"Nor I," said Mrs. Weston.

"Well, that is really very extraordinary," said Ashton; "I thought
almost everybody went to a theatre at some time or other. But perhaps
you have some objection?"

"I have," said Mrs. Weston. "I think there is a great deal of evil
learnt there, and very little good, if any. It is expensive; and it
leads into other bad habits."

"Those last objections cannot be gainsaid," said Ashton; "but they
equally apply to all amusements, and therefore, by that rule, all
amusements are bad."

"But not in an equal degree with that of the theatre," George remarked;
"because other amusements do not possess such an infatuation. For my
own part, I should not mind going to a concert; but I very much
disapprove of the theatre, and should never hesitate to decline going
there."

"Yours is not a good argument, George. You have never been to the
theatre, you say, and yet you disapprove of it. Are you right in
pronouncing such an opinion, which cannot be the result of your own
investigation?"

"I think I am," replied George; "I can adopt the opinions of those whom
experience has instructed in the matter, and in whom I can rely with
implicit confidence. If a man goes through a dangerous track, and falls
into a bog, I should be willing to admit the track was dangerous, and
avoid the bog, without going in to prove the former traveller was right;