1G4 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



sure of appearing on Thursday. There's no saying where he may 

 finish with a cross-roads' meet." 



By the time the worthies had finished the bottle, they had got 

 a certain way into each other's confidence. The hint Lord 

 Scarnperdale had given about buying Sponge's horses still occupied 

 Jack's mind ; and the more he considered the subject, and the 

 worth of a corner in his lordship's will, the more sensible he 

 became of the truth of the old adage, that " a bird in the hand is 

 worth two in the bush." " My Lord," thought Jack, " promises 

 fair, but it is tut a chance, and a remote one. He may live many 

 years — as long, perhaps longer, than me. Indeed, he puts me on 

 horses that are anything but calculated to promote longevity. 

 Then he may marry a wife who may eject me, as some wives do 

 eject their husbands' agreeable friends ; or he may change his- 

 mind, and leave me nothing after all." 



All things considered, Jack came to the conclusion that he 

 should not be doing himself justice if he did not take advantage- 

 of such fair opportunities as chance placed in his way, and there- 

 fore he thought he might as well be picking up a penny during- 

 his lordship's life, as be waiting for a contingency that might never 

 occur. Mr. Jawleyford's indisposition preventing Jack making 

 the announcement he was sent to do, made it incumbent on him r 

 as he argued, to see what could be done with the alternative his 

 lordship had proposed — namely, buying Sponge's horses. At 

 least, Jack salved his conscience over with the old plea of duty - r 

 and had come to that conclusion as he again helped himself to 

 the last glass in the bottle. 



" Would you like a little claret ? " asked Sponge with all the 

 hospitality of a host. 



" No, hang your claret ! " replied Jack. 



"A little brandy, perhaps ?" suggested Sponge. 



" I shouldn't mind a glass of brandy," replied Jack, " by way of 

 a nightcap." 



Spigot, at this moment entering to announce tea and coffee, 

 was interrupted in his oration by Sponge demanding some- 

 brandy. 



" Sorry," replied Spigot, pretending to be quite taken by surprise 

 " very sorry, sir — but, sir — master, sir — bed, sir— disturb him, 

 sir. 



" Oh, dask it, never mind that ! " exclaimed Jack ; tell him Mr. 

 Sprag — Sprag — Spraggon " (the bottle of port beginning to make- 

 Jack rather inarticulate)— "tell him Mr. Spraggon wants a little." 



" Dursn't disturb him, sir," responded Spigot, with a shake of 

 his head ; " Much as my place, sir, is worth, sir." 



" Haven't you a little drop in your pantry, think you ? " asked 

 Sponge. 



