little boys, scarcely bigger than himself, had
often joined in the glorious project of forming open rebellions against
their masters, or of disturbing a whole audience at a playhouse, he
panted for the time when he might have a chance of sharing in the fame
of such achievements. By degrees he lost all regard for Mr Barlow, and
all affection for his friend Harry. At first, indeed, he was shocked at
hearing Mr Barlow mentioned with disrespect, but becoming by degrees
more callous to every good impression he at last took infinite pleasure
in seeing Master Mash (who, though destitute of either wit or genius,
had a great taste for mimicry) take off the _parson_ in the middle of
his _sermon_.

Harry perceived and lamented this change in the manners of his friend;
he sometimes took the liberty of remonstrating with him upon the
subject, but was only answered with a contemptuous sneer; and Master
Mash, who happened once to be present, told him that he was a _monstrous
bore_.

It happened that, while Harry was at Mr Merton's, there was a troop of
strolling players at a neighbouring town. In order to divert the young
gentry, Mr Merton contrived that they should make a party to see a play.
They went accordingly, and Harry with the rest. Tommy, who now no longer
condescended to take any notice of his friend Harry, was seated between
his two new acquaintances, who had become his inseparable companions.
These young gentlemen first began to give specimens of their
_politeness_ by throwing nuts and orange-peel upon the stage; and Tommy,
who was resolved to profit by such an _excellent_ example, threw nuts
and orange-peel with infinite satisfaction.

As soon as the curtain drew up, and the actors appeared, all the rest of
the audience observed a decent silence; but Mash and Compton, who were
now determined to prove the _superiority_ of their manners, began to
talk so loud, and make so much noise, that it was impossible for any one
near them to hear a word of the play. This also seemed amazingly _fine_
to Tommy; and he too talked and laughed as loud as the rest.

The subject of their conversation was, the audience and the performers;
neither of whom these polite young gentlemen found bearable. The
_company_ was chiefly composed of the tradesmen of the town, and the
inhabitants of the neighbouring country; this was a sufficient reason
for these refined young gentlemen to speak of them with the most
insufferable contempt. Every circums