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upon the Bench。 On the side of Jean； there was perhaps some fascination
of curiosity as to this unknown male animal that approached her with the
roughness of a ploughman and the APLOMB of an advocate。 Being so
trenchantly opposed to all she knew； loved； or understood； he may well
have seemed to her the extreme； if scarcely the ideal； of his sex。 And
besides； he was an ill man to refuse。 A little over forty at the period
of his marriage； he looked already older； and to the force of manhood
added the senatorial dignity of years； it was； perhaps； with an
unreverend awe； but he was awful。 The Bench； the Bar； and the most
experienced and reluctant witness； bowed to his authority … and why not
Jeannie Rutherford？
The heresy about foolish women is always punished； I have said； and Lord
Hermiston began to pay the penalty at once。 His house in George Square
was wretchedly ill…guided； nothing answerable to the expense of
maintenance but the cellar； which was his own private care。 When things
went wrong at dinner； as they continually did； my lord would look up the
table at his wife： 〃I think these broth would be better to sweem in than
to sup。〃 Or else to the butler： 〃Here； M'Killop； awa' wi' this Raadical
gigot … tak' it to the French； man； and bring me some puddocks！ It
seems rather a sore kind of a business that I should be all day in Court
haanging Raadicals； and get nawthing to my denner。〃 Of course this was
but a manner of speaking； and he had never hanged a man for being a
Radical in his life； the law； of which he was the faithful minister；
directing otherwise。 And of course these growls were in the nature of
pleasantry； but it was of a recondite sort； and uttered as they were in
his resounding voice； and commented on by that expression which they
called in the Parliament House 〃Hermiston's hanging face〃 … they struck
mere dismay into the wife。 She sat before him speechless and
fluttering； at each dish； as at a fresh ordeal； her eye hovered toward
my lord's countenance and fell again； if he but ate in silence；
unspeakable relief was her portion； if there were complaint； the world
was darkened。 She would seek out the cook； who was always her SISTER IN
THE LORD。 〃O； my dear； this is the most dreidful thing that my lord can
never be contented in his own house！〃 she would begin； and weep and pray
with the cook； and then the cook would pray with Mrs。 Weir； and the next
day's meal would never be a penny the better … and the next cook （when
she came） would be worse； if anything； but just as pious。 It was often
wondered that Lord Hermiston bore it as he did； indeed； he was a stoical
old voluptuary； contented with sound wine and plenty of it。 But there
were moments when he overflowed。 Perhaps half a dozen times in the
history of his married life … 〃Here！ tak' it awa'； and bring me a piece
bread and kebbuck！〃 he had exclaimed； with an appalling explosion of his
voice and rare gestures。 None thought to dispute or to make excuses；
the service was arrested； Mrs。 Weir sat at the head of the table
whimpering without disguise； and his lordship opposite munched his bread
and cheese in ostentatious disregard。 Once only； Mrs。 Weir had ventured
to appeal。 He was passing her chair on his way into the study。
〃O； Edom！〃 she wailed； in a voice tragic with tears； and reaching out to
him both hands； in one of which she held a sopping pocket…handkerchief。
He paused and looked upon her with a face of wrath； into which there
stole； as he looked； a twinkle of humour。
〃Noansense！〃 he said。 〃You and your noansense！ What do I want with a
Christian faim'ly？ I want Christian broth！ Get me a lass that can
plain…boil a potato； if she was a whure off the streets。〃 And with
these words； which echoed in her tender ears like blasphemy； he had
passed on to his study and shut the door behind him。
Such was the housewifery in George Square。 It was better at Hermiston；
where Kirstie Elliott； the sister of a neighbouring bonnet…laird； and an
eighteenth cousin of the lady's； bore the charge of all； and kept a trim
house and a good country table。 Kirstie was a woman in a thousand；
clean； capable； notable； once a moorland Helen； and still comely as a
blood horse and healthy as the hill wind。 High in flesh and voice and
colour； she ran the house with her whole intemperate soul； in a bustle；
not without buffets。 Scarce more pious than decency in those days
required； she was the cause of many an anxious thought and many a
tearful prayer to Mrs。 Weir。 Housekeeper and mistress renewed the parts
of Martha and Mary； and though with a pricking conscience； Mary reposed
on Martha's strength as on a rock。 Even Lord Hermiston held Kirstie in
a particular regard。 There were few with whom he unbent so gladly； few
whom he favoured with so many pleasantries。 〃Kirstie and me maun have
our joke；〃 he would declare in high good…humour； as he buttered
Kirstie's scones； and she waited at table。 A man who had no need either
of love or of popularity； a keen reader of men and of events； there was
perhaps only one truth for which he was quite unprepared： he would have
been quite unprepared to learn that Kirstie hated him。 He thought maid
and master were well matched； hard； bandy； healthy； broad Scots folk；
without a hair of nonsense to the pair of them。 And the fact was that
she made a goddess and an only child of the effete and tearful lady； and
even as she waited at table her hands would sometimes itch for my lord's
ears。
Thus； at least； when the family were at Hermiston； not only my lord； but
Mrs。 Weir too； enjoyed a holiday。 Free from the dreadful looking…for of
the miscarried dinner； she would mind her seam； read her piety books；
and take her walk （which was my lord's orders）； sometimes by herself；
sometimes with Archie； the only child of that scarce natural union。 The
child was her next bond to life。 Her frosted sentiment bloomed again；
she breathed deep of life； she let loose her heart； in that society。
The miracle of her motherhood was ever new to her。 The sight of the
little man at her skirt intoxicated her with the sense of power； and
froze her with the consciousness of her responsibility。 She looked
forward； and； seeing him in fancy grow up and play his diverse part on
the world's theatre； caught in her breath and lifted up her courage with
a lively effort。 It was only with the child that she forgot herself and
was at moments natural； yet it was only with the child that she had
conceived and managed to pursue a scheme of conduct。 Archie was to be a
great man and a good； a minister if possible； a saint for certain。 She
tried to engage his mind upon her favourite books； Rutherford's LETTERS；
Scougalls GRACE ABOUNDING； and the like。 It was a common practice of
hers （and strange to remember now） that she would carry the child to the
Deil's Hags； sit