MB. SPONGE'S SPOUTING TOUR. 



U<) 



" I'm afraid you'll have to make a settlement for me, then," 

 observed our friend. 



" Well, you are a good fellow, Jack," said his lordship, " and 

 I'd as soon make one on you as on any one." 



" I 'spose you'll send me on wheels ? " observed Jack. 



" In course," replied his lordship. " Dog-cart — name behind — 

 Right Honourable the Earl of Scamperdale — lad with cockade — 

 everything genteel ; " adding, " by Jove, they'll take you for me ! " 



Having settled all these matters, and arranged how the informa- 

 tion was to be communicated to Jawleyford, the friends at length 

 took their block-tin candlesticks, with their cauliflower-headed 

 candles, and retired to bed. 



J%£! 



CHAPTER XXV. 



MR. SPIIAGGON'S EMBASSY. 



HEN Mr. Sponge re- 

 turned, all dirtied and 

 stained, from the chase, 

 he found his host sit- 

 ting in an arm-chair 

 over the study fire, 

 dressing-gowned and 

 slippered, with a poc- 

 ket-handkerchief tied 

 about his head, sham- 

 ming illness, prepara- 

 tory to putting off Mr. 

 Spraggon. To be sure 

 he played rather a bet- 

 ter knife and fork at 

 dinner than is usual 

 with persons with that 

 peculiar ailment ; but 

 Mr. Sponge, being very 

 hungry, and well at- 

 tended to by the fair, 

 — moreover, not sus- 

 pecting any ulterior 

 design, — just ate and jabbered away as usual, with the exception 

 <>f omitting his sick papa-in-law in the round of his observations. 

 So the dinner passed over. 



" Bring me a tumbler and some hot water and sugar," said Mr. 



MB. JAWLEYFORD S PECULIAR AILMENT. 



