44 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. II. 



The young Spartan himself made no sign that his 

 relations with his tutor were otherwise than smooth. 

 But something awakened the suspicions of his aunt, 

 Miss Cay, 1 and the discovery was then made. It was 

 this, I believe, which finally roused Mr. Clerk Maxwell 

 to carry into effect what had been for some time in 

 debate, viz. to take his son to Edinburgh and put 

 him to school. 



1 Two letters from Miss Cay to James, one dated Sept. 1, the other 

 October 21, 1841, were kept by Mr. Clerk Maxwell, and have been 

 preserved. Although not significant enough to be inserted here, they 

 show the confidential intercourse which had sprung up between " Aunt 

 Jane " and her sister's son. She writes of theological and other matters 

 which would not generally be thought interesting to a boy of ten, thanks 

 him for his though tf ulness in getting ferns for her, and says, " I was 

 glad to hear you were happy, with all your experiments and adventures." 

 There had been a visit to Edinburgh that summer, and she writes as if 

 anticipating that it would be soon repeated. There is also a reference 

 to an elaborate set of Berlin-wool work for the furniture of the drawing- 

 room at Glenlair, which had been begun in Mrs. Maxwell's lifetime, 

 and was afterwards completed by Miss Cay. 



