The rest of Europe was naturally in alarm when the already too-powerful Louis actually placed his grandson on the Spanish throne.  Practically the step amounted on the part of France to an annexation of the once predominant kingdom of Spain with all its appanages.  And when the Grand Monarque, as his flatterers called him, proceeded further to garrison the strongholds of the Netherlands, then a Spanish province, with his own troops, it was clear that Louis considered himself King both of France and Spain.  As for the Protestants of Europe, their very existence seemed to be threatened by the designs of the French sovereign.

Who was there, then, to withstand the ambitious and arrogant Louis?  There was but one great and effective opponent, William of Orange, King of England.  He had spent his life in thwarting the ambitious policy of the French monarch, and so long as William lived Louis was sure of a vigorous and powerful antagonist.  And William was preparing, in both his English and his Dutch dominions, for yet another conflict.  War was indeed imminent; the sole question being when it would actually break out, and who would be ruler over England when it did.  For William III was in feeble health; his death might occur any day, and his crown pass to his sister-in-law Anne.  Such was the condition of affairs at the time George Fairburn left St. Peter’s School at York.

January brought many new orders for the Fairburn pit, and the owner had work for more men.  So greatly was his business increasing, that the proprietor of the little colliery came to a decision that seemed likely to affect his son’s whole future life.

“What would you like to be, my lad?” he one day inquired abruptly.

“A soldier, dad,” was the prompt reply, the boy regarding his father in some wonderment, nevertheless.

“A soldier, says the lad!” Fairburn exclaimed, no less surprised by the answer than George had been by the question.  “It is the most detestable of all trades, that of soldiering, and about the most empty-stomached.  Don’t talk of such a thing, my good lad.”

In vain George entered into a defence of the military profession, referring to the many great soldiers with whom his school readings in the histories of Greece and Rome and England had made him more or less acquainted.  Fairburn was not to be charmed, and with a deep sigh the boy gave up the contest.  He was still more upset when his father proceeded to tell him that he would not return to St. Peter’s, but would remain at home to assist in the business till a place could be secured for him in some great London house.

It was not a task he cared about; anybody could have done it, he thought, as he entered the weights on little tickets.  But George had a large fund of common sense and a deep respect for his father.  He did not grumble or sulk, but resolved that as he had to do the work he would do it thoroughly.