228 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



He began as soon as ever he got to Jawlcyford Court, — at least 

 as soon as he had paid his respects all round and got himself 

 partially thawed at the fire ; for the cold had struck through his 

 person, his fine clothes being a poor substitute for his thick double- 

 milled red coat, blankety waistcoat, and Jersey shirt. 



There are some good-natured well-meaning people in this world 

 who think that fox-hunters can talk of nothing but hunting, and 

 who put themselves to very serious inconvenience in endeavouring 

 to get up a little conversation for them. We knew a bulky old 

 boy of this sort, who invariably, after the cloth was drawn, and be 

 had given each leg a kick-out to see if they were on, commenced 

 with, " Well, I suppose Mr. Harkington has a fine set of dogs this 

 season ? " " A fine set of dogs this season ! " What an observa- 

 tion ! How on earth could any one hope to drive a conversation 

 on the subject with such a commencement ? 



Some ladies are equally obliging in this respect. They can 

 stoop to almost any subject that they think will procure them 

 husbands. Music ! — if a man is fond of music, they will sing 

 themselves into his good graces in no time. Painting ! — oh, they 

 adore painting — though in general they don't profess to be great 

 hands at it themselves. Balls, boating, archery, racing, — all these 

 they can take a lively interest in ; or, if occasion requires, can go 

 on the serious tack and hunt a parson with penny subscriptions 

 for a clothing-club or soup-kitchen. 



Fox-hunting ! — we do not know that fox-hunting is so safe a 

 speculation for young ladies as any of the foregoing. There are 

 many pros and cons in the matter of the chase. A man may 

 think — especially in these hard times, with " wheat below forty," 

 as Mr. Springwheat would say — that it will be as much as he can 

 do to mount himself. Again, he may not think a lady looks any 

 better for running down with perspiration, and being daubed with 

 mud. Above all, if he belongs to the worshipful company of 

 Craners, he may not like for his wife to be seen beating him across 

 country. 



Still, there are many ways that young ladies may insinuate 

 themselves into the good graces of sportsmen without following 

 them into the hunting-field. Talking about their horses, above all 

 admiring them, — taking an interest in their sport, — seeing that 

 they have nice papers of sandwiches to take out with them, — or 

 recommending them to be bled when they come home with dirty 

 faces after falls. 



Miss Amelia Jawleyford, who was most elegantly attired in a 

 sea-green silk dress with large imitation pearl buttons, claiming 

 the usual privilege of seniority of birth, very soon led the charge 

 against Lord Scamperdale. 



" Oh, what a lovely horse that is you were riding," observed 



