CHAPTER XVI.
WEARY OF CONSTRAINT.
_TIME_ moved on, and Mrs.Emerson's intimate city friends were those to whom she had been introduced, directly or indirectly, through Mrs.Talbot.Of these, the one who had most influence over her was Mrs.Lloyd, and that influence was not of the right kind.

Singularly enough, it so happened that Mr.Emerson never let this lady at his house, though she spent hours there every week; and, more singular still, Irene had never spoken about her to her husband.

She had often been on the point of doing so, but an impression that Hartley would take up an unreasonable prejudice against her kept the name of this friend back from her lips.
Months now succeeded each other without the occurrence of events marked by special interest.

Mr.Emerson grew more absorbed in his profession as cases multiplied on his hands, and Irene, interested in her circle of bright-minded, independent-thoughted women, found the days and weeks gliding on pleasantly enough.

But habits of estimating things a little differently from the common sentiment, and views of life not by any means consonant with those prevailing among the larger numbers of her sex, were gradually taking root.
Young, inexperienced, self-willed and active in mind, Mrs.Emerson had most unfortunately been introduced among a class of persons whose influence upon her could not fail to be hurtful.