CHAPTER XX

neofthatnonsense!We’renotgoingtohurtthee,Linton—isn’tthatthyname?Thouartthymother’schild,entirely!Whereismyshareinthee,pulingchicken?” Hetookofftheboy’scapandpushedbackhisthickflaxencurls,felthisslenderarmsandhissmallfingersduringwhichexaminationLintonceasedcrying,andliftedhisgreatblueeyestoinspecttheinspector. “Doyouknowme?”askedHeathcliff,havingsatisfiedhimselfthatthelimbswereallequallyfrailandfeeble. “No,”saidLinton,withagazeofvacantfear. “You’veheardofme,Idaresay?” “No,”herepliedagain. “No!Whatashameofyourmother,nevertowakenyourfilialregardforme!Youaremyson,then,I’lltellyouandyourmotherwasawickedsluttoleaveyouinignoranceofthesortoffatheryoupossessed.Now,don’twince,andcolourup!Thoughitissomethingtoseeyouhavenotwhiteblood.BeagoodladandI’lldoforyou.Nelly,ifyoubetiredyoumaysitdownifnot,gethomeagain.Iguessyou’llreportwhatyouhearandseetothecipherattheGrangeandthisthingwon’tbesettledwhileyoulingeraboutit.” “Well,”repliedI,“Ihopeyou’llbekindtotheboy,Mr.Heathcliff,oryou’llnotkeephimlongandhe’sallyouhaveakininthewideworld,thatyouwilleverknow—remember.” “I’llbeverykindtohim,youneedn’tfear,”hesaid,laughing.“Onlynobodyelsemustbekindtohim:I’mjealousofmonopolisinghisaffection.And,tobeginmykindness,Joseph,bringtheladsomebreakfast.Hareton,youinfernalcalf,begonetoyourwork.Yes,Nell,”headded,whentheyhaddeparted,“mysonisprospectiveownerofyourplace,andIshouldnotwishhimtodietillIwascertainofbeinghissuccessor.Besides,he’smine,andIwantthetriumphofseeingmydescendantfairlylordoftheirestatesmychildhiringtheirchildrentotilltheirfathers’landsforwages.Thatisthesoleconsiderationwhichcanmakemeendurethewhelp:Idespisehimforhimself,andhatehimforthememoriesherevives!Butthatconsiderationissufficient:he’sassafewithme,andshallbetendedascarefullyasyourmastertendshisown.Ihavearoomupstairs,furnishedforhiminhandsomestyleI’veengagedatutor,also,tocomethreetimesaweek,fromtwentymiles’distance,toteachhimwhathepleasestolearn.I’veorderedHaretontoobeyhim:andinfactI’v