MB. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUE. 87 



the wardrobe in the green dressing-roorn, where it had been laid 

 away in an old tablecloth ; and bound her dark hair with a green- 

 beaded wreath, which Emily met by crowning herself with a chaplet 

 of white roses. 



Thus attired, with smiles assumed at the door, the young ladies 

 entered the drawing-room in the full fervour of sisterly animosity. 

 They were very much alike, in size, shape, and face. They were 

 tallish and full-figured, Miss Jawleyford's features being rather 

 more strongly marked, and her eyes a shade darker than her 

 sister's ; while there was a sort of subdued air about her — the 

 result, perhaps, of enlarged intercourse with the world — or maybe 

 of disappointments. Emily's eyes sparkled and glittered, without 

 knowing perhaps why. 



Dinner was presently announced. It was of the imposing order 

 that people give their friends on a first visit, as though their 

 appetites were larger on that day than on any other. They dined 

 off plate : the sideboards glittered with the Jawleyford arms on 

 cups, tankards, and salvers ; " Brecknel & Turner's " flamed and 

 swealed in profusion on the table ; while every now and then an 

 expiring lamp on the sideboards or brackets proclaimed the 

 unwonted splendour of the scene, and added a flavour to the repast 

 not contemplated by the cook. The room, which was large and 

 lofty, being but rarely used, had a cold, uncomfortable feel ; and, 

 if it hadn't been for the looks of the thing, Jawleyford would, 

 perhaps, as soon that they had dined in the little breakfast parlour. 

 Still there was everything very smart ; Spigot in full fig, with a 

 shirt-frill nearly tickling his nose, an acre of white waistcoat, and 

 glorious calves swelling within his gauze-silk stockings. The 

 improvised footman went creaking about, as such gentlemen 

 generally do. 



The style was perhaps better than the repast : still they had 

 turtle-soup (Shell & Tortoise, to be sure, but still turtle-soup) . 

 while the wines were supplied by the well-known firm of 

 " Wintle & Co." Jawleyford sank where he got it, and pre- 

 tended that it had been " ages " in his cellar : " he really had sucb 

 a stock that he thought he should never get through it ; " — to 

 wit, two dozen old port at 86s. a dozen, and one dozen at 48s. ; 

 two dozen pale sherry at 86s., and one dozen brown ditto at 48s. ; 

 three bottles of Bucellas, of the " finest quality imported," at 38s. 

 a dozen ; Lisbon " rich and dry," at 32s. ; and some marvellous 

 creaming champagne at 48s., in which they were indulging when 

 he made the declaration : " Don't wait of me, my dear Mr. 

 Sponge ! " exclaimed Jawleyford, holding up a long needle-case of 

 a glass with the Jawleyford crests emblazoned about ; "don't wait 

 of me, pray" repeated he, as Spigot finished dribbling the froth 

 into Sponge's glass ; and Jawleyford, with a flourishing bow and 



