“Oh, it’s so stupid staying at home,” said Randolph. “I want to go where there’s something going on.”
“It isn’t a very good plan for a boy of your age to spend his evenings about the street,” said Mr. Briggs.
“Why shouldn’t he go out?” said Mrs. Briggs, in the spirit of opposition. “You haven’t anything to say about your favorite being out.”
“The city is new to him. If he went out every evening like Randolph, I should think it a bad plan.”
“I suppose you would find some excuse for him.”
“Really,” said Mr. Briggs, “I shall be quite as anxious to get him out of the house as you, if you keep up such an incessant attack.”
“If you are going to talk to me in this style, I will retire,” said Mrs. Briggs, stiffly.
Suiting the action to the word, she rose and left the room. Her husband made no opposition. Indeed, as her temper was, he felt her withdrawal a relief. He settled himself down to the comfortable reading of an evening paper, and had about completed its perusal when the bell rang, and Gilbert entered the room.
“Well, Gilbert, did you have a pleasant time?” asked his guardian.
“Yes, sir; unexpectedly so. I met Mr. Vivian and his daughter, and went to Delmonico’s with them.”