130 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



" Oh, no," replied Jawleyford, tartly. " Oh, no — gentleman : 

 man of property — " 



" I did not mean was he a mechanic," explained his lordship 

 drily, " but a workman ; a good 'un across country, in fact." 

 His lordship working his arms as if he was going to set-to himself. 



" Oh, a first-rate man !— -first-rate man ! " replied Jawleyford ; 

 " beat them all at Laverick Wells." 



" I thought so," observed his lordship ; adding to himself, 

 " then Jack shall take the conceit out of him." 



" Jack ! " holloaed he over his shoulder to his friend, who was 

 jogging a little behind ; " Jack I" repeated he, " that Mr. Some- 

 thing—" 



" Sponge ! " observed Jawleyford, with an emphasis. 



"That Mr. Sponge," continued his lordship, "is a stranger in 

 the country : have the kindness to take care of him. You know 

 what I mean ? " 



" Just so," replied Jack ; " I'll take care of him." 



" Most polite of your lordship, I'm sure," said Jawleyford, with 

 a low bow, and laying his hand on his breast. " I can assure you 

 I shall never forget the marked attention I have received from 

 your lordship this day." 



" Thank you for nothing," grunted his lordship to himself. 



Bump, bump ; trot, trot ; jabber, jabber, on they went as before. 



They had now got to the cover, Tickler Gorse, and ere the last 

 horsemen had reached the last angle of the long hill, Frostyface 

 was rolling about on foot in the luxuriant evergreen ; now wholly 

 visible, now all but overhead, like a man buffeting among the waves 

 of the sea. Save Frosty's cheery voice encouraging the invisible 

 pack to "wind him !" and " rout him out ! " an injunction that 

 the shaking of the gorse showed they willingly obeyed, and an 

 occasional exclamation from Jawleyford, of " Beautiful ! beautiful ! 

 — never saw better hounds ! — can't be a finer pack ! " not a sound 

 disturbed the stillness of the scene. The waggoners on the road 

 stopped their wains, the late noisy ploughmen leaned vacantly on 

 their stilts, the turnip-pullers stood erect in air, and the shepherds' 

 boys deserted the bleating flocks ; — all was life and joy and liberty 

 -" Liberty, equality, and foxhunt-ity ! " 



" Yo — i — clcs, wind him ! T — o — o — icks ! rout him out ! " 

 went Frosty ; occasionally varying the entertainment with a loud 

 crack of his heavy whip, when he could get upon a piece of rising 

 ground to clear the thong. 



" Tally-ho ! '" screamed Jawleyford, hoisting the Bumperkin 

 Yeomanry cap in the air. " Tally-ho ! " repeated he, looking 

 triumphantly round, as much as to say, " What a clever boy 

 am I ! " 



" Hold your noise ! " roared Jack, who was posted a little below. 



