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hill； sometimes （and this is her own expression） like a precious jewel in
the heavens。 On such days； upon the sudden view of it； her hand would
tighten on the child's fingers； her voice rise like a song。 〃I TO THE
HILLS！〃 she would repeat。 〃And O； Erchie； are nae these like the hills of
Naphtali？〃 and her tears would flow。
Upon an impressionable child the effect of this continual and pretty
accompaniment to life was deep。 The woman's quietism and piety passed
on to his different nature undiminished； but whereas in her it was a native
sentiment； in him it was only an implanted dogma。 Nature and the child's
pugnacity at times revolted。 A cad from the Potterrow once struck him in
the mouth； he struck back； the pair fought it out in the back stable lane
towards the Meadows； and Archie returned with a considerable decline in
the number of his front teeth； and unregenerately boasting of the losses of
the foe。 It was a sore day for Mrs。 Weir； she wept and prayed over the
infant backslider until my lord was due from Court； and she must resume
that air of tremulous composure with which she always greeted him。 The
judge was that day in an observant mood； and remarked upon the absent
teeth。
〃I am afraid Erchie will have been fechting with some of they blagyard
lads；〃 said Mrs。 Weir。
My lord's voice rang out as it did seldom in the privacy of his own
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Weir of Hermiston
house。 〃I'll have norm of that； sir！〃 he cried。 〃Do you hear me？ … nonn of
that！ No son of mine shall be speldering in the glaur with any dirty
raibble。〃
The anxious mother was grateful for so much support； she had even
feared the contrary。 And that night when she put the child to bed … 〃Now；
my dear； ye see！〃 she said； 〃I told you what your faither would think of it；
if he heard ye had fallen into this dreidful sin； and let you and me pray to
God that ye may be keepit from the like temptation or strengthened to
resist it！〃
The womanly falsity of this was thrown away。 Ice and iron cannot be
welded； and the points of view of the Justice…Clerk and Mrs。 Weir were
not less unassimilable。 The character and position of his father had long
been a stumbling…block to Archie； and with every year of his age the
difficulty grew more instant。 The man was mostly silent； when he spoke at
all； it was to speak of the things of the world； always in a worldly spirit；
often in language that the child had been schooled to think coarse； and
sometimes with words that he knew to be sins in themselves。 Tenderness
was the first duty； and my lord was invariably harsh。 God was love； the
name of my lord （to all who knew him） was fear。 In the world； as
schematised for Archie by his mother； the place was marked for such a
creature。 There were some whom it was good to pity and well （though
very likely useless） to pray for； they were named reprobates； goats； God's
enemies； brands for the burning； and Archie tallied every mark of
identification； and drew the inevitable private inference that the Lord
Justice…Clerk was the chief of sinners。
The mother's honesty was scarce complete。 There was one influence
she feared for the child and still secretly combated； that was my lord's； and
half unconsciously； half in a wilful blindness； she continued to undermine
her husband with his son。 As long as Archie remained silent； she did so
ruthlessly； with a single eye to heaven and the child's salvation； but the day
came when Archie spoke。 It was 1801； and Archie was seven； and beyond
his years for curiosity and logic； when he brought the case up openly。 If
judging were sinful and forbidden； how came papa to be a judge？ to have
that sin for a trade？ to bear the name of it for a distinction？
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Weir of Hermiston
〃I can't see it；〃 said the little Rabbi； and wagged his head。
Mrs。 Weir abounded in commonplace replies。
〃No； I cannae see it；〃 reiterated Archie。 〃And I'll tell you what；
mamma； I don't think you and me's justifeed in staying with him。〃
The woman awoke to remorse； she saw herself disloyal to her man； her
sovereign and bread…winner； in whom （with what she had of worldliness）
she took a certain subdued pride。 She expatiated in reply on my lord's
honour and greatness； his useful services in this world of sorrow and
wrong； and the place in which he stood； far above where babes and
innocents could hope to see or criticise。 But she had builded too well …
Archie had his answers pat： Were not babes and innocents the type of the
kingdom of heaven？ Were not honour and greatness the badges of the
world？ And at any rate； how about the mob that had once seethed about
the carriage？
〃It's all very fine；〃 he concluded； 〃but in my opinion papa has no right
to be it。 And it seems that's not the worst yet of it。 It seems he's called
〃The Hanging judge〃 … it seems he's crooool。 I'll tell you what it is；
mamma； there's a tex' borne in upon me： It were better for that man if a
milestone were bound upon his back and him flung into the deepestmost
pairts of the sea。〃
〃O； my lamb； ye must never say the like of that！〃 she cried。 〃Ye're to
honour faither and mother； dear； that your days may be long in the land。
It's Atheists that cry out against him … French Atheists； Erchie！ Ye would
never surely even yourself down to be saying the same thing as French
Atheists？ It would break my heart to think that of you。 And O； Erchie； here
are'na YOU setting up to JUDGE？ And have ye no forgot God's plain
command … the First with Promise； dear？ Mind you upon the beam and the
mote！〃
Having thus carried the war into the enemy's camp； the terrified lady
breathed again。 And no doubt it is easy thus to circumvent a child with
catchwords； but it may be questioned how far it is effectual。 An instinct in
his breast detects the quibble； and a voice condemns it。 He will instantly
submit； privately hold the same opinion。 For even in this simple and
antique relation of the mother and the child； hypocrisies are multiplied。