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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
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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 such a dual
nature； it was impossible he should predict behaviour； and he asked
himself if he had done well to plunge into a business of which the end
could not be foreseen？ and presently after； with a sickening decline of
confidence； if he had done loyally to strike his father？ For he had struck
him … defied him twice over and before a cloud of witnesses … struck him a
public buffet before crowds。 Who had called him to judge his father in
these precarious and high questions？ The office was usurped。 It might
have become a stranger； in a son … there was no blinking it … in a son； it
was disloyal。 And now； between these two natures so antipathetic； so
hateful to each other； there was depending an unpardonable affront： and
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Weir of Hermiston
the providence of God alone might foresee the manner in which it would
be resented by Lord Hermiston。
These misgivings tortured him all night and arose with him in the
winter's morning； they followed him from class to class； they made him
shrinkingly sensitive to every shade of manner in his companions； they
sounded in his ears through the current voice of the professor； and he
brought them home with him at night unabated and indeed increased。 The
cause of this increase lay in a chance encounter with the celebrated Dr。
Gregory。 Archie stood looking vaguely in the lighted window of a book
shop； trying to nerve himself for the approaching ordeal。 My lord and he
had met and parted in the morning as they had now done for long； with
scarcely the ordinary civilities of life； and it was plain to the son that
nothing had yet reached the father's ears。 Indeed； when he recalled the
awful countenance of my lord； a timid hope sprang up in him that perhaps
there would be found no one bold enough to carry tales。 If this were so； he
asked himself； would he begin again？ and he found no answer。 It was at
this moment that a hand was laid upon his arm； and a voice said in his ear；
〃My dear Mr。 Archie； you had better come and see me。〃
He started； turned round； and found himself face to face with Dr。
Gregory。 〃And why should I come to see you？〃 he asked； with the
defiance of the miserable。
〃Because you are looking exceedingly ill；〃 said the doctor； 〃and you
very evidently want looking after； my young friend。 Good folk are scarce；
you know； and it is not every one that would be quite so much missed as
yourself。 It is not every one that Hermiston would miss。〃
And with a nod and a smile； the doctor passed on。
A moment after； Archie was in pursuit； and had in turn； but more
roughly； seized him by the arm。
〃What do you mean？ what did you mean by saying that？ What makes
you think that Hermis … my father would have missed me？〃
The doctor turned about and looked him all over with a clinical eye。 A
far more stupid man than Dr。 Gregory might have guessed the truth； but
ninety…nine out of a hundred； even if they had been equally inclined to
kindness； would have blundered by some touch of charitable exaggeration。
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The doctor was better inspired。 He knew the father well； in that white face
of intelligence and suffering； he divined something of the son； and he told；
without apology or adornment； the plain truth。
〃When you had the measles； Mr。 Archibald； you had them gey and ill；
and I thought you were going to slip between my fingers；〃 he said。 〃Well；
your father was anxious。 How did I know it？ says you。 Simply because I
am a trained observer。 The sign that I saw him make； ten thousand would
have missed； and perhaps … PERHAPS； I say； because he's a hard man to
judge of … but perhaps he never made another。 A strange thing to consider！
It was this。 One day I came to him： ‘Hermiston；' said I； ‘there's a change。'
He never said a word； just glowered at me （if ye'll pardon the phrase） like
a wild beast。 ‘A change for the better；' said I。 And I distinctly heard him
take his breath。〃
The doctor left no opportunity for anti…climax； nodding his cocked hat
（a piece of antiquity to which he clung） and repeating 〃Distinctly〃 with
raised eye…brows； he took his departure； and left Archie speechless in the
street