378 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



morning, however, as the party were assembling for breakfast, he 

 came into the room reading it. 



" This (hiccup) note ought to have been delivered before," 

 observed he, holding it up. 



" Indeed, my dear," replied Lady Scattercasb, who was sitting 

 gloriously fine and very beautiful at the head of the table, " I don't 

 know anything about it." 



" Who is it from," asked brother Bob Spangles. 



" Mr. (hiccup) Sponge," replied Sir Harry. 



" What a name ! " exclaimed Captain Seedeybuck. 



" Who is he ? " asked Captain Quod. 



" Don't know," replied Sir Harry ; " he writes to (hiccup) about 

 the hounds." 



" Oh, it'll be that brown-booted buffer," observed Captain 

 Bouncey, " that we left at old Peastraw's." 



" No doubt," assented Captain Cutitfat ; adding, "what business 

 has he with the hounds ? " 



" He wants to know when we are going to (hiccup) again," 

 observed Sir Harry. 



" Does he ? " replied Captain Seedeybuck. " That, I suppose, 

 will depend upon Watchorn." 



The party now got settled to breakfast, and as soon as the first 

 burst of appetite was appeased, the conversation again turned upon 

 our friend Mr. Sponge. 



" Who is this Mr. Sponge ?" asked Captain Bouncey, the billiard- 

 marker, with the air of a thorough exclusive. 



Nobody answered. 



" Who's your friend ? " asked he of Sir Harry direct. 



" Don't know," replied Sir Harry, from between the mouthfuls 

 of a highly cayenned grill. 



" P'raps a bolting betting-office keeper," suggested Captain 

 Ladofwax, who hated Captain Bouncey. 



" He looks more like a glazier, I think," retorted Captain 

 Bouncey, with a look of defiance at the speaker. 



"Lucky if he is one," retorted Captain Ladofwax, reddening up to 

 the eyes ; " he may have a chance of repairing somebody's daylights." 

 The captain raising his saucer, to discharge it at his opponent's head. 



" Gently with the cheney ! " exclaimed Lady Scattercash, who 

 was too much used to such scenes to care about the belligerents. 

 Bob Spangles caught Ladofwax's arm at the nick of time, and 

 saved the saucer. 



" Hout ! you (hiccup) fellows are always (hiccup)ing," exclaimed 

 Sir Harry. " I declare I'll have you both (hiccup)ed over to keep 

 the peace." 



They then broke out into wordy recrimination and abuse, each 

 declaring that he wouldn't stay a day longer in the house if the 



