But this could not always be. Mr. and Mrs. Ridley could not for ever
hold themselves away from the social life of a large city among the
people of which their acquaintance was gradually extending. Mrs.
Ridley would have continued to stand aloof because of the danger she
had too good reason to fear, but her husband was growing, she could
see, both sensitive and restless. He wanted the professional
advantages society would give him, and he wanted, moreover, to prove
his manhood and take away the reproach under which he felt himself
lying.
Sooner or later he must walk this way of peril, and he felt that he
was becoming strong enough and brave enough to meet the old enemy
that had vanquished him so many times.
"We will go," he said, on receiving cards of invitation to a party
given by a prominent and influential citizen. "People will be there
whom I should meet, and people whom I want you to meet."
He saw a shadow creep into his wife's face; Mrs. Ridley saw the
shadow reflected almost as a frown from his. She knew what was in
her husband's thoughts, knew that he felt hurt and restless under
her continued reluctance to have him go into any company where wine
and spirits were served to the guests, and feeling that a longer
opposition might do more harm than good, answered, with as much
heartiness and assent as she could get into her voice:
"Very well, but it will cost you the price of a new dress, for I
have nothing fit to appear in.
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