'My duty,' he had said, 'my duty and your mother's!' Of course something was intended, something was to be done or said more than had been done or said already.

During the breakfast she had seen in the curves of her mother's mouth the signs of some resolute purpose.
During the very prayers she had heard in her mother's voice a sound as of a settled determination She knew,--she knew that something was to be done, and with that knowledge she went back into her mother's room, and sat herself down firmly and squarely at the table.

She had left her cup partly full, and began again to drink her tea.

'What did your papa say to you ?' asked her mother.
'Papa bade me stay here, but I told him that most certainly I should go home to Folking.' Then Mrs.Bolton also became aware of fixed will and resolute purpose on her daughter's part.
'Does his word go for nothing ?' 'How can two persons' words go for anything when obedience is concerned?
It is like God and Mammon.' 'Hester!' 'If two people tell one differently, it must be right to cling to one and leave the other.

No man can serve two masters.