Love Eternal | Page 5

thought of leaving Hawk's
Hall and going to live at Harwich, where most of his business interests
were. But, remembering that the occupation of it gave him a certain
standing in the county, whereas in Harwich he would have been only a
superior tradesman, he gave up the idea. It was replaced by another--to
marry well.
Now John Blake was not an idealist, nor in any sense romantic;
therefore, from marriage he expected little. He did not even ask that his
wife should be good-looking, knowing that any aspirations which he
had towards beauty could be satisfied otherwise. Nor did he seek
money, being well aware that he could make this for himself. What he
desired were birth and associations. After a little waiting he found
exactly what he wanted.
A certain Lord Lynfield from the South of England, who lived in
London, and was a director of many Boards, took a pheasant-shooting
in the neighbourhood of Hawk's Hall, and with it a house. Here he lived
more or less during the winter months, going up to town when
necessary, to attend his Boards. Lord Lynfield was cursed with several
extravagant sons, with whom John Blake, who was a good shot, soon
became friendly. Also he made himself useful by lending one of them a
considerable sum of money. When this came to Lord Lynfield's ears, as
Honest John was careful that it should, he was disturbed and offered
repayment, though as a matter of fact he did not know where to turn for
the cash. In his bluffest and heartiest way Blake refused to hear of such
a thing.
"No, no, my Lord, let it stand. Your son will repay me one day, and if
he doesn't, what will a trifle like that matter?"
"He certainly shall repay you. But all the same, Mr. Blake, you have

behaved very well and I thank you much," replied his Lordship
courteously.
Thus did John Blake become an intimate of that aristocratic family.
Now Lord Lynfield, who was a widower, had one unmarried daughter.
She was an odd and timid little person, with strong religious views,
who adored secretly a high-church curate in London. This, indeed, was
the reason why she had been brought to Essex when her infatuation was
discovered by one of her married sisters, who, like the rest of the family,
was extremely "low." Lady Jane was small in body and shrinking and
delicate in character, somewhat mouselike indeed. Even her eyes were
large and timid as are those of a mouse. In her John Blake perceived the
exact /parti/ whom he desired for a wife.
It is not necessary to follow the pitiful story to its inevitable end, one,
happily, more common at that time than it is to-day. Mr. Blake played
the earnest, ardent lover, and on all occasions proclaimed his own
unworthiness at the top of his loud voice. Also he hinted at large
settlements to the married sisters, who put the matter before Jane very
plainly indeed. In the end, after a few words with her father, who
pointed out that the provision which could be made for her was but
small, and that he would die more happily if he knew her to be
comfortably settled in life with a really trustworthy and generous man
such as Mr. Blake had proved himself to be, she gave way, and in due
course they were married.
In fact, the tragedy was complete, since Jane loathed her husband,
whose real nature she had read from the beginning, as much as she
adored the high-church curate from whom in some terrible hour she
parted with broken words. Even when he died a few years later, she
continued to adore him, so much that her one hope was that she might
meet him again in the land where there is no marrying or giving in
marriage. But all of this she kept locked in her poor little heart, and
meanwhile did her duty by her husband with an untroubled brow,
though those mouse-like eyes of hers grew ever more piteous.
He, for his part, did not do his duty by her. Of one side of his conduct

she was careless, being totally indifferent as to whom he admired.
Others she found it hard to bear. The man was by nature a bully, one
who found pleasure in oppressing the helpless, and who loved, in the
privacy of his home, to wreak the ill-temper which he was forced to
conceal abroad. In company, and especially before any of her people,
he treated her with the greatest deference, and would even make loud
laudatory remarks concerning her; when they were alone there was a
different tale to tell, particularly if she had in any way failed in
promoting that social advancement for which