MB. SPONGE'S SPOUTING TOUR. 



185 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



THE FAITHFUL GROOM. 



E left our friend Mr. 

 Sponge wending his 

 way home moodily, 

 after having lost his 

 day at Larkhall Hill. 

 Some of our readers 

 will, perhaps, say, why 

 didn't he clap on, and 

 try to catch up the 

 hounds at a check, 

 or at all events rejoin 

 them for an afternoon 

 fox ? Gentle reader ! 

 Mr. Sponge did not 

 hunt on those terms ; 

 he was a front-rank 

 or a " nowhere" man. 

 and independently of 

 catching hounds up, 

 being always a fatigu- 

 ing and hazardous 

 speculation, especially 

 on a fine-scenting day, the exertion would have taken more out of 

 his horse than would have been desirable for successful display in 

 a second run. Mr. Sponge, therefore, determined to go home. 



As he sauntered along, musing on the mishaps of the chase, 

 wondering how Miss Jawleyford would look, and playing himself 

 an occasional tune with his spur against his stirrup, who should 

 come trotting behind him but Mr. Leather on the redoubtable 

 chestnut ? Mr. Sponge beckoned him alongside. The horse 

 looked blooming and bright ; his eye was clear and cheerful, and 

 there was a sort of springy graceful action that looked like easy 

 going. 



One always fancies a horse most with another man on him. 

 We see all his good points without feeling his imperfections — his 

 trippings, or startings, or snatchings, or borings, or roughness of 

 action, and Mr. Sponge proceeded to make a silent estimate of 

 Multum-in-Parvo's qualities as he trotted gently along on the 

 grassy side of the somewhat wide road. 



14/ 



COINO TO COVER. 



