110 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



" What excuse do they give ? " asked Amelia. 



" Carriage-horse taken suddenly ill," replied Jawleyford ; " as if 

 that's any excuse when there are post-horses within half-a-dozen 

 miles." 



" He wouldn't have been stopped hunting for want of a horse, 

 I dare say," observed Amelia. 



" I dare say it's all a lie," observed Jawleyford ; adding, " how- 

 ever, the invitation shall go for a dinner, all the same." 



The denunciation was interrupted by the appearance of Spigot, 

 who came looming up the spacious drawing-room in the full 

 magnificence of black shorts, silk stockings, and buckled pumps, 

 followed by a sheepish-looking, straight-haired, red apple-faced 

 young gentlemen, whom he announced as Mr. Robert Foozle. 

 Robert was the hope of the house of Foozle ; and it was fortunate 

 his parents were satisfied with him, for few other people were. He 

 was a young gentleman who shook hands with everybody, assented 

 to anything that anybody said, and in answering a question, 

 where indeed his conversation chiefly consisted, he always followed 

 the words of the interrogation as much as he could. For instance : 

 " Well, Robert, have you been at Dulverton to-day ? " Answer, 

 "No, I've not been at Dulverton to-day." Question, "Are you 

 going to Dulverton to-morrow?" Answer, "No, I'm not going 

 to Dulverton, to-morrow." Having shaken hands with the party 

 all round, and turned to the fire to warm his red fists, Jawleyford 

 having stood at "attention" for such time as he thought Mrs. 

 Foozle would be occupied before the glass in his study arranging 

 her head-gear, and seeing no symptoms of any further announce- 

 ment, at last asked Foozle if his papa and mamma were not coming. 



" No, my papa and mamma are not coming," replied he. 



"Are you sure ?" asked Jawleyford, in a tone of excitement. 



" Quite sure," replied Foozle, in the most matter-of-course voice. 



" The deuce ! " exclaimed Jawleyford, stamping his foot upon 

 the soft rug ; adding, " It never rains but it pours ! " 



" Have you any note, or anything ? " asked Mrs. Jawleyford, 

 who had followed Robert Foozle into the room. 



" Yes, I have a note," replied he, diving into the inner pocket 

 of his coat, and producing one. 



The note was a letter — a letter from Mrs. Foozle to Mrs. 

 Jawleyford, three sides and crossed ; and seeing the magnitude 

 thereof, Mrs. Jawleyford quietly put it into her reticule, observ- 

 ing, " that she hoped Mr. and Mrs. Foozle were well ? " 



" Yes, they are well," replied Robert, notwithstanding he had 

 express orders to say that his papa had the tooth-ache, and his 

 mamma the ear-ache. 



Jawleyford then gave a furious ring at the bell for dinner, and 

 in due course of time the party of six proceeded to a table for 



