34 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



flunkies as well as grams, that there's nothin' talked of at dinner 

 or tea, but the terrible rich stranger that's a comin', and the gals 

 are all pulling caps, who's to have the first chance." 



" Indeed," observed Mr. Sponge, chuckling at the sensation he 

 was creating. 



" The Miss Shapsets, there be five on 'em, have had a game at 

 fly loo for you," continued Leather, " at least so their little maid 

 tells me." 



"Fly wlialV inquired Mr. Sponge. 



" Fly loo," repeated Leather, "fly loo." 



Mr. Sponge shook his head. For once he was not " fly." 



" You see," continued Leather, in explanation, " their father is 

 one of them tight-laced candlestick priests wot abhors all sorts of 

 wice and himmorality, and won't stand card playin', or gamblin', 

 or nothin' o' that sort, so the young ladies when they want to 

 settle a point, who's to be married first, or who's to have the 

 richest 'usband, play fly loo. 'Sposing it's at breakfast time, they 

 all sit quiet and sober like round the table, lookin' as if butter 

 wouldn't melt in their mouths, and each has a lump o' sugar on 

 her plate, or by her cup, or somewhere, and whoever can 'tice a 

 fly to come to her sugar first, wins the wager, or whatever it is 

 they play for." 



" Five on 'em," as Leather said, being a hopeless number to 

 extract any good from, Mr. Sponge changed the subject by giving 

 orders for the morrow. 



Mr. Sponge's appearance being decidedly of the sporting order, 

 and his horses maintaining the character, did not alleviate the agi- 

 tated minds of the sporting beholders, ruffled as they were with 

 the threatening, vapouring insinuations of the coachman-groom, 

 Peter Leather. There is nothing sets men's backs up so readily, 

 as a hint that any one is coming to take the " shine " out of them 

 across country. We have known the most deadly feuds engen- 

 dered between parties who never spoke to each other by adroit go- 

 betweens reporting to each what the other said, or, perhaps, did 

 not say, but what the "go-betweens" knew would so rouse the 

 British lion as to make each ride to destruction if necessary. 



" He's a varmint-looking chap," observed Mr. AVaffles, as the 

 party returned from the railway station ; " shouldn't wonder if he 

 can go — dare say he'll try — shouldn't wonder if he's floored — 

 awfully stiff country this for horses that are not used to it — most 

 likely his are Leicestershire nags, used to fly — won't do here. If 

 he attempts to take some of our big banked bullfinches in his 

 stride, with a yawner on each side, will fret into grief." 



" Hang him," interrupted Caingey Thornton, " there are good 

 men in all countries." 



" So there are ! " exclaimed Mr. Sparencck,thc steeple-chase rider. 



