threshold from behind. There
is no perfectly full and accurate account extant of what took place
between twelve and one that day in the mathematical class-room, but what
may be called contributions to history oozed out and were gratefully
welcomed by the school. It was told how Bauldie, being summoned by Mr.
Byles to work a problem on the board, instead of a triangle drew a
fetching likeness of Mr. Byles himself, and being much encouraged by the
applause of the class, and having an artist's love of his work, thrust a
pipe into Mr. Byles's mouth (pictorially), and blacked one of Mr.
Byles's eyes (also pictorially), and then went to his seat with a sense
of modest worth. That Mr. Byles, through a want of artistic
appreciation, resented this Bohemian likeness of himself, and, moved by
a Philistine spirit, would have wiped it from the board; but the senior
members of the class would on no account allow any work by a young but
promising master to be lost, and succeeded in the struggle in wiping
Mr. Byles's own face with the chalky cloth. That Mr. Byles, instead of
entering into the spirit of the day, lost his temper and went to
Bulldog's closet for a cane; whereupon Speug, seizing the opportunity so
pleasantly afforded, locked Mr. Byles in that place of retirement, and
so kept him out of any further mischief for the rest of the hour. That
as Mr. Byles had been deposed from office on account of his incapacity,
and the place of mathematical master was left vacant, Speug was
unanimously elected to the position, and gave an address, from Bulldog's
desk, replete with popular humour. That as Thomas John did not seem to
be giving such attention to his studies as might have been expected,
Speug ordered that he be brought up for punishment, which was promptly
done by Bauldie and Howieson. That after a long review of Thomas John's
iniquitous career, Speug gave him the tawse with much faithfulness,
Bauldie seeing that Thomas John held out his hand in a becoming fashion;
then that unhappy young gentleman was sent to his seat with a warning
from Speug that this must never occur again. That Nestie, having
stealthily left the room, gave such an accurate imitation of Bulldog's
voice in the passage--"Pack of little fiddlers taking advantage of my
absence; but I'll warm them"--that there was an instantaneous rush for
the seats; and when the door opened and Nestie appeared, the
mathematical class-room was as quiet as pussy, and Speug was
osten