368 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. XII. 



a certain spring and elasticity in his gait ; dressed for com- 

 fortable ease rather than elegance ; a face expressive at once 

 of sagacity and good humour, but overlaid with a deep shade 

 of thoughtfulness ; features boldly but pleasingly marked; 

 eyes dark and glowing ; hair and beard perfectly black, and 

 forming a strong contrast to the pallor of his complexion. 

 . . . He might have been taken, by a careless observer, for 

 a country gentleman, or rather, to be more accurate, for a 

 north country laird. A keener eye would have seen, how- 

 ever, that the man must be a student of some sort, and one 

 of more than ordinary intelligence. 



In later years his hair had turned to iron gray, but 

 until a few years before his death he retained his elasticity 

 of step. 



The picture of Maxwell, as he appeared in 1866, be- 

 came afterwards perfectly familiar to residents in Cambridge. 

 They will remember his thoughtful face as he walked in the 

 street, revolving some of the many problems that engaged 

 him, Toby lagging behind, till his master would suddenly 

 turn, as if starting from a reverie, and begin calling the 

 dog. 



The same authority continues 



. . . He had a strong sense of humour, and a keen 

 relish for witty or jocose repartee, but rarely betrayed en- 

 joyment by outright laughter. The outward sign and con- 

 spicuous manifestation of his enjoyment was a peculiar 

 twinkle and brightness of the eyes. There was, indeed, 

 nothing explosive in his mental composition, and as his 

 mirth was never boisterous, so neither was he fretful or 

 irascible. Of a serenely placid temper, genial and temperate 

 in his enjoyments, and infinitely patient when others would 

 have been vexed or annoyed, he at all times opposed a solid 

 calm of nature to the vicissitudes of life. 



In performing his private experiments at the laboratory, 

 Maxwell was very neat-handed and expeditious. When 

 working thus, or when thinking out a problem, he had a habit 

 of whistling, not loudly, but in a half-subdued manner, no 



