You could not conduct a paper and stay at home, but must spend a good deal of time here!" Then I suddenly saw the appalling prospect thus politely presented.

I had never heard of any woman save Mary Kingston working in an office.
Her father, a prominent lawyer, had employed her as his clerk, when his office was in their dwelling, and the situation was remarkable and very painful; and here was I, looking not more than twenty, proposing to come into the office of the handsome stranger who sat bending over his desk that he might not see me blush for the unwomanly intent.
Mr.Riddle was esteemed one of the most elegant and polished gentlemen in the city, with fine physique and fascinating manners.

He was a man of the world, and his prominence had caused his name to become the target for many an evil report in the bitter personal conflicts of political life.

I looked the facts squarely in the face and thought: "I have been publicly asserting the right of woman to earn a living as book-keepers, clerks, sales-women, and now shall I shrink for fear of a danger any one must meet in doing as I advised?
This is my Red Sea.

It can be no more terrible than the one which confronted Israel.