weir of hermiston(赫米斯顿的魏尔)-第6节
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and eager； he came through school and college； and moved among a
crowd of the indifferent； in the seclusion of his shyness。 He grew up
handsome； with an open； speaking countenance； with graceful； youthful
ways； he was clever； he took prizes； he shone in the Speculative Society。 It
should seem he must become the centre of a crowd of friends； but
something that was in part the delicacy of his mother； in part the austerity
of his father； held him aloof from all。 It is a fact； and a strange one； that
among his contemporaries Hermiston's son was thought to be a chip of the
old block。 〃You're a friend of Archie Weir's？〃 said one to Frank Innes； and
Innes replied； with his usual flippancy and more than his usual insight： 〃I
know Weir。 but I never met Archie。〃 No one had met Archie； a malady
most incident to only sons。 He flew his private signal； and none heeded it；
it seemed he was abroad in a world from which the very hope of intimacy
was banished； and he looked round about him on the concourse of his
fellow…students； and forward to the trivial days and acquaintances that
were to come； without hope or interest。
As time went on； the tough and rough old sinner felt himself drawn to
the son of his loins and sole continuator of his new family； with softnesses
of sentiment that he could hardly credit and was wholly impotent to
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express。 With a face； voice； and manner trained through forty years to
terrify and repel； Rhadamanthus may be great； but he will scarce be
engaging。 It is a fact that he tried to propitiate Archie； but a fact that
cannot be too lightly taken； the attempt was so unconspicuously made； the
failure so stoically supported。 Sympathy is not due to these steadfast iron
natures。 If he failed to gain his son's friendship； or even his son's toleration；
on he went up the great； bare staircase of his duty； uncheered and
undepressed。 There might have been more pleasure in his relations with
Archie； so much he may have recognised at moments； but pleasure was a
by…product of the singular chemistry of life； which only fools expected。
An idea of Archie's attitude； since we are all grown up and have
forgotten the days of our youth； it is more difficult to convey。 He made no
attempt whatsoever to understand the man with whom he dined and
breakfasted。 Parsimony of pain； glut of pleasure； these are the two
alternating ends of youth； and Archie was of the parsimonious。 The wind
blew cold out of a certain quarter … he turned his back upon it； stayed as
little as was possible in his father's presence； and when there； averted his
eyes as much as was decent from his father's face。 The lamp shone for
many hundred days upon these two at table … my lord； ruddy； gloomy； and
unreverent； Archie with a potential brightness that was always dimmed
and veiled in that society； and there were not； perhaps； in Christendom two
men more radically strangers。 The father； with a grand simplicity； either
spoke of what interested himself； or maintained an unaffected silence。 The
son turned in his head for some topic that should be quite safe； that would
spare him fresh evidences either of my lord's inherent grossness or of the
innocence of his inhumanity； treading gingerly the ways of intercourse；
like a lady gathering up her skirts in a by…path。 If he made a mistake； and
my lord began to abound in matter of offence； Archie drew himself up； his
brow grew dark； his share of the talk expired； but my lord would faithfully
and cheerfully continue to pour out the worst of himself before his silent
and offended son。
〃Well； it's a poor hert that never rejoices！〃 he would say； at the
conclusion of such a nightmare interview。 〃But I must get to my plew…
stilts。〃 And he would seclude himself as usual in his back room； and
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Archie go forth into the night and the city quivering with animosity and
scorn。
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CHAPTER III … IN THE MATTER
OF THE HANGING OF DUNCAN
JOPP
IT chanced in the year 1813 that Archie strayed one day into the
Justiciary Court。 The macer made room for the son of the presiding judge。
In the dock； the centre of men's eyes； there stood a whey… coloured；
misbegotten caitiff； Duncan Jopp； on trial for his life。 His story； as it was
raked out before him in that public scene； was one of disgrace and vice
and cowardice； the very nakedness of crime； and the creature heard and it
seemed at times as though he understood … as if at times he forgot the
horror of the place he stood in； and remembered the shame of what had
brought him there。 He kept his head bowed and his hands clutched upon
the rail； his hair dropped in his eyes and at times he flung it back； and now
he glanced about the audience in a sudden fellness of terror； and now
looked in the face of his judge and gulped。 There was pinned about his
throat a piece of dingy flannel； and this it was perhaps that turned the scale
in Archie's mind between disgust and pity。 The creature stood in a
vanishing point； yet a little while； and he was still a man； and had eyes and
apprehension； yet a little longer； and with a last sordid piece of pageantry；
he would cease to be。 And here； in the meantime； with a trait of human
nature that caught at the beholder's breath； he was tending a sore throat。
Over against him； my Lord Hermiston occupied the bench in the red
robes of criminal jurisdiction； his face framed in the white wig。 Honest all
through； he did not affect the virtue of impartiality； this was no case for
refinement； there was a man to be hanged； he would have said； and he was
hanging him。 Nor was it possible to see his lordship； and acquit him of
gusto in the task。 It was plain he gloried in the exercise of his trained
faculties； in the clear sight which pierced at once into the joint of fact； in
the rude； unvarnished gibes with which he demolished every figment of
defence。 He took his ease and jested； unbending in that solemn place with
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some of the freedom of the tavern； and the rag of man with the flannel
round his neck was hunted gallowsward with jeers。
Duncan had a mistress； scarce less forlorn and greatly older than
himself； who came up； whimpering and curtseying； to add the weight of
her betrayal。 My lord gave her the oath in his most roaring voice； and
added an intolerant warning。
〃Mind what ye say now； Janet；〃 said he。 〃I have an e'e upon ye； I'm ill
to jest with。〃
Presently； after she was tremblingly embarked on her story； 〃And what
made ye do this； ye auld runt？〃 the Court interposed。 〃Do ye mean to tell
me ye was the panel's mistress？〃
〃If you please； ma loard；〃 whined the female。
〃Godsake！ ye made a bonny couple；〃 observed his lordship； and there
was something so formidable and ferocious in his scorn that not even the
galleries thought to laugh。
The summing up contained some jewels。
〃These two peetiable creatures seem to have made up thegither； it's not
for us to explain why。〃 … 〃The panel； who （whatever else he may be）
appears to be equally ill set…out in mind and boady。〃 … 〃Neither the panel
nor yet the old wife appears to have had so much common sense as even
to tell a lie when it was necessary。〃 And in the course of sentencing； my
lord had this OBITER DICTUM： 〃I have been the means； under God； of
haanging a great number； but never just such a disjaskit rascal as
yourself。〃 The words were strong in themselves； the light and heat and
de
