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！
that。 But I confess I'm beginning to fear the result。 It would be all the
pities in the world if a really promising fellow like Weir was to end ill。 I'm
seriously tempted to write to Lord Hermiston； and put it plainly to him。〃
〃I would if I were you；〃 some of his auditors would say； shaking the
head； sitting bewildered and confused at this new view of the matter； so
deftly indicated by a single word。 〃A capital idea！〃 they would add； and
wonder at the APLOMB and position of this young man； who talked as a
90
… Page 91…
Weir of Hermiston
matter of course of writing to Hermiston and correcting him upon his
private affairs。
And Frank would proceed； sweetly confidential： 〃I'll give you an idea；
now。 He's actually sore about the way that I'm received and he's left out in
the county … actually jealous and sore。 I've rallied him and I've reasoned
with him； told him that every one was most kindly inclined towards him；
told him even that I was received merely because I was his guest。 But it's
no use。 He will neither accept the invitations he gets； nor stop brooding
about the ones where he's left out。 What I'm afraid of is that the wound's
ulcerating。 He had always one of those dark； secret； angry natures … a little
underhand and plenty of bile … you know the sort。 He must have inherited
it from the Weirs； whom I suspect to have been a worthy family of
weavers somewhere； what's the cant phrase？ … sedentary occupation。 It's
precisely the kind of character to go wrong in a false position like what his
father's made for him； or he's making for himself； whichever you like to
call it。 And for my part； I think it a disgrace；〃 Frank would say generously。
Presently the sorrow and anxiety of this disinterested friend took shape。
He began in private； in conversations of two； to talk vaguely of bad habits
and low habits。 〃I must say I'm afraid he's going wrong altogether；〃 he
would say。 〃I'll tell you plainly； and between ourselves； I scarcely like to
stay there any longer； only； man； I'm positively afraid to leave him alone。
You'll see； I shall be blamed for it later on。 I'm staying at a great sacrifice。
I'm hindering my chances at the Bar； and I can't blind my eyes to it。 And
what I'm afraid of is that I'm going to get kicked for it all round before all's
done。 You see； nobody believes in friendship nowadays。〃
〃Well； Innes；〃 his interlocutor would reply； 〃it's very good of you； I
must say that。 If there's any blame going； you'll always be sure of MY
good word； for one thing。〃
〃Well；〃 Frank would continue； 〃candidly； I don't say it's pleasant。 He
has a very rough way with him； his father's son； you know。 I don't say he's
rude … of course； I couldn't be expected to stand that … but he steers very
near the wind。 No； it's not pleasant； but I tell ye； man； in conscience I don't
think it would be fair to leave him。 Mind you； I don't say there's anything
actually wrong。 What I say is that I don't like the looks of it； man！〃 and he
91
… Page 92…
Weir of Hermiston
would press the arm of his momentary confidant。 In the early stages I am
persuaded there was no malice。 He talked but for the pleasure of airing
himself。 He was essentially glib； as becomes the young advocate； and
essentially careless of the truth； which is the mark of the young ass； and so
he talked at random。 There was no particular bias； but that one which is
indigenous and universal； to flatter himself and to please and interest the
present friend。 And by thus milling air out of his mouth； he had presently
built up a presentation of Archie which was known and talked of in all
corners of the county。 Wherever there was a residential house and a walled
garden； wherever there was a dwarfish castle and a park； wherever a
quadruple cottage by the ruins of a peel…tower showed an old family going
down； and wherever a handsome villa with a carriage approach and a
shrubbery marked the coming up of a new one … probably on the wheels of
machinery … Archie began to be regarded in the light of a dark； perhaps a
vicious mystery； and the future developments of his career to be looked for
with uneasiness and confidential whispering。 He had done something
disgraceful； my dear。 What； was not precisely known； and that good kind
young man； Mr。 Innes； did his best to make light of it。 But there it was。
And Mr。 Innes was very anxious about him now； he was really uneasy； my
dear； he was positively wrecking his own prospects because he dared not
leave him alone。 How wholly we all lie at the mercy of a single prater； not
needfully with any malign purpose！ And if a man but talks of himself in
the right spirit； refers to his virtuous actions by the way； and never applies
to them the name of virtue； how easily his evidence is accepted in the
court of public opinion！
All this while； however； there was a more poisonous ferment at work
between the two lads； which came late indeed to the surface； but had
modified and magnified their dissensions from the first。 To an idle；
shallow； easy…going customer like Frank； the smell of a mystery was
attractive。 It gave his mind something to play with； like a new toy to a
child； and it took him on the weak side； for like many young men coming
to the Bar； and before they had been tried and found wanting； he flattered
himself he was a fellow of unusual quickness and penetration。 They knew
nothing of Sherlock Holmes in those days； but there was a good deal said
92
… Page 93…
Weir of Hermiston
of Talleyrand。 And if you could have caught Frank off his guard； he would
have confessed with a smirk that； if he resembled any one； it was the
Marquis de Talleyrand…Perigord。 It was on the occasion of Archie's first
absence that this interest took root。 It was vastly deepened when Kirstie
resented his curiosity at breakfast； and that same afternoon there occurred
another scene which clinched the business。 He was fishing Swingleburn；
Archie accompanying him； when the latter looked at his watch。
〃Well； good…bye；〃 said he。 〃I have something to do。 See you at dinner。〃
〃Don't be in such a hurry；〃 cries Frank。 〃Hold on till I get my rod up。
I'll go with you； I'm sick of flogging this ditch。〃
And he began to reel up his line。
Archie stood speechless。 He took a long while to recover his wits
under this direct attack； but by the time he was ready with his answer； and
the angle was almost packed up； he had become completely Weir； and the
hanging face gloomed on his young shoulders。 He spoke with a laboured
composure； a laboured kindness even； but a child could see that his mind
was made up。
〃I beg your pardon； Innes； I don't want to be disagreeable； but let us
understand one another from the beginning。 When I want your company；
I'll let you know。〃
〃O！〃 cries Frank； 〃you don't want my company； don't you？〃
〃Apparently not just now；〃 replied Archie。 〃I even indicated to you
when I did； if you'll remember … and that was at dinner。 If we two fellows
are to live together pleasantly … and I see no reason why we should not … it
can only be by respecting each other's privacy。 If we begin intruding … 〃
〃O； come！ I'll take this at no man's hands。 Is this the way you treat a
guest and an old friend？〃 cried Innes。
〃Just go home and think over what I said by yourself；〃 continued
Archie； 〃whether it's reasonable； or whether it's really offensive or not； and
let's meet at dinner as though nothing had happened； I'll put it this way； if
you like … that I know my own character； that I'm looking forward （with
great pleasure； I assure you） to a long visit from you； and that I'm taking
precautions at the first。 I see the thing that we … that I； if you like … might
fall out upon； and I step in and OBSTO PRINCIPIIS。 I wager you five
93
… Page 94…
Weir of Hermiston
pounds you'll end by seeing that I mean friendliness； and I assure you；
Fr