"There are few men, indeed, who would throw themselves in the way of a mad dog, especially of such a formidable brute as that.

You too have behaved with courage, my son, and I saw you were ready to give your life for your sisters; but you had not the quickness and readiness of your friend, and would have been too late." "It is true, father," Ernest said in a tone of humility.

"I should have been too late, and, moreover, I should have been useless, for he would have torn me down in a moment, and then fallen upon my sisters.

M.Sandwith," he said frankly, "I own I have been wrong.
I have thought the games of which you spoke, and your fighting, rough and barbarous; but I see their use now.

You have put me to shame.
When I saw that dog I felt powerless, for I had not my sword with me; but you--you rushed to the fight without a moment's hesitation, trusting in your strength and your head.