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 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 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 Ilooked on, God help me! with horror."
"You're a young gentleman that doesna approve of Caapital 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!