按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Lord Glenalmond bowed his head。
〃I think I have；〃 said Archie。 〃And the worst is； I think he feels it！
How much； who can tell； with such a being？ But I think he does。〃
〃And I am sure of it；〃 said Glenalmond。
〃Has he spoken to you； then？〃 cried Archie。
〃O no；〃 replied the judge。
〃I tell you honestly；〃 said Archie； 〃I want to make it up to him。 I
will go； I have already pledged myself to go to Hermiston。 That was to
him。 And now I pledge myself to you； in the sight of God； that I will
close my mouth on capital punishment and all other subjects where our
views may clash； for … how long shall I say？ when shall I have sense
enough？ … ten years。 Is that well？〃
〃It is well；〃 said my lord。
〃As far as it goes；〃 said Archie。 〃It is enough as regards myself； it
is to lay down enough of my conceit。 But as regards him； whom I have
publicly insulted？ What am I to do to him？ How do you pay attentions
to a … an Alp like that？〃
〃Only in one way；〃 replied Glenalmond。 〃Only by obedience； punctual；
prompt； and scrupulous。〃
〃And I promise that he shall have it；〃 answered Archie。 〃I offer you my
hand in pledge of it。〃
〃And I take your hand as a solemnity；〃 replied the judge。 〃God bless
you； my dear； and enable you to keep your promise。 God guide you in the
true way； and spare your days； and preserve to you your honest heart。〃
At that； he kissed the young man upon the forehead in a gracious；
distant； antiquated way； and instantly launched； with a marked change of
voice； into another subject。 〃And now； let us replenish the tankard；
and I believe if you will try my Cheddar again； you would find you had a
better appetite。 The Court has spoken； and the case is dismissed。〃
〃No； there is one thing I must say；〃 cried Archie。 〃I must say it in
justice to himself。 I know … I believe faithfully； slavishly； after our
talk … he will never ask me anything unjust。 I am proud to feel it；
that we have that much in common； I am proud to say it to you。〃
The Judge； with shining eyes； raised his tankard。 〃And I think perhaps
that we might permit ourselves a toast；〃 said he。 〃I should like to
propose the health of a man very different from me and very much my
superior … a man from whom I have often differed； who has often （in
the trivial expression） rubbed me the wrong way； but whom I have never
ceased to respect and； I may add； to be not a little afraid of。 Shall
I give you his name？〃
〃The Lord Justice…Clerk； Lord Hermiston；〃 said Archie； almost with
gaiety； and the pair drank the toast deeply。
It was not precisely easy to re…establish； after these emotional
passages； the natural flow of conversation。 But the Judge eked out what
was wanting with kind looks； produced his snuff…box （which was very
rarely seen） to fill in a pause； and at last； despairing of any further
social success； was upon the point of getting down a book to read a
favourite passage； when there came a rather startling summons at the
front door； and Carstairs ushered in my Lord Glenkindie； hot from a
midnight supper。 I am not aware that Glenkindie was ever a beautiful
object； being short； and gross…bodied； and with an expression of
sensuality comparable to a bear's。 At that moment； coming in hissing
from many potations； with a flushed countenance and blurred eyes； he was
strikingly contrasted with the tall； pale； kingly figure of Glenalmond。
A rush of confused thought came over Archie … of shame that this was one
of his father's elect friends； of pride； that at the least of it
Hermiston could carry his liquor； and last of all； of rage； that he
should have here under his eyes the man that had betrayed him。 And then
that too passed away； and he sat quiet； biding his opportunity。
The tipsy senator plunged at once into an explanation with Glenalmond。
There was a point reserved yesterday； he had been able to make neither
head nor tail of it； and seeing lights in the house； he had just dropped
in for a glass of porter … and at this point he became aware of the
third person。 Archie saw the cod's mouth and the blunt lips of
Glenkindie gape at him for a moment； and the recognition twinkle in his
eyes。
〃Who's this？〃 said he。 〃What？ is this possibly you； Don Quickshot？ And
how are ye？ And how's your father？ And what's all this we hear of you？
It seems you're a most extraordinary leveller； by all tales。 No king；
no parliaments； and your gorge rises at the macers； worthy men！ Hoot；
toot！ Dear； dear me！ Your father's son too！ Most rideeculous！〃
Archie was on his feet； flushing a little at the reappearance of his
unhappy figure of speech； but perfectly self…possessed。 〃My lord … and
you； Lord Glenalmond； my dear friend；〃 he began； 〃this is a happy chance
for me； that I can make my confession and offer my apologies to two of
you at once。〃
〃Ah； but I don't know about that。 Confession？ It'll be judeecial； my
young friend；〃 cried the jocular Glenkindie。 〃And I'm afraid to listen
to ye。 Think if ye were to make me a coanvert！〃
〃If you would allow me； my lord；〃 returned Archie； 〃what I have to say
is very serious to me； and be pleased to be humorous after I am gone！〃
〃Remember； I'll hear nothing against the macers！〃 put in the
incorrigible Glenkindie。
But Archie continued as though he had not spoken。 〃I have played； both
yesterday and to…day； a part for which I can only offer the excuse of
youth。 I was so unwise as to go to an execution； it seems I made a
scene at the gallows； not content with which； I spoke the same night in
a college society against capital punishment。 This is the extent of
what I have done； and in case you hear more alleged against me； I
protest my innocence。 I have expressed my regret already to my father；
who is so good as to pass my conduct over … in a degree； and upon the
condition that I am to leave my law studies。〃 。 。 。
CHAPTER V … WINTER ON THE MOORS
I。 AT HERMISTON
THE road to Hermiston runs for a great part of the way up the valley of
a stream； a favourite with anglers and with midges； full of falls and
pools； and shaded by willows and natural woods of birch。 Here and
there； but at great distances； a byway branches off； and a gaunt
farmhouse may be descried above in a fold of the hill； but the more part
of the time； the road would be quite empty of passage and the hills of
habitation。 Hermiston parish is one of the least populous in Scotland；
and； by the time you came that length； you would scarce be surprised at
the inimitable smallness of the kirk； a dwarfish； ancient place seated
for fifty； and standing in a green by the burn…side among two…score
gravestones。 The manse close by； although no more than a cottage； is
surrounded by the brightness of a flower…garden and the straw roofs of
bees； and the whole colony； kirk and manse； garden an