MB. SPONGE'S SPOUTING TOUli. 425 



arc," rejoined he, sidling his horse up, and encircling her neat 

 waist with his arm. 



A sweet smile dimpled her plump checks, and chased the 

 recollection of the former answer away. 



It would not be pretty — indeed, we could not pretend to give 

 even the outline of the conversation that followed. It was carried on 

 in such broken and disjointed sentences, eyes and squeezes doing so 

 much more work than words, that even a reporter would have had 

 to draw largely upon his imagination for the substance. Suffice it to 

 say, that though the thermometer was below zero, they never 

 moved out of a foot's pace ; the very hounds growing tired of the 

 trail, and slinking off one by one as opportunity occurred. 



A dazzling sun was going down with a blood-red glare, and the 

 partially softened ground was fast resuming its fretwork of frost, 

 as our hero and heroine were seen sauntering up the western 

 avenue to Nonsuch House, as slowly and quietly as if it had been 

 the hottest evening in summer. 



" Here's old Coppertops ! " exclaimed Captain Seedeybuck, as, 

 turning round in the billiard-room to chalk his cue, he espied them 

 crawling along. " And Lucy ! " added he, as he stood watching 

 them. 



" How slowly they come ! " observed Bob Spangles, going to 

 the window. 



"Must have tired their horses," suggested Captain Quod. 



" Just the sort of mnn to tire a horse," rejoined Bob Spangles. 



" Hate that Sponge," observed Captain Cutitfat. 



" So do I," replied Captain Quod. 



" Well, never mind the beggar ! It's you to play ! " exclaimed 

 Bob Spangles to Captain Seedeybuck. 



But Lady Scattercash, who was observing our friends from her 

 boudoir window, saw with a woman's eye that there was something 

 more than a mere case of tired horses ; and, tripping down stairs 

 she arrived at the front door just as the fair Lucy dropped 

 smilingly from her horse into Mr. Sponge's extended armr*. 

 Hurrying up into the boudoir, Lucy gave her ladyship one of Mr. 

 Sponge's modified kisses, revealing the truth more eloquently than 

 words could convey. 



" Oh," Lady Scattercash was " so glad ! " " so delighted ! " " so 

 charmed ! " 



Mr. Sponge was such a once man, and so rich. She was sure he 

 was rich — couldn't hunt if he wasn't. Would advise Lucy to 

 have a good settlement, in case he broke his neck. And pin- 

 money ! pin-money was most useful ; no husband ever let his 

 wife have enough money. Must forget all about Harry Dacre 

 and Charley Brown, and the swell in the Blues. Must be prudent 

 for the future. Mr. Sponge would never know anything of the 



