"Courage is the fundamental virtue in a man. It includes moral strength. If she cannot be sure of his strength, she will always doubt him and her love for him."
"Can't see it that way. If she helped him, and he won out, he'd be cured, wouldn't he?"
"I've been trying to guess at a woman's reason, but I'm not so rash as to attempt to argue the matter," said Lord James. He picked up his hat and held out a cordial hand to the engineer. "She may or may not be right. I'm not altogether certain as to the intuitive wisdom of women. However that may be, we at least shall do our best to pull him through."
"That's talking, Mr. Scarbridge!" exclaimed Griffith.
CHAPTER XV
BY-PLAY
Promptly at four that afternoon Blake was shown to the rooms of his friend at the hotel. He entered with a glum look not altogether assumed.
"Well, here I am," he grumbled. "Hope you're satisfied. You're robbing me of the best part of the day."
"I daresay," cheerfully assented Lord James. "Now look pleasant till I see if you're dressed."
"No, I haven't a thing on. Just clothed in sunshine and a sweet smile," growled Blake, throwing open his raincoat to show his suit of rough gray homespun. "You don't ever get me into that skirty coat again. I can stand full dress, but not that afternoon horror-gown. I'm no minister."