74 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



Mr. Jawleyford to receive him now, at the particular time lie 

 wanted to go ; so after duly considering the case, and also the 

 impressive nature of the invitation, so recently given, too, he deter- 

 mined not to give Jawleyford the chance of refusing him, but just 

 to say he was coming, and drop down upon him before he could 

 say "no." Accordingly, he penned the following epistle : — 



" Bantam Hotel, Boxd-Street, Londox. 

 " Dear Jawleyford, 



" / purpose being ivith you to-morrow, by the express train, 

 which I see, by Bradshaio, arrives at Lucksford a quarter to three. 

 I shall only bring two hunters and a hack, so perhaps you could 

 oblige me by taking them in for the short time I shall stay, as it 

 would not be convenient for me to separate them. Hoping to find 

 Mrs. Jawleyford and the young ladies well, I remain, dear sir, 



" Tours very truly, 



"H. Spoxge. 



" To — Jawleyford, Esq., Jawleyford Court, Lucksford." 



" Curse the fellow ! " exclaimed Jawleyford, nearly choking 

 himself with a fish bone, as he opened and read the foregoing at 

 breakfast. " Curse the fellow ! " he repeated, stamping the letter 

 under foot, as though he would crush it to atoms. "Whoever 

 saw such a piece of impudence as that ! " 



" What's the matter, my dear ? " inquired Mrs. Jawleyford, 

 alarmed lest it was her dunning jeweller writing again. 



" Hatter ! " shrieked Jawleyford, in a tone that sounded through 

 the thick wall of the room, and caused the hobbling old gardener 

 on the terrace to peep in at the heavy-mullioned window. "Matter! " 

 repeated he, as though he had got his coup cle grace ; " look 

 there," added he, handing over the letter. 



" Oh, my dear," rejoined Mrs. Jawleyford, soothingly, as soon 

 as she saw it was not what she expected. " Oh, my dear, I'm sure 

 there's nothing to make you put yourself so much out of the way." 



" No ! " roared Jawleyford, determined not to be done out of his 

 grievance. " No ! " repeated he ; " do you call that nothing ? " 



"Why, nothing to make yourself unhappy about," replied 

 Mrs. Jawleyford, rather pleased than otherwise ; for she was glad 

 it was not from Rings, the jeweller, and, moreover, hated the 

 monotony of Jawleyford Court, and was glad of anything to relieve 

 it. If she had had her own way, she would have gadded about at 

 watering-places all the year round. 



" Well," said Jawleyford, with a toss of the head and a shrug 

 of resignation, "you'll have me in gaol ; I see that." 



" Nay, my dear J.," rejoined his wife, soothingly ; " I'm sure 

 you've plenty of money." 



