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raised eye…brows； he took his departure； and left Archie speechless in the
street。
The anecdote might be called infinitely little； and yet its meaning for
Archie was immense。 〃I did not know the old man had so much blood in
him。〃 He had never dreamed this sire of his； this aboriginal antique； this
adamantine Adam； had even so much of a heart as to be moved in the least
degree for another … and that other himself； who had insulted him！ With
the generosity of youth； Archie was instantly under arms upon the other
side： had instantly created a new image of Lord Hermiston； that of a man
who was all iron without and all sensibility within。 The mind of the vile
jester； the tongue that had pursued Duncan Jopp with unmanly insults； the
unbeloved countenance that he had known and feared for so long； were all
forgotten； and he hastened home； impatient to confess his misdeeds；
impatient to throw himself on the mercy of this imaginary character。
He was not to be long without a rude awakening。 It was in the
gloaming when he drew near the door…step of the lighted house； and was
aware of the figure of his father approaching from the opposite side。 Little
daylight lingered； but on the door being opened； the strong yellow shine of
the lamp gushed out upon the landing and shone full on Archie； as he
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stood； in the old…fashioned observance of respect； to yield precedence。 The
judge came without haste； stepping stately and firm； his chin raised； his
face （as he entered the lamplight） strongly illumined； his mouth set hard。
There was never a wink of change in his expression； without looking to
the right or left； he mounted the stair； passed close to Archie； and entered
the house。 Instinctively； the boy； upon his first coming； had made a
movement to meet him； instinctively he recoiled against the railing； as the
old man swept by him in a pomp of indignation。 Words were needless； he
knew all … perhaps more than all … and the hour of judgment was at hand。
It is possible that； in this sudden revulsion of hope； and before these
symptoms of impending danger； Archie might have fled。 But not even that
was left to him。 My lord； after hanging up his cloak and hat； turned round
in the lighted entry； and made him an imperative and silent gesture with
his thumb； and with the strange instinct of obedience； Archie followed him
into the house。
All dinner…time there reigned over the Judge's table a palpable silence；
and as soon as the solids were despatched he rose to his feet。
〃M'Killup； tak' the wine into my room；〃 said he； and then to his son：
〃Archie； you and me has to have a talk。〃
It was at this sickening moment that Archie's courage； for the first and
last time； entirely deserted him。 〃I have an appointment；〃 said he。
〃It'll have to be broken； then；〃 said Hermiston； and led the way into his
study。
The lamp was shaded； the fire trimmed to a nicety； the table covered
deep with orderly documents； the backs of law books made a frame upon
all sides that was only broken by the window and the doors。
For a moment Hermiston warmed his hands at the fire； presenting his
back to Archie； then suddenly disclosed on him the terrors of the Hanging
Face。
〃What's this I hear of ye？〃 he asked。
There was no answer possible to Archie。
〃I'll have to tell ye； then；〃 pursued Hermiston。 〃It seems ye've been
skirting against the father that begot ye； and one of his Maijesty's Judges
in this land； and that in the public street； and while an order of the Court
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was being executit。 Forbye which； it would appear that ye've been airing
your opeenions in a Coallege Debatin' Society〃； he paused a moment： and
then； with extraordinary bitterness； added： 〃Ye damned eediot。〃
〃I had meant to tell you；〃 stammered Archie。 〃I see you are well
informed。〃
〃Muckle obleeged to ye；〃 said his lordship； and took his usual seat。
〃And so you disapprove of Caapital Punishment？〃 he added。
〃I am sorry； sir； I do；〃 said Archie。
〃I am sorry； too；〃 said his lordship。 〃And now； if you please； we shall
approach this business with a little more parteecularity。 I hear that at the
hanging of Duncan Jopp … and； man！ ye had a fine client there … in the
middle of all the riff…raff of the ceety； ye thought fit to cry out； ‘This is a
damned murder； and my gorge rises at the man that haangit him。' 〃
〃No； sir； these were not my words；〃 cried Archie。
〃What were yer words； then？〃 asked the Judge。
〃I believe I said； ‘I denounce it as a murder！'〃 said the son。 〃I beg your
pardon … a God…defying murder。 I have no wish to conceal the truth；〃 he
added； and looked his father for a moment in the face。
〃God； it would only need that of it next！〃 cried Hermiston。 〃There was
nothing about your gorge rising； then？〃
〃That was afterwards； my lord； as I was leaving the Speculative。 I said
I had been to see the miserable creature hanged； and my gorge rose at it。〃
〃Did ye； though？〃 said Hermiston。 〃And I suppose ye knew who
haangit him？〃
〃I was present at the trial； I ought to tell you that； I ought to explain。 I
ask your pardon beforehand for any expression that may seem undutiful。
The position in which I stand is wretched；〃 said the unhappy hero； now
fairly face to face with the business he had chosen。 〃I have been reading
some of your cases。 I was present while Jopp was tried。 It was a hideous
business。 Father； it was a hideous thing！ Grant he was vile； why should
you hunt him with a vileness equal to his own？ It was done with glee … that
is the word … you did it with glee； and I looked on； God help me！ with
horror。〃
〃You're a young gentleman that doesna approve of Caapital
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Punishment；〃 said Hermiston。 〃Weel； I'm an auld man that does。 I was
glad to get Jopp haangit； and what for would I pretend I wasna？ You're all
for honesty； it seems； you couldn't even steik your mouth on the public
street。 What for should I steik mines upon the bench； the King's officer；
bearing the sword； a dreid to evil…doers； as I was from the beginning； and
as I will be to the end！ Mair than enough of it！ Heedious！ I