{"id":42,"date":"2021-06-11T09:10:02","date_gmt":"2021-06-11T13:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/wutheringheights\/chapter\/the-project-gutenberg-ebook-of-wuthering-heights-by-emily-bronte-18\/"},"modified":"2022-01-31T09:17:20","modified_gmt":"2022-01-31T14:17:20","slug":"19","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/chapter\/19\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter XIX","rendered":"Chapter XIX"},"content":{"raw":"A letter, edged with black, announced the day of my master\u2019s return. Isabella was dead; and he wrote to bid me get mourning for his daughter, and arrange a room, and other accommodations, for his youthful nephew. Catherine ran wild with joy at the idea of welcoming her father back; and indulged most sanguine anticipations of the innumerable excellencies of her \u201creal\u201d cousin. The evening of their expected arrival came. Since early morning she had been busy ordering her own small affairs; and now attired in her new black frock\u2014poor thing! her aunt\u2019s death impressed her with no definite sorrow\u2014she obliged me, by constant worrying, to walk with her down through the grounds to meet them.\r\n\r\n\u201cLinton is just six months younger than I am,\u201d she chattered, as we strolled leisurely over the swells and hollows of mossy turf, under shadow of the trees. \u201cHow delightful it will be to have him for a playfellow! Aunt Isabella sent papa a beautiful lock of his hair; it was lighter than mine\u2014more flaxen, and quite as fine. I have it carefully preserved in a little glass box; and I\u2019ve often thought what a pleasure it would be to see its owner. Oh! I am happy\u2014and papa, dear, dear papa! Come, Ellen, let us run! come, run.\u201d\r\n\r\nShe ran, and returned and ran again, many times before my sober footsteps reached the gate, and then she seated herself on the grassy bank beside the path, and tried to wait patiently; but that was impossible: she couldn\u2019t be still a minute.\r\n\r\n\u201cHow long they are!\u201d she exclaimed. \u201cAh, I see, some dust on the road\u2014they are coming! No! When will they be here? May we not go a little way\u2014half a mile, Ellen, only just half a mile? Do say yes: to that clump of birches at the turn!\u201d\r\n\r\nI refused staunchly. At length her suspense was ended: the travelling carriage rolled in sight. Miss Cathy shrieked and stretched out her arms as soon as she caught her father\u2019s face looking from the window. He descended, nearly as eager as herself; and a considerable interval elapsed ere they had a thought to spare for any but themselves. While they exchanged caresses I took a peep in to see after Linton. He was asleep in a corner, wrapped in a warm, fur-lined cloak, as if it had been winter. A pale, delicate, effeminate boy, who might have been taken for my master\u2019s younger brother, so strong was the resemblance: but there was a sickly peevishness in his aspect that Edgar Linton never had. The latter saw me looking; and having shaken hands, advised me to close the door, and leave him undisturbed; for the journey had fatigued him. Cathy would fain have taken one glance, but her father told her to come, and they walked together up the park, while I hastened before to prepare the servants.\r\n\r\n\u201cNow, darling,\u201d said Mr. Linton, addressing his daughter, as they halted at the bottom of the front steps: \u201cyour cousin is not so strong or so merry as you are, and he has lost his mother, remember, a very short time since; therefore, don\u2019t expect him to play and run about with you directly. And don\u2019t harass him much by talking: let him be quiet this evening, at least, will you?\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cYes, yes, papa,\u201d answered Catherine: \u201cbut I do want to see him; and he hasn\u2019t once looked out.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe carriage stopped; and the sleeper being roused, was lifted to the ground by his uncle.\r\n\r\n\u201cThis is your cousin Cathy, Linton,\u201d he said, putting their little hands together. \u201cShe\u2019s fond of you already; and mind you don\u2019t grieve her by crying to-night. Try to be cheerful now; the travelling is at an end, and you have nothing to do but rest and amuse yourself as you please.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cLet me go to bed, then,\u201d answered the boy, shrinking from Catherine\u2019s salute; and he put his fingers to remove incipient tears.\r\n\r\n\u201cCome, come, there\u2019s a good child,\u201d I whispered, leading him in. \u201cYou\u2019ll make her weep too\u2014see how sorry she is for you!\u201d\r\n\r\nI do not know whether it was sorrow for him, but his cousin put on as sad a countenance as himself, and returned to her father. All three entered, and mounted to the library, where tea was laid ready. I proceeded to remove Linton\u2019s cap and mantle, and placed him on a chair by the table; but he was no sooner seated than he began to cry afresh. My master inquired what was the matter.\r\n\r\n\u201cI can\u2019t sit on a chair,\u201d sobbed the boy.\r\n\r\n\u201cGo to the sofa, then, and Ellen shall bring you some tea,\u201d answered his uncle patiently.\r\n\r\nHe had been greatly tried, during the journey, I felt convinced, by his fretful ailing charge. Linton slowly trailed himself off, and lay down. Cathy carried a footstool and her cup to his side. At first she sat silent; but that could not last: she had resolved to make a pet of her little cousin, as she would have him to be; and she commenced stroking his curls, and kissing his cheek, and offering him tea in her saucer, like a baby. This pleased him, for he was not much better: he dried his eyes, and lightened into a faint smile.\r\n\r\n\u201cOh, he\u2019ll do very well,\u201d said the master to me, after watching them a minute. \u201cVery well, if we can keep him, Ellen. The company of a child of his own age will instil new spirit into him soon, and by wishing for strength he\u2019ll gain it.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cAy, if we can keep him!\u201d I mused to myself; and sore misgivings came over me that there was slight hope of that. And then, I thought, how ever will that weakling live at Wuthering Heights? Between his father and Hareton, what playmates and instructors they\u2019ll be. Our doubts were presently decided\u2014even earlier than I expected. I had just taken the children upstairs, after tea was finished, and seen Linton asleep\u2014he would not suffer me to leave him till that was the case\u2014I had come down, and was standing by the table in the hall, lighting a bedroom candle for Mr. Edgar, when a maid stepped out of the kitchen and informed me that Mr. Heathcliff\u2019s servant Joseph was at the door, and wished to speak with the master.\r\n\r\n\u201cI shall ask him what he wants first,\u201d I said, in considerable trepidation. \u201cA very unlikely hour to be troubling people, and the instant they have returned from a long journey. I don\u2019t think the master can see him.\u201d\r\n\r\nJoseph had advanced through the kitchen as I uttered these words, and now presented himself in the hall. He was donned in his Sunday garments, with his most sanctimonious and sourest face, and, holding his hat in one hand, and his stick in the other, he proceeded to clean his shoes on the mat.\r\n\r\n\u201cGood-evening, Joseph,\u201d I said, coldly. \u201cWhat business brings you here to-night?\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s Maister Linton I mun spake to,\u201d he answered, waving me disdainfully aside.\r\n\r\n\u201cMr. Linton is going to bed; unless you have something particular to say, I\u2019m sure he won\u2019t hear it now,\u201d I continued. \u201cYou had better sit down in there, and entrust your message to me.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cWhich is his rahm?\u201d pursued the fellow, surveying the range of closed doors.\r\n\r\nI perceived he was bent on refusing my mediation, so very reluctantly I went up to the library, and announced the unseasonable visitor, advising that he should be dismissed till next day. Mr. Linton had no time to empower me to do so, for Joseph mounted close at my heels, and, pushing into the apartment, planted himself at the far side of the table, with his two fists clapped on the head of his stick, and began in an elevated tone, as if anticipating opposition\u2014\r\n\r\n\u201cHathecliff has sent me for his lad, and I munn\u2019t goa back \u2019bout him.\u201d\r\n\r\nEdgar Linton was silent a minute; an expression of exceeding sorrow overcast his features: he would have pitied the child on his own account; but, recalling Isabella\u2019s hopes and fears, and anxious wishes for her son, and her commendations of him to his care, he grieved bitterly at the prospect of yielding him up, and searched in his heart how it might be avoided. No plan offered itself: the very exhibition of any desire to keep him would have rendered the claimant more peremptory: there was nothing left but to resign him. However, he was not going to rouse him from his sleep.\r\n\r\n\u201cTell Mr. Heathcliff,\u201d he answered calmly, \u201cthat his son shall come to Wuthering Heights to-morrow. He is in bed, and too tired to go the distance now. You may also tell him that the mother of Linton desired him to remain under my guardianship; and, at present, his health is very precarious.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cNoa!\u201d said Joseph, giving a thud with his prop on the floor, and assuming an authoritative air. \u201cNoa! that means naught. Hathecliff maks noa \u2019count o\u2019 t\u2019 mother, nor ye norther; but he\u2019ll heu\u2019 his lad; und I mun tak\u2019 him\u2014soa now ye knaw!\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cYou shall not to-night!\u201d answered Linton decisively. \u201cWalk down stairs at once, and repeat to your master what I have said. Ellen, show him down. Go\u2014\u201d\r\n\r\nAnd, aiding the indignant elder with a lift by the arm, he rid the room of him and closed the door.\r\n\r\n\u201cVarrah weell!\u201d shouted Joseph, as he slowly drew off. \u201cTo-morn, he\u2019s come hisseln, and thrust him<\/i> out, if ye darr!\u201d","rendered":"

A letter, edged with black, announced the day of my master\u2019s return. Isabella was dead; and he wrote to bid me get mourning for his daughter, and arrange a room, and other accommodations, for his youthful nephew. Catherine ran wild with joy at the idea of welcoming her father back; and indulged most sanguine anticipations of the innumerable excellencies of her \u201creal\u201d cousin. The evening of their expected arrival came. Since early morning she had been busy ordering her own small affairs; and now attired in her new black frock\u2014poor thing! her aunt\u2019s death impressed her with no definite sorrow\u2014she obliged me, by constant worrying, to walk with her down through the grounds to meet them.<\/p>\n

\u201cLinton is just six months younger than I am,\u201d she chattered, as we strolled leisurely over the swells and hollows of mossy turf, under shadow of the trees. \u201cHow delightful it will be to have him for a playfellow! Aunt Isabella sent papa a beautiful lock of his hair; it was lighter than mine\u2014more flaxen, and quite as fine. I have it carefully preserved in a little glass box; and I\u2019ve often thought what a pleasure it would be to see its owner. Oh! I am happy\u2014and papa, dear, dear papa! Come, Ellen, let us run! come, run.\u201d<\/p>\n

She ran, and returned and ran again, many times before my sober footsteps reached the gate, and then she seated herself on the grassy bank beside the path, and tried to wait patiently; but that was impossible: she couldn\u2019t be still a minute.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long they are!\u201d she exclaimed. \u201cAh, I see, some dust on the road\u2014they are coming! No! When will they be here? May we not go a little way\u2014half a mile, Ellen, only just half a mile? Do say yes: to that clump of birches at the turn!\u201d<\/p>\n

I refused staunchly. At length her suspense was ended: the travelling carriage rolled in sight. Miss Cathy shrieked and stretched out her arms as soon as she caught her father\u2019s face looking from the window. He descended, nearly as eager as herself; and a considerable interval elapsed ere they had a thought to spare for any but themselves. While they exchanged caresses I took a peep in to see after Linton. He was asleep in a corner, wrapped in a warm, fur-lined cloak, as if it had been winter. A pale, delicate, effeminate boy, who might have been taken for my master\u2019s younger brother, so strong was the resemblance: but there was a sickly peevishness in his aspect that Edgar Linton never had. The latter saw me looking; and having shaken hands, advised me to close the door, and leave him undisturbed; for the journey had fatigued him. Cathy would fain have taken one glance, but her father told her to come, and they walked together up the park, while I hastened before to prepare the servants.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, darling,\u201d said Mr. Linton, addressing his daughter, as they halted at the bottom of the front steps: \u201cyour cousin is not so strong or so merry as you are, and he has lost his mother, remember, a very short time since; therefore, don\u2019t expect him to play and run about with you directly. And don\u2019t harass him much by talking: let him be quiet this evening, at least, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, yes, papa,\u201d answered Catherine: \u201cbut I do want to see him; and he hasn\u2019t once looked out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The carriage stopped; and the sleeper being roused, was lifted to the ground by his uncle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is your cousin Cathy, Linton,\u201d he said, putting their little hands together. \u201cShe\u2019s fond of you already; and mind you don\u2019t grieve her by crying to-night. Try to be cheerful now; the travelling is at an end, and you have nothing to do but rest and amuse yourself as you please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me go to bed, then,\u201d answered the boy, shrinking from Catherine\u2019s salute; and he put his fingers to remove incipient tears.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome, come, there\u2019s a good child,\u201d I whispered, leading him in. \u201cYou\u2019ll make her weep too\u2014see how sorry she is for you!\u201d<\/p>\n

I do not know whether it was sorrow for him, but his cousin put on as sad a countenance as himself, and returned to her father. All three entered, and mounted to the library, where tea was laid ready. I proceeded to remove Linton\u2019s cap and mantle, and placed him on a chair by the table; but he was no sooner seated than he began to cry afresh. My master inquired what was the matter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t sit on a chair,\u201d sobbed the boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo to the sofa, then, and Ellen shall bring you some tea,\u201d answered his uncle patiently.<\/p>\n

He had been greatly tried, during the journey, I felt convinced, by his fretful ailing charge. Linton slowly trailed himself off, and lay down. Cathy carried a footstool and her cup to his side. At first she sat silent; but that could not last: she had resolved to make a pet of her little cousin, as she would have him to be; and she commenced stroking his curls, and kissing his cheek, and offering him tea in her saucer, like a baby. This pleased him, for he was not much better: he dried his eyes, and lightened into a faint smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, he\u2019ll do very well,\u201d said the master to me, after watching them a minute. \u201cVery well, if we can keep him, Ellen. The company of a child of his own age will instil new spirit into him soon, and by wishing for strength he\u2019ll gain it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAy, if we can keep him!\u201d I mused to myself; and sore misgivings came over me that there was slight hope of that. And then, I thought, how ever will that weakling live at Wuthering Heights? Between his father and Hareton, what playmates and instructors they\u2019ll be. Our doubts were presently decided\u2014even earlier than I expected. I had just taken the children upstairs, after tea was finished, and seen Linton asleep\u2014he would not suffer me to leave him till that was the case\u2014I had come down, and was standing by the table in the hall, lighting a bedroom candle for Mr. Edgar, when a maid stepped out of the kitchen and informed me that Mr. Heathcliff\u2019s servant Joseph was at the door, and wished to speak with the master.<\/p>\n

\u201cI shall ask him what he wants first,\u201d I said, in considerable trepidation. \u201cA very unlikely hour to be troubling people, and the instant they have returned from a long journey. I don\u2019t think the master can see him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joseph had advanced through the kitchen as I uttered these words, and now presented himself in the hall. He was donned in his Sunday garments, with his most sanctimonious and sourest face, and, holding his hat in one hand, and his stick in the other, he proceeded to clean his shoes on the mat.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood-evening, Joseph,\u201d I said, coldly. \u201cWhat business brings you here to-night?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Maister Linton I mun spake to,\u201d he answered, waving me disdainfully aside.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Linton is going to bed; unless you have something particular to say, I\u2019m sure he won\u2019t hear it now,\u201d I continued. \u201cYou had better sit down in there, and entrust your message to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich is his rahm?\u201d pursued the fellow, surveying the range of closed doors.<\/p>\n

I perceived he was bent on refusing my mediation, so very reluctantly I went up to the library, and announced the unseasonable visitor, advising that he should be dismissed till next day. Mr. Linton had no time to empower me to do so, for Joseph mounted close at my heels, and, pushing into the apartment, planted himself at the far side of the table, with his two fists clapped on the head of his stick, and began in an elevated tone, as if anticipating opposition\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cHathecliff has sent me for his lad, and I munn\u2019t goa back \u2019bout him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Edgar Linton was silent a minute; an expression of exceeding sorrow overcast his features: he would have pitied the child on his own account; but, recalling Isabella\u2019s hopes and fears, and anxious wishes for her son, and her commendations of him to his care, he grieved bitterly at the prospect of yielding him up, and searched in his heart how it might be avoided. No plan offered itself: the very exhibition of any desire to keep him would have rendered the claimant more peremptory: there was nothing left but to resign him. However, he was not going to rouse him from his sleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell Mr. Heathcliff,\u201d he answered calmly, \u201cthat his son shall come to Wuthering Heights to-morrow. He is in bed, and too tired to go the distance now. You may also tell him that the mother of Linton desired him to remain under my guardianship; and, at present, his health is very precarious.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNoa!\u201d said Joseph, giving a thud with his prop on the floor, and assuming an authoritative air. \u201cNoa! that means naught. Hathecliff maks noa \u2019count o\u2019 t\u2019 mother, nor ye norther; but he\u2019ll heu\u2019 his lad; und I mun tak\u2019 him\u2014soa now ye knaw!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou shall not to-night!\u201d answered Linton decisively. \u201cWalk down stairs at once, and repeat to your master what I have said. Ellen, show him down. Go\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

And, aiding the indignant elder with a lift by the arm, he rid the room of him and closed the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cVarrah weell!\u201d shouted Joseph, as he slowly drew off. \u201cTo-morn, he\u2019s come hisseln, and thrust him<\/i> out, if ye darr!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"menu_order":19,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[48],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-42","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/42","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/42\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":169,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/42\/revisions\/169"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/42\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=42"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=42"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wutheringheights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=42"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}