know; and we can all sit together and compare opinions during the
debate."

The friends were accordingly introduced; and as the proceedings of the
evening went on, and all waxed warm upon the subject under discussion,
the party which Ashton had drawn together soon became known to one
another, and were on terms of conversational acquaintance.

The meeting separated at ten o'clock, and then George and Hardy essayed
to bid good-night to their friends, and make their way at once towards
Islington.

"Nonsense," said Ashton; "I want you to come with me to a nice quiet
place I know, close by, and have a bit of supper and a chat over all
that has been said, and then I will walk part of the way home with you."

"No, not to-night, Ashton; it is quite late enough already; and it will
be past eleven o'clock before we get home as it is."

"What say you, Hardy? Can you persuade our sage old friend to abandon
his ten o'clock habits for one night?" asked Ashton.

"I do not like to establish a bad precedent," said Hardy; "and as we
have to-night joined the institution, I think we should make a rule to
start off home as soon as we leave the meetings, because we have some
distance to go, and bad hours, you know, interfere with business."

"I did not expect you to make a rule to keep bad hours," said Ashton;"
but every rule has an exception--"