And yet notwithstanding all his care she suspected him, by instinct, not by knowledge.

For his part he was proud of her and would listen with pleasure when, still a mere child, she engaged his guests boldly in argument, for instance a bishop or a dean on theology, or a statesman on current politics.

Already he had formed great plans for her future; she was to marry a peer who took an active part in things, or at any rate a leading politician, and to become a power in the land.

But of this, too, wisely he said nothing to Isobel, for the time had not yet come.
During these years things had prospered exceedingly with John Blake who was now a very rich man with ships owned, or partly owned by him on every sea.

On several occasions he had been asked to stand for Parliament and declined the honour.