MB. SPONGE'S SPOUTING TOUR. 175 



" Good morning-," said he to that worthy, as he saw the white? 

 of his eyes showing through his spectacles. 



" Mornin' " muttered Jack, as if his mouth was either too full 

 to articulate, or he didn't want to have anything to say to Mr. 

 Sponge. 



" Here's a fine hunting morning my lord," observed Sponge, 

 addressing himself to his lordship, who sat on Jack's left. 



" Here's a very fine hunting morning, my lord," repeated 

 Sponge, not getting an answer to his first assertion. 



" Is it ? " blurted his lordship, pretending to be desperately 

 busy with the contents of his plate, though in reality his appetite 

 was gone. 



A dead pause now ensued, interrupted only by the clattering of 

 knives and forks, and the occasional exclamations of parties in 

 want of some particular article of food. A chill had come over 

 the scene — a chill whose cause was apparent to every one, except 

 the worthy host and hostess, who had not heard of Mr. Sponge's 

 descent upon the country. They attributed it to his lordship's 

 indisposition, and Mr. Springwheat endeavoured to cheer him up 

 with the prospect of sport. 



" There's a brace, if not a leash, of foxes in cover, my lord," 

 observed he, seeing his lordship was only playing with the contents 

 of his plate. 



" Is there ? " exclaimed his lordship, brightening up : " let's be 

 at 'em ! " added he, jumping up and diving under the side table 

 for his flat hat and heavy iron hammer-headed whip. " Good 

 morning, my dear Mrs. Springwheat," exclaimed he, putting on his 

 hat and seizing both her soft fat-fingered hands and squeezing 

 them ardently. " Good morning, my dear Mrs. Springwheat," 

 repeated he, adding, " By Jove ! if ever there was an angel in 

 petticoats, you're her ; I'd give a hundred pounds for such a wife as 

 you ! I'd give a thousand pounds for such a wife as you ! By the 

 powers ! I'd give five thousand pounds for such a wife as you ! " 

 With which asseverations his lordship stamped away in his great 

 clumsy boots, amidst the ill-suppressed laughter of the party. 



"No hurry, gentlemen— no hurry," observed Mr. Springwheat, 

 as some of the keen ones were preparing to follow, and began 

 sorting their hats, and making the mistakes incident to their 

 being all the same shape. " No hurry, sir — no hurry, sir," 

 repeated Springwheat, addressing Mr. Sponge specifically ; " his 

 lordship will have a talk to his hounds yet, and his horse is still 

 in the stable." 



With this assurance Mr. Sponge resumed his seat at the table, 

 where several of the hungry ones were plying their knives and 

 forks as if they were indeed breaking their fasts. 



" Well, old boy, and how are you ? " asked Sponge, as the 



