"Neither does he, as a rule; but he has never been to the Adelphi, and
he wants to go. Will you accompany us?"

"No, thank you," said George; "I told you once I did not like theatres;
perhaps you recollect we discussed the point one evening?"

"We did, and you said you had never been to a theatre: you disapproved
of them, without ever having had an opportunity of judging whether they
were good or bad places. Now, take the opportunity."

"I am not anxious to form a judgment; and I so dislike all the
associations of a theatre that it would be no pleasure for me to go."

"Complimentary, certainly!" laughed Ashton. "But I will grant you this
much--there are bad associations connected with the theatres, and this
is the stronghold of objectors; but we are four staid sober fellows, we
shall go to our box without any bother, sit and see the play without
exchanging a word with anybody beyond our own party, and then leave as
soon as the performance is over. You had better say you will go, eh?"

"No, it would be very late before I got home," said George: "and I do
not like keeping my mother up, more particularly as I was so very late
the other evening. But what do you say, Hardy?"

"I don't know what to say," said Hardy. "I did once say to myself I
would never go to a theatre; but I am not sure that there is any moral
obligation why I should keep my word, when the compact rests only with
myself. I have not time to consult Paley, and so I put the question to
you--Can I go, seeing I have said to myself I will not?"