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have done waur … I micht have been marriet upon a skirting Jezebel like
you！〃
〃There's naebody thinking of you； Hermiston！〃 cried the offended
woman。 〃We think of her that's out of her sorrows。 And could SHE have
done waur？ Tell me that； Hermiston … tell me that before her clay…cauld
corp！〃
〃Weel； there's some of them gey an' ill to please；〃 observed his
lordship。
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Weir of Hermiston
CHAPTER II … FATHER AND
SON
MY Lord Justice…Clerk was known to many； the man Adam Weir
perhaps to none。 He had nothing to explain or to conceal； he sufficed
wholly and silently to himself； and that part of our nature which goes out
（too often with false coin） to acquire glory or love； seemed in him to be
omitted。 He did not try to be loved； he did not care to be； it is probable the
very thought of it was a stranger to his mind。 He was an admired lawyer； a
highly unpopular judge； and he looked down upon those who were his
inferiors in either distinction； who were lawyers of less grasp or judges not
so much detested。 In all the rest of his days and doings； not one trace of
vanity appeared； and he went on through life with a mechanical movement；
as of the unconscious； that was almost august。
He saw little of his son。 In the childish maladies with which the boy
was troubled； he would make daily inquiries and daily pay him a visit；
entering the sick…room with a facetious and appalling countenance； letting
off a few perfunctory jests； and going again swiftly； to the patient's relief。
Once； a court holiday falling opportunely； my lord had his carriage； and
drove the child himself to Hermiston； the customary place of
convalescence。 It is conceivable he had been more than usually anxious；
for that journey always remained in Archie's memory as a thing apart； his
father having related to him from beginning to end； and with much detail；
three authentic murder cases。 Archie went the usual round of other
Edinburgh boys； the high school and the college； and Hermiston looked on；
or rather looked away； with scarce an affectation of interest in his progress。
Daily； indeed； upon a signal after dinner； he was brought in； given nuts and
a glass of port； regarded sardonically； sarcastically questioned。 〃Well； sir；
and what have you donn with your book to…day？〃 my lord might begin；
and set him posers in law Latin。 To a child just stumbling into Corderius；
Papinian and Paul proved quite invincible。 But papa had memory of no
other。 He was not harsh to the little scholar； having a vast fund of patience
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Weir of Hermiston
learned upon the bench； and was at no pains whether to conceal or to
express his disappointment。 〃Well； ye have a long jaunt before ye yet！〃 he
might observe； yawning； and fall back on his own thoughts （as like as not）
until the time came for separation； and my lord would take the decanter
and the glass； and be off to the back chamber looking on the Meadows；
where he toiled on his cases till the hours were small。 There was no 〃fuller
man〃 on the bench； his memory was marvellous； though wholly legal； if
he had to 〃advise〃 extempore； none did it better； yet there was none who
more earnestly prepared。 As he thus watched in the night； or sat at table
and forgot the presence of his son； no doubt but he tasted deeply of
recondite pleasures。 To be wholly devoted to some intellectual exercise is
to have succeeded in life； and perhaps only in law and the higher
mathematics may this devotion be maintained； suffice to itself without
reaction； and find continual rewards without excitement。 This atmosphere
of his father's sterling industry was the best of Archie's education。
Assuredly it did not attract him； assuredly it rather rebutted and depressed。
Yet it was still present； unobserved like the ticking of a clock； an arid ideal；
a tasteless stimulant in the boy's life。
But Hermiston was not all of one piece。 He was； besides； a mighty
toper； he could sit at wine until the day dawned； and pass directly from the
table to the bench with a steady hand and a clear head。 Beyond the third
bottle； he showed the plebeian in a larger print； the low； gross accent； the
low； foul mirth； grew broader and commoner； he became less formidable；
and infinitely more disgusting。 Now； the boy had inherited from Jean
Rutherford a shivering delicacy； unequally mated with potential violence。
In the playing…fields； and amongst his own companions； he repaid a coarse
expression with a blow； at his father's table （when the time came for him
to join these revels） he turned pale and sickened in silence。 Of all the
guests whom he there encountered； he had toleration for only one： David
Keith Carnegie； Lord Glenalmond。 Lord Glenalmond was tall and
emaciated； with long features and long delicate hands。 He was often
compared with the statue of Forbes of Culloden in the Parliament House；
and his blue eye； at more than sixty； preserved some of the fire of youth。
His exquisite disparity with any of his fellow…guests； his appearance as of
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Weir of Hermiston
an artist and an aristocrat stranded in rude company； riveted the boy's
attention； and as curiosity and interest are the things in the world that are
the most immediately and certainly rewarded； Lord Glenalmond was
attracted by the boy。
〃And so this is your son； Hermiston？〃 he asked； laying his hand on
Archie's shoulder。 〃He's getting a big lad。〃
〃Hout！〃 said the gracious father； 〃just his mother over again … daurna
say boo to a goose！〃
But the stranger retained the boy； talked to him； drew him out； found
in him a taste for letters； and a fine； ardent； modest； youthful soul； and
encouraged him to be a visitor on Sunday evenings in his bare； cold；
lonely dining…room； where he sat and read in the isolation of a bachelor
grown old in refinement。 The beautiful gentleness and grace of the old
judge； and the delicacy of his person； thoughts