MB. SPONGE'S SPOETING TOl/R. 127 



fellow, one of the lest fellows I know, and has ashed me to dine so 

 often that I'm almost ashamed to meet him ; and it would have 

 been such a nice opportunity to have volunteered a visit, the 

 hounds being here, you see." 



" Oh, that's so kind of your lordship ! " exclaimed Jawleyford, 

 quite delighted — " that's so kind of your lordship — that's just's 

 what I like !— that's just what Mrs. Jawleyford likes ! — that's 

 just what we all like !— coming without fuss or ceremony, just as 

 my friend Mr. Sponge, here, does. By-the-way, will your lordship 

 give me leave to introduce my friend Mr. Sponge — my Lord 

 Scamperdale." Jawleyford suiting the action to the word, and 

 manoeuvring the ceremony. 



" Ah, I made Mr. Sponge's acquaintance yesterday," observed 

 his lordship drily, giving a sort of servants' touch of his hat as he 

 scrutinised our friend through his formidable glasses ; adding — 

 " To tell you the truth," addressing himself in an under tone to 

 Sponge, " I took you for one of those nasty writing chaps, who I 

 'bominate. But," continued his lordship, returning to Jawley- 

 ford, " I'll tell you what I said about the dinner. Jack, here, 

 told me the flag was flying ; and I said I only wish'd I'd known 

 before, and I would certainly have proposed that Jack and I 

 should dine with you, either to-day or to-morrow ; but unfor- 

 tunately I'd engaged myself to my Lord Barker's not five minutes 

 before." 



" Ah, my lord ! " exclaimed Jawleyford, throwing out bis hand 

 and shrugging his shoulders as if in despair, " you tantalise me — 

 you do indeed. You should have come, or said nothing about it. 

 You distress me — you do indeed." 



" Well, I'm wrong, perhaps," replied his lordship, patting 

 Jawleyford encouragingly on the shoulder ; " but however, I'll 

 tell you what," said he, " Jack here's not engaged, and he shall 

 come to you." 



" Most happy to see Mr. — ha — hum — haw — Jack — that's to 

 say, Mr. Spraggon," replied Jawleyford, bowing very low, and 

 laying his hand on his heart, as if quite overpowered at the idea 

 of the honour. 



" Then, that's a bargain, Jack," said his lordship, looking 

 knowingly round at his much disconcerted friend ; "you dine and 

 stay all night at Jawleyford Court to-morrow ! and mind" added 

 he, " make yourself 'greeable to the girls, — ladies that's to say." 



" Couldn't your lordship arrange it so that we might have the 

 pleasure of seeing you both on some future day ? " asked Jawley- 

 ford, anxious to avert the Jack calamity. " Say next week," 

 continued he ; " or suppose you meet at the Court ? " 



" Ha — he — hum. Meet at the Court," mumbled his lordship— 

 •• meet at the Court — ha — he — ha — hum — no ; — got no foxes." 



