MM. SPONGE'S SPOUTING TOUR. 91 



find him out in Burke. Emily, my dear," added she, "just go 

 into your pa's room, and bring me the ' Commoners ' — you'll find 

 it on the large table, between the ' Peerage ' and the ' Wellington 

 Despatches.' " 



Emily tripped away to do as she was bid. The fair messenger 

 presently returned, bearing both volumes, richly bound and 

 lettered, with the Jawleyford crests studded down the backs, and 

 an immense coat of arms on the side. 



A careful search among the S's produced nothing in the shape 

 of Sponge. 



" 'Not likely, I should think," observed Miss Jawleyford, with a 

 toss of her head, as her mamma announced the fact. 



" Well, never mind," replied Mrs. Jawleyford, seeing that only 

 one of the girls could have him, and that one was quite ready ; 

 " never mind, I dare say I shall be able to find out something 

 from himself," and so they dropped the subject. 



In due time in swaggered our hero, himself, kicking his legs 

 about as men in tights or tops generally do. 



" May I give you tea or coffee ? " asked Emily, in the sweetest 

 tone possible, as she raised her finely turned gloveless arm towards 

 where the glittering appendages stood on the large silver tray 



" Neither, thank you," said Sponge, throwing himself into an 

 easy-chair beside Mrs. Jawleyford. He then crossed his legs, and 

 cocking up a toe for admiration, began to yawn. 



" You feel tired after your journey ? " observed Mrs. Jawleyford. 



" No, I'm not," said Sponge, yawning again — a good yawn this 

 time. 



Miss Jawleyford looked significantly at her sister — a long pause 

 ensued. 



"I knew a family of your name," at length observed Mrs. 

 Jawleyford, in the simple sort of way w r omen begin pumping men. 

 " I knew a family of your name," repeated she, seeing Sponge was 

 half asleep — " the Sponges of Toadey Hall. Pray are they any 

 relation of yours ? " 



" Oh — ah — yes," blurted Sponge : " I suppose they are. The 

 fact is — the — haw — Sponges — haw — are a rather large family — 

 haw. Meet them almost everywhere." 



" You don't live in the same county, perhaps ? " observed Mrs. 

 Jawleyford. 



" No, we don't," replied he, with a yawn. 



" Is yours a good hunting country ? " asked Jawleyford, think- 

 ing to sound him in another way. 



" No ; a devilish bad 'un," replied Sponge, adding with a grunt, 

 " or I wouldn't be here." 



" Who hunts it ? " asked Mr. Jawleyford. 



" Why, as to that — haw " — replied Sponge, stretching out his 



