the boy some breakfast. Hareton! Get to your work.'

30 'Yes,' he added, when they had gone, 'my son is the future owner of your place, and I should not wish him to die until I am certain of being his heir. Besides, he's mine, and I want the pleasure of seeing my son fairly lord of their property, my child hiring their children to cultivate their fathers' lands for wages. It's only such a thought that makes me able to bear the miserable thing. He's worthless in himself, and I hate him for the memories he brings back! But he's safe with me. I have a room upstairs, finely furnished for him. I've hired a teacher to come three times a week. I've ordered Hareton to obey him. In fact, I've arranged everything to keep him a gentleman. I do regret, though, 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 in the milk-faced baby!'

31 While he was speaking, Joseph returned with a bowl of porridge, and placed it in front of Linton. He stirred the simple food with a look of disgust, and declared he could not eat it.

32 Joseph was angry, but Heathcliff ordered the housekeeper to give him whatever he wanted to eat. Having no excuse for staying any longer, I slipped out while Linton was looking at a friendly sheepdog. But as I closed the door, I heard a cry, and a despairing repetition of the words:

33 'Don't leave me! I won't stay here! I won't stay here!'