CHAPTER XX

earrangedeverythingwithaviewtopreservethesuperiorandthegentlemaninhim,abovehisassociates.Idoregret,however,thathesolittledeservesthetrouble:ifIwishedanyblessingintheworld,itwastofindhimaworthyobjectofprideandI’mbitterlydisappointedwiththewhey-faced,whiningwretch!” Whilehewasspeaking,Josephreturnedbearingabasinofmilk-porridge,andplaceditbeforeLinton:whostirredroundthehomelymesswithalookofaversion,andaffirmedhecouldnoteatit.Isawtheoldman-servantsharedlargelyinhismaster’sscornofthechildthoughhewascompelledtoretainthesentimentinhisheart,becauseHeathcliffplainlymeanthisunderlingstoholdhiminhonour. “Cannotateit?”repeatedhe,peeringinLinton’sface,andsubduinghisvoicetoawhisper,forfearofbeingoverheard.“ButMaisterHaretonniviratenaughtelse,whenheweralittle’unandwhatwergooideneughforhim’sgooideneughforye,I’sraytherthink!” “Isha’n’teatit!”answeredLinton,snappishly.“Takeitaway.” Josephsnatchedupthefoodindignantly,andbroughtittous. “Isthereaughtailsth’victuals?”heasked,thrustingthetrayunderHeathcliff’snose. “Whatshouldailthem?”hesaid. “Wah!”answeredJoseph,“yondaintychapsayshecannutate’em.ButIguessit’sraight!Hismotherwerjustsoa—wewera’mosttoomuckytosowt’cornformakkingherbreead.” “Don’tmentionhismothertome,”saidthemaster,angrily.“Gethimsomethingthathecaneat,that’sall.Whatishisusualfood,Nelly?” Isuggestedboiledmilkorteaandthehousekeeperreceivedinstructionstopreparesome.Come,Ireflected,hisfather’sselfishnessmaycontributetohiscomfort.Heperceiveshisdelicateconstitution,andthenecessityoftreatinghimtolerably.I’llconsoleMr.EdgarbyacquaintinghimwiththeturnHeathcliff’shumourhastaken.Havingnoexcuseforlingeringlonger,Islippedout,whileLintonwasengagedintimidlyrebuffingtheadvancesofafriendlysheep-dog.Buthewastoomuchonthealerttobecheated:asIclosedthedoor,Iheardacry,andafranticrepetitionofthewords— “Don’tleaveme!I’llnotstayhere!I’llnotstayhere!” Thenthelatchwasraisedandfell:theydidnotsufferhimtocomeforth.ImountedMinny,andurgedhertoatrotandsomybriefguardianshipended.