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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
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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？
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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。〃 。 。 。
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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 and graveyard； finds harbourage in a grove
of rowans； and is all the year round in a great silence broken only by the
drone of the bees； the tinkle of the burn； and the bell on Sundays。 A mile
beyond the kirk the road leaves the valley by a precipitous ascent； and
brings you a little after to the place of Hermiston； where it comes to an end
in the back…yard before the coach…house。 All beyond and about is the great
field； of the hills； the plover； the curlew； and the lark cry there； the wind
blows as it blows in a ship's rigging； hard and cold and pure； and the hill…
tops huddle one behind another like a herd of cattle into the sunset。
The house was sixty years old； unsightly； comfortable； a farmyard and
a kitchen…garden on the left； with a fruit wall where little hard green pears
came to their maturity about the end of October。
The policy （as who should say the park） was of some extent； but very
ill reclaimed； heather and moorfowl had crossed the boundary wall and
spread and roosted within； and it would have tasked a landscape gardener
to say where policy ended and unpolicied nature began。 My lord had been
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led by the influence of Mr。 Sheriff Scott into a considerable design of
planting； many acres were accordingly set out with fir； and the little
feathery besoms gave a false scale and lent a strange air of a toy…shop to
the moors。 A great； rooty sweetness of bogs was in the air； and at all
seasons an infinite melancholy piping of hill birds。 Standing so high and
with so little shelter； it was a cold； exposed house； splashed by showers；
drenched by continuous rains that made the gutters to spout； beaten upon
and buffeted by all the winds of heaven； and the prospect would be often
black with tempest； and often white with the snows of winter。 But the
house was wind and weather proof； the hearths were kept bright； and the
rooms pleasant with live fires of peat； and Archie might sit of an evening
and hear the squalls bugle on the moorland； and watch the fire prosper in
the earthy fuel； and the smoke winding up the chimney； and drink deep of
the pleasures of shelter。
Solitary as the place was； Archie did not want neighbours。 Every night；
if he chose； he might go down to the manse and share a 〃brewst〃 of toddy
with the minister … a hare…brained ancient gentleman； long and light and
still active； though his knees were loosened with age； and his voice broke
continually in childish trebles … and his lady wife； a heavy； comely dame；
without a word to say for herself beyond good…even and good…day。 H