weir of hermiston-第7章

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was　done　with　glee　…　that　is　the　word　…　you　did　it　with　glee；　and　I　

looked　on；　God　help　me！　with　horror。〃



〃You're　a　young　gentleman　that　doesna　approve　of　Caapital　Punishment；〃　

said　Hermiston。　〃Weel；　I'm　an　auld　man　that　does。　　I　was　glad　to　get　

Jopp　haangit；　and　what　for　would　I　pretend　I　wasna？　　You're　all　for　

honesty；　it　seems；　you　couldn't　even　steik　your　mouth　on　the　public　

street。　　What　for　should　I　steik　mines　upon　the　bench；　the　King's　

officer；　bearing　the　sword；　a　dreid　to　evil…doers；　as　I　was　from　the　

beginning；　and　as　I　will　be　to　the　end！　　Mair　than　enough　of　it！　　

Heedious！　　I　never　gave　twa　thoughts　to　heediousness；　I　have　no　call　to　

be　bonny。　　I'm　a　man　that　gets　through　with　my　day's　business；　and　let　

that　suffice。〃



The　ring　of　sarcasm　had　died　out　of　his　voice　as　he　went　on；　the　plain　

words　became　invested　with　some　of　the　dignity　of　the　Justice…seat。



〃It　would　be　telling　you　if　you　could　say　as　much；〃　the　speaker　resumed。　　

〃But　ye　cannot。　　Ye've　been　reading　some　of　my　cases；　ye　say。　　But　it　

was　not　for　the　law　in　them；　it　was　to　spy　out　your　faither's　nakedness；　

a　fine　employment　in　a　son。　　You're　splairging；　you're　running　at　lairge　

in　life　like　a　wild　nowt。　　It's　impossible　you　should　think　any　longer　

of　coming　to　the　Bar。　　You're　not　fit　for　it；　no　splairger　is。　　And　

another　thing：　son　of　mines　or　no　son　of　mines；　you　have　flung　fylement　

in　public　on　one　of　the　Senators　of　the　Coallege　of　Justice；　and　I　would　

make　it　my　business　to　see　that　ye　were　never　admitted　there　yourself。　　

There　is　a　kind　of　a　decency　to　be　observit。　　Then　comes　the　next　of　it　

…　what　am　I　to　do　with　ye　next？　　Ye'll　have　to　find　some　kind　of　a　

trade；　for　I'll　never　support　ye　in　idleset。　　What　do　ye　fancy　ye'll　be　

fit　for？　　The　pulpit？　　Na；　they　could　never　get　diveenity　into　that　

bloackhead。　　Him　that　the　law　of　man　whammles　is　no　likely　to　do　muckle　

better　by　the　law　of　God。　　What　would　ye　make　of　hell？　　Wouldna　your　

gorge　rise　at　that？　　Na；　there's　no　room　for　splairgers　under　the　fower　

quarters　of　John　Calvin。　　What　else　is　there？　　Speak　up。　　Have　ye　got　

nothing　of　your　own？〃



〃Father；　let　me　go　to　the　Peninsula；〃　said　Archie。　　〃That's　all　I'm　fit　

for　…　to　fight。〃



〃All？　quo'　he！〃　returned　the　Judge。　　〃And　it　would　be　enough　too；　if　I　

thought　it。　　But　I'll　never　trust　ye　so　near　the　French；　you　that's　so　

Frenchi…feed。〃



〃You　do　me　injustice　there；　sir；〃　said　Archie。　　〃I　am　loyal；　I　will　not　

boast；　but　any　interest　I　may　have　ever　felt　in　the　French　…　〃



〃Have　ye　been　so　loyal　to　me？〃　interrupted　his　father。



There　came　no　reply。



〃I　think　not；〃　continued　Hermiston。　　〃And　I　would　send　no　man　to　be　a　

servant　to　the　King；　God　bless　him！　that　has　proved　such　a　shauchling　

son　to　his　own　faither。　　You　can　splairge　here　on　Edinburgh　street；　and　

where's　the　hairm？　　It　doesna　play　buff　on　me！　　And　if　there　were　twenty　

thousand　eediots　like　yourself；　sorrow　a　Duncan　Jopp　would　hang　the　

fewer。　　But　there's　no　splairging　possible　in　a　camp；　and　if　ye　were　to　

go　to　it；　you　would　find　out　for　yourself　whether　Lord　Well'n'ton　

approves　of　caapital　punishment　or　not。　　You　a　sodger！〃　he　cried；　with　a　

sudden　burst　of　scorn。　　〃Ye　auld　wife；　the　sodgers　would　bray　at　ye　like　

cuddies！〃



As　at　the　drawing　of　a　curtain；　Archie　was　aware　of　some　illogicality　in　

his　position；　and　stood　abashed。　　He　had　a　strong　impression；　besides；　

of　the　essential　valour　of　the　old　gentleman　before　him；　how　conveyed　it　

would　be　hard　to　say。



〃Well；　have　ye　no　other　proposeetion？〃　said　my　lord　again。



〃You　have　taken　this　so　calmly；　sir；　that　I　cannot　but　stand　ashamed；〃　

began　Archie。



〃I'm　nearer　voamiting；　though；　than　you　would　fancy；〃　said　my　lord。

The　blood　rose　to　Archie's　brow。



〃I　beg　your　pardon；　I　should　have　said　that　you　had　accepted　my　affront。　

。　。　。　I　admit　it　was　an　affront；　I　did　not　think　to　apologise；　but　I　do；　

I　ask　your　pardon；　it　will　not　be　so　again；　I　pass　you　my　word　of　

honour。　。　。　。　I　should　have　said　that　I　admired　your　magnanimity　with　…　

this　…　offender；〃　Archie　concluded　with　a　gulp。



〃I　have　no　other　son；　ye　see；〃　said　Hermiston。　　〃A　bonny　one　I　have　

gotten！　　But　I　must　just　do　the　best　I　can　wi'　him；　and　what　am　I　to　do？　　

If　ye　had　been　younger；　I　would　have　wheepit　ye　for　this　rideeculous　

exhibeetion。　　The　way　it　is；　I　have　just　to　grin　and　bear。　　But　one　

thing　is　to　be　clearly　understood。　　As　a　faither；　I　must　grin　and　bear　

it；　but　if　I　had　been　the　Lord　Advocate　instead　of　the　Lord　Justice…

Clerk；　son　or　no　son；　Mr。　Erchibald　Weir　would　have　been　in　a　jyle　the　

night。〃



Archie　was　now　dominated。　　Lord　Hermiston　was　coarse　and　cruel；　and　yet　

the　son　was　aware　of　a　bloomless　nobility；　an　ungracious　abnegation　of　

the　man's　self　in　the　man's　office。　　At　every　word；　this　sense　of　the　

greatness　of　Lord　Hermiston's　spirit　struck　more　home；　and　along　with　it　

that　of　his　own　impotence；　who　had　struck　…　and　perhaps　basely　struck　…　

at　his　own　father；　and　not　reached　so　far　as　to　have　even　nettled　him。



〃I　place　myself　in　your　hands　without　reserve；〃　he　said。



〃That's　the　first　sensible　word　I've　had　of　ye　the　night；〃　said　

Hermiston。　　〃I　can　tell　ye；　that　would　have　been　the　end　of　it；　the　one　

way　or　the　other；　but　it's　better　ye　should　come　there　yourself；　than　

what　I　would　have　had　to　hirstle　ye。　　Weel；　by　my　way　of　it　…　and　my　way　

is　the　best　…　there's　just　the　one　thing　it's　possible　that　ye　might　be　

with　decency；　and　that's　a　laird。　　Ye'll　be　out　of　hairm's　way　at　the　

least　of　it。　　If　ye　have　to　rowt；　ye　can　rowt　amang　the　kye；　and　the　

maist　feck　of　the　caapital　punishmeiit　ye're　like　to　come　across'll　be　

guddling　trouts。　　Now；　I'm　for　no　idle　lairdies；　every　man　has　to　work；　

if　it's　only　at　peddling　ballants；　to　work；　or　to　be　wheeped；　or　to　be　

haangit。　　If　I　set　ye　down　at　Hermiston　I'll　have　to　see　you　work　that　

place　the　way　it　has　never　been　workit　yet；　ye　must　ken　about　the　sheep　

like　a　herd；　ye　must　be　my　grieve　there；　and　I'll　see　that　I　gain　by　ye。　　

Is　that　understood？〃



〃I　will　do　my　best；〃　said　Archie。



〃Well；　then；　I'll　send　Kirstie　word　the　morn；　and　ye　can　go　yourself　the　

day　after；〃　said　Hermiston。　　〃And　just　try　to　be　less　of　an　eediot！〃　he　

concluded　with　a　freezing　smile；　and　turned　immediately　to　the　papers　on　

his　desk。







CHAPTER　IV　…　OPINIONS　OF　THE　BENCH







LATE　the　same　night；　after　a　disordered　walk；　Archie　was　admitted　into　

Lord　Glenalmond's　dining…room；　where　he　sat　with　a　book　upon　his　knee；　

beside　three　frugal　coals　of　fire。　　In　his　robes　upon　the　bench；　

Glenalmond　had　a　certain　air　of　burliness：　plucked　of　these；　it　was　a　

may…pole　of　a　man　that　rose　unsteadily　from　his　chair　to　give　his　

visitor　welcome。　　Archie　had　suffered　much　in　the　last　days；　he　had　

suffered　again　that　evening；　his　face　was　white　and　drawn；　his　eyes　wild　

and　dark。　　But　Lord　Glenalmond　greeted　him　without　the　least　mark　of　

surprise　or　curiosity。



〃Come　in；　come　in；〃　said　he。　　〃Come　in　and　take　a　seat。　　Carstairs〃　（to　

his　servant）；　〃make　up　the　fire；　and　then　you　can　bring　a　bit　of　

supper；〃　and　again　to　Archie；　with　a　very　trivial　accent：　〃I　was　half　

expecting　you；〃　he　added。



〃No　supper；〃　said　Archie。　　〃It　is　impossible　that　I　should　eat。〃



〃Not　impossible；〃　said　the　tall　old　man；　laying　his　hand　upon　his　

shoulder；　〃and；　if　you　will　believe　me；　necessary。〃



〃You　know　what　brings　me？〃　said　Archie；　as　soon　as　the　servant　had　left　

the　room。



〃I　have　a　guess；　I　have　a　guess；〃　replied　Glenalmond。　　〃We　will　talk　of　

it　presently　…　when　Carstairs　has　come　and　gone；　and　you　have　had　a　

piece　of　my　good　Cheddar　cheese　and　a　pull　at　the　porter　tankard：　not　

before。〃



〃It　is　impossible　I　should　eat〃　repeated　Archie。



〃Tut；　tut！〃　said　Lord　Glenalmond。　　〃You　have　eaten　nothing　to…day；　and　I　

venture　to　add；　nothing　yesterday。　　There　is　no　case　that　may　not　be　

made　worse；　this　may　be　a　very　disagreeable　business；　but　if　you　were　to　

fall　sick　and　die；　it　would　be　still　more　so；　and　for　all　concerned　…　

for　all　concerned。〃



〃I　see　you　must　know　all；〃　said　Archie。　　〃Where　did　you　hear　it？〃



〃In　the　mart　of　scandal；　in　the　Parliament　House；〃　said　Glenalmond。　　〃It　

runs　riot　below　among　the　bar　and　the　public；　but　it　sifts　up　to　us　upon　

the　bench；　and　rumour　has　some　of　her　voices　even　in　the　divisions。〃



Carstairs　returned　at　this　moment；　and　rapidly　laid　out　a　little　supper；　

during　which　Lord　Glenalmond　spoke　at　large　and　a　little　vaguely　on　

indifferent　subjects；　so　that　it　might　be　rather　said　of　him　that　he　

made　a　cheerful　noise；　than　that　he　contributed　to　human　conversation；　

and　Archie　sat　upon　the　other　side；　not　heeding　him；　brooding　over　his　

wrongs　and　errors。



But　so　soon　as　the　servant　was　gone；　he　broke　forth　again　at　once。　　〃Who　

told　my　father？　　Who　dared　to　tell　him？　　Could　it　have　been　you？〃



〃No；　it　was　not　me；〃　said　the　Judge；　〃although　…　to　be　quite　frank　with　

you；　and　after　I　had　seen　and　warned　you　…　it　might　have　been　me　…　I　

believe　it　was　Glenkindie。〃



〃That　shrimp！〃　cried　Archie。



〃As　you　say；　that　shrimp；〃　returned　my　lord；　〃although　really　it　is　

scarce　a　fitting　mode　of　expression　for　one　of　the　senators　of　the　

College　of　Justice。　　We　were　hearing　the　parties　in　a　long；　crucial　

case；　before　the　fifteen；　Creech　was　moving　at　some　length　for　an　

infeftment；　when　I　saw　Glenkindie　lean　forward　to　Hermiston　with　his　

hand　over　his　mouth　and　make　him　a　secret　communication。　　No　one　could　

have　guessed　its　nature　from　your　father：　from　Glenkindie；　yes；　his　

malice　sparked　out　of　him　a　little　grossly。　　But　your　father；　no。　　A　man　

of　granite。　　The　next　moment　he　pounced　upon　Creech。　　‘Mr。　Creech；'　says　

he；　‘I'll　take　a　look　of　that　sasine；'　and　for　thirty　minutes　after；〃　

said　Glenalmond；　with　a　smile；　〃Messrs。　Creech　and　Co。　were　fighting　a　

pretty　up…hill　battle；　which　resulted；　I　need　hardly　add；　in　their　total　

rout。　　The　case　was　dismissed。　　No；　I　doubt　if　ever　I　heard　Hermiston　

better　inspired。　　He　was　literally　rejoicing　IN　APICIBUS　JURIS。〃



Archie　was　able　to　endure　no　longer。　　He　thrust　his　plate　away　and　

interrupted　the　deliberate　and　insignificant　stream　of　talk。　　〃Here；〃　he　

said；　〃I　have　made　a　fool　of　myself；　if　I　have　not　made　something　worse。　　

Do　you　judge　between　us　…　judge　between　a　father　and　a　son。　　I　can　speak　

to　you；　it　is　not　like　。。。　I　will　tell　you　what　I　feel　and　what　I　mean　

to　do；　and　you　shall　be　the　judge；〃　he　repeated。



〃I　decline　jurisdiction；〃　said　Glenalmond；　with　extreme　seriousness。　　

〃But；　my　dear　boy；　if　it　will　do　you　any　good　to　talk；　and　if　it　will　

interest　you　at　all　to　hear　what　I　may　choose　to　say　when　I　have　heard　

you；　I　am　quite　at　your　command。　　Let　an　old　man　say　it；　for　once；　and　

not　need　to