But the Vicar of Blackstable did not easily alter any arrangements he had made, and it had always been intended that Philip should stay at King’s School till he was eighteen, and should then go to Oxford. At all events he would not hear of Philip leaving then, for no notice had been given and the term’s fee would have to be paid in any case.
“Then will you give notice for me to leave at Christmas?” said Philip, at the end of a long and often bitter conversation.
“I’ll write to Mr. Perkins about it and see what he says.”
“Oh, I wish to goodness I were twenty-one. It is awful to be at somebody else’s beck and call.”
“Philip, you shouldn’t speak to your uncle like that,” said Mrs. Carey gently.
“But don’t you see that Perkins will want me to stay? He gets so much a head for every chap in the school.”
“Why don’t you want to go to Oxford?”
“What’s the good if I’m not going into the Church?”
“You can’t go into the Church: you’re in the Church already,” said the Vicar.
“Ordained then,” replied Philip impatiently.