DuringthegovernesserawhichfollowedthissceneIsobeltravelledfarandfastalongthatroad。Thelady，orrathertheladies，hiredbyherfather，forhiswifewasallowednovoiceintheirselection，wereoftheotherknownas“determined“；disciplinariansofthefirstwater。Foronereasonoranothertheydidnotstay。Isobel，thoughaquickandablechild，veryfondofreadingmoreover，provedunamenableunderdisciplineasunderstoodbythoseformidablefemales，andowingtoherpossessionofacurioustenacityofpurpose，endedbywearingthemdown。Alsotheydidnotcarefortheatmosphereofthehouse，whichwasdepressing。

　　OneofthemoncetriedtostrikeIsobel。Thiswaswhenshewasnearlythirteen。Isobelrepliedwiththeschoolroominkpot。Shewasanadeptatstone-throwing，andotherathleticarts。Itcaughtherinstructressfairuponhergentlebosom，spoiledherdress，filledhermouthandeyeswithink，andnearlyknockedherdown。

　　“Ishalltellyourfathertoflogyou，“gaspedtheladywhensherecoveredherbreath。

　　“Ishouldadviseyounot，“saidIsobel。“Andwhatismore，“sheaddedafterreflection，“ifyoudoIshalladvisehimnottolistentoyou。“

　　Thenthegovernessthoughtbetterofitandgavenoticeinstead。TobejusttoJohnBlakeheneverattemptedtoresorttoviolenceagainsthisdaughter。Thismayhavebeenbecauseheknewbyinstinctthatitwouldnotbesafetodosoortendtohisowncomfort。Orperhaps，itwasforthereasonthatinhiswayhewasfondofher，lookingonherwithpridenotquiteuntouchedbyfear。Likeallbullieshewasacowardatheart，andrespectedanyonewhodaredtostanduptohim，evenalthoughshewerebutagirl，andhisowndaughter。

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