Love Eternal | Page 7

the house, which
was depressing.
One of them once tried to strike Isobel. This was when she was nearly
thirteen. Isobel replied with the schoolroom inkpot. She was an adept at
stone-throwing, and other athletic arts. It caught her instructress fair
upon her gentle bosom, spoiled her dress, filled her mouth and eyes
with ink, and nearly knocked her down.
"I shall tell your father to flog you," gasped the lady when she
recovered her breath.
"I should advise you not," said Isobel. "And what is more," she added
after reflection, "if you do I shall advise him not to listen to you."
Then the governess thought better of it and gave notice instead. To be
just to John Blake he never attempted to resort to violence against his
daughter. This may have been because he knew by instinct that it
would not be safe to do so or tend to his own comfort. Or perhaps, it
was for the reason that in his way he was fond of her, looking on her
with pride not quite untouched by fear. Like all bullies he was a coward
at heart, and respected anyone who dared to stand up to him, even
although she were but a girl, and his own daughter.

After the victim of the inkpot incident departed, threatening actions at
law and proclaiming that her pupil would come to a bad end, questions
arose as to Isobel's future education. Evidently the governess
experiment had broken down and was not worth repeating. Although
she trembled at the idea of parting with her only joy and consolation in
life, Lady Jane suggested that she should be sent to school. It was
fortunate for her that she did so, since as the idea came from his wife,
Mr. Blake negatived it at once firmly and finally, a decision which she
accepted with an outward sigh of resignation, having learned the
necessity of guile, and inward delight. Indeed, for it that evening she
thanked God upon her knees.
It may be also that her father did not wish that Isobel should go away.
Lady Jane bored him to distraction, since kicking a cushion soon
becomes poor sport. So much did she bore him indeed that for this and
other reasons he passed most of his time in London or at Harwich, in
both of which places he had offices where he transacted his shipping
business, only spending the week-ends at Hawk's Hall. It was his
custom to bring with him parties of friends, business men as a rule, to
whom, for sundry purposes, he wished to appear in the character of a
family man and local magnate. Isobel, who was quick and vivacious
even while she was still a child, helped to make these parties pass off
well, whereas without her he felt that they would have been a failure.
Also she was useful during the shooting season. So it came about that
she was kept at home.
It was at this juncture that an idea came to Mr. Blake. A few years
before, at the very depth of the terrible agricultural depression of the
period, he had purchased at a forced sale by the mortgagees, the entire
Monk's Acre estate, at about £12 the acre, which was less than the cost
of the buildings that stood upon the land. This, as he explained to all
and sundry, he had done at great personal loss in the interest of the
tenants and labourers, but as a matter of fact, even at the existing rents,
the investment paid him a fair rate of interest, and was one which, as a
business man he knew must increase in value when times changed.
With the property went the advowson of Monk's Acre, and it chanced
that a year later the living fell vacant through the resignation of the

incumbent. Mr. Blake, now as always seeking popularity, consulted the
bishop, consulted the church- wardens, consulted the parishioners, and
in the end consulted his own interests by nominating the nephew of a
wealthy baronet of his acquaintance whom he was anxious to secure as
a director upon the Board of a certain company in which he had large
holdings.
"I have never seen this clerical gentleman and know nothing of his
views, or anything about him. But if you recommend him, my dear Sir
Samuel, it is enough for me, since I always judge of a man by his
friends. Perhaps you will furnish me, or rather my lawyers, with the
necessary particulars, and I will see that the matter is put through. Now,
to come to more important business, as to this Board of which I am
chairman," &c.
The end of it was that Sir Samuel, flattered by such deference, became
a member of the Board and Sir