There had been times when he had fancied that Garret possessed the stronger spirit, because his words were more full of fire, and he was ever a man of action and strife.

But when Garret had been brought face to face with peril his nerve had given way.

He had struggled after courage, but all the while he had been ready to fly.

He had spoken of coming martyrdom with loftiness of resolution; but he had wavered, and had been persuaded that the time had not yet come.
Something in Clarke's gentle steadfastness seemed loftier to Anthony Dalaber than what he had witnessed in Garret a few days back.

Yet he would have said that Garret would have flown in the face of danger without a fear, whilst Clarke would have hung back and sought to find a middle course.
"But if these meetings be perilous," urged Arthur, "why will you not let them drop--for the sake of others, if not your own ?" He looked calmly in the questioner's eyes as he answered: "I invite no man to come to me to read or discourse.