ME. SPONGE'S SPOUTING TOUU. 331 



lie slept in his clothes. His hat was fastened on with aribbon, or rather 

 a ribbon passed round near the band,in order to fasten it on, for it was 

 seldom or ever applied to the purpose, and the ends generally went 

 flying out behind like a Chinaman's tail. Then his flashy, many- 

 coloured cravats, stared and straggled in all directions, while his 

 untied waistcoat-strings protruded between the laps of his old short- 

 waisted swallow-tailed scarlet, mixing in glorious confusion with 

 those of his breeches behind. The knee-strings were generally also 

 loose ; the web straps of his boots were seldom in ; and, what with 

 one set of strings and another, he had acquired the name of Sixtecn- 

 string'd Jack. Mr. Sponge having dismounted, and given his hack 

 to the now half-drunken Leather, followed Sir Harry through a 

 foil and four-in-hand whip-hung hall to the deserted breakfast-room, 

 where chairs stood in all directions, and crumpled napkins strewed 

 the floor. The litter of eggs, and remnants of muffins, and 

 diminished piles of toast, and broken bread and empty toast racks, 

 and cups and saucers, and half -emptied glasses, and wholly 

 emptied champagne bottles, were scattered up and down a dis- 

 orderly table, further littered with newspapers, letter backs, 

 County Court summonses, mustard pots, anchovies, pickles — all 

 the odds and ends of a most miscellaneous meal. The side-table 

 exhibited cold joints, game, poultry, lukewarm hashed venison, 

 and sundry lamp-lit dishes of savoury grills. 



"Here you are ! " exclaimed Sir Harry, taking his hunting-whip 

 and sweeping the contents of one end of the table on to the floor 

 with a crash that brought in the butler and some theatrical-looking 

 servants. 



"Take those filthy things away ! (hiccup)," exclaimed Sir Harry 

 crushing the broken china smaller under his heels ; "and (hiccup) 

 bring some red-herrings and soda-water. What the deuce does 

 the (hiccup) cook mean by not (hiccuping) things as he ought ? 

 Now," said he, addressing Mr. Sponge, and raking the plates and 

 dishes up to him with the handle of his whip, just as a gaming- 

 table keeper rakes up the stakes, — " now," said he, " make your 

 (hiccup) game. There'll be some hot (hiccup) in directly." He 

 meant to say " tea," but the word failed him. 



Mr. Sponge fell to with avidity. He was always ready to eat, 

 and attacked first one thing and then another, as though he had 

 not had any breakfast at Puddingpote Bower. 



Sir Harry remained mute for some minutes, sitting cross-legged 

 and backwards in his chair, with his throbbing temples resting 

 upon the back, wondering where it was that he had met Mr. 

 Sponge. He looked different without his hat ; and, though he saw 

 it was no one he knew particularly, he could not help thinking he 

 had seen him before. 



Indeed, he thought it was clear, from Mr. Sponge's manner, that 



