"It's all very well for you, Mr. Lane," she said, "but this isn't your cottage, and you are making Jabez break our dishes."
Jabez hailed the idea with delight; he now had an excellent excuse for stopping.
"Right you are!" cried Lane cheerfully, "Jabez will break something else," and he took out his gold watch and placed it on the table.
"Smash that, Jabez."
"No," said Jabez, "I won't smash your watch."
Now Jabez had a saying that if a man were dared to do a thing and he didn't do it he was a coward.
"I dare you to smash the watch."
Jabez seized the poker again.
"What! You dare me!"
"Yes, I dare you."