CHAPTER XIX

ouplease.” “Letmegotobed,then,”answeredtheboy,shrinkingfromCatherine’ssaluteandheputhisfingerstohiseyestoremoveincipienttears. “Come,come,there’sagoodchild,”Iwhispered,leadinghimin.“You’llmakeherweeptoo—seehowsorrysheisforyou!” Idonotknowwhetheritwassorrowforhim,buthiscousinputonassadacountenanceashimself,andreturnedtoherfather.Allthreeentered,andmountedtothelibrary,whereteawaslaidready.IproceededtoremoveLinton’scapandmantle,andplacedhimonachairbythetablebuthewasnosoonerseatedthanhebegantocryafresh.Mymasterinquiredwhatwasthematter. “Ican’tsitonachair,”sobbedtheboy. “Gotothesofa,then,andEllenshallbringyousometea,”answeredhisunclepatiently. Hehadbeengreatlytried,duringthejourney,Ifeltconvinced,byhisfretfulailingcharge.Lintonslowlytrailedhimselfoff,andlaydown.Cathycarriedafootstoolandhercuptohisside.Atfirstshesatsilentbutthatcouldnotlast:shehadresolvedtomakeapetofherlittlecousin,asshewouldhavehimtobeandshecommencedstrokinghiscurls,andkissinghischeek,andofferinghimteainhersaucer,likeababy.Thispleasedhim,forhewasnotmuchbetter:hedriedhiseyes,andlightenedintoafaintsmile. “Oh,he’lldoverywell,”saidthemastertome,afterwatchingthemaminute.“Verywell,ifwecankeephim,Ellen.Thecompanyofachildofhisownagewillinstilnewspiritintohimsoon,andbywishingforstrengthhe’llgainit.” “Ay,ifwecankeephim!”Imusedtomyselfandsoremisgivingscameovermethattherewasslighthopeofthat.Andthen,Ithought,howeverwillthatweaklingliveatWutheringHeights?Betweenhisfa