Chapter 20

           Toobviatethedangerofthisthreatbeingfulfilled,Mr.Lintoncommissionedmetotaketheboyhomeearly,onCatherine’spony;and,saidhe:"Asweshallnowhavenoinfluenceoverhisdestiny,goodorbad,youmustsaynothingofwhereheisgone,tomydaughter:shecannotassociatewithhimhereafter,anditisbetterforhertoremaininignoranceofhisproximity;lestsheshouldberestless,andanxioustovisittheHeights.Merelytellherthathisfathersentforhimsuddenly,andhehasbeenobligedtoleaveus."Lintonwasveryreluctanttoberousedfromhisbedatfiveo’clock,andquiteastonishedtobeinformedthathemustprepareforfurthertravelling;butIsoftenedoffthematterbystatingthathewasgoingtospendsometimewithhisfather,Mr.Heathcliff,whowishedtoseehimsomuch,hedidnotliketodeferthepleasuretillheshouldrecoverfromhislatejourney.

           "Myfather!"hecried,instrangeperplexity."MammanevertoldmeIhadafather.Wheredoeshelive?I’dratherstaywithuncle."

           "HelivesalittledistancefromtheGrange,"Ireplied;"justbeyondthosehills:notsofar,butyoumaywalkoverherewhenyougethearty.Andyoushouldbegladtogohome,andtoseehim.Youmusttrytolovehim,asyoudidyourmother,andthenhewillloveyou."

           "ButwhyhaveInotheardofhimbefore?"askedLinton."Whydidn’tmammaandhelivetogether,asotherpeopledo?"

           "Hehadbusinesstokeephiminthenorth,"Ianswered,"andyourmother’shealthrequiredhertoresideinthesouth."