第4章 CHAPTER I HONEST JOHN(3)

Isobel announced with decision.

There the matter ended. Or rather it did not end， since from that moment Isobel began to reflect much on matrimony and other civilized institutions， as to which at last she formed views that were not common among girls of her generation. In short， she took the first step towards Radicalism， and entered on the road of rebellion against the Existing and Acknowledged.

During the governess era which followed this scene Isobel travelled far and fast along that road. The lady， or rather the ladies， hired by her father， for his wife was allowed no voice in their selection， were of the other known as "determined"； disciplinarians of the first water. For one reason or another they did not stay. Isobel， though a quick and able child， very fond of reading moreover， proved unamenable under discipline as understood by those formidable females， and owing to her possession of a curious tenacity of purpose， ended by wearing them down. Also they did not care for the atmosphere of 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 ā12 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.