Mr. Earnshaw lives in Wuthering Heights with his wife and two children, Hindley and Catherine. Hindley is eight years older than Catherine. Ellen Dean (a.k.a. Nelly) is born the same year as Hindley and she works for the Earnshaws. Mr. Earnshaw adopts Heathcliff after finding him alone along the road back to his house. He doesn't know how old he is, but he is close in age to Catherine and they become friends.
Mr. Linton and Mrs. Linton live in Thrushcross Grange and have two children, Edgar and Isabella who are close in age to Catherine and Heathcliff. (Spoilers after the break.)
