Mlt. SPONGE'S SFOETIXG TOUR. 235 



" And masters of hounds," interposed Mr. Ruddle, casting a 

 sheep's eye at Mr. Puffington. 



" And masters of hounds, sir," repeated Mr. Bragg ; " yes, sir, 

 and masters of hounds, sir ; " Mr. Bragg being still somewhat 

 flurried at the unexpected intrusion. 



" Ah, well," interrupted Mr. Puffington, who was still eager 

 about his mission, " we'll talk about that after. At present I'm 

 come to tell you," continued he, holding up Mr. Sponge's note, 

 " that we must brush up a little — going to have a visit of inspec- 

 tion from the great Mr. Sponge." 



" Indeed, sir ! " replied Mr. Bragg, with the slightest possible 

 touch of his cap, which he still kept on. " Mr. Sponge, sir ! — 

 indeed, sir — Mr. Sponge, sir — pray who may lie be, sir ? " 



" Oh — why — hay— hum — haw — he's Mr. Sponge, you know — 

 been hunting with Lord Scamperdale, you know — great sportsman, 

 in fact — great authority, you know." 



" Indeed — great authority is he — indeed — oh — yes — thinks sc 

 p'raps — sc-e-e-use me, sir, but des-say, sir, I've forgot more, sir, 

 than Mr. Sponge ever knew, sir." 



" Well, but you musn't tell him so," observed Mr. Puffington. 

 fearful that Bragg might spoil sport. 



" Oh, tell him — wo," sneered Bragg, with a jerk of the head ; 

 " tell him — no ; I'm not exactly such a donkey as that ; on the 

 contrary, I'll make things pleasant, sir — sugar his milk for him. 

 sir, in short, sir." 



" Sugar his milk ! " exclaimed Mr. Puffington, who was only 

 a matter-of-fact man ; " sugar his milk ! I dare say he takes 

 tea." 



" Well, then, sugar his tea," replied Bragg, with a smile ; 

 adding, " Can 'commodate myself, sir, to circumstances, sir," at 

 the same time taking off his cap and setting a chair for his 

 master. 



"Thank you, but I'm not going to stay," replied Mr. 

 Puffington ; " I only came up to let you know who you had to 

 expect, so that you might prepare, you know — have all on the 

 square, you know— best horses — best hounds — best appearance in 

 general, you know." 



" That I'll attend to," replied Mr. Bragg, with a toss of the 

 head, — " that Pll attend to," repeated he, with an emphasis on 

 the Fll, as much as to say, " don't you meddle with what doesn't 

 concern you." 



Mr. Puffington would fain have rebuked him for his imper- 

 tinence, as indeed he often would fain have rebuked him ; but Mr. 

 Bragg had so overpowered him with science, and impressed him 

 with the necessity of keeping him — albeit Mr. Puffington was 

 sensible that he killed very few foxes— that, having put up with 



