CHAP, in.] "OLD 31" EDINBURGH ACADEMY. 49 



equally intolerant of dandyism. A frill for a round 

 collar was of course unendurable, and the Gallovidian 

 clasps not to mention the square toes were an 

 unheard-of novelty. A new boy, coming in the 

 second month of the second year, must in any case 

 have had something to undergo ; but here was evident 

 provocation to " a parcel of boys in their teens." 1 



What happened in the interval after the first 

 lesson (in the space behind the second classroom) is 

 best indicated in the words of the Psalmist: "They 

 came about me like bees." 



" Who made those shoes 1" was the first question ; 

 but it was never easy to get a direct answer from 

 Maxwell, least of all on compulsion. Brought thus to 

 bay, he had recourse to his natural weapon irony. 

 His answer was soon ready, and his tormentors might 

 make of it what they list. In the broadest tones of 

 his Corsock patois he replied to one of them, 



"Div ye ken, 'twas a man, 

 And he lived in a house, 

 In whilk was a mouse." 



He returned to Heriot Eow that afternoon with 



1 " I do believe the veriest fien's 



In the world is a parcel of boys in their teens." 



Fo'c's'le Yarns. 

 The palinode should also be quoted : 



" ' Fiends ' I called them, did I ? Well, 

 I shouldn then. It's hard to tell ; 

 And it's likely God has got a plan 

 To put a spirit in a man 

 That's more than you can stow away 

 In the heart of a child. But he'll see the day 

 When he'll not have a bit too much for the work 

 He's got to do." 



