MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 221 



way as will produce it. Til do the thing as it should be, or not at 

 ait. 



" / hope your good lady is well — also all the little Bricks. 1 

 purpose making a little tower of some of the lest kennels as soon as 

 the drafts are arranged, and will spend a day or hvo with you, and 

 see how you get on tvithout me. Dear Brick, 



" Yours to the far end, 



"Richard Bragg. 

 "To Benjamin Brick, Esq., 



Huntsman to the Right Hon. the Earl of Reynard, 

 Turkeypout Park. 



" P.S. — / hope your old man keeps a cleaner tongue in his head 

 than he did when I was premier. I alwags say there was a good 

 bargeman spoiled when they made him a lord. 



"E. B." 



There is nothing more indicative of real fine people than the 

 easy indifferent sort of way they take leave of their friends. They 

 never seem to care a farthing for parting. 



Our friend Jawleyford was quite a man of fashion in this 

 respect. He saw Sponge's preparations for departure with an un- 

 concerned air, and a — " sorry you're going," was all that accom- 

 panied an imitation shake, or rather touch of the hand, on leaving. 

 There was no "I hope we shall see you again soon," or "Pray 

 look in if you are passing our way," or " Now that you've found 

 your way here we hope you'll not be long in being back," or any 

 of those blarneyments that fools take for earnest and wise men for 

 nothing. Jawleyford had been bit once, and he was not going to 

 give Mr. Sponge a second chance. Amelia too, we are sorry to 

 say, did not seem particularly distressed, though she gave him just 

 as much of a sweet look as he squeezed her hand, as said, " Now, 

 if you should be a man of money, and my Lord Scamperdale does 

 not make me my lady, you may," &c. 



There is an old saying, that it is well to be "off with the old love 

 before one is on with the new," and Amelia thought it was well to 

 be on with the new love before she was off with the old. Sponge, 

 therefore, was to be in abeyance. 



We mentioned the delight infused into Jawleyford Court by the 

 receipt of Lord Scamperdale's letter, volunteering a visit, nor was 

 his lordship less gratified at hearing in reply that Mr. Sponge was 

 on the eve of departure, leaving the coast clear for his reception. 

 His lordship was not only delighted at getting rid of his horror, 

 but at proving the superiority of his judgment over that of Jack, 

 who had always stoutly maintained that the only way to get rid of 

 Mr. Sponge was by buying his horses. 



