Quoth he: "Up yonder are some beautiful old buildings, which were built for a great college or teaching-place by one of the mediaeval kings--Edward the Sixth, I think" (I smiled to myself at his rather natural blunder).

"He meant poor people's sons to be taught there what knowledge was going in his days; but it was a matter of course that in the times of which you seem to know so much they spoilt whatever good there was in the founder's intentions.

My old kinsman says that they treated them in a very simple way, and instead of teaching poor men's sons to know something, they taught rich men's sons to know nothing.

It seems from what he says that it was a place for the 'aristocracy' (if you know what that word means; I have been told its meaning) to get rid of the company of their male children for a great part of the year.

I daresay old Hammond would give you plenty of information in detail about it." "What is it used for now ?" said I.
"Well," said he, "the buildings were a good deal spoilt by the last few generations of aristocrats, who seem to have had a great hatred against beautiful old buildings, and indeed all records of past history; but it is still a delightful place.