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if a really promising fellow like Weir was to end ill。 I'm seriously
tempted to write to Lord Hermiston； and put it plainly to him。〃
〃I would if I were you；〃 some of his auditors would say； shaking the
head； sitting bewildered and confused at this new view of the matter； so
deftly indicated by a single word。 〃A capital idea！〃 they would add；
and wonder at the APLOMB and position of this young man； who talked as a
matter of course of writing to Hermiston and correcting him upon his
private affairs。
And Frank would proceed； sweetly confidential： 〃I'll give you an idea；
now。 He's actually sore about the way that I'm received and he's left
out in the county … actually jealous and sore。 I've rallied him and
I've reasoned with him； told him that every one was most kindly inclined
towards him； told him even that I was received merely because I was his
guest。 But it's no use。 He will neither accept the invitations he
gets； nor stop brooding about the ones where he's left out。 What I'm
afraid of is that the wound's ulcerating。 He had always one of those
dark； secret； angry natures … a little underhand and plenty of bile …
you know the sort。 He must have inherited it from the Weirs； whom I
suspect to have been a worthy family of weavers somewhere； what's the
cant phrase？ … sedentary occupation。 It's precisely the kind of
character to go wrong in a false position like what his father's made
for him； or he's making for himself； whichever you like to call it。 And
for my part； I think it a disgrace；〃 Frank would say generously。
Presently the sorrow and anxiety of this disinterested friend took
shape。 He began in private； in conversations of two； to talk vaguely of
bad habits and low habits。 〃I must say I'm afraid he's going wrong
altogether；〃 he would say。 〃I'll tell you plainly； and between
ourselves； I scarcely like to stay there any longer； only； man； I'm
positively afraid to leave him alone。 You'll see； I shall be blamed for
it later on。 I'm staying at a great sacrifice。 I'm hindering my
chances at the Bar； and I can't blind my eyes to it。 And what I'm
afraid of is that I'm going to get kicked for it all round before all's
done。 You see； nobody believes in friendship nowadays。〃
〃Well； Innes；〃 his interlocutor would reply； 〃it's very good of you； I
must say that。 If there's any blame going； you'll always be sure of MY
good word； for one thing。〃
〃Well；〃 Frank would continue； 〃candidly； I don't say it's pleasant。 He
has a very rough way with him； his father's son； you know。 I don't say
he's rude … of course； I couldn't be expected to stand that … but he
steers very near the wind。 No； it's not pleasant； but I tell ye； man；
in conscience I don't think it would be fair to leave him。 Mind you； I
don't say there's anything actually wrong。 What I say is that I don't
like the looks of it； man！〃 and he would press the arm of his momentary
confidant。
In the early stages I am persuaded there was no malice。 He talked but
for the pleasure of airing himself。 He was essentially glib； as becomes
the young advocate； and essentially careless of the truth； which is the
mark of the young ass； and so he talked at random。 There was no
particular bias； but that one which is indigenous and universal； to
flatter himself and to please and interest the present friend。 And by
thus milling air out of his mouth； he had presently built up a
presentation of Archie which was known and talked of in all corners of
the county。 Wherever there was a residential house and a walled garden；
wherever there was a dwarfish castle and a park； wherever a quadruple
cottage by the ruins of a peel…tower showed an old family going down；
and wherever a handsome villa with a carriage approach and a shrubbery
marked the coming up of a new one … probably on the wheels of machinery
… Archie began to be regarded in the light of a dark； perhaps a vicious
mystery； and the future developments of his career to be looked for with
uneasiness and confidential whispering。 He had done something
disgraceful； my dear。 What； was not precisely known； and that good kind
young man； Mr。 Innes； did his best to make light of it。 But there it
was。 And Mr。 Innes was very anxious about him now； he was really
uneasy； my dear； he was positively wrecking his own prospects because he
dared not leave him alone。 How wholly we all lie at the mercy of a
single prater； not needfully with any malign purpose！ And if a man but
talks of himself in the right spirit； refers to his virtuous actions by
the way； and never applies to them the name of virtue； how easily his
evidence is accepted in the court of public opinion！
All this while； however； there was a more poisonous ferment at work
between the two lads； which came late indeed to the surface； but had
modified and magnified their dissensions from the first。 To an idle；
shallow； easy…going customer like Frank； the smell of a mystery was
attractive。 It gave his mind something to play with； like a new toy to
a child； and it took him on the weak side； for like many young men
coming to the Bar； and before they had been tried and found wanting； he
flattered himself he was a fellow of unusual quickness and penetration。
They knew nothing of Sherlock Holmes in those days； but there was a good
deal said of Talleyrand。 And if you could have caught Frank off his
guard； he would have confessed with a smirk that； if he resembled any
one； it was the Marquis de Talleyrand…Perigord。 It was on the occasion
of Archie's first absence that this interest took root。 It was vastly
deepened when Kirstie resented his curiosity at breakfast； and that same
afternoon there occurred another scene which clinched the business。 He
was fishing Swingleburn； Archie accompanying him； when the latter looked
at his watch。
〃Well； good…bye；〃 said he。 〃I have something to do。 See you at
dinner。〃
〃Don't be in such a hurry；〃 cries Frank。 〃Hold on till I get my rod up。
I'll go with you； I'm sick of flogging this ditch。〃
And he began to reel up his line。
Archie stood speechless。 He took a long while to recover his wits under
this direct attack； but by the time he was ready with his answer； and
the angle was almost packed up； he had become completely Weir； and the
hanging face gloomed on his young shoulders。 He spoke with a laboured
composure； a laboured kindness even； but a child could see that his mind
was made up。
〃I beg your pardon； Innes； I don't want to be disagreeable； but let us
understand one another from the beginning。 When I want your company；
I'll let you know。〃
〃O！〃 cries Frank； 〃you don't want my company； don't you？〃
〃Apparently not just now；〃 replied Archie。 〃I even indicated to you
when I did； if you'll remember … and that was at dinner。 If we two
fellows are to live together pleasantly … and I see no reason wh