Part 3 (1/2)
”Yes, of course. I can't see _you_ kneeling all night with a white robe on, Father, in prayer before an altar. But tell me, would they have made you a baronet if you hadn't given the subscription?”
Sir John chuckled till his great form shook--he had grown very stout of late years.
”I think you are sharp enough to answer that question for yourself. I have observed, Isobel, that you know as much of the world as most young girls of your age.”
”So you bought the thing,” she exclaimed with a flash of her grey eyes.
”I thought that honours were given because they were earned.”
”Did you?” said Sir John, chuckling again. ”Well, now you know better.
Look here, Isobel, don't be a fool. Honours, or most of them, like other things, are for those who can pay for them in this way or that.
n.o.body bothers how they come so long as they _do_ come. Now, listen.
Unfortunately, as a girl, you can't inherit this t.i.tle. But it doesn't matter much, since it will be easy for you to get one for yourself.”
Isobel turned red and uttered an exclamation, but enjoining silence on her with a wave of his fat hand, her father went on:
”I haven't done so badly, my dear, considering my chances. I don't mind telling you that I am a rich man now, indeed a very rich man as things go, and I shall be much richer, for nothing pays like s.h.i.+ps, especially if you man them with foreign crews. Also I am a Bart,” and he pointed to the pile of newspapers on the floor, ”and if my Party gets in again, before long I shall be a Lord, which would make you an Honourable.
Anyway, my girl, although you ain't exactly a beauty,” here he considered her with a critical eye, ”you'll make a fine figure of a woman and with your money, you should be able to get any husband you like. What's more,” and he banged his fist upon the table, ”I expect you to do it; that's your part of the family business. Do you understand?”
”I understand, Father, that you expect me to get any husband I like.
Well, I'll promise that.”
”I think you ought to come into the office, you are so smart,” replied Sir John with sarcasm. ”But don't you try it on me, for I'm smarter.
You know very well that I mean any husband _I_ like, when I say 'any husband you like.' Now do you understand?”
”Yes,” replied Isobel icily. ”I understand that you want to buy me a husband as you have bought a t.i.tle. Well, t.i.tles and husbands are alike in one thing; once taken you can never be rid of them day or night. So I'll say at once, to save trouble afterwards, that I would rather earn my living as a farm girl, and as for your money, Father, you can do what you wish with it.”
Then looking him straight in the eyes, she turned and left the room.
”An odd child!” thought Sir John to himself as he stared after her.
”Anyway, she has got spirit and no doubt will come all right in time when she learns what's what.”
CHAPTER III
THE PLANTAGENET LADY
In the course of these years of adolescence, G.o.dfrey Knight had developed into a rather unusual stamp of youth. In some ways he was clever, for instance at the cla.s.sics and history which he had always liked; in others and especially where figures were concerned, he was stupid, or as his father called him, idle. In company he was apt to be shy and dull, unless some subject interested him, when to the astonishment of those present, he would hold forth and show knowledge and powers of reflection beyond his years. By nature he was intensely proud; the one thing he never forgot was a rebuff, or forgave, was an insult. Sir John Blake soon found this out, and not liking the lad, whose character was antagonistic to his own in every way, never lost an opportunity of what he called ”putting him in his place,” perhaps because something warned him that this awkward, handsome boy would become a stumbling-block to his successful feet.
G.o.dfrey and Isobel were both great readers. Nor did they lack for books, for as it chanced there was a good library at Hawk's Hall, which had been formed by the previous owner and taken over like the pictures, when Mr. Blake bought the house. Also it was added to constantly, as an order was given to a large London bookseller to supply all the important new works that came out. Although he never opened a book himself, Sir John liked to appear intellectual by displaying them about the rooms for the benefit of his visitors. These publications Isobel read and lent to G.o.dfrey; indeed they perused a great deal which young people generally are supposed to leave alone, and this in various schools of thought, including those that are known as ”free.”
It was seldom that such studies led to unanimity between them, but to argument, which sharpened their intellects, they did lead, followed invariably by a charitable agreement to differ.
About the time of the addition of the name of John Blake to the roll of British Chivalry, a book on Mars came their way--it was one by a speculative astronomer which suggests that the red planet is the home of reasoning beings akin to humanity. Isobel read it and was not impressed. Indeed, in the vigorous language of youth, she opined that it was all ”made-up rot.”
G.o.dfrey read it also and came to quite a different conclusion. The idea fired him and opened a wide door in his imagination, a quality with which he was well provided. He stared at Mars through the large Hall telescope, and saw, or imagined that he saw the ca.n.a.ls, also the snow-caps and the red herbage. Isobel stared too and saw, or swore that she saw--nothing at all--after which they argued until their throats were dry.