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must have heard him often； the man's notorious for it； for being … look at
my position！ he's my father and this is how I have to speak of him …
notorious for being a brute and cruel and a coward。 Lord Glenalmond； I
give you my word； when I came out of that Court； I longed to die … the
shame of it was beyond my strength： but I … I …〃 he rose from his seat and
began to pace the room in a disorder。 〃Well； who am I？ A boy； who have
never been tried； have never done anything except this twopenny impotent
folly with my father。 But I tell you； my lord； and I know myself； I am at
least that kind of a man … or that kind of a boy； if you prefer it … that I could
die in torments rather than that any one should suffer as that scoundrel
suffered。 Well； and what have I done？ I see it now。 I have made a fool of
myself； as I said in the beginning； and I have gone back； and asked my
father's pardon； and placed myself wholly in his hands … and he has sent
me to Hermiston；〃 with a wretched smile； 〃for life； I suppose … and what
can I say？ he strikes me as having done quite right； and let me off better
than I had deserved。〃
〃My poor； dear boy！〃 observed Glenalmond。 〃My poor dear and； if
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you will allow me to say so； very foolish boy！ You are only discovering
where you are； to one of your temperament； or of mine； a painful
discovery。 The world was not made for us； it was made for ten hundred
millions of men； all different from each other and from us； there's no royal
road there； we just have to sclamber and tumble。 Don't think that I am at
all disposed to be surprised； don't suppose that I ever think of blaming you；
indeed I rather admire！ But there fall to be offered one or two observations
on the case which occur to me and which （if you will listen to them
dispassionately） may be the means of inducing you to view the matter
more calmly。 First of all； I cannot acquit you of a good deal of what is
called intolerance。 You seem to have been very much offended because
your father talks a little sculduddery after dinner； which it is perfectly licit
for him to do； and which （although I am not very fond of it myself）
appears to be entirely an affair of taste。 Your father； I scarcely like to
remind you； since it is so trite a commonplace； is older than yourself。 At
least； he is MAJOR and SUI JURIS； and may please himself in the matter
of his conversation。 And； do you know； I wonder if he might not have as
good an answer against you and me？ We say we sometimes find him
COARSE； but I suspect he might retort that he finds us always dull。
Perhaps a relevant exception。〃
He beamed on Archie； but no smile could be elicited。
〃And now；〃 proceeded the Judge； 〃for ‘Archibald on Capital
Punishment。' This is a very plausible academic opinion； of course I do not
and I cannot hold it； but that's not to say that many able and excellent
persons have not done so in the past。 Possibly； in the past also； I may have
a little dipped myself in the same heresy。 My third client； or possibly my
fourth； was the means of a return in my opinions。 I never saw the man I
more believed in； I would have put my hand in the fire； I would have gone
to the cross for him； and when it came to trial he was gradually pictured
before me； by undeniable probation； in the light of so gross； so cold…
blooded； and so black…hearted a villain； that I had a mind to have cast my
brief upon the table。 I was then boiling against the man with even a more
tropical temperature than I had been boiling for him。 But I said to myself：
‘No； you have taken up his case； and because you have changed your mind
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it must not be suffered to let drop。 All that rich tide of eloquence that you
prepared last night with so much enthusiasm is out of place； and yet you
must not desert him； you must say something。' So I said something； and I
got him off。 It made my reputation。 But an experience of that kind is
formative。 A man must not bring his passions to the bar … or to the bench；〃
he added。
The story had slightly rekindled Archie's interest。 〃I could never deny；〃
he began … 〃I mean I can conceive that some men would be better dead。
But who are we to know all the springs of God's unfortunate creatures？
Who are we to trust ourselves where it seems that God Himself must think
twice before He treads； and to do it with delight？ Yes； with delight。
TIGRIS UT ASPERA。〃
〃Perhaps not a pleasant spectacle；〃 said Glenalmond。 〃And yet； do you
know； I think somehow a great one。〃
〃I've had a long talk with him to…night；〃 said Archie。
〃I was supposing so；〃 said Glenalmond。
〃And he struck me … I cannot deny that he struck me as something very
big；〃 pursued the son。 〃Yes； he is big。 He never spoke about himself； only
about me。 I suppose I admired him。 The dreadful part … 〃
〃Suppose we did not talk about that；〃 interrupted Glenalmond。 〃You
know it very well； it cannot in any way help that you should brood upon it；
and I sometimes wonder whether you and I … who are a pair of
sentimentalists … are quite good judges of plain men。〃
〃How do you mean？〃 asked Archie。
〃FAIR judges； mean；〃 replied Glenalmond。 〃Can we be just to them？
Do we not ask too much？ There was a word of yours just now that
impressed me a little when you asked me who we were to know all the
springs of God's unfortunate creatures。 You applied that； as I understood；
to capital cases only。 But does it … I ask myself … does it not apply all
through？ Is it any less difficult to judge of a good man or of a half… good
man； than of the worst criminal at the bar？ And may not each have
relevant excuses？〃
〃Ah； but we do not talk of punishing the good；〃 cried Archie。
〃No； we do not talk of it；〃 said Glenalmond。 〃But I think we do it。
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Your father； for instance。〃
〃You think I have punished him？〃 cried Archie。
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
wil