I knew her, because she went every day to the old almshouses to be taught by the Reverend Mr.Glennie, from whom I also received my schooling.

She was tall for her age, and slim, with a thin face and a tumble of tawny hair, which flew about her in a wind or when she ran.

Her frocks were washed and patched and faded, and showed more of her arms and legs than the dressmaker had ever intended, for she was a growing girl, and had none to look after her clothes.

She was a favourite playfellow with all, and an early choice for games of 'prisoner's base', and she could beat most of us boys at speed.

Thus, though we all hated her father, and had for him many jeering titles among ourselves; yet we never used an evil nickname nor a railing word against him when she was by, because we liked her well.
There were a half-dozen of us boys, and as many girls, whom Mr.Glennie used to teach; and that you may see what sort of man Maskew was, I will tell you what happened one day in school between him and the parson.