"We anticipate our last moments, Sir, with awe, mingled with delight, and though you may imagine that our present moments are dull and insipid, yet, I assure you, you are mistaken. We have our sources of happiness, but card-playing is not included in the number." "I cannot but think that evangelical religion has an antisocial tendency, and would, if generally prevalent, deprive us of all our innocent recreations." "Evangelical religion, like the religion of the New Testament, requires us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed in the renewing of our mind, and it produces a distaste for those frivolous and pernicious amusements in which the votaries of this world delight; but I am not aware that it has an antisocial tendency, unless you mean by that expression, that its tendency is to mark out the essential difference between a real Christian and one who bears only the name." "Why, we are all Christians, and good Christians, too; but our Christianity does not teach us to wait the arrival of death before we can be happy." "Yes, Sir, there are the pleasures of sin, which we are commanded to forsake for the recompense of reward." "And, Madam, there are the pleasures of innocence, which are as sweet and as sacred as the joys of angels." "But I cannot suppose that you include card-playing among the pleasures of innocence." "Most certainly I do!" "Then, do you imagine that our old friend, Mr Lock, is of the same opinion, who in an evening was reduced from a state of affluence to a state of poverty?" "Why, that was an unlucky night for him, certainly; but you know we do not play for more than we can afford to lose." "I think, Sir, with all due deference to your judgment, that every one who plays at this game of innocence stakes more than he can afford to lose." "You are, indeed, an ingenious casuist, and I wish to know how you can prove the correctness of your assertion." "Can you afford to lose your temper?" "If I do lose it I can easily recover it again." "You may, Sir, but can others?" "If they cannot, they are to blame." "_Then, Sir, this game of innocence is found on experiment, first, to destroy the placidity of the temper, and then to involve its abettors in censure._ But there is often more staked in this game than the loss of temper." "What is there, Madam?" "The loss of friendship. You know that the families of the Orrs and the Humes have never met in any party since the quarrel which took place two years since at Brushwood House." "Why, that was a very serious affair, certainly, but you know that such quarrels rarely happen." "Nay, Sir, they often happen, only friends interpose and effect a reconciliation. But with such facts imprinted on our memory, can we say that such a game is the game of innocence?" "I think, Madam, you are rather too severe, for you must allow that it often beguiles away many a languid hour." "Which hours, Sir, ought to be spent in preparation for immortality."