weir of hermiston(赫米斯顿的魏尔)-第25节
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Only Dandie； waiting till the last； caught Kirstie by the arm。 〃When
did ye begin to dander in pink hosen； Mistress Elliott？〃 he whispered
slyly。
She looked down； she was one blush。 〃I maun have forgotten to
change them；〃 said she； and went into prayers in her turn with a troubled
mind； between anxiety as to whether Dand should have observed her
yellow stockings at church； and should thus detect her in a palpable
falsehood； and shame that she had already made good his prophecy。 She
remembered the words of it； how it was to be when she had gotten a jo；
and that that would be for good and evil。 〃Will I have gotten my jo now？〃
she thought with a secret rapture。
And all through prayers； where it was her principal business to conceal
the pink stockings from the eyes of the indifferent Mrs。 Hob … and all
through supper； as she made a feint of eating and sat at the table radiant
and constrained … and again when she had left them and come into her
chamber； and was alone with her sleeping niece； and could at last lay aside
the armour of society … the same words sounded within her； the same
profound note of happiness； of a world all changed and renewed； of a day
that had been passed in Paradise； and of a night that was to be heaven
opened。 All night she seemed to be conveyed smoothly upon a shallow
stream of sleep and waking； and through the bowers of Beulah； all night
she cherished to her heart that exquisite hope； and if； towards morning； she
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forgot it a while in a more profound unconsciousness； it was to catch again
the rainbow thought with her first moment of awaking。
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CHAPTER VII … ENTER
MEPHISTOPHELES
TWO days later a gig from Crossmichael deposited Frank Innes at the
doors of Hermiston。 Once in a way； during the past winter； Archie； in some
acute phase of boredom； had written him a letter。 It had contained
something in the nature of an invitation or a reference to an invitation …
precisely what； neither of them now remembered。 When Innes had
received it； there had been nothing further from his mind than to bury
himself in the moors with Archie； but not even the most acute political
heads are guided through the steps of life with unerring directness。 That
would require a gift of prophecy which has been denied to man。 For
instance； who could have imagined that； not a month after he had received
the letter； and turned it into mockery； and put off answering it； and in the
end lost it； misfortunes of a gloomy cast should begin to thicken over
Frank's career？ His case may be briefly stated。 His father； a small
Morayshire laird with a large family； became recalcitrant and cut off the
supplies； he had fitted himself out with the beginnings of quite a good law
library； which； upon some sudden losses on the turf； he had been obliged
to sell before they were paid for； and his bookseller； hearing some rumour
of the event； took out a warrant for his arrest。 Innes had early word of it；
and was able to take precautions。 In this immediate welter of his affairs；
with an unpleasant charge hanging over him； he had judged it the part of
prudence to be off instantly； had written a fervid letter to his father at
Inverauld； and put himself in the coach for Crossmichael。 Any port in a
storm！ He was manfully turning his back on the Parliament House and its
gay babble； on porter and oysters； the race…course and the ring； and
manfully prepared； until these clouds should have blown by； to share a
living grave with Archie Weir at Hermiston。
To do him justice； he was no less surprised to be going than Archie
was to see him come； and he carried off his wonder with an infinitely
better grace。
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〃Well； here I am！〃 said he； as he alighted。 〃Pylades has come to
Orestes at last。 By the way； did you get my answer？ No？ How very
provoking！ Well； here I am to answer for myself； and that's better still。〃
〃I am very glad to see you； of course；〃 said Archie。 〃I make you
heartily welcome； of course。 But you surely have not come to stay； with
the Courts still sitting； is that not most unwise？〃
〃Damn the Courts！〃 says Frank。 〃What are the Courts to friendship
and a little fishing？〃
And so it was agreed that he was to stay； with no term to the visit but
the term which he had privily set to it himself … the day； namely； when his
father should have come down with the dust； and he should be able to
pacify the bookseller。 On such vague conditions there began for these two
young men （who were not even friends） a life of great familiarity and； as
the days drew on； less and less intimacy。 They were together at meal times；
together o' nights when the hour had come for whisky…toddy； but it might
have been noticed （had there been any one to pay heed） that they were
rarely so much together by day。 Archie had Hermiston to attend to；
multifarious activities in the hills； in which he did not require； and had
even refused； Frank's escort。 He would be off sometimes in the morning
and leave only a note on the breakfast table to announce the fact； and
sometimes； with no notice at all； he would not return for dinner until the
hour was long past。 Innes groaned under these desertions； it required all
his philosophy to sit down to a solitary breakfast with composure； and all
his unaffected good…nature to be able to greet Archie with friendliness on
the more rare occasions when he came home late for dinner。
〃I wonder what on earth he finds to do； Mrs。 Elliott？〃 said he one
morning； after he had just read the hasty billet and sat down to table。
〃I suppose it will be business； sir；〃 replied the housekeeper drily；
measuring his distance off to him by an indicated curtsy。
〃But I can't imagine what business！〃 he reiterated。
〃I suppose it will be HIS business；〃 retorted the austere Kirstie。
He turned to her with that happy brightness that made the charm of his
disposition； and broke into a peal of healthy and natural laughter。
〃Well played； Mrs。 Elliott！〃 he cried； and the housekeeper's face
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relaxed into the shadow of an iron smile。 〃Well played indeed！〃 said he。
〃But you must not be making a stranger of me like that。 Why； Archie and I
were at the High School together； and we've been to college together； and
we were going to the Bar together； when … you know！ Dear； dear me！ what
a pity that was！ A life spoiled； a fine young fellow as good as buried here
in the wilderness with rustics； and all for what？ A frolic； silly； if you like；
but no more。 God； how good your scones are； Mrs。 Elliott！〃
〃They're no mines； it was the lassie made them；〃 said Kirstie； 〃and；
saving your presence； there's little sense in taking the Lord's name in vain
about idle vivers that you fill your kyte wi'。〃
〃I daresay you're perfectly right； ma'am；〃 quoth the imperturbable
Frank。 〃But as I was saying； this is a pitiable business； this about poor
Archie； and you and I might do worse than put our heads together； like a
couple of sensible people； and bring it to an end。 Let me tell you； ma'am；
that Archie is really quite a promising young man； and in my opinion he
would do well at the Bar。 As for his father； no one can deny his ability； and
I don't fancy any one would care to deny that he has the deil's own temper
… 〃
〃If you'll excuse me； Mr。 Innes； I think the lass is crying on me；〃 said
Kirstie； and flounced from the room。
〃The damned； cross…grained； o
