e, 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
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 Samuel's nephew became rector of Monk's
Acre.

Such appointments, like marriages, are made in Heaven--at least that
seems to be the doctrine of the English Church, which is content to act
thereon. In this particular instance the results were quite good. The
Rev. Mr. Knight, the nephew of the opulent Sir Samuel, proved to be an
excellent and hard-working clergyman. He was low-church, and narrow
almost to the poi