CHAPTER VI

“‘Whatculpablecarelessnessinherbrother!’exclaimedMr.Linton,turningfrommetoCatherine.‘I’veunderstoodfromShielders’”(thatwasthecurate,sir)“‘thatheletshergrowupinabsoluteheathenism.Butwhoisthis?Wheredidshepickupthiscompanion?Oho!Ideclareheisthatstrangeacquisitionmylateneighbourmade,inhisjourneytoLiverpool—alittleLascar,oranAmericanorSpanishcastaway.’ “‘Awickedboy,atallevents,’remarkedtheoldlady,‘andquiteunfitforadecenthouse!Didyounoticehislanguage,Linton?I’mshockedthatmychildrenshouldhaveheardit.’ “Irecommencedcursing—don’tbeangry,Nelly—andsoRobertwasorderedtotakemeoff.IrefusedtogowithoutCathyhedraggedmeintothegarden,pushedthelanternintomyhand,assuredmethatMr.Earnshawshouldbeinformedofmybehaviour,and,biddingmemarchdirectly,securedthedooragain.Thecurtainswerestillloopedupatonecorner,andIresumedmystationasspybecause,ifCatherinehadwishedtoreturn,Iintendedshatteringtheirgreatglasspanestoamillionoffragments,unlesstheyletherout.Shesatonthesofaquietly.Mrs.Lintontookoffthegreycloakofthedairy-maidwhichwehadborrowedforourexcursion,shakingherheadandexpostulatingwithher,Isuppose:shewasayounglady,andtheymadeadistinctionbetweenhertreatmentandmine.Thenthewoman-servantbroughtabasinofwarmwater,andwashedherfeetandMr.Lintonmixedatumblerofnegus,andIsabellaemptiedaplatefulofcakesintoherlap,andEdgarstoodgapingatadistance.Afterwards,theydriedandcombedherbeautifulhair,andgaveherapairofenormousslippers,andwheeledhertothefireandIlefther,asmerryasshecouldbe,dividingherfoodbetweenthelittledogandSkulker,whosenoseshepinchedasheateandkindlingasparkofspiritinthevacantblueeyesoftheLintons—adimreflectionfromherownenchantingface.Isawtheywerefullofstupidadmirationsheissoimmeasurablysuperiortothem—toeverybodyonearth,isshenot,Nelly?” “Therewillmorecomeofthisbusinessthanyoureckonon,”Ianswered,coveringhimupandextinguishingthelight.“Youareincurable,HeathcliffandMr.Hindleywillhavetoproceedtoextremities,seeifhewon’t.”MywordscametruerthanIdesired.ThelucklessadventuremadeEarnshawfurious.AndthenMr.Linton,tomendmatters,paidusavisithimselfonthemorrow,andreadtheyoungmastersuchalectureontheroadheguidedhisfamily,thathewasstirredtolookabouthim,inearnest.Heathcliffreceivednoflogging,buthewastoldthatthefirstwordhespoketoMissCatherineshouldensureadismissalandMrs.Earnshawundertooktokeephersister-in-lawinduerestraintwhenshereturnedhomeemployingart,notforce:withforceshewouldhavefounditimpossible.