MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 31.3 



"Very beautiful !" exclaimed Mr. Sponge ; "very beautiful ! One 

 of Moore's, isn't it? Thank you, my little dear, thank you," added 

 he, chucking him under the chin, and putting on his hat to be off. 



" 0, but stop, Mr. Sponge ! " exclaimed Mrs. Jogglebury, " you 

 haven't heard it all — there's more yet." 



Then turning to the child, she thus attempted to give him the cue. 



" 0, bo ! bother " 



" Now then ! time's hup ! " again shouted Jogglebury into the 

 passage. 



" dear, Mr. Jogglebury, will you hold your stoopid tongue ! " 

 exclaimed she ; adding, " you certainly are the most tiresome man 

 under the sun." She then turned to the child wich — 



" ho ! bother Ichard " again. 



But the child was mute, and Mr. Sponge fearing, from some 

 indistinct growlings that proceeded from the carriage, that a 

 storm was brewing, endeavoured to cut short the entertainment 

 by exclaiming — 



" Wonderful two-year-old ! Pity he's not in the Darby. Dare 

 say he'll tell me the rest when I come back." 



But this only added fuel to the fire of Mrs. Jogglebury's ardour, 

 and made her more anxious that Sponge should not lose a word 

 of it. Accordingly she gave the fat dumpling another jerk up on 

 her arm, and repeated — 



"0 ho ! bother Ichard, the What's very high ? " asked 



Mrs. Jogglebury, coaxingly. 



" Sun's very high," 



replied the child. 



" Yes, my darling ! " exclaimed the delighted mamma. 

 Mrs. Jogglebury then proceeded with — 



" Ou go before " 



Child.—" With bottle and bag," 



Mamma. — " And I'll follow after " 



Child.—" With 'ittle Jack Nag," 



"Well now, that is wonderful !" exclaimed Mr. Sponge, hurrying 

 on his dog-skin gloves, and wishing both Obin and Ichard further. 



"Isn't it.'" exclaimed Mrs. Jogglebury, in ecstasies; then 

 addressing the child, she said, "Now that is a good boy — that is 

 a fine fellow. Now couldn't he say it all over by himself, doesn't 

 he think ? " Mrs. Jogglebury looking at Mr. Sponge, as if she 

 was meditating the richest possible treat for him. 



" Oh," replied Mr. Sponge, quite tired of the detention, " he'll 

 tell me it when I return — he'll tell me it when I return," at the 

 same time giving the child another parting chuck under the chin. 

 But the child was not to be put off in that way, and instead of 



