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.
`Oh, he'll do very well,' said the master to me, after watching them a minute.`Very 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'll gain it.'
`Ay, if we can keep him!' I mused to myself; and sore misgivings came over me that there was slight hope of that.And then, I thought, however will that weakling live at Wuthering Heights, between his father and Hareton, what playmates and instructors they'll be.Our doubts were presently decided even earlier than I expected.I had just taken the children upstairs, after tea was finished, and seen Linton asleep--he would not suffer me to leave him till that was the case--I 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's servant Joseph was at the door, and wished to speak with the master.
`I shall ask him what he wants first,' I said, in considerable trepidation.`A very unlikely hour to be troubling people, and the instant they have returned from a long journey.I don't think the master can see him.'
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.
`Good evening, Joseph,' I said coldly.`What business brings you here tonight?'
`It's Maister Linton Aw mun spake tull,' he answered, waving me disdainfully aside.
`Mr Linton is going to bed; unless you have something particular to say, I'm sure he won't hear it now,' I continued.`You had better sit down in there, and entrust your message to me.
`Which is his rahm?' pursued the fellow, surveying the range of closed doors.
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:
`Heathcliff has send me for his lad, and Aw munn't goa back 'bout him.'
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's 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.
`Tell Mr Heathcliff,' he answered calmly, `that his son shall come to Wuthering Heights tomorrow.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.'
`Noa!' said Joseph, giving a thud with his prop on the floor, and assuming an authoritative air; `noa! that manes nowt.Hathecliff maks noa 'cahnt uh t' mother, nur yah norther; bud he'll hev his lad; und Aw mun tak him--soa nah yah knaw!'
`You shall not tonight!' answered Linton decisively.`Walk downstairs at once, and, repeat to your master what I have said.Ellen, show him down.
Go--'
And, aiding the indignant elder with a lift by the arm, he rid the room of him, and closed the door.
`Varrah weell!' shouted Joseph, as he slowly drew off.`Tuhmorn, he's come hisseln, un thrust him aht, if yah darr!'
