CHAPTER XX

lesisagreatdistanceandtenyearsseemverydifferentinlengthtoagrown-uppersoncomparedwithwhattheydotoyou.ItisprobableMr.Heathcliffproposedgoingfromsummertosummer,butneverfoundaconvenientopportunityandnowitistoolate.Don’ttroublehimwithquestionsonthesubject:itwilldisturbhim,fornogood.” Theboywasfullyoccupiedwithhisowncogitationsfortheremainderoftheride,tillwehaltedbeforethefarmhousegarden-gate.Iwatchedtocatchhisimpressionsinhiscountenance.Hesurveyedthecarvedfrontandlow-browedlattices,thestragglinggooseberry-bushesandcrookedfirs,withsolemnintentness,andthenshookhishead:hisprivatefeelingsentirelydisapprovedoftheexteriorofhisnewabode.Buthehadsensetopostponecomplaining:theremightbecompensationwithin.Beforehedismounted,Iwentandopenedthedoor.Itwashalf-pastsixthefamilyhadjustfinishedbreakfast:theservantwasclearingandwipingdownthetable.Josephstoodbyhismaster’schairtellingsometaleconcerningalamehorseandHaretonwaspreparingforthehayfield. “Hallo,Nelly!”saidMr.Heathcliff,whenhesawme.“IfearedIshouldhavetocomedownandfetchmypropertymyself.You’vebroughtit,haveyou?Letusseewhatwecanmakeofit.” Hegotupandstrodetothedoor:HaretonandJosephfollowedingapingcuriosity.PoorLintonranafrightenedeyeoverthefacesofthethree. “Sure-ly,”saidJosephafteragraveinspection,“he’sswoppedwi’ye,Maister,an’yon’shislass!” Heathcliff,havingstaredhissonintoanagueofconfusion,utteredascornfullaugh. “God!whatabeauty!whatalovely,charmingthing!”heexclaimed.“Hav’n’ttheyreareditonsnailsandsourmilk,Nelly?Oh,damnmysoul!butthat’sworsethanIexpected—andthedevilknowsIwasnotsanguine!” Ibidthetremblingandbewilderedchildgetdown,andenter.Hedidnotthoroughlycomprehendthemeaningofhisfather’sspeech,orwhetheritwereintendedforhim:indeed,hewasnotyetcertainthatthegrim,sneeringstrangerwashisfather.ButheclungtomewithgrowingtrepidationandonMr.Heathcliff’stakingaseatandbiddinghim“comehither”hehidhisfaceonmyshoulderandwept. “Tut,tut!”saidHeathcliff,stretchingoutahandanddragginghimroughlybetweenhisknees,andthenholdinguphisheadbythechin.“No