ME. SPONGE'S SPOETING TOUE. 73 



stayed a little longer, and to have enjoyed the pleasure of your most 

 agreeable society." (This was true ; he would have stayed, only 

 his banker wouldn't let him have any more money.) " But, how- 

 ever, I won't say adieu," continued he ; " no, I wonH say adieu ! 

 I live, as you perhaps know, in one of the best hunting counties 

 in England — my Lord Scamperdale's — Scamperdale and I are 

 like brothers ; I can do whatever I like with him — he has, I may 

 say, the finest pack of hounds in the world ; his huntsman, Jack 

 Frostyface, I really believe, cannot be surpassed. Come, then, my 

 dear fellow," continued Mr. Jawleyford, increasing the grasp and 

 shake of the hands, and looking most earnestly in Sponge's 

 face, as if deprecating a refusal ; " come then, my dear fellow, 

 and see us ; we will do whatever we can to entertain and make 

 you comfortable. Scamperdale shall keep our side of the country 

 till you come ; there are capital stables at Lucksford, close to the 

 station, and you shall have a stall for your hack at Jawleyford, and 

 a man to look after him, if you like ; so now, don't say nay — your 

 time shall be ours — we shall be at home all the rest of the winter, 

 and I flatter myself, if you once come down, you will be inclined 

 to repeat your visit ; at least, I hojw so." 



There are two common sayings ; one, " that birds of a feather 

 flock together ; " the other, " that two of a trade never agree ; " 

 which often seem to us to contradict each other in the actual inter- 

 course of life. Humbugs certainly have the knack of drawing 

 together, and yet they are always excellent friends, and will 

 vouch for the goodness of each other in a way that few straight- 

 forward men think it worth their while to adopt with regard 

 to indifferent people. Indeed, humbugs are not always content 

 to defend their absent brother humbugs when they hear them 

 abused, but they will frequently lug each other in neck and crop, 

 apparently for no other purpose than that of proclaiming 

 what excellent fellows they are, and see if anybody will take up 

 the cudgels against them. 



Mr. Sponge, albeit with a considerable cross of the humbug him- 

 self, and one who perfectly understood the usual worthlessness of 

 general invitations, was yet so taken with Mr. Jawley ford's hail- 

 fellow-well-met, earnest sort of manner, that, adopting the 

 convenient and familiar solution in such matters, that there is no 

 rule without an exception, concluded that Mr. Jawleyford was 

 the exception, and really meant what he said. 



Independently of the attractions offered by hunting, which were 

 both strong and cogent, we have said there were two young ladies, 

 to whom fame attached the enormous fortunes common in cases 

 where there is a large property and no sons. Still Sponge was a 

 wary bird, and his experience of the worthlessness of most general 

 invitations made him think it just possible that it might not suit 



