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fishing among the Scots peasantry with condescension for a bait will have
an empty basket by evening。
In proof of this theory Frank made a great success of it at the
Crossmichael Club； to which Archie took him immediately on his arrival；
his own last appearance on that scene of gaiety。 Frank was made welcome
there at once； continued to go regularly； and had attended a meeting （as the
members ever after loved to tell） on the evening before his death。 Young
Hay and young Pringle appeared again。 There was another supper at
Windiclaws； another dinner at Driffel； and it resulted in Frank being taken
to the bosom of the county people as unreservedly as he had been
repudiated by the country folk。 He occupied Hermiston after the manner of
an invader in a conquered capital。 He was perpetually issuing from it； as
from a base； to toddy parties； fishing parties； and dinner parties； to which
Archie was not invited； or to which Archie would not go。 It was now that
the name of The Recluse became general for the young man。 Some say
that Innes invented it； Innes； at least； spread it abroad。
〃How's all with your Recluse to…day？〃 people would ask。
〃O； reclusing away！〃 Innes would declare； with his bright air of saying
something witty； and immediately interrupt the general laughter which he
had provoked much more by his air than his words； 〃Mind you； it's all
very well laughing； but I'm not very well pleased。 Poor Archie is a good
fellow； an excellent fellow； a fellow I always liked。 I think it small of him
to take his little disgrace so hard； and shut himself up。 'Grant that it is a
ridiculous story； painfully ridiculous；' I keep telling him。 'Be a man！ Live it
down； man！' But not he。 Of course； it's just solitude； and shame； and all
that。 But I confess I'm beginning to fear the result。 It would be all the
pities in the world if a really promising fellow like Weir was to end ill。 I'm
seriously tempted to write to Lord Hermiston； and put it plainly to him。〃
〃I would if I were you；〃 some of his auditors would say； shaking the
head； sitting bewildered and confused at this new view of the matter； so
deftly indicated by a single word。 〃A capital idea！〃 they would add； and
wonder at the APLOMB and position of this young man； who talked as a
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matter of course of writing to Hermiston and correcting him upon his
private affairs。
And Frank would proceed； sweetly confidential： 〃I'll give you an idea；
now。 He's actually sore about the way that I'm received and he's left out in
the county … actually jealous and sore。 I've rallied him and I've reasoned
with him； told him that every one was most kindly inclined towards him；
told him even that I was received merely because I was his guest。 But it's
no use。 He will neither accept the invitations he gets； nor stop brooding
about the ones where he's left out。 What I'm afraid of is that the wound's
ulcerating。 He had always one of those dark； secret； angry natures … a little
underhand and plenty of bile … you know the sort。 He must have inherited
it from the Weirs； whom I suspect to have been a worthy family of
weavers somewhere； what's the cant phrase？ … sedentary occupation。 It's
precisely the kind of character to go wrong in a false position like what his
father's made for him； or he's making for himself； whichever you like to
call it。 And for my part； I think it a disgrace；〃 Frank would say generously。
Presently the sorrow and anxiety of this disinterested friend took shape。
He began in private； in conversations of two； to talk vaguely of bad habits
and low habits。 〃I must say I'm afraid he's going wrong altogether；〃 he
would say。 〃I'll tell you plainly； and between ourselves； I scarcely like to
stay there any longer； only； man； I'm positively afraid to leave him alone。
You'll see； I shall be blamed for it later on。 I'm staying at a great sacrifice。
I'm hindering my chances at the Bar； and I can't blind my eyes to it。 And
what I'm afraid of is that I'm going to get kicked for it all round before all's
done。 You see； nobody believes in friendship nowadays。〃
〃Well； Innes；〃 his interlocutor would reply； 〃it's very good of you； I
must say that。 If there's any blame going； you'll always be sure of MY
good word； for one thing。〃
〃Well；〃 Frank would continue； 〃candidly； I don't say it's pleasant。 He
has a very rough way with him； his father's son； you know。 I don't say he's
rude … of course； I couldn't be expected to stand that … but he steers very
near the wind。 No； it's not pleasant； but I tell ye； man； in conscience I don't
think it would be fair to leave him。 Mind you； I don't say there's anything
actually wrong。 What I say is that I don't like the looks of it； man！〃 and he
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would press the arm of his momentary confidant。 In the early stages I am
persuaded there was no malice。 He talked but for the pleasure of airing
himself。 He was essentially glib； as becomes the young advocate； and
essentially careless of the truth； which is the mark of the young ass； and so
he talked at random。 There was no particular bias； but that one which is
indigenous and universal； to flatter himself and to please and interest the
present friend。 And by thus milling air out of his mouth； he had presently
built up a presentation of Archie which was known and talked of in all
corners of the county。 Wherever there was a residential house and a walled
garden； wherever there was a dwarfish castle and a park； wherever a
quadruple cottage by the ruins of a peel…tower showed an old family going
down； and wherever a handsome villa with a carriage approach and a
shrubbery marked the coming up of a new one … probably on the wheels of
machinery … Archie began to be regarded in the light of a dark； perhaps a
vicious mystery； and the future developments of his career to be looked for
with uneasiness and confidential whispering。 He had done something
disgraceful； my dear。 What； was not precisely known； and that good kind
young man； Mr。 Innes； did his best to make light of it。 But there it was。
And Mr。 Innes was very anxious about him now； he was really uneasy； my
dear； he was positively wrecking his own prospects because he dared not
leave him alone。 How wholly we all lie at the mercy of a single prater； not
needfully with any malign purpose！ And if a man but talks of himself in
the right spirit； refers to his virtuous actions by the way； and never applies
to them the name of virtue； how easily his evidence is accepted in the
court of public opinion！
All this while； however； there was a more poisonous ferment at work
between the two lads； which came late indeed to the surface； but had
modified and magnified their dissensions from the first。 To an idle；
shallow； easy…going customer like Frank； the smell of a mystery was
attractive。 It gave his mind something to play with； like a new toy to a
child； and it took him on the weak side； for like many young men coming
to the Bar； and before they had been tried and found wanting； he flattered
himself he was a fellow of unusual quickness and penetration。 They knew