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〃How do you mean？〃 asked Archie。
〃FAIR judges； mean；〃 replied Glenalmond。 〃Can we be just to them？
Do we not ask too much？ There was a word of yours just now that
impressed me a little when you asked me who we were to know all the
springs of God's unfortunate creatures。 You applied that； as I understood；
to capital cases only。 But does it … I ask myself … does it not apply all
through？ Is it any less difficult to judge of a good man or of a half… good
man； than of the worst criminal at the bar？ And may not each have
relevant excuses？〃
〃Ah； but we do not talk of punishing the good；〃 cried Archie。
〃No； we do not talk of it；〃 said Glenalmond。 〃But I think we do it。
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Your father； for instance。〃
〃You think I have punished him？〃 cried Archie。
Lord Glenalmond bowed his head。
〃I think I have；〃 said Archie。 〃And the worst is； I think he feels it！
How much； who can tell； with such a being？ But I think he does。〃
〃And I am sure of it；〃 said Glenalmond。
〃Has he spoken to you； then？〃 cried Archie。
〃O no；〃 replied the judge。
〃I tell you honestly；〃 said Archie； 〃I want to make it up to him。 I will
go； I have already pledged myself to go to Hermiston。 That was to him。
And now I pledge myself to you； in the sight of God； that I will close my
mouth on capital punishment and all other subjects where our views may
clash； for … how long shall I say？ when shall I have sense enough？ … ten
years。 Is that well？〃
〃It is well；〃 said my lord。
〃As far as it goes；〃 said Archie。 〃It is enough as regards myself； it is to
lay down enough of my conceit。 But as regards him； whom I have publicly
insulted？ What am I to do to him？ How do you pay attentions to a … an Alp
like that？〃
〃Only in one way；〃 replied Glenalmond。 〃Only by obedience； punctual；
prompt； and scrupulous。〃
〃And I promise that he shall have it；〃 answered Archie。 〃I offer you
my hand in pledge of it。〃
〃And I take your hand as a solemnity；〃 replied the judge。 〃God bless
you； my dear； and enable you to keep your promise。 God guide you in the
true way； and spare your days； and preserve to you your honest heart。〃 At
that； he kissed the young man upon the forehead in a gracious； distant；
antiquated way； and instantly launched； with a marked change of voice；
into another subject。 〃And now； let us replenish the tankard； and I believe
if you will try my Cheddar again； you would find you had a better appetite。
The Court has spoken； and the case is dismissed。〃
〃No； there is one thing I must say；〃 cried Archie。 〃I must say it in
justice to himself。 I know … I believe faithfully； slavishly； after our talk … he
will never ask me anything unjust。 I am proud to feel it； that we have that
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much in common； I am proud to say it to you。〃
The Judge； with shining eyes； raised his tankard。 〃And I think perhaps
that we might permit ourselves a toast；〃 said he。 〃I should like to propose
the health of a man very different from me and very much my superior … a
man from whom I have often differed； who has often （in the trivial
expression） rubbed me the wrong way； but whom I have never ceased to
respect and； I may add； to be not a little afraid of。 Shall I give you his
name？〃
〃The Lord Justice…Clerk； Lord Hermiston；〃 said Archie； almost with
gaiety； and the pair drank the toast deeply。
It was not precisely easy to re…establish； after these emotional passages；
the natural flow of conversation。 But the Judge eked out what was wanting
with kind looks； produced his snuff…box （which was very rarely seen） to
fill in a pause； and at last； despairing of any further social success； was
upon the point of getting down a book to read a favourite passage； when
there came a rather startling summons at the front door； and Carstairs
ushered in my Lord Glenkindie； hot from a midnight supper。 I am not
aware that Glenkindie was ever a beautiful object； being short； and gross…
bodied； and with an expression of sensuality comparable to a bear's。 At
that moment； coming in hissing from many potations； with a flushed
countenance and blurred eyes； he was strikingly contrasted with the tall；
pale； kingly figure of Glenalmond。 A rush of confused thought came over
Archie … of shame that this was one of his father's elect friends； of pride；
that at the least of it Hermiston could carry his liquor； and last of all； of
rage； that he should have here under his eyes the man that had betrayed
him。 And then that too passed away； and he sat quiet； biding his
opportunity。
The tipsy senator plunged at once into an explanation with
Glenalmond。 There was a point reserved yesterday； he had been able to
make neither head nor tail of it； and seeing lights in the house； he had just
dropped in for a glass of porter … and at this point he became aware of the
third person。 Archie saw the cod's mouth and the blunt lips of Glenkindie
gape at him for a moment； and the recognition twinkle in his eyes。
〃Who's this？〃 said he。 〃What？ is this possibly you； Don Quickshot？
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And how are ye？ And how's your father？ And what's all this we hear of
you？ It seems you're a most extraordinary leveller； by all tales。 No king；
no parliaments； and your gorge rises at the macers； worthy men！ Hoot；
toot！ Dear； dear me！ Your father's son too！ Most rideeculous！〃
Archie was on his feet； flushing a little at the reappearance of his
unhappy figure of speech； but perfectly self…possessed。 〃My lord … and you；
Lord Glenalmond； my dear friend；〃 he began； 〃this is a happy chance for
me； that I can make my confession and offer my apologies to two of you at
once。〃
〃Ah； but I don't know about that。 Confession？ It'll be judeecial； my
young friend；〃 cried the jocular Glenkindie。 〃And I'm afraid to listen to ye。
Think if ye were to make me a coanvert！〃
〃If you would allow me； my lord；〃 returned Archie； 〃what I have to
say is very serious to me； and be pleased to be humorous after I am gone！〃
〃Remember； I'll hear nothing against the macers！〃 put in the
incorrigible Glenkindie。
But Archie continued as though he had not spoken。 〃I have played；
both yesterday and to…day； a part for which I can only offer the excuse of
youth。 I was so unwise as to go to an execution； it seems I made a scene at
the gallows； not content with which； I spoke the same night in a college
society against capital punishment。 This is the extent of what I have done；
and in case you hear more alleged against me； I protest my innocence。 I
have expressed my regret already to my father； who is so good as to pass
my conduct over … in a degree； and upon the condition that I am to leave
my law studies。〃 。 。 。
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CHAPTER V … WINTER ON THE