MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 285 



He then began to read it, and the farther ho got the more he 

 was disgusted. At last, when he came to the "seasonal fox, which 

 some thought was a bay one," his indignation knew no bounds, 

 and crumpling the paper up in a heap he threw it from him in disgust. 

 Just then in came Plummey, the butler. Pluinmey saw at a glance 

 what had happened ; for Mr. Bragg, and the whips, and the 

 grooms, and the helpers, and the feeder — the whole hunting 

 establishment — were up in arms at the burlesque, and vowing 

 vengeance against the author of it. Mr. Spraggon, on seeing what 

 a mess had been made of his labours, availed himself of the offer of 

 a seat in Captain Guano's dog-cart, and was clear of the premises ; 

 while Mr. Sponge determined to profit by Spraggon's absence, and 

 lay the blame on him. 



"Oh, Plummey!" exclaimed Mr. Puffington, as his servant 

 entered, " I'm deuced unwell — quite knocked up, in short," 

 clapping his hand on his forehead; adding, "I shall not be able to 

 dine down-stairs to-day." 



" 'Deed, sir," replied Mr. Plummey, in a tone of commiseration — 

 " 'deed, sir ; sorry to hear that, sir." 



" Are they all gone ? " asked Mr. Puffington, dropping his boiled 

 gooseberry-looking eyes upon the fine-flowered carpet. 



"All gone, sir— all gone," replied Mr. Plummey; "all except 

 Mr. Sponge." 



" Oh, he's still here ! " replied Mr. Puffington, shuddering with 

 disgust at the recollection of the newspaper run. "Is he going to- 

 day ? " asked he. 



" No, sir — I dare say not, sir," replied Mr. Plummey. " His man 

 — his groom — his — whatever he calls him, expects they'll be 

 staying some time." 



" The deuce ! " exclaimed Mr. Puffington, whose hospitality, like 

 Jawleyford's was greater in imagination than in rtality. 



" Shall I take these things away ? " asked Plummey, after a 

 pause. 



" Couldn't you manage to get him to go ?" asked Mr. Puffington, 

 still harping on his remaining guest. 



" Don't know, sir. I could try, sir — believe he's bad to move, 

 sir," replied Plummey, with a grin. 



" Is he really ? " replied Mr. Puffington, alarmed lest Sponge 

 should fasten himself upon him for good. 



" They say so," replied Mr. Plummey, " but I don't speak from 

 any personal knowledge, for I know nothing of the man." 



"Well," said Mr. Puffington, amused at his servant's exclusivc- 

 ness, "I wish you would try to get rid of him, bow him out civilly, 

 you know — say I'm unwell — very unwell — deuced unwell — ordered 

 to keep quiet — say it as if from yourself, you know — it mustn't 

 appear as if it came from me, you know." 



