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Summary
After Isabella's death, Edgar brings his nephew Linton Heathcliff back with him. He is a pale, sickly, peevish boy. Catherine is wildly excited to see her cousin. Linton however, is gloomy and tearful to find himself in a strange place. Catherine lovingly soothes him and he soon cheers up under her care.
As soon as Linton has gone to bed Joseph arrives at the Grange and insists that he must take Linton back to Wuthering Heights. Edgar realizes that Linton will have to be sent to his father's house but refuses to wake him up and send him in the night. He sends Joseph away telling him that Linton can be taken the next morning.
Critical Analysis
Linton is here introduced to us in quite an unfavorable light. Nelly's unsympathetic description — 'A pale, delicate, effeminate boy' — A sickly peevishness in his aspect is a forewarning of what is to come. He seems to have inherited the worst traits of both his parents.
Linton's arrival at the Grange parallels Heathcliff's first arrival at the Heights. Physically he does not resemble Heathcliff but he will be a disruptive element just as his father (Heathcliff) was.
Joseph's coming to the Grange is almost like an ill-omen and Nelly is filled with apprehension. The reader is also left in suspense about Heathcliff's plans for his son.