Mrs.Jennings Rodolph taught gratuitously now and then--the dresses were the result.
Weeks passed away; the White Conduit season had begun, and progressed, and was more than half over.

The dressmaking business had fallen off, from neglect; and its profits had dwindled away almost imperceptibly.

A benefit-night approached; Mr.Jennings Rodolph yielded to the earnest solicitations of Miss Amelia Martin, and introduced her personally to the 'comic gentleman' whose benefit it was.

The comic gentleman was all smiles and blandness--he had composed a duet, expressly for the occasion, and Miss Martin should sing it with him.

The night arrived; there was an immense room--ninety-seven sixpenn'orths of gin-and-water, thirty-two small glasses of brandy-and-water, five-and-twenty bottled ales, and forty-one neguses; and the ornamental painter's journeyman, with his wife and a select circle of acquaintance, were seated at one of the side-tables near the orchestra.