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XXI

r. Perkins soon saw that his words had had no ef-
Mfect on Philip, and for the rest of the term ignored
him. He wrote a report which was vitriolic. When it arrived
and Aunt Louisa asked Philip what it was like, he answered
cheerfully.
‘Rotten.’
‘Is it?’ said the Vicar. ‘I must look at it again.’
‘Do you think there’s any use in my staying on at Tercan-
bury? I should have thought it would be better if I went to
Germany for a bit.’
‘What has put that in your head?’ said Aunt Louisa.
‘Don’t you think it’s rather a good idea?’
Sharp had already left King’s School and had written
to Philip from Hanover. He was really starting life, and it
made Philip more restless to think of it. He felt he could not
bear another year of restraint.
‘But then you wouldn’t get a scholarship.’
‘I haven’t a chance of getting one anyhow. And besides, I
don’t know that I particularly want to go to Oxford.’
‘But if you’re going to be ordained, Philip?’ Aunt Louisa
exclaimed in dismay.
‘I’ve given up that idea long ago.’
Mrs. Carey looked at him with startled eyes, and then,
used to self-restraint, she poured out another cup of tea for

1 0 Of Human Bondage