Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/45

Rh, as I was with the boys almost day and night, sleeping in one of the dormitories. I saw the stars but twice that winter. We were in the school-room from seven to eight, from nine to twelve, from two to four, and from six to eight. Supper and prayers were before nine, when we saw the boys to their rooms. After supper I studied far into the night, as I had to prepare for the Rector’s classes as well as my own, that I might assist the boys with their lessons.

“In stormy weather we had to keep them within doors all day, and it was no easy matter to keep them out of mischief. The Rector never found fault with anything I did, always meeting me with a pleasant smile; but neither did he express approval, and I feared I was not giving satisfaction, and I wrote home that I must look for employment elsewhere, as I knew I should not be wanted in Peebles after my year expired. One day the Rector said to me, ‘Next year your salary will be forty pounds.’ This was nearly double the first year: those were the days of small salaries.

“At the close of my second year, I resolved to go to Edinburgh College. The dear old Rector entreated me to stay with him, said I was a better scholar than he was, and yet he had always been a successful teacher. He offered to make the terms to suit me; but I felt the necessity of attending some higher classes in college, so I bade him an affectionate farewell.

“The classes in Edinburgh were very full that term (1830). Shortly after my entrance, Professor Pillans called up Lubienski, a Pole, and myself, to hold a conversation in Latin before the class (the educated Poles were taught to converse freely in Latin). He stood on one side of the room, and I on the other.

“I had fortunately read a volume of colloquies by