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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
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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
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pounds you'll end by seeing that I mean friendliness； and I assure you；
Francie； I do；〃 he added； relenting。
Bursting with anger； but incapable of speech； Innes shouldered his rod；
made a gesture of farewell； and strode off down the burn…side。 Archie
watched him go without moving。 He was sorry； but quite unashamed。 He
hated to be inhospitable； but in one thing he was his father's son。 He had a
strong sense that his house was his own and no man else's； and to lie at a
guest's mercy was what he refused。 He hated to seem harsh。 But that was
Frank's lookout。 If Frank had been commonly discreet； he would have
been decently courteous。 And there was another consideration。 The secret
he was protecting was not his own merely； it was hers： it belonged to that
inexpressible she who was fast taking possession of his soul； and whom he
would soon have defended at the cost of burning cities。 By the time he had
watched Frank as far as the Swingleburn…foot； appearing and disappearing
in the tarnished heather； still stalking at a fierce gait but already dwindled
in the distance into less than the smallness of Lilliput； he could afford to
smile at the occurrence。 Either Frank would go； and that would be a relief
… or he would continue to stay； and his host must continue to endure him。
And Archie was now free … by devious paths； behind hillocks and in the
hollow of burns … to make for the trysting…place where Kirstie； cried about
by the curlew and the plover； waited and burned for his coming by the
Covenanter's stone。
Innes went off down…hill in a passion of resentment； easy to be
understood； but which yielded progressively to the needs of his situation。
He cursed Archie for a cold…hearted； unfriendly； rude； rude dog； and
himself still more passionately for a fool in having come to Hermiston
when he might have sought refuge in almost any other house in Scotland。
But the step once taken； was practicall