104 



MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR, 



CHAPTER XX. 



THE F. H. H. 



NOR was Sponge wrong 

 in his conjecture, for 

 it was a quarter to 

 nine ere Spigot ap- 

 peared with the mas- 

 sive silver urn, fol- 

 lowed by the train- 

 band bold, bearing 

 the heavy implements 

 of breakfast. Then, 

 though the young 

 ladies were punctual, 

 smiling, and affable 

 as usual, Mrs. Jaw- 

 leyford was absent, 

 and she had the keys ; 

 so it was nearly nine 

 before Mr. Sponge 

 got his fork into his 

 first mutton chop. 

 Jawleyford was not 

 exactly pleased ; he 

 thought it didn't look 

 well for a young man 

 to prefer hunting to 

 the society of his lovely and accomplished daughters. Hunting 

 was all very well occasionally, but it did not do to make a business 

 of it. This, however, he kept to himself. 



"You'll have a fine day, my dear Mr. Sponge," said he, ex- 

 tending a hand, as he found onr friend brown-booted and red- 

 coated, working away at the breakfast. 



" Yes," said Sponge, munching away for hard life. In less than 

 ten minutes, he managed to get as much down as, with the aid of 

 a knotch of bread that he pocketed, he thought would last him 

 through the day ; and, with a hasty adieu, he hurried off to find 

 the stables, to get his hack. The piebald was saddled, bridled, 

 and turned round in the stall ; for all servants that are worth any- 

 thing like to further hunting operations. With the aid of the 

 groom's instructions, who accompanied him out of the court-yard, 



ROBERT FOOZLE. 



