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when he might have sought refuge in almost any other house in Scotland。
But the step once taken； was practically irretrievable。 He had no more
ready money to go anywhere else； he would have to borrow from Archie
the next club…night； and ill as he thought of his host's manners； he was sure
of his practical generosity。 Frank's resemblance to Talleyrand strikes me as
imaginary； but at least not Talleyrand himself could have more obediently
taken his lesson from the facts。 He met Archie at dinner without
resentment； almost with cordiality。 You must take your friends as you find
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them； he would have said。 Archie couldn't help being his father's son； or
his grandfather's； the hypothetical weaver's； grandson。 The son of a hunks；
he was still a hunks at heart； incapable of true generosity and
consideration； but he had other qualities with which Frank could divert
himself in the meanwhile； and to enjoy which it was necessary that Frank
should keep his temper。
So excellently was it controlled that he awoke next morning with his
head full of a different； though a cognate subject。 What was Archie's little
game？ Why did he shun Frank's company？ What was he keeping secret？
Was he keeping tryst with somebody； and was it a woman？ It would be a
good joke and a fair revenge to discover。 To that task he set himself with a
great deal of patience； which might have surprised his friends； for he had
been always credited not with patience so much as brilliancy； and little by
little； from one point to another； he at last succeeded in piecing out the
situation。 First he remarked that； although Archie set out in all the
directions of the compass； he always came home again from some point
between the south and west。 From the study of a map； and in consideration
of the great expanse of untenanted moorland running in that direction
towards the sources of the Clyde； he laid his finger on Cauldstaneslap and
two other neighbouring farms； Kingsmuirs and Polintarf。 But it was
difficult to advance farther。 With his rod for a pretext； he vainly visited
each of them in turn； nothing was to be seen suspicious about this trinity
of moorland settlements。 He would have tried to follow Archie； had it been
the least possible； but the nature of the land precluded the idea。 He did the
next best； ensconced himself in a quiet corner； and pursued his movements
with a telescope。 It was equally in vain； and he soon wearied of his futile
vigilance； left the telescope at home； and had almost given the matter up in
despair； when； on the twenty…seventh day of his visit； he was suddenly
confronted with the person whom he sought。 The first Sunday Kirstie had
managed to stay away from kirk on some pretext of indisposition； which
was more truly modesty； the pleasure of beholding Archie seeming too
sacred； too vivid for that public place。 On the two following； Frank had
himself been absent on some of his excursions among the neighbouring
families。 It was not until the fourth； accordingly； that Frank had occasion
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to set eyes on the enchantress。 With the first look； all hesitation was over。
She came with the Cauldstaneslap party； then she lived at Cauldstaneslap。
Here was Archie's secret； here was the woman； and more than that …
though I have need here of every manageable attenuation of language …
with the first look； he had already entered himself as rival。 It was a good
deal in pique； it was a little in revenge； it was much in genuine admiration：
the devil may decide the proportions！ I cannot； and it is very likely that
Frank could not。
〃Mighty attractive milkmaid；〃 he observed； on the way home。
〃Who？〃 said Archie。
〃O； the girl you're looking at … aren't you？ Forward there on the road。
She came attended by the rustic bard； presumably； therefore； belongs to
his exalted family。 The single objection！ for the four black brothers are
awkward customers。 If anything were to go wrong； Gib would gibber； and
Clem would prove inclement； and Dand fly in danders； and Hob blow up
in gobbets。 It would be a Helliott of a business！〃
〃Very humorous； I am sure；〃 said Archie。
〃Well； I am trying to be so；〃 said Frank。 〃It's none too easy in this
place； and with your solemn society； my dear fellow。 But confess that the
milkmaid has found favour in your eyes； or resign all claim to be a man of
taste。〃
〃It is no matter；〃 returned Archie。
But the other continued to look at him； steadily and quizzically； and
his colour slowly rose and deepened under the glance； until not impudence
itself could have denied that he was blushing。 And at this Archie lost some
of his control。 He changed his stick from one hand to the other； and … 〃O；
for God's sake； don't be an ass！〃 he cried。
〃Ass？ That's the retort delicate without doubt；〃 says Frank。 〃Beware of
the homespun brothers； dear。 If they come into the dance； you'll see who's
an ass。 Think now； if they only applied （say） a quarter as much talent as I
have applied to the question of what Mr。 Archie does with his evening
hours； and why he is so unaffectedly nasty when the subject's touched on …
〃
〃You are touching on it now；〃 interrupted Archie with a wince。
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〃Thank you。 That was all I wanted； an articulate confession；〃 said
Frank。
〃I beg to remind you … 〃 began Archie。
But he was interrupted in turn。 〃My dear fellow； don't。 It's quite
needless。 The subject's dead and buried。〃
And Frank began to talk hastily on other matters； an art in which he
was an adept； for it was his gift to be fluent on anything or nothing。 But
although Archie had the grace or the timidity to suffer him to rattle on； he
was by no means done with the subject。 When he came home to dinner； he
was greeted with a sly demand； how things were looking 〃Cauldstaneslap
ways。〃 Frank took his first glass of port out after dinner to the toast of
Kirstie； and later in the evening he returned to the charge again。
〃I say； Weir； you'll excuse me for returning again to this affair