"Well, but why did you ask me?" said _Tom_. "I didn't!" says the Conjurer. "You did," says _Tom_. "_Didn't_ he?" to the whole House. "Knock him down! Throw him over!" cried several Voices. "Give him into Custody!" "Nay," says _Tom_, "I don't want to make any Disturbance:--if you wish me to go, I'll go, for I never like to put People to the least Inconvenience, and I'm sure if I'd known you didn't mean to be taken at your Word, I would have stayed where I was!" Saying which, he swung himself up the Pillar again, and was by my Side the next Moment, looking as merry and good-tempered as ever. But I was so penetrated with Shame, that I could not bear to look up, but begged him to let us go Home, to which he acceded, though with much Surprise. The next Morning, I was giving my _Father_ and _Mother_ an Account of my uncomfortable Evening, when _Tom_, coming in to Breakfast, says, "Who is that pale, lanky Chap I met just now upon the Stairs?" "_Tom!_--" said _Prudence_, very indignantly, "it was Mr. _Fenwick_!" "How should I know who he was?" rejoined _Tom_ unconcernedly, "I thought he might be a Thief." "A Thief, indeed!" muttered _Prue_, as she buttered her Roll. "Well, _Prue_," said he briskly, "I gave _Patty_ a Treat last Night, so now it's your Turn." "You _did_ give _Patty_ a Treat, indeed, my Lad," says my _Father_ ironically. "I'm glad she found it so, _Uncle_," says he, quite cheerfully, "so, To-Night, _Prudence_, I'll take you to the Play." "I don't know that I want to go," says _Prudence_. "Oh! very well, then I'll take _Patty_." "Thank you, _Tom_," said I, "but I don't quite approve of Theatrical Amusements." "You don't? Oh my Goodness!--And do _you_ disapprove of them, _Prue_?" "No, not I," said _Prue_, "I think _Patty_ more nice than wise." "Oh, then, come along like a good Girl, and let's go together." "But, _Tom_," says my _Father_, "I shall put a Spoke in that Wheel, unless you promise you won't forsake her as you did _Patty_ last Night." "I'll promise you a Dozen Times, _Uncle_, if you think that will make it more secure." "No, if you promise once in earnest, that will do." "I do promise." "But, _Tom_," put in my dear _Mother_, "I share _Patty's_ Objections to the Play-House, and I think two such young Heads as you and _Prue_ are hardly to be trusted there. In short, I would rather she did not go." _Prue_ pouted a little on this--My _Father_ began to chafe. "Fiddlesticks, my Dear," says he, "you and I often went to a Play together when we were young, and why shouldn't they?" "Why, my Dear, as I am no longer young, I see Things in a different Light." "It may not be a truer Light, though, Mrs. _Honeywood_, and you can't expect young Folks to see Things differently from what you yourself did when you were young. Tut, tut! let the Girl go, and say no more about it." "But, Mr. _Honeywood_...." "But, Madam!" (very loud and angry,) "haven't I said it should be so, and have I a Right to be minded?"