46 MB. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



horse's shoulder, whispers confidentially in his ear. The pedestrian 

 sportsman of the country, too, has something to say ; also a horse- 

 breaker; while groups of awe-stricken children stand staring at the 

 mighty Tom, thinking him the greatest man in the world. 



Railways and fox-hunting make most people punctual, and in 

 less than five minutes from the halting of the hounds by the 

 Windmill, the various roads leading up to it emit dark-coated 

 grooms, who, dismounting, proceed to brush off the mud sparks, 

 and rectify any little derangement the horses or their accoutre- 

 ments may have contracted on the journey. Presently Mr. 

 Sponge, and such other gentlemen as have ridden their own horses 

 on, cast up, while from the eminence the road to Laverick "Wells 

 is distinctly traceable with scarlet coats and flys, with furs and 

 flaunting feathers. Presently the foremost riders begin to canter 

 up the hill, when 



All around is gay, men, horses, dogs, 

 And in each smiling countenance appears 

 Fresh blooming health and universal joy. 



Then the ladies mingle with the scene, some on horseback, some 

 in flys, all chatter and prattle as usual, some saying smart things, 

 some trying, all making themselves as agreeable as possible, and 

 of course as captivating. Some were in ecstasies at dear Miss 

 Jumpheavy's ball — she was such a nice creature — such a charming 

 ball, and so well managed, while others were anticipating the 

 delights of Mrs. Tom Hoppey's, and some again were asking which 

 was Mr. Sponge. Then up went the eye-glasses, while Mr. Sponge 

 sat looking as innocent and as killing as he could. " Dear me ! " 

 exclaimed one, "he's younger than I thought." "That's him, is it ?" 

 observed another ; " I saw him ride up the street ; " while the pro- 

 priety-playing ones praised his horse, and said it was a beauty. 



The hounds, which they all had come to see, were never 

 looked at. 



Mr. Waffles, like many men with nothing to do, was most 

 unpunctual. He never seemed to know what o'clock it was, and 

 yet he had a watch, hung in chains, and gewgaws, like a lady's 

 chatelaine. Hunting partook of the general confusion. He did 

 not profess to throw off till eleven, but it was often nearly twelve 

 before he cast up. Then he would come up full tilt, surrounded 

 by " scarlets," like a general with his staff ; and once at the meet, 

 there was a prodigious hurry to begin, equalled only by the eager- 

 ness to leave off. On this auspicious day he hove in sight, coming 

 best pace along the road, about twenty minutes before twelve, with 

 a more numerous retinue than usual. In dress, Mr. Waffles was 

 the light, butterfly order of sportsman — once-round tie, French 

 polish, paper boots, and so on. On this occasion he sported a 

 shirt-collar with three or four blue lines, and then a white space 



