280 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



exclaimed Mr. Pacey, frightened at Jack's vehemence, and the way 

 in which he now foamed at the mouth, and flourished his nightcap 

 about. " Oh, I assure you, I didn't mean anything of that sort," 

 repeated he, "only I thought p'raps you mightn't recollect all that 

 had passed, p'raps ; and if we were to talk matters quietly over, by 

 putting that and that together, we might assist each other 

 and—" 



" Oh, by Jove ! " interrupted Jack, dashing his nightcap 

 against the bedpost, "too late for anything of that sort, sir — 

 downright impeachment of one's integrity, sir — must be settled 

 another way, sir." 



" But, I assure you, you mistake ! " exclaimed Pacey. 



" Eot your mistakes ! " interrupted Jack ; " there's no mistake 

 in the mutter. You've reglavlj impeached my integrity — blood of 

 the Spraggons won't stand that. ' Death before Dishonour ! ' " 

 shouted he, at the top of his voice, flourishing his nightcap over 

 his head, and then dashing it on to the middle of the floor. 



" What's the matter ? — what's the matter ? — what's the 

 matter ? " exclaimed Mr. Sponge, rushing through the connecting 

 door. " What's the matter ? " repeated he, placing himself between 

 the bed in which Jack still sat upright, squinting his eyes inside 

 out, and where Mr. Pacey stood. 



" Oh, Mr. Sponge ! " exclaimed Jack, clasping his raised hands 

 in thankfulness, "I'm so glad you're here! — I'm so thankful 

 you're come ! I've been insulted ! — oh, goodness, how I've been 

 insulted ! " added he, throwing himself back in the bed, as if 

 thoroughly overcome with his feelings. 



" Well, but what's the matter ? — what is it all about ? " asked 

 Sponge, coolly, having a pretty good guess what it was. 



" Never was so insulted in my life ! " ejaculated Jack, from 

 under the bedclothes. 



" Well, but what is it ? " repeated Sponge, appealing to Pacey, 

 who stood as pale as ashes. 



" Oh ! nothing," replied he ; " quite a mistake ; Mr. Spraggon 

 misunderstood me altogether." 



" Mistake ! There's no mistake in the matter ! " exclaimed Jack, 

 appearing again on the surface like an otter ; "you gave me the 

 lie as plain as a pikestaff." 



"Indeed!" observed Mr. Sponge, drawing in his breath and 

 raising his eyebrows right up into the roof of his head. " Indeed ! " 

 repeated he. 



"No ; nothing of the sort, I assure you," asserted Mr. Pacey. 



" Must have satisfaction ! " exclaimed Jack, again diving under 

 the bedclothes. 



"Well, but let us hear how matters stand," said Mr. Sponge, 

 coolly, as Jack's grizzly head appeared. 



