Insufficient rest and ceaseless trouble of spirit brought him to death's door.

For a long time it seemed as if he must content himself with earning his bread.

He had no right to call upon others to bear the burden of his needs.

His brother; a steady hard-headed mechanic, who was doing well in the Midlands and had just married, spoke to him with uncompromising common sense; if he chose to incapacitate himself, he must not look to his relatives to support him.

Silently Gilbert acquiesced; silently he went back to the factory, and, when he came home of nights, sat with eyes gazing blankly before him.