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Weir of Hermiston
CHAPTER V … WINTER ON THE
MOORS
I。 AT HERMISTON
THE road to Hermiston runs for a great part of the way up the valley
of a stream； a favourite with anglers and with midges； full of falls and
pools； and shaded by willows and natural woods of birch。 Here and there；
but at great distances； a byway branches off； and a gaunt farmhouse may
be descried above in a fold of the hill； but the more part of the time； the
road would be quite empty of passage and the hills of habitation。
Hermiston parish is one of the least populous in Scotland； and； by the time
you came that length； you would scarce be surprised at the inimitable
smallness of the kirk； a dwarfish； ancient place seated for fifty； and
standing in a green by the burn…side among two…score gravestones。 The
manse close by； although no more than a cottage； is surrounded by the
brightness of a flower…garden and the straw roofs of bees； and the whole
colony； kirk and manse； garden and graveyard； finds harbourage in a grove
of rowans； and is all the year round in a great silence broken only by the
drone of the bees； the tinkle of the burn； and the bell on Sundays。 A mile
beyond the kirk the road leaves the valley by a precipitous ascent； and
brings you a little after to the place of Hermiston； where it comes to an end
in the back…yard before the coach…house。 All beyond and about is the great
field； of the hills； the plover； the curlew； and the lark cry there； the wind
blows as it blows in a ship's rigging； hard and cold and pure； and the hill…
tops huddle one behind another like a herd of cattle into the sunset。
The house was sixty years old； unsightly； comfortable； a farmyard and
a kitchen…garden on the left； with a fruit wall where little hard green pears
came to their maturity about the end of October。
The policy （as who should say the park） was of some extent； but very
ill reclaimed； heather and moorfowl had crossed the boundary wall and
spread and roosted within； and it would have tasked a landscape gardener
to say where policy ended and unpolicied nature began。 My lord had been
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Weir of Hermiston
led by the influence of Mr。 Sheriff Scott into a considerable design of
planting； many acres were accordingly set out with fir； and the little
feathery besoms gave a false scale and lent a strange air of a toy…shop to
the moors。 A great； rooty sweetness of bogs was in the air； and at all
seasons an infinite melancholy piping of hill birds。 Standing so high and
with so little shelter； it was a cold； exposed house； splashed by showers；
drenched by continuous rains that made the gutters to spout； beaten upon
and buffeted by all the winds of heaven； and the prospect would be often
black with tempest； and often white with the snows of winter。 But the
house was wind and weather proof； the hearths were kept bright； and the
rooms pleasant with live fires of peat； and Archie might sit of an evening
and hear the squalls bugle on the moorland； and watch the fire prosper in
the earthy fuel； and the smoke winding up the chimney； and drink deep of
the pleasures of shelter。
Solitary as the place was； Archie did not want neighbours。 Every night；
if he chose； he might go down to the manse and share a 〃brewst〃 of toddy
with the minister … a hare…brained ancient gentleman； long and light and
still active； though his knees were loosened with age； and his voice broke
continually in childish trebles … and his lady wife； a heavy； comely dame；
without a word to say for herself beyond good…even and good…day。 Harum…
scarum； clodpole young lairds of the neighbourhood paid him the
compliment of a visit。 Young Hay of Romanes rode down to call； on his
crop…eared pony； young Pringle of Drumanno came up on his bony grey。
Hay remained on the hospitable field； and must be carried to bed； Pringle
got somehow to his saddle about 3 A。M。； and （as Archie stood with the
lamp on the upper doorstep） lurched； uttered a senseless view… holloa； and
vanished out of the small circle of illumination like a wraith。 Yet a minute
or two longer the clatter of his break…neck flight was audible； then it was
cut off by the intervening steepness of the hill； and again； a great while
after； the renewed beating of phantom horse…hoofs； far in the valley of the
Hermiston； showed that the horse at least； if not his rider； was still on the
homeward way。
There was a Tuesday club at the 〃Cross…keys〃 in Crossmichael； where
the young bloods of the country…side congregated and drank deep on a
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percentage of the expense； so that he was left gainer who should have
drunk the most。 Archie had no great mind to this diversion； but he took it
like a duty laid upon him； went with a decent regularity； did his manfullest
with the liquor； held up his head in the local jests； and got home again and
was able to put up his horse； to the admiration of Kirstie and the lass that
helped her。 He dined at Driffel； supped at Windielaws。 He went to the new
year's ball at Huntsfield and was made welcome； and thereafter rode to
hounds with my Lord Muirfell； upon whose name； as that of a legitimate
Lord of Parliament； in a work so full of Lords of Session； my pen should
pause reverently。 Yet the same fate attended him here as in Edinburgh。 The
habit of solitude tends to perpetuate itself； and an austerity of which he
was quite unconscious； and a pride which seemed arrogance； and perhaps
was chiefly shyness； discouraged and offended his new companions。 Hay
did not return more than twice； Pringle never at all； and there came a time
when Archie even desisted from the Tuesday Club； and became in all
things … what he had had the name of almost from the first … the Recluse of
Hermiston。 High…nosed Miss Pringle of Drumanno and high…stepping Miss
Marshall of the Mains were understood to have had a difference of opinion
about him the day after the ball … he was none the wiser； he could not
suppose himself to be remarked by these entrancing ladies。 At the ball
itself my Lord Muirfell's daughter； the Lady Flora； spoke to him twice； and
the second time with a touch of appeal； so that her colour rose and her
voice trembled a little in his ear； like a passing grace in music。 He stepped
back with a heart on fire； coldly and not ungracefully excused himself； and
a little after watched her dancing with young Drumanno of the empty
laugh； and was harrowed at the sight； and raged to himself that this was a
world in which it was given to Drumanno to please； and to himself only to
stand aside and envy。 He seemed excluded； as of right； from the favour of
such society … seemed to extinguish mirth wherever he came； and was
quick to feel the wound； and desist； and retire into solitude。 If he had but
understood the figure he presented； and the impression he made on these
bright eyes and tender hearts； if he had but guessed that the Recluse of
Hermiston； young； graceful； well spoken； but always cold； stirred the