e
_dared_!"

Garth, coming out of the tobacconist's shop across the way, joined the
little knot of people just in time to hear Sara answer cuttingly, as she
put the terrier into its owner's arms--

"You've no business to _have_ a dog if you've not got the pluck to look
after him!"

As she and Trent bent their steps homeward, Sara regaled him with
the full, true, and particular account of the dog-fight, winding up
indignantly--

"Foul women like that ought not to be allowed to take out a dog licence.
I hate people who shirk their responsibilities."

"You despise cowards?" he asked.

"More than anything on earth," she answered heartily.

He was silent a moment. Then he said reflectively--

"And yet, I suppose, a certain amount of allowance must be made
for--nerves."

"It seems to me it depends on what your duty demands of you at the
moment," she rejoined. "Nerves are a luxury. You can afford them when
it makes no difference to other people whether you're afraid or not--but
not when it does."

"And from what deeps did you draw such profound wisdom?" he asked
quizzically.

Sara laughed a little.

"I had it well rubbed into me by my Uncle Patrick," she replied. "It was
his _Credo_."

"And yet, I can understand any one's nerves cracking suddenly--after a
prolonged strain."

"I don't think yours would," responded Sara contentedly, with a vivid
recollection of their expedition to the island and its aftermath.

"Possibly not. But I suppose no man can be dead sure of
himself--always."

"Will you come in?" asked Sara as they paused at Sunnyside gate.

"Not to-day, I think. I had better begin to accustom myself to doing
without you, as I am going away so soon"--smiling.

"I wish you were not going," she rejoined discontentedly. "I so wanted
you and Elisabeth to meet. _Must_ you go?"

"I'm afraid I must. And it's better that I should go, on the whole.
I should only be raging up and down like an untied devil because Mrs.
Durward was taking up so much of your time! Let her have you to herself
for a few days--and then, when I come back, I shall have you to _myself_
again."

CHAPTER XXIV

PATCHES OF BLUE

Elisabeth frowned a little as she perused the letter which she had that
morning received from Sara. It contained the information that rooms in
her name had been booked at the Cliff Hotel, and further, that Sara was
much disappointed that it would be impossible to arrange for her to
meet Garth Trent,