I am in doubt whether or not I shall enlist in a marching regiment, or--Give me your advice on it! I fancy I have a great turn for the stage, ever since I saw Garrick in 'Richard.' Shall I turn stroller?
It must be a merry life." "Oh, the devil!" cried Ned.

"I myself once did Cassio in a barn, and every one swore I enacted the drunken scene to perfection; but you have no notion what a lamentable life it is to a man of any susceptibility.
No, my friend, no! There is only one line in all the old plays worthy thy attention,-- "'Toby [The highway] or not toby, that is the question.' "I forget the rest!" "Well," said our hero, answering in the same jocular vein, "I confess I have 'the actor's high ambition.' It is astonishing how my heart beat when Richard cried out, 'Come bustle, bustle!' Yes, Pepper, avaunt!-- "'A thousand hearts are great within my bosom.'" "Well, well," said Long Ned, stretching himself, "since you are so fond of the play, what say you to an excursion thither to-night?
Garrick acts." "Done!" cried Paul.
"Done!" echoed lazily Long Ned, rising with that blase air which distinguishes the matured man of the world from the enthusiastic tyro,-"done! and we will adjourn afterwards to the White Horse." "But stay a moment," said Paul; "if you remember, I owed you a guinea when I last saw you,--here it is!" "Nonsense," exclaimed Long Ned, refusing the money,--"nonsense! You want the money at present; pay me when you are richer.

Nay, never be coy about it; debts of honour are not paid now as they used to be.

We lads of the Fish Lane Club have changed all that.

Well, well, if I must!" And Long Ned, seeing that Paul insisted, pocketed the guinea.