168 ME. SPONGE'S SPOUTING TOUR. 



that way ! " when, shaking himself to try whether any litnhs were 

 broken, he found he was in his dress clothes instead of in the roomy 

 garments of the Flat Hat Hunt. " Who are you ? where am I ? 

 what the deuce do you mean by breaking my specs ? " he exclaimed, 

 squinting frightfully at his host. 



" My dear sir," exclaimed Mrs Jawleyford, from the top of his 

 night-shirt, " I'm very sorry, but " 



" Hang your huts ! you shouldn't ride so near a man ! " exclaimed 

 Jack, gathering np the fragments of his spectacles ; when, recollect- 

 ing himself, he finished by say, " Perhaps I'd better go to my own 

 room." 



" Perhaps you had," replied Mr. Jawleyford, advancing towards 

 the door to show him the way. 



"Let me have a candle," said Jack, preparing to follow. 



'•'Candle, my clear fellow! why it's broad daylight," replied his host. 



"Is it ? " said Jack, apparently unconscious of the fact. 

 " What's the hour ? " 



" Five minutes to eight," replied Jawleyford, looking at a 

 timepiece. 



When Jack got into his own den he threw himself into an old 

 invalid chair, and sat rubbing the fractured spectacles together as 

 if he thought they would unite by friction, though in reality he 

 was endeavouring to run the overnight's proceedings through his 

 mind. The more he thought of Amelia's winning ways, the more 

 satisfied he was that he had made an impression, and then the 

 more vexed he was at having his spectacles broken : for though 

 he considered himself very presentable without them, still he 

 could not but feel that they were a desirable addition. Then, too 

 he had a splitting headache ; and finding that breakfast was not 

 till ten and might be a good deal later, all things considered, he 

 determined to be off and follow up his success under more favour- 

 able auspices. Considering that all the clothes he had with him 

 were his lordship's, he thought it immaterial which he went home 

 in, so to save trouble he just wrapped himself up in his mackintosh 

 and travelled in the dress ones he had on. 



It was fortunate for Mr. Sponge that he went, for, when Jawley- 

 ford smelt the indignity that had been offered to his dining-room, 

 he broke out in such a torrent of indignation as would have been 

 extremely unpleasant if there had not been some one to lay the 

 blame on. Indeed, he was not particularly gracious to Mr. Sponge 

 as it was ; but that arose, as much from certain dark hints that 

 had worked their way from the servants' hall into "my lady's 

 chamber" as to our friend's pecuniary resources and prospects. 

 Jawleyford began to suspect that Sponge might not be quite the 

 great " catch " he was represented. 



Beyond, however, putting a few searching questions — which 



