Mr. Linden gave the doctor a quick glance, but the smile which followed was 'undoubted' in another way.
"When two opposing forces meet at right angles, doctor," he said, "you know what happens to the object. Not contented inertia."
"Contented! no, very likely,—not when it is this object. But you will find a third force will establish the inertia."
"What is your third force?"
"The necessity of the case," said the doctor seriously.
But to that Mr. Linden made no reply. The conversation had been kept up not only against weakness but against pain, and he lay very still and colourless for a long time after the doctor closed the door.
Meanwhile Faith, busy at her brown moreen, made her mother's job of mending seem like embroidery; but by degrees Mrs. Derrick's face became thoughtful, and she said, rather emphatically,
"Child, have you been up to see Mr. Linden to-day?"
Faith's hammer dropped, and her hands too.
"No, mother," she said, looking at her.