wo
bachelors, pleased to think that they could give their young friends
pleasure. General and Mrs. Lambert, their son from college, their two
blooming daughters, and Mr. Spencer of the Temple, a new friend whom
George had met at the coffee-house, formed the party, and partook with
cheerfulness of the landlady's fare. The order of their sitting I have
not been able exactly to ascertain; but, somehow, Miss Theo had a place
next to the chickens and Mr. George Warrington, whilst Miss Hetty and a
ham divided the attentions of Mr. Harry. Mrs. Lambert must have been on
George's right hand, so that we have but to settle the three places of
the General, his son, and the Templar.

Mr. Spencer had been at the other theatre, where, on a former day, he
had actually introduced George to the greenroom. The conversation about
the play was resumed, and some of the party persisted in being delighted
with it.

"As for what our gentlemen say, sir," cries Mrs. Lambert to Mr. Spencer,
"you must not believe a word of it. 'Tis a delightful piece, and my
husband and Mr. George behaved as ill as possible."

"We laughed in the wrong place, and when we ought to have cried," the
General owned, "that's the truth."

"You caused all the people in the boxes about us to look round and cry
'Hush!' You made the pit folks say, 'Silence in the boxes, yonder!' Such
behaviour I never knew, and quite blushed for you, Mr. Lambert!"

"Mamma thought it was a tragedy, and we thought it was a piece of fun,"
says the General. "George and I behaved perfectly well, didn't we,
Theo?"

"Not when I was looking your way, papa!" Theo replies. At which the
General asks, "Was there ever such a saucy baggage seen?"

"You know, sir, I didn't speak till I was bid," Theo continues,
modestly. "I own I was very much moved by the play, and the beauty and
acting of Mrs. Woffington. I was sorry that the poor mother should find
her child, and lose him. I am sorry, too, papa, if I oughtn't to have
been sorry!" adds the young lady, with a smile.

"Women are not so clever as men, you know, Theo," cries Hetty from her
end of the table, with a sly look at Harry. "The next time we go to the
play, please, brother Jack, pinch us when we ought to cry, or give us a
nudge when it is right to laugh."

"I wish we could have had the fight," said General Lambert, "the fight
between little Norval and the gigantic Norwegian--that would have been
rare sport: and you should write, Jack, and s