'It is disgraceful that she should own him for a friend, and force his company on me! Call me two men out of the hall, Ellen.

Catherine shall linger no longer to argue with the low ruffian--I have humoured her enough.' He descended, and bidding the servants wait in the passage, went, followed by me, to the kitchen.

Its occupants had recommenced their angry discussion: Mrs.Linton, at least, was scolding with renewed vigour; Heathcliff had moved to the window, and hung his head, somewhat cowed by her violent rating apparently.

He saw the master first, and made a hasty motion that she should be silent; which she obeyed, abruptly, on discovering the reason of his intimation.
'How is this ?' said Linton, addressing her; 'what notion of propriety must you have to remain here, after the language which has been held to you by that blackguard?
I suppose, because it is his ordinary talk you think nothing of it: you are habituated to his baseness, and, perhaps, imagine I can get used to it too!' 'Have you been listening at the door, Edgar ?' asked the mistress, in a tone particularly calculated to provoke her husband, implying both carelessness and contempt of his irritation.

Heathcliff, who had raised his eyes at the former speech, gave a sneering laugh at the latter; on purpose, it seemed, to draw Mr.Linton's attention to him.