Wuthering Heights

half-past six; the family had just finished breakfast; the servant was clearing and wiping down the table: Joseph stood by his master's chair telling some tale concerning a lame horse; and Hareton was preparing for the hay-field.
    »Hallo, Nelly!« cried Mr. Heathcliff, when he saw me. »I feared I should have to come down and fetch my property, myself – You've brought it have you? Let us see what we can make of it.«
    He got up and strode to the door: Hareton and Joseph followed in gaping curiosity. Poor Linton ran a frightened eye over the faces of the three.
    »Sure-ly,« said Joseph after a grave inspection, »he's swopped wi' ye, maister, an' yon's his lass!«
    Heathcliff having stared his son into an ague of confusion, uttered a scornful laugh.
    »God! what a beauty! what a lovely, charming thing!« he exclaimed. »Haven't they reared it on snails, and sour milk, Nelly? Oh, damn my soul! but that's worse than I expected – and the devil knows I was not sanguine!«
    I bid the trembling and bewildered child get down, and enter. He did not thoroughly comprehend the meaning of his father's speech, or whether it were intended for him: indeed, he was not yet certain that the grim, sneering stranger was his father; but he clung to me with growing trepidation; and on Mr. Heathcliff's taking a seat, and bidding him ›come hither,‹ he hid his face on my shoulder, and wept.
    »Tut, tut!« said Heathcliff, stretching out a hand and dragging him roughly between his knees, and then holding up his head by the chin. »None of that nonsense! We're not going to hurt thee, Linton – isn't that thy name? Thou art thy mother's child, entirely! Where is
my
share in thee, puling chicken?«
    He took off the boy's cap and pushed back his thick flaxen curls, felt his slender arms, and his small fingers; during which examination, Linton ceased crying, and lifted his great blue eyes to inspect the inspector.
    »Do you know me?« asked Heathcliff, having satisfied himself that the limbs were all equally frail and feeble.
    »No!« said Linton, with a gaze of vacant fear.
    »You've heard of me, I dare say?«
    »No,« he replied again.
    »No? What a shame of your mother, never to waken your filial regard for me! You are my son, then, I'll tell you; and your mother was a wicked slut to leave you in ignorance of the sort of father you possessed – Now, don't wince, and colour up! Though it
is
something to see you have not white blood – Be a good lad; and I'll do for you – Nelly, if you be tired you may sit down, if not get home again – I guess you'll report what you hear, and see, to the cipher at the Grange; and this thing won't be settled while you linger about it.«
    »Well,« replied I, »I hope you'll be kind to the boy, Mr. Heathcliff, or you'll not keep him long, and he's all you have akin, in the wide world that you will ever know – remember.«
    »I'll be
very
kind to him you needn't fear!« he said laughing. »Only nobody else must be kind to him – I'm jealous of monopolizing his affection – And, to begin my kindness, Joseph! bring the lad some breakfast – Hareton, you infernal calf, begone to your work. Yes, Nell,« he added when they were departed, »my son is prospective owner of your place, and I should not wish him to die till I was certain of being his successor. Besides, he's
mine,
and I want the triumph of seeing
my
descendent fairly lord of their estates; my child hiring their children, to till their fathers' lands for wages – That is the sole consideration which can make me endure the whelp – I despise him for himself, and hate him for the memories he revives! But, that consideration is sufficient; he's as safe with me, and shall be tended as carefully, as your master tends his own – I have a room up-stairs, furnished for him, in handsome style – I've engaged a tutor, also, to come three times a week, from twenty miles distance, to teach him what he pleases to learn. I've ordered Hareton to obey him: and in fact, I've arranged everything with a view to preserve the superior, and the gentleman in him, above his associates – I do regret however, that he so little deserves the trouble – if I wished any blessing in the world, it was to find him a worthy object of pride, and I'm bitterly disappointed with the whey-faced whining wretch!«
    While he was speaking, Joseph returned, bearing a basin of milk-porridge, and placed it before Linton. He stirred round the homely mess with a look of aversion,