noon
Endowed by a beruffed and doubleted goldsmith , `` Jinglin ' Geordie '' Heriot , who had `` nae brave laddie o ' his ain , '' it was devoted to the care and education of `` puir orphan an ' faderless boys . '' There it had stood for more than two centuries , in a spacious park , like the country-seat of a Lowland laird , but hemmed in by sordid markets and swarming slums . The region round about furnished an unfailing supply of `` puir orphan an ' faderless boys '' who were as light-hearted and irresponsible as Bobby . Hundreds of the Heriot laddies were out in the noon recess , playing cricket and leap-frog , when Bobby chased that unlucky cat over the kirkyard wall . He could go no farther himself , but the laddies took up the pursuit , yelling like Highland clans of old in a foray across the border . The unholy din disturbed the sacred peace of the kirkyard . Bobby dashed back , barking furiously , in pure exuberance of spirits .