g Commercial Men, whose
feeling for Art is not precisely passionate, but who have
turned in to pass the time, and because the Exhibition is
gratuitous, earnest Youths with long hair, soft hats, and
caped ulsters, &c., &c._

BEFORE DELAROCHE'S "DROWNED MARTYR."

[Illustration: "Earnest youths with long hair."]

_First Villa Resident_ (_appreciatively_). Such a _death-like_
expression, isn't it?

_Second Ditto, Ditto_. Yes, _indeed_! And _how_ beautifully her halo's
done!

_Third Ditto, Ditto_. Will those two men on the bank be the
executioners, should you think?

_Fourth Ditto, Ditto_ (_doubtfully_). It says in the Catalogue that
they're two Christians.

_An Intelligent Child_. Then why don't they jump in and pull her out,
Mother? [_The Child is reproved._

_A Languid Young Lady_. Is that intended for _Opheliah_?

[_The rest regard her with shocked disapproval, mingled with
pity, before passing on._

BEFORE HOLL'S "FATHERLESS FAMILY."

_First Matter-of-Fact Person_. They're just come back from the
funeral, I _expect_.

_Second Ditto, Ditto_. I shouldn't wonder. (_Feels bound to show that
she too can be observant._) Yes, they're all in mourning--even the
servant. Do you see the black ribbon in her cap? I _do_ like that.

_An Irrelevant Person_. It's just a _little_ melancholy, though, don't
you think?--which reminds me--_how_ much did you say that jet trimming
was a yard--nine pence three-farthings?

_Her Friend_. Nine pence halfpenny at the shop in St. Paul's
Churchyard. The child has her frock open at the top behind, you
see--evidently a _poor_ family!

_The I.P._ Yes, and the workbasket with the reels of cotton and all.
(_Looking suddenly down_.) Don't you call this a handsome carpet?

_A Frivolous Frenchman_ (_fresh from 'The Casual Ward' and 'The
Martyr' to his companion_). Tenez, mon cher, encore des choses gaies!

[_He passes on with a shrug._]

_A Good Young Man with a train of three Maiden Aunts in tow_ (_halting
them before a picture of_ SIR J. NOEL PATON's). Now you ought to look
at this one.

[_They inspect it with docility. It represents a Knight in
armour riding through a forest and surrounded by seductive
Wood-nymphs._

_First Maiden Aunt_. Is that a guitar one of those girls is playing,
or what?

_Second Ditto, Ditto_. A mandolin more likely; it looks like
mother-o'-pearl--is it supposed to be King ARTHUR, and are they
fairies or angels