CHAPTER XIX

therandHareton,whatplaymatesandinstructorsthey’llbe.Ourdoubtswerepresentlydecided—evenearlierthanIexpected.Ihadjusttakenthechildrenupstairs,afterteawasfinished,andseenLintonasleep—hewouldnotsuffermetoleavehimtillthatwasthecase—Ihadcomedown,andwasstandingbythetableinthehall,lightingabedroomcandleforMr.Edgar,whenamaidsteppedoutofthekitchenandinformedmethatMr.Heathcliff’sservantJosephwasatthedoor,andwishedtospeakwiththemaster. “Ishallaskhimwhathewantsfirst,”Isaid,inconsiderabletrepidation.“Averyunlikelyhourtobetroublingpeople,andtheinstanttheyhavereturnedfromalongjourney.Idon’tthinkthemastercanseehim.” JosephhadadvancedthroughthekitchenasIutteredthesewords,andnowpresentedhimselfinthehall.HewasdonnedinhisSundaygarments,withhismostsanctimoniousandsourestface,and,holdinghishatinonehand,andhisstickintheother,heproceededtocleanhisshoesonthemat. “Good-evening,Joseph,”Isaid,coldly.“Whatbusinessbringsyouhereto-night?” “It’sMaisterLintonImunspaketo,”heanswered,wavingmedisdainfullyaside. “Mr.Lintonisgoingtobedunlessyouhavesomethingparticulartosay,I’msurehewon’thearitnow,”Icontinued.“Youhadbettersitdowninthere,andentrustyourmessagetome.” “Whichishisrahm?”pursuedthefellow,surveyingtherangeofcloseddoors. Iperceivedhewasbentonrefusingmymediation,soveryreluctantlyIwentuptothelibrary,andannouncedtheunseasonablevisitor,advisingthatheshouldbedismissedtillnextday.Mr.Lintonhadnotimetoempowermetodoso,forJosephmountedcloseatmyheels,and,pushin