his advice and example before him."

Philip assented, and went on in silence, reflecting on the curious
change in his immediate prospects that this walk had brought to light.
He was much rejoiced at the prospect of losing sight of George for a
while, and was sufficiently intelligent to appreciate the advantages,
social and mental, that the University would offer him; but it struck
him that there were two things which he did not like about the scheme.
The first of these was, that whilst he was pursuing his academical
studies, George would practically be left on the spot--for Roxham was
only six miles off--to put in motion any schemes he might have
devised; and Philip was sure that he had devised schemes. And the
second, that Oxford was a long way from Maria Lee. However, he kept
his objections to himself. In due course they reached the buildings
they had set out to examine, and the old squire, having settled what
was to be done, and what was to be left undone, with characteristic
promptitude and shrewdness, they turned homewards.

In passing through the shrubberies, on their way back to the house,
they suddenly came upon a stolid-looking lad of about fifteen,
emerging from a side-walk with a nest full of young blackbirds in his
hand. Now, if there was one thing in this world more calculated than
another to rouse the most objectionable traits of the old squire's
character into rapid action, it was the discovery of boys, and more
especially bird-nesting boys, in his plantations. In the first place,
he hated trespassers; and in the second, it was one of his simple
pleasures to walk in the early morning and listen to the singing of
the birds that swarmed around. Accordingly, at the obnoxious sight he
stopped suddenly, and, drawing himself up to his full height,
addressed the trembling youth in his sweetest voice.