A March on London | Page 3

the Prior said with a smile. "A nurse would
have a hard time with him. Do you know what his age is?"
"Four or five years old, I suppose."
"Nearly double that. He is nine."
"Impossible!" Mr. Ormskirk said. "Why, it is only the other day that he
was a baby."
"It is eight years since that time; he is now a sturdy lad, and if there is
any mischief in the village he is sure to be in it. Why, it was but three
days ago that Friar Anselmo caught him, soon after daybreak, fishing in
the Convent pool with two of the village lads. The friar gave them a
sound trouncing, and would have given one to your son, too, had it not
been for the respect that we all feel for you. It is high time, Mr.
Ormskirk, that he was broken of his wild ways and received an

education suited to his station."
"Quite so, quite so. I own that I have thought but little about him, for
indeed 'tis rarely that I see him, and save that at times his racket in the
house sorely disturbs my studies, I have well-nigh forgotten all about
him. Yes, yes; it is, of course, high time that he began his education, so
that if I should die before I have completed my discoveries he may take
up my work."
The Prior smiled quietly at the thought of the sturdy, dirty-faced boy
working among crucibles and retorts. However, he only said:
"Do you think of undertaking his education yourself?"
"By no means," Mr. Ormskirk said, hastily. "It would be impossible for
me to find time at present, but when he has completed his studies I
should then take him in hand myself, make him my companion and
assistant, and teach him all that is known of science."
"But in the meantime?"
"In the meantime? Yes, I suppose something must be done. I might get
him a tutor, but that would be a great disturbance to me. I might send
him up to the monastery at Westminster, where the sons of many
gentlemen are taught."
"I doubt whether the training, or rather want of training, that he has had
would fit him for Westminster," the Prior said, quietly. "There is
another plan that perhaps might be more suitable for him. One of our
brethren is a scholar, and already three or four of the sons of the gentry
in the neighbourhood come to him for three hours or so a day. Our
convent is a poor one, and the fees he receives are a welcome addition
to our means."
"Excellent!" Mr. Ormskirk said, delighted at the difficulty being taken
off his shoulders, "It would be the very thing."
"Then perhaps you will speak to the boy, and lay your orders upon

him," the Prior said. "He was in the village as I passed by, and I
brought him up here, very much against his will I admit. Then I gave
him in charge on arrival to your servitor, knowing that otherwise the
young varlet would slip off again as soon as my back was turned.
Perhaps you will send for him."
Mr. Ormskirk rang a bell. The housekeeper entered.
"Where is Andrew?" he asked.
"He is looking after Master Edgar, sir. His reverence told him to do so,
and he dare not leave him for a moment or he would be off again."
"Tell Andrew to bring him in here."
A minute later the old servant entered with the boy. Edgar was in a
dishevelled condition, the result of several struggles with Andrew. His
face was begrimed with dirt, his clothes were torn and untidy. His
father looked at him in grave surprise. It was not that he had not seen
him before, for occasionally he had noticed him going across the
garden, but though his eyes had observed him, his mental vision had
not in any way taken him in, his thoughts being intent upon the work
that he had reluctantly left to take a hurried meal.
"Tut, tut, tut!" he murmured to himself, "and this is my son. Well, well,
I suppose he is not to be blamed; it is my own fault for being so
heedless of him. This is bad, Edgar," he said, "and yet it is my own
fault rather than thine, and I am thankful that the good prior has
brought your condition before me before it is too late. There must be no
more of this. Your appearance is disgraceful both to yourself and
me--to me because you are in rags, to yourself because you are dirty. I
had never dreamt of this. Henceforth all must be changed. You must be
clothed as befits the son of a gentleman, you must be taught as it