THE PROFESSOR AND HIS CLASS. 233 



of the human body. His researches might lead him into trials and 

 perils, as those of zealous investigators are often apt to do. In fact, 

 he had to draw upon his early acquired knowledge of the art of 

 self-defence on the occasion', and he believed he did so not unsuc- 

 cessfully. Here there was a sparkle of the eye, a curl of the Up, 

 and a general look of fire and determination, which reminded one of 



' The stern joy which warriors feel 

 In foemen worthy of their steel.' 



" He described the market-day as a sort of continued surge of 

 rioting, drinking, and fighting; and when darkness was coming on, 

 he had to find his way to some distance among unknown roads. A 

 lame man, very unsuited for that wild crowd, had in the mean time 

 scraped a sort of acquaintance with him, and interested him by the 

 scholarship interspersed in his conversation. He was the school- 

 master of a neighboring parish ; and as their ways lay together, 

 he was to be the guide, and, in return, to get the assistance of the 

 stalwart stranger. The poor schoolmaster had, however, so ex- 

 tensively moistened his clay, that assistance was not sufficient, and 

 the Professor had to throw him over his shoulder, and carry him. 

 With the remainder of the dominie's physical strength, too, oozed 

 away that capacity for threading the intricacies of the path, which 

 was his contribution to the joint adventure. Assistance had to be 

 got from some of the miscellaneous Highlanders dispersing home- 

 wards ; and as all were anxious to bear a hand, the small group 

 increased into a sort of procession, and the Professor reached his 

 abode, wherever that might be, at the head of a sort of army of 

 these lawless men. 



" A history of this kind was calculated to put a young person at 

 ease, in the presence of the great man and the Professor of Moral 

 Philosophy. We now sailed easily into conversation, and went off 

 into metaphysics. That he should seriously and earnestly talk on 

 such matters with the raw youth was, of course, very gratifying ; 

 but there was a sort of misgiving, that he took for granted my 

 knowing more than I did. This was a way of his, however, to 

 which I became accustomed ; he was always ready to give people 

 credit for extensive learning. There was no mere hollow courtesy 

 or giving the go-by in his talk on this occasion. He helped me at 

 once to the root of many important things connected with the 

 studies I was pursuing. A point arose, on which he would speak 

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