"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."