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 L12 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