The first time that Mr.Maltravers was seriously perplexed about him was when the boy, at the age of sixteen, having taught himself German, and intoxicated his wild fancies with _Werter_ and _The Robbers_, announced his desire, which sounded very like a demand, of going to Gottingen instead of to Oxford.

Never were Mr.Maltravers's notions of a proper and gentlemanlike finish to education more completely and rudely assaulted.

He stammered out a negative, and hurried to his study to write a long letter to Cleveland, who, himself an Oxford prize-man, would, he was persuaded, see the matter in the same light.

Cleveland answered the letter in person: listened in silence to all the father had to say, and then strolled through the park with the young man.

The result of the latter conference was, that Cleveland declared in favour of Ernest.
"But, my dear Frederick," said the astonished father, "I thought the boy was to carry off all the prizes at Oxford ?" "I carried off some, Maltravers; but I don't see what good they did me." "Oh, Cleveland!" "I am serious." "But it is such a very odd fancy." "Your son is a very odd young man." "I fear he is so--I fear he is, poor fellow! But what will he learn at Gottingen ?" "Languages and Independence," said Cleveland.
"And the classics--the classics--you are such an excellent Grecian!" "There are great Grecians in Germany," answered Cleveland; "and Ernest cannot well unlearn what he knows already.