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Weir of Hermiston
Weir of Hermiston
Robert Louis Stevenson
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Weir of Hermiston
TO MY WIFE
I saw rain falling and the rainbow drawn On Lammermuir。
Hearkening I heard again In my precipitous city beaten bells Winnow the
keen sea wind。 And here afar； Intent on my own race and place； I wrote。
Take thou the writing： thine it is。 For who Burnished the sword； blew on
the drowsy coal； Held still the target higher； chary of praise And prodigal
of counsel … who but thou？ So now； in the end； if this the least be good； If
any deed be done； if any fire Burn in the imperfect page； the praise be
thine。
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Weir of Hermiston
INTRODUCTORY
IN the wild end of a moorland parish； far out of the sight of any
house； there stands a cairn among the heather； and a little by east of it； in
the going down of the brae…side； a monument with some verses half
defaced。 It was here that Claverhouse shot with his own hand the Praying
Weaver of Balweary； and the chisel of Old Mortality has clinked on that
lonely gravestone。 Public and domestic history have thus marked with a
bloody finger this hollow among the hills； and since the Cameronian gave
his life there； two hundred years ago； in a glorious folly； and without
comprehension or regret； the silence of the moss has been broken once
again by the report of firearms and the cry of the dying。
The Deil's Hags was the old name。 But the place is now called
Francie's Cairn。 For a while it was told that Francie walked。 Aggic Hogg
met him in the gloaming by the cairnside； and he spoke to her； with
chattering teeth； so that his words were lost。 He pursued Rob Todd （if any
one could have believed Robbie） for the space of half a mile with pitiful
entreaties。 But the age is one of incredulity； these superstitious decorations
speedily fell off； and the facts of the story itself； like the bones of a giant
buried there and half dug up； survived； naked and imperfect； in the
memory of the scattered neighbours。 To this day； of winter nights； when
the sleet is on the window and the cattle are quiet in the byre； there will be
told again； amid the silence of the young and the additions and corrections
of the old； the tale of the Justice…Clerk and of his son； young Hermiston；
that vanished from men's knowledge； of the two Kirsties and the Four
Black Brothers of the Cauldstaneslap； and of Frank Innes； 〃the young fool
advocate；〃 that came into these moorland parts to find his destiny。
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CHAPTER I … LIFE AND DEATH
OF MRS。 WEIR
THE Lord Justice…Clerk was a stranger in that part of the country； but
his lady wife was known there from a child； as her race had been before
her。 The old 〃riding Rutherfords of Hermiston；〃 of whom she was the last
descendant； had been famous men of yore； ill neighbours； ill subjects； and
ill husbands to their wives though not their properties。 Tales of them were
rife for twenty miles about； and their name was even printed in the page of
our Scots histories； not always to their credit。 One bit the dust at Flodden；
one was hanged at his peel door by James the Fifth； another fell dead in a
carouse with Tom Dalyell； while a fourth （and that was Jean's own father）
died presiding at a Hell…Fire Club； of which he was the founder。 There
were many heads shaken in Crossmichael at that judgment； the more so as
the man had a villainous reputation among high and low； and both with the
godly and the worldly。 At that very hour of his demise； he had ten going
pleas before the Session； eight of them oppressive。 And the same doom
extended even to his agents； his grieve； that had been his right hand in
many a left…hand business； being cast from his horse one night and
drowned in a peat…hag on the Kye…skairs； and his very doer （although
lawyers have long spoons） surviving him not long； and dying on a sudden
in a bloody flux。
In all these generations； while a male Rutherford was in the saddle
with his lads； or brawling in a change…house； there would be always a
white… faced wife immured at home in the old peel or the later mansion…
house。 It seemed this succession of martyrs bided long； but took their
vengeance in the end； and that was in the person of the last descendant；
Jean。 She bore the name of the Rutherfords； but she was the daughter of
their trembling wives。 At the first she was not wholly without charm。
Neighbours recalled in her； as a child； a strain of elfin wilfulness； gentle
little mutinies； sad little gaieties； even a morning gleam of beauty that was
not to be fulfilled。 She withered in the growing； and （whether it was the
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Weir of Hermiston
sins of her sires or the sorrows of her mothers） came to her maturity
depressed； and； as it were； defaced； no blood of life in her； no grasp or
gaiety； pious； anxious； tender； tearful； and incompetent。
It was a wonder to many that she had married … seeming so wholly of
the stuff that makes old maids。 But chance cast her in the path of Adam
Weir； then the new Lord…Advocate； a recognised； risen man； the conqueror
of many obstacles； and thus late in the day beginning to think upon a wife。
He was one who looked rather to obedience than beauty； yet it would seem
he was struck with her at the first look。 〃Wha's she？〃 he said； turning to
his host； and； when he had been told； 〃Ay；〃 says he； 〃she looks menseful。
She minds me … 〃； and then； after a pause （which some have been daring
enough to set down to sentimental recollections）； 〃Is she releegious？〃 he
asked； and was shortly after； at his own request； presented。 The
acquaintance； which it seems profane to call a courtship； was pursued with
Mr。 Weir's accustomed industry； and was long a legend； or rather a source
of legends； in the Parliament House。 He was described coming； rosy with
much port； into the drawing…room； walking direct up to the lady； and
assailing her with pleasantries； to which the embarrassed fair one
responded； in what seemed a kind of agony； 〃Eh； Mr。 Weir！〃 or 〃O； Mr。
Weir！〃 or 〃Keep me； Mr。 Weir！〃 On the very eve of their engagement； it
was related that one had drawn near to the tender couple； and had
overheard the lady cry out； with the tones of one who talked for the sake
of talking； 〃Keep me； Mr。 Weir； and what became of him？〃 and the
profound accents of the suitor reply； 〃Haangit； mem； haangit。〃 The
motives upon either side were much debated。 Mr。 Weir must have
supposed his bride to be somehow suitable； perhaps he belonged to that
class of men who think a weak head the ornament of women … an opinion
invariably punished in this life。 Her descent and her estate were beyond
question。 Her wayfaring ancestors and her litigious father had done well
by Jean。 There was ready money and there were broad acres； ready to fall
wholly to the husband； to lend dignity to his descendants； and to himself a
title； when he should be called 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
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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 unrevere