weir of hermiston-第7章
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of flight; and where was he to flee to? of other lives; but was there
any life worth living in this den of savage and jeering animals?
The interval before the execution was like a violent dream。 He met his
father; he would not look at him; he could not speak to him。 It seemed
there was no living creature but must have been swift to recognise that
imminent animosity; but the hide of the Justice…Clerk remained
impenetrable。 Had my lord been talkative; the truce could never have
subsisted; but he was by fortune in one of his humours of sour silence;
and under the very guns of his broadside; Archie nursed the enthusiasm
of rebellion。 It seemed to him; from the top of his nineteen years'
experience; as if he were marked at birth to be the perpetrator of some
signal action; to set back fallen Mercy; to overthrow the usurping devil
that sat; horned and hoofed; on her throne。 Seductive Jacobin figments;
which he had often refuted at the Speculative; swam up in his mind and
startled him as with voices: and he seemed to himself to walk
accompanied by an almost tangible presence of new beliefs and duties。
On the named morning he was at the place of execution。 He saw the
fleering rabble; the flinching wretch produced。 He looked on for a
while at a certain parody of devotion; which seemed to strip the wretch
of his last claim to manhood。 Then followed the brutal instant of
extinction; and the paltry dangling of the remains like a broken
jumping…jack。 He had been prepared for something terrible; not for this
tragic meanness。 He stood a moment silent; and then … 〃I denounce this
God…defying murder;〃 he shouted; and his father; if he must have
disclaimed the sentiment; might have owned the stentorian voice with
which it was uttered。
Frank Innes dragged him from the spot。 The two handsome lads followed
the same course of study and recreation; and felt a certain mutual
attraction; founded mainly on good looks。 It had never gone deep; Frank
was by nature a thin; jeering creature; not truly susceptible whether of
feeling or inspiring friendship; and the relation between the pair was
altogether on the outside; a thing of common knowledge and the
pleasantries that spring from a common acquaintance。 The more credit to
Frank that he was appalled by Archie's outburst; and at least conceived
the design of keeping him in sight; and; if possible; in hand; for the
day。 But Archie; who had just defied … was it God or Satan? … would not
listen to the word of a college companion。
〃I will not go with you;〃 he said。 〃I do not desire your company; sir;
I would be alone。〃
〃Here; Weir; man; don't be absurd;〃 said Innes; keeping a tight hold
upon his sleeve。 〃I will not let you go until I know what you mean to
do with yourself; it's no use brandishing that staff。〃 For indeed at
that moment Archie had made a sudden … perhaps a warlike … movement。
〃This has been the most insane affair; you know it has。 You know very
well that I'm playing the good Samaritan。 All I wish is to keep you
quiet。〃
〃If quietness is what you wish; Mr。 Innes;〃 said Archie; 〃and you will
promise to leave me entirely to myself; I will tell you so much; that I
am going to walk in the country and admire the beauties of nature。〃
〃Honour bright?〃 asked Frank。
〃I am not in the habit of lying; Mr。 Innes;〃 retorted Archie。 〃I have
the honour of wishing you good…day。〃
〃You won't forget the Spec。?〃 asked Innes。
〃The Spec。?〃 said Archie。 〃O no; I won't forget the Spec。〃
And the one young man carried his tortured spirit forth of the city and
all the day long; by one road and another; in an endless pilgrimage of
misery; while the other hastened smilingly to spread the news of Weir's
access of insanity; and to drum up for that night a full attendance at
the Speculative; where further eccentric developments might certainly be
looked for。 I doubt if Innes had the least belief in his prediction; I
think it flowed rather from a wish to make the story as good and the
scandal as great as possible; not from any ill…will to Archie … from the
mere pleasure of beholding interested faces。 But for all that his words
were prophetic。 Archie did not forget the Spec。; he put in an
appearance there at the due time; and; before the evening was over; had
dealt a memorable shock to his companions。 It chanced he was the
president of the night。 He sat in the same room where the Society still
meets … only the portraits were not there: the men who afterwards sat
for them were then but beginning their career。 The same lustre of many
tapers shed its light over the meeting; the same chair; perhaps;
supported him that so many of us have sat in since。 At times he seemed
to forget the business of the evening; but even in these periods he sat
with a great air of energy and determination。 At times he meddled
bitterly; and launched with defiance those fines which are the precious
and rarely used artillery of the president。 He little thought; as he
did so; how he resembled his father; but his friends remarked upon it;
chuckling。 So far; in his high place above his fellow…students; he
seemed set beyond the possibility of any scandal; but his mind was made
up … he was determined to fulfil the sphere of his offence。 He signed
to Innes (whom he had just fined; and who just impeached his ruling) to
succeed him in the chair; stepped down from the platform; and took his
place by the chimney…piece; the shine of many wax tapers from above
illuminating his pale face; the glow of the great red fire relieving
from behind his slim figure。 He had to propose; as an amendment to the
next subject in the case…book; 〃Whether capital punishment be consistent
with God's will or man's policy?〃
A breath of embarrassment; of something like alarm; passed round the
room; so daring did these words appear upon the lips of Hermiston's only
son。 But the amendment was not seconded; the previous question was
promptly moved and unanimously voted; and the momentary scandal smuggled
by。 Innes triumphed in the fulfilment of his prophecy。 He and Archie
were now become the heroes of the night; but whereas every one crowded
about Innes; when the meeting broke up; but one of all his companions
came to speak to Archie。
〃Weir; man! That was an extraordinary raid of yours!〃 observed this
courageous member; taking him confidentially by the arm as they went
out。
〃I don't think it a raid;〃 said Archie grimly。 〃More like a war。 I
saw that poor brute hanged this morning; and my gorge rises at it yet。〃
〃Hut…tut;〃 returned his companion; and; dropping his arm like something
hot; he sought the less tense society of others。
Archie found himself alone。 The last of the faithful … or was it only
the boldest of the curious? … had fled。 He watched the black huddle of
his fellow…students draw off down and up the street; in whispering or
boisterous gangs。 And the isolation of the moment weighed upon him like
an omen and an emblem of his destiny in life。 Bred up in unbroken fear
himself; among trembling servants; and in a house which (at the least
ruffle in the master's voice) shuddered into silence; he saw himself on
the brink of the red valley of war; and measured the danger and length
of it with awe。 He made a detour in the glimmer and shadow of the
streets; came into the back stable lane; and watched for a long while
the light burn steady in the Judge's room。 The longer he gazed upon
that illuminated window…blind; the more blank became the picture of the
man who sat behind it; endlessly turning over sheets of process; pausing
to sip a glass of port; or rising and passing heavily about his book…
lined walls to verify some reference。 He could not combine the brutal
judge and the industrious; dispassionate student; the connecting link
escaped him; from s