n short, everything on the most genteel
scale imaginable.

Then, the dinner. There was baked leg of mutton at the top, boiled leg
of mutton at the bottom, pair of fowls and leg of pork in the middle;
porter-pots at the corners; pepper, mustard, and vinegar in the centre;
vegetables on the floor; and plum-pudding and apple-pie and tartlets
without number: to say nothing of cheese, and celery, and water-cresses,
and all that sort of thing. As to the Company! Miss Amelia Martin
herself declared, on a subsequent occasion, that, much as she had heard
of the ornamental painter's journeyman's connexion, she never could have
supposed it was half so genteel. There was his father, such a funny old
gentleman--and his mother, such a dear old lady--and his sister, such a
charming girl--and his brother, such a manly-looking young man--with such
a eye! But even all these were as nothing when compared with his musical
friends, Mr. and Mrs. Jennings Rodolph, from White Conduit, with whom the
ornamental painter's journeyman had been fortunate enough to contract an
intimacy while engaged in decorating the concert-room of that noble
institution. To hear them sing separately, was divine, but when they
went through the tragic duet of 'Red Ruffian, retire!' it was, as Miss
Martin afterwards remarked, 'thrilling.' And why (as Mr. Jennings
Rodolph observed) why were they not engaged at one of the patent
theatres? If he was to be told that their voices were not powerful
enough to fill the House, his only reply was, that he would back himself
for any amount to fill Russell-square--a statement in which the company,
after hearing the duet, expressed their full belief; so they all said it
was shameful treatment; and both Mr. and Mrs. Jennings Rodolph said it
was shameful too; and Mr. Jennings Rodolph looked very serious, and said
he knew who his malignant opponents were, but they had better take care
how far they went, for if they irritated him too much he had not quite
made up his mind whether he wouldn't bring the subject before Parliament;
and they all agreed that it ''ud serve 'em quite right, and it was very
proper that such people should be made an example of.' So Mr. Jennings
Rodolph said he'd think of it.

When the conversation resumed its former tone, Mr. Jennings Rodolph
claimed his right to call upon a lady, and the right being conceded,
trusted Miss Martin would favour the company--a proposal which met with
unanimous approbatio