shoe-binding, to which she had afterwards superadded the occupation of a
straw-bonnet maker. Herself, her maternal parent, and two sisters,
formed an harmonious quartett in the most secluded portion of
Camden-town; and here it was that Mr. Wilkins presented himself, one
Monday afternoon, in his best attire, with his face more shining and his
waistcoat more bright than either had ever appeared before. The family
were just going to tea, and were _so_ glad to see him. It was quite a
little feast; two ounces of seven-and-sixpenny green, and a quarter of a
pound of the best fresh; and Mr. Wilkins had brought a pint of shrimps,
neatly folded up in a clean belcher, to give a zest to the meal, and
propitiate Mrs. Ivins. Jemima was 'cleaning herself' up-stairs; so Mr.
Samuel Wilkins sat down and talked domestic economy with Mrs. Ivins,
whilst the two youngest Miss Ivinses poked bits of lighted brown paper
between the bars under the kettle, to make the water boil for tea.

'I wos a thinking,' said Mr. Samuel Wilkins, during a pause in the
conversation--'I wos a thinking of taking J'mima to the Eagle
to-night.'--'O my!' exclaimed Mrs. Ivins. 'Lor! how nice!' said the
youngest Miss Ivins. 'Well, I declare!' added the youngest Miss Ivins
but one. 'Tell J'mima to put on her white muslin, Tilly,' screamed Mrs.
Ivins, with motherly anxiety; and down came J'mima herself soon
afterwards in a white muslin gown carefully hooked and eyed, a little red
shawl, plentifully pinned, a white straw bonnet trimmed with red ribbons,
a small necklace, a large pair of bracelets, Denmark satin shoes, and
open-worked stockings; white cotton gloves on her fingers, and a cambric
pocket-handkerchief, carefully folded up, in her hand--all quite genteel
and ladylike. And away went Miss J'mima Ivins and Mr. Samuel Wilkins,
and a dress-cane, with a gilt knob at the top, to the admiration and envy
of the street in general, and to the high gratification of Mrs. Ivins,
and the two youngest Miss Ivinses in particular. They had no sooner
turned into the Pancras-road, than who should Miss J'mima Ivins stumble
upon, by the most fortunate accident in the world, but a young lady as
she knew, with _her_ young man!--And it is so strange how things do turn
out sometimes--they were actually going to the Eagle too. So Mr. Samuel
Wilkins was introduced to Miss J'mima Ivins's friend's young man, and
they all walked on together, talking, and laughing, and joking away