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Life in London - or, the Pitfalls of a Great City by Edwin Hodder
page 54 of 151 (35%)
there are respectable people here, old and young, all listening and
seeming to enjoy it. That shows there is insincerity somewhere; either
these people hush their sensitive feelings in the playhouse, or they are
hypocrites at home, and profess to be much more refined than they really
are."

"You evidently don't understand plays yet," said Ashton; "that man
depicts a certain style of life, and he must be true to it. If he enacts
the part of a costermonger, he must swear and talk slang, and commit
crimes, if need be, or anything suiting the character he assumes; or
else the thing would be absurd, and the gentleman and costermonger would
be both alike."

"The theatre must be a 'great teacher of morals,' then, if we come here
to be initiated into the vices of costermongers," said George, rather
sarcastically.

"George," whispered Hardy, "we've got into a mess; look down in the
pit--Williams and Lawson are there. They have recognized us, and are
nodding--shall we nod?"

"Yes," said George, and he nodded; but his face was red as crimson. "I
would not have had Lawson and Williams see us here for the world," he
whispered to Hardy; "but it's too late now--as you say, we've got into a
mess."

Just then the curtain rose again, and the play of the "Serious Family,"
commenced.

The plot of the piece is this:--
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