ME. SPONGE'S SFOBTING TOUR. 97 



perceptible. They all came forward and shook hands with our 

 friend most cordially. Mr. Jawleyford, too, was all flourish and 

 compliment ; now tilting at the weather, now congratulating 

 himself upon having secured Mr. Sponge's society in the 

 house. 



That leisurely meal of protracted ease, a country-house break- 

 fast, being at length accomplished, and the ladies having taken 

 their departure, Mr. Jawleyford looked out on the terrace, upon 

 which the angry rain was beating the standing water into bubbles, 

 and observing that there was no chance of getting out, asked Mr. 

 Sponge if he could amuse himself in the house. 



" Oh, yes," replied he, " got a book in my pocket." 



" Ah. I suppose — the 'New Monthly,' perhaps ? " observed Mr. 

 Jawleyford. 



" No," replied Sponge. 



" Dizzey's ' Life of Bentinck,' then, I daresay," suggested 

 Jawleyford ; adding, " I'm reading it myself." 



" No, nor that either," replied Sponge, with a knowing look ; 

 " a much more useful work, I assure you," added he, pulling the 

 little purple-backed volume out of his pocket, and reading the gilt 

 letters on the back; " ' Mogg's Ten Thousand Cab Fares, price 

 one shilling ! ' " 



" Indeed," exclaimed Mr. Jawleyford, '• well, I should never 

 have guessed that." 



" I daresay not," replied Sponge, " I daresay not ; it's a book I 

 never travel without. It's invaluable in town, and you may study 

 it to great advantage in the country. With Mogg in my hand, I 

 can almost fancy myself in both places at once. Omnibus guide," 

 added he, turning over the leaves, and reading, " Acton five, from 

 the end of Oxford-street and the Edger-road — see Ealing ; 

 Edmonton seven, from Shoreditch Church — ' Green Man and 

 Still,' Oxfurd-street— Shepherd's Bush and Starch Green, Bank, 

 and Whitechapel — Tooting — Totteridge — Wandsworth ; in short, 

 every place near town. Then the cab fares are truly invaluable ; 

 you have ten thousand of them here," said he, tapping the book, 

 " and you may calculate as many more for yourself as ever you 

 like. Nothing to do but sit in an arm-chair on a wet day like 

 this, and say, If from the Mile End turnpike to the 'Castle' on the 

 Kingsland-road is so much, how much should it be to the ' York- 

 shire Stingo,' or Pine- Apple-place, Maida Vale ? And you 

 measure by other fares till you get as near the place you want as 

 you can, if it isn't set down in black and white to your hand in 

 the book." 



" Just so," said Jawleyford, " just so. It must be a very useful 

 work indeed, very useful work. I'll get one — I'll get one. How 

 much did you say it was — a guinea ? a guinea ? " 



H 



