MR. SPONGE'S SPOUTING TOUR. 397 



performer to forfeit his engagement at the Surrey Theatre. 

 Captain Cutitfat, Bob Spangles, and Sir Harry quickly followed, 

 and the Sponge question was presently renewed. 



" Who says old brown boots comes ? " exclaimed Seedeybuck 

 from the sofa. 



" Who's that with his nasty nob on my fine satin sofa ? " asked 

 the lady. 



" Bob Spangles," replied Seedeybuck. 



"Nothing of the sort," rejoined the lady ; " and I'll trouble you 

 to get off." 



" Can't — I've got a bone in my leg," rejoined the captain. 



" I'll soon make you," replied her ladyship, seizing the squab, 

 and pulling it on to the floor. 



As the captain was scrambling up, in came Peter — one of the 

 wageless footmen — with candles, which having distributed equit- 

 ably about the room, he approached Lady Scattercash, and asked r 

 in an independent sort of way, what room Mr. Soapsuds was to 

 have ? 



"Soapsuds! — Soapsuds! — that's not his name," exclaimed her 

 ladyship. 



" Sponge, you fool ! Soapey Sponge," exclaimed Cutitfat, who- 

 had ferreted out Sponge's nomme de Londres. 



" He's not come, has he ? " asked Miss Glitters, eagerly. 



" Yes, my lady — that's to say, miss," replied Peter. 



" Come, has he ! " chorused three or four voices. 



"Well, he must have a (hiccup) room," observed Sir Harry, 

 " The green — the one above the billiard-room will do," added he. 



" But / have that, Sir Harry," exclaimed Miss Howard. 



" Oh, it'll hold two well enough," observed Miss Glitters. 



" Then you can be the second," replied Miss Howard, with a 

 toss of her head. 



" Indeed ! " sneered Miss Glitters, bridling up. " I like that." 



" Well, but where's the (hiccup) man to be put ? " asked Sir 

 Harry. 



" There's Ladofwax's room," suggested her ladyship. 



" The captin's locked the door and taken the key with him,' r 

 replied the footman ; " he said he'd be back in a day or two." 



" Back in a (hiccup) or two ! " observed Sir Harry. " Where 

 is he gone ? " 



The man smiled. 



" Borrowed,'" observed Captain Quod, with an emphasis. 



" Indeed ! " exclaimed Sir Harry ; adding, " well, I thought 

 that was Nabbum's gig with the old grey." 



" He'll not be back in a hurry," observed Bouncey. " He'll be 

 like the Boulogne gents, who are always going to England but 

 never go." 



