One of the dangers attendant on association with the class to which we refer lies in the fact that they draw around them certain free-thinking, sensual personages, of no very stable morality, who are ready for anything that gives excitement to their morbid conditions of mind.  Social disasters, of the saddest kind, are constantly occurring through this cause.  Men and women become at first unsettled in their opinions, then unsettled in their conduct, and finally throw off all virtuous restraint.

Mrs. Talbot, the new friend of Mrs. Emerson, belonged to the better sort of reformers in one respect.  She was a pure-minded woman; but this did not keep her out of the circle of those who were of freer thought and action.  Being an extremist on the subject of woman’s social position, she met and assimilated with others on the basis of a common sentiment.  This threw her in contact with many from whom she would have shrunk with instinctive aversion had she known their true quality.  Still, the evil to her was a gradual wearing away, by the power of steady attrition, of old, true, conservative ideas in regard to the binding force of marriage.  There was always a great deal said on this subject, in a light way, by persons for whose opinions on other subjects she had the highest respect, and this had its influence.  Insensibly her views and feelings changed, until she found herself, in some cases, the advocate of sentiments that once would have been rejected with instinctive repugnance.

This was the woman who was about acquiring a strong influence over the undisciplined, self-willed and too self-reliant young wife of Hartley Emerson; and this was the class of personages among whom her dangerous friend was about introducing her.  At the house of Mrs. Talbot, where Irene became a frequent visitor, she met a great many brilliant, talented and fascinating people, of whom she often spoke to her husband, for she was too independent to have any concealments.  She knew that he did no like Mrs. Talbot, but this rather inclined her to a favorable estimation, and really led to a more frequent intercourse than would otherwise have been the case.

Once a week Mrs. Talbot held a kind of conversazione, at which brilliant people and people with hobbies met to hear themselves talk.  Mr. and Mrs. Emerson had a standing invitation to be present at these reunions, and, as Irene wished to go, her husband saw it best not to interpose obstacles.  Besides, as he knew that she went to Mrs. Talbot’s often in the day-time, and met a good many people there, he wished to see for himself who they were, and judge for himself as to their quality.  Of the men who frequented the parlors of Mrs. Talbot, the larger number had some prefix to their names, as Professor, Doctor, Major, or Colonel.  Most of the ladies were of a decidedly literary turn—­some had written books, some were magazine contributors, one was a physician, and one a public lecturer.  Nothing against them in all this, but much to their honor if their talents and acquirements were used for the common good.