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of savage and jeering animals？
The interval before the execution was like a violent dream。 He met his
father； he would not look at him； he could not speak to him。 It seemed
there was no living creature but must have been swift to recognise that
imminent animosity； but the hide of the Justice…Clerk remained
impenetrable。 Had my lord been talkative； the truce could never have
subsisted； but he was by fortune in one of his humours of sour silence； and
under the very guns of his broadside； Archie nursed the enthusiasm of
rebellion。 It seemed to him； from the top of his nineteen years' experience；
as if he were marked at birth to be the perpetrator of some signal action； to
set back fallen Mercy； to overthrow the usurping devil that sat； horned and
hoofed； on her throne。 Seductive Jacobin figments； which he had often
refuted at the Speculative； swam up in his mind and startled him as with
voices： and he seemed to himself to walk accompanied by an almost
tangible presence of new beliefs and duties。
On the named morning he was at the place of execution。 He saw the
fleering rabble； the flinching wretch produced。 He looked on for a while at
a certain parody of devotion； which seemed to strip the wretch of his last
claim to manhood。 Then followed the brutal instant of extinction； and the
paltry dangling of the remains like a broken jumping…jack。 He had been
prepared for something terrible； not for this tragic meanness。 He stood a
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Weir of Hermiston
moment silent； and then … 〃I denounce this God…defying murder；〃 he
shouted； and his father； if he must have disclaimed the sentiment； might
have owned the stentorian voice with which it was uttered。
Frank Innes dragged him from the spot。 The two handsome lads
followed the same course of study and recreation； and felt a certain mutual
attraction； founded mainly on good looks。 It had never gone deep； Frank
was by nature a thin； jeering creature； not truly susceptible whether of
feeling or inspiring friendship； and the relation between the pair was
altogether on the outside； a thing of common knowledge and the
pleasantries that spring from a common acquaintance。 The more credit to
Frank that he was appalled by Archie's outburst； and at least conceived the
design of keeping him in sight； and； if possible； in hand； for the day。 But
Archie； who had just defied … was it God or Satan？ … would not listen to
the word of a college companion。
〃I will not go with you；〃 he said。 〃I do not desire your company； sir； I
would be alone。〃
〃Here； Weir； man； don't be absurd；〃 said Innes； keeping a tight hold
upon his sleeve。 〃I will not let you go until I know what you mean to do
with yourself； it's no use brandishing that staff。〃 For indeed at that moment
Archie had made a sudden … perhaps a warlike … movement。 〃This has been
the most insane affair； you know it has。 You know very well that I'm
playing the good Samaritan。 All I wish is to keep you quiet。〃
〃If quietness is what you wish； Mr。 Innes；〃 said Archie； 〃and you will
promise to leave me entirely to myself； I will tell you so much； that I am
going to walk in the country and admire the beauties of nature。〃
〃Honour bright？〃 asked Frank。
〃I am not in the habit of lying； Mr。 Innes；〃 retorted Archie。 〃I have the
honour of wishing you good…day。〃
〃You won't forget the Spec。？〃 asked Innes。
〃The Spec。？〃 said Archie。 〃O no； I won't forget the Spec。〃
And the one young man carried his tortured spirit forth of the city and
all the day long； by one road and another； in an endless pilgrimage of
misery； while the other hastened smilingly to spread the news of Weir's
access of insanity； and to drum up for that night a full attendance at the
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Weir of Hermiston
Speculative； where further eccentric developments might certainly be
looked for。 I doubt if Innes had the least belief in his prediction； I think it
flowed rather from a wish to make the story as good and the scandal as
great as possible； not from any ill…will to Archie … from the mere pleasure
of beholding interested faces。 But for all that his words were prophetic。
Archie did not forget the Spec。； he put in an appearance there at the due
time； and； before the evening was over； had dealt a memorable shock to
his companions。 It chanced he was the president of the night。 He sat in the
same room where the Society still meets … only the portraits were not there：
the men who afterwards sat for them were then but beginning their career。
The same lustre of many tapers shed its light over the meeting； the same
chair； perhaps； supported him that so many of us have sat in since。 At
times he seemed to forget the business of the evening； but even in these
periods he sat with a great air of energy and determination。 At times he
meddled bitterly； and launched with defiance those fines which are the
precious and rarely used artillery of the president。 He little thought； as he
did so； how he resembled his father； but his friends remarked upon it；
chuckling。 So far； in his high place above his fellow…students； he seemed
set beyond the possibility of any scandal； but his mind was made up … he
was determined to fulfil the sphere of his offence。 He signed to Innes
（whom he had just fined； and who just impeached his ruling） to succeed
him in the chair； stepped down from the platform； and took his place by
the chimney…piece； the shine of many wax tapers from above illuminating
his pale face； the glow of the great red fire relieving from behind his slim
figure。 He had to propose； as an amendment to the next subject in the case…
book； 〃Whether capital punishment be consistent with God's will or man's
policy？〃
A breath of embarrassment； of something like alarm； passed round the
room； so daring did these words appear upon the lips of Hermiston's only
son。 But the amendment was not seconded； the previous question was
promptly moved and unanimously voted； and the momentary scandal
smuggled by。 Innes triumphed in the fulfilment of his prophecy。 He and
Archie were now become the heroes of the night； but whereas every one
cro