CHAPTER XX

towardsdressing,andIhadtocallformymaster’sassistanceincoaxinghimoutofbed.Thepoorthingwasfinallygotoff,withseveraldelusiveassurancesthathisabsenceshouldbeshort:thatMr.EdgarandCathywouldvisithim,andotherpromises,equallyill-founded,whichIinventedandreiteratedatintervalsthroughouttheway.Thepureheather-scentedair,thebrightsunshine,andthegentlecanterofMinny,relievedhisdespondencyafterawhile.Hebegantoputquestionsconcerninghisnewhome,anditsinhabitants,withgreaterinterestandliveliness. “IsWutheringHeightsaspleasantaplaceasThrushcrossGrange?”heinquired,turningtotakealastglanceintothevalley,whencealightmistmountedandformedafleecycloudontheskirtsoftheblue. “Itisnotsoburiedintrees,”Ireplied,“anditisnotquitesolarge,butyoucanseethecountrybeautifullyallroundandtheairishealthierforyou—fresheranddrier.Youwill,perhaps,thinkthebuildingoldanddarkatfirstthoughitisarespectablehouse:thenextbestintheneighbourhood.Andyouwillhavesuchniceramblesonthemoors.HaretonEarnshaw—thatis,MissCathy’sothercousin,andsoyoursinamanner—willshowyouallthesweetestspotsandyoucanbringabookinfineweather,andmakeagreenhollowyourstudyand,nowandthen,yourunclemayjoinyouinawalk:hedoes,frequently,walkoutonthehills.” “Andwhatismyfatherlike?”heasked.“Isheasyoungandhandsomeasuncle?” “He’sasyoung,”saidI“buthehasblackhairandeyes,andlookssternerandheistallerandbiggeraltogether.He’llnotseemtoyousogentleandkindatfirst,perhaps,becauseitisnothisway:still,mindyou,befrankandcordialwithhimandnaturallyhe’llbefonderofyouthananyuncle,foryouarehisown.” “Blackhairandeyes!”musedLinton.“Ican’tfancyhim.ThenIamnotlikehim,amI?” “Notmuch,”Ianswered:notamorsel,Ithought,surveyingwithregretthewhitecomplexionandslimframeofmycompanion,andhislargelanguideyes—hismother’seyes,savethat,unlessamorbidtouchinesskindledthemamoment,theyhadnotavestigeofhersparklingspirit. “Howstrangethatheshouldnevercometoseemammaandme!”hemurmured.“Hasheeverseenme?Ifhehas,Imusthavebeenababy.Iremembernotasinglethingabouthim!” “Why,MasterLinton,”saidI,“threehundredmi