MR. SPONGES SPORTIXG TOUR. 



311 



CHAPTER XLIV. 



A FAMILY BREAKFAST OX A HUNTING MORNING. 



RS. JOGGLEBURY CROW- 

 DEY was a good deal discon- 

 certed at Gustavus James's 

 irreverence to his intended 

 godpapa, and did her best, 

 both by promises and en- 

 treaties, to bring him to a 

 more becoming state of mind. 

 She promised him abundance 

 of good things if he would 

 astonish Mr. Sponge with some 

 of his wonderful stories, and 

 expatiated on Mr. Sponge's 

 goodness in bringing him the 

 nice comfits, though Mrs. 

 Jogglebury could not but in 

 her heart blame them for some 

 little internal inconvenience 

 the wonder had experienced 

 during the night. However, 

 she brought him to breakfast 

 in pretty good form, where he 

 was cocked up in his high chair 

 beside his mamma, the rest of the infantry occupying the position 

 of the previous day, all under good-behaviour orders. 



Unfortunately, Mr. Sponge, not having been able to get himself 

 up to his satisfaction, was late in coming down • and when he did 

 make his appearance, the unusual sight of a man in a red coat, a 

 green tie, a blue vest, brown boots, &c, completely upset their pro- 

 priety, and deranged the order of the young gentleman's perform- 

 ance. Mr. Sponge, too, conscious that he was late, was more eager 

 for his breakfast than anxious to be astonished ; so. what with re- 

 pressing the demands of the youngster, watching that the others 

 did not break loose, and getting Jog and Mr. Sponge what they 

 wanted, Mrs. Crowdey had hev hands full. At last, having got 

 them set a-going, she took a lump of sugar out of the basin, and 

 showing it "to the wonder, laid it beside her plate, whispering 

 " Now, my beauty ! " into his ear, as she adjusted him in his 



<",rsTAVr< JAMT-. 



