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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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Weir of Hermiston
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
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Weir of Hermiston
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 bu