268 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



conversation sounded through the partially-opened drawing-room 

 door, as Mr. Plummey, stood, handle in hand, to announce the 

 names of the guests. Our friends, having the entree, of course 

 passed in as at home, and mingled with the comers and stayers. 

 Guest after guest quickly followed, almost all making the same 

 observation, namely, that it was a fine day for the time of year, 

 and then each sidled off, rubbing his hands, to the fire. Captain 

 Guano monopolized about one-half of it, like a Colossus of Ehodes, 

 with a coat-lap under each arm. He seemed to think that, being 

 a stayer, he had more right to the fire than the mere diners. 



Mr. Puffington moved briskly among the motley throng, now 

 expatiating on the splendour of the run, now hoping a friend was 

 hungry, asking a third after his wife, and apologising to a fourth 

 for not having called on his sister. Still his real thoughts were in 

 the kitchen, and he kept counting noses and looking anxiously at 

 the time-piece. After the door had had a longer rest than usual. 

 Blossomnose at last cast up : " Now we're all here, surely ! " 

 thought he counting about ; " one, two, three, four, five, six, 

 seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, thirteen, fourteen, 

 myself fifteen, fifteen, fifteen, must be another, sixteen, eight 

 couple asked. Oh, that Pacey's wanting ; always comes late, 

 won't wait " — so saying, or rather thinking, Mr. Puffington rang 

 the bell and ordered dinner. Pacey then cast up. 



He was just the sort of swaggering youth that Jack had described ; 

 a youth who thought money would do everything in the world — 

 make him a gentleman, in short. He came rolling into the room, 

 grinning as if he had done something fine in being late. He had 

 both his great red hands in his tight trouser pockets, and drew the 

 right one out to favour his friends with it " all hot." 



" I'm late, I guess," said he, grinning round at the assembled 

 guests, now dispersed in the various attitudes of expectant eaters, 

 some standing ready for a start, some half sitting on tables and 

 sofa ends, others resigning themselves complacently to their 

 chairs, abusing Mr. Pacey and all dinner delayers. 



" I'm late, I guess," repeated he, as he now got navigated up to 

 his host and held out his hand. 



" never mind," replied Puffington, accepting as little of the 

 proffered paw as he could ; " never mind," repeated he, adding, as 

 he looked at the French clock on the mantel-piece now chiming a 

 quarter past six, " I dare say I told you we dined at half-past 

 five." 



" Dare say you did, old boy," replied Pacey, kicking out his 

 legs, and giving Puffington what he meant for a friendly poke in 

 the stomach, but which in reality nearly knocked his wind out ; 

 " dare say you did, old boy, but so you did last time, if you 

 remember, and deuce a bit did I get before six ; so I thought I'd 



