MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TO UP. 



199 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



BOLTING THE BADGER. 



WHEX a man and his 

 horse differ seriously 

 in public, and the 

 man feels the horse 

 has the best of it, it 

 is wise for the man 

 to appear to accom- 

 modate his views to 

 those of the horse, 

 rather than risk a 

 defeat. It is best to 

 let the horse go his 

 way, and pretend it is 

 yours. There is no 

 secret so close as that 

 between a rider and 

 his horse. 



Mr. Sponge, having 

 scattered Lord Scam- 

 perdale in the sum- 

 mary way described 

 in our last chapter, 

 let the chestnut gal- 

 lop away, consoling 

 himself with the idea 

 that even if the hounds did hunt, it would be impossible for him 

 to show his horse to advantage on so dark and unfavourable a 

 day. He, therefore, just let the beast gallop till he began to flag, 

 and then he spurred him and made him gallop on his account. 

 He thus took his change out of him, and arrived at Jawleyford 

 Court a little after luncheon time. 



Brief as had been his absence, things had undergone a great 

 change. Certain dark hints respecting his ways and means had 

 worked their way from the servants' hall to my lady's chamber, 

 and into the upper regions generally. These had been augmented 

 by Leather's, the trusty groom's, overnight visit, in fulfilment of 

 his engagement to sup with the servants. Xor was Mr. Leather's 

 anger abated by the unceremonious way Mr. Sponge rode off with 

 the horse, leaving him to hear of his departure from the ostler. 



Q 



ill.-TUK-s AND MAID. 



