He had, alas! tarried too long at the feast of wine and fat things dispensed by Mr.Birtwell, and in his effort to restore the relaxed tension of his nerves by stimulation had sent too sudden an impulse to his brain, and roused it to morbid action.

His coffee failed to soothe the unquiet nerves, his stomach turned from the food on which he had depended for a restoration of the equipoise which the night's excesses had destroyed.

The dangerous condition of Mrs.Ridley and his forced visit to that lady in the early morning, when he should have been free from all unusual effort and excitement, but added to his disturbance.
Doctor Hillhouse knew all about the previous habits of Mr.Ridley, and was much interested in his case.

He had seen with hope and pleasure the steadiness with which he was leading his new life, and was beginning to have strong faith in his future.

But when he met him on that morning, he knew by unerring signs that the evening at Mr.Birtwell's had been to him one of debauch instead of restrained conviviality.