92 MB. SPONGE'S SPOBTING TOUR. 



arms and legs to their fullest extent, and yawning most vigorously 

 — " why, as to that, I can hardly say which you would call my 

 country, for I have to do with so many ; but I should say, of all 

 the countries I am — haw — connected with — haw — Tom Scratch's 

 is the worst." 



Mr. Jawleyford looked at Mrs Jawleyford as a counsel who 

 thinks he has made a grand hit looks at a jury before he sits down, 

 and said no more. 



Mrs. Jawleyford looked as innocent as most jurymen do after 

 one of these forensic exploits. — Mr. Sponge beginning his nasal 

 recreations, Mrs. Jawleyford motioned the ladies off to bed — Mr. 

 Sponge and his host presently followed. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE EVENING'S REFLECTIONS. 



" Well, I think he'll do," said our friend to himself, as having 

 reached his bed-room, in accordance with modern fashion, hie 

 applied a cedar match to the now somewhat better burnt-up fire, 

 for the purpose of lighting a cigar — a cigar ! in the state-bedroom 

 of Jawleyford Court. Having divested himself of his smart blue 

 coat and white waistcoat, and arrayed himself in a gray dressing- 

 gown, he adjusted the loose cushions of a recumbent chair, and 

 soused himself into its luxurious depths for a " think over." 



" He has money," mused Sponge, between the copious whiffs of 

 the cigar, " splendid style he lives in, to be sure " (puff), continued 

 he, after another long draw, as he adjusted the ash at the end of 

 the cigar. " Two men in livery" (puff), "one out, can't be done 

 for nothing" (puff). " What a profusion of plate, too ! " (whiff) 

 — " declare I never " (puff) " saw such " (whiff, puff) " magnifi- 

 cence in the whole course of my " (whiff, puff) " life." 



The cigar being then well under way, he sucked and puffed and 

 whiffed in an apparently vacant stupor, his legs crossed, and his 

 eyes fixed on a projecting coal between the lower bars, as if intent 

 on watching the alternations of flame and gas ; though in reality 

 he was running all the circumstances through his mind, comparing 

 them with his past experience, and speculating on the probable 

 result of the present adventure. 



He had seen a good deal of service in the matrimonial wars, 

 and was entitled to as many bars as the most distinguished 

 peninsular veteran. No woman with money, or the reputation of 



