388 



JIB. SFONGJS'S SPOBTIXG TOUB. 



CHAPTER LIII. 



FACEY ROMFORD AT HOME. 



FACET ROMFORD. 



WE will now suppose our distin- 

 guished Sponge entering the village, 

 or what the natives call the town of 

 Washingforde, towards the close of 

 a short December day, on his 

 arrival from Mr. Jog's. 



'■ What sort of stables are there ? " 

 asked he, reining up his hack, as 

 he encountered the brandy-nosed 

 Leather airing himself on the main 

 street. 



" Stables be good enough — for- 

 age, too," replied the stud groom, — 

 •■/"/'-wided you likes thesittivation." 

 " Oh, the sittivation '11 be good enough," retorted Sponge, think- 

 ing that, groom-like, Leather was grumbling because he hadn't 

 got the best stables. 



•• Well, sir, as you please," replied the man. 

 '■ Why, where are they ? " asked Sponge, seeing there was more 

 in Leathers manner than met the eye. 



" Rose and Crown.'" replied Leather, with an emphasis. 

 " Rose and Crown .' " exclaimed Sponge, starting in his saddle ; 

 •• Rose and Crown ! Why I'm going to stay with Mr. Romford ! " 

 '• So he said," replied Leather ; " so he said. I met him as I 

 com'd in with the osses, and said he to me, said he, ' You'll find 

 captle quarters at the Crown ! ' " 



" The deuce .' " exclaimed Mr. Sponge, dropping the reins on his 

 hack's neck ; " the deuce .' " repeated he with a look of disgust. 

 " Why. where does he live ? " 



" 'Bove the saddler's, thonder," replied Leather, nodding to a 

 small bow-windowed white house a little lower down, with the gilt- 

 lettered words : — 



OYEREXD. 



SADDLES AXD HAENESS-MAKEE TO THE QUEEN. 



above a very meagrely stocked shop. 



" The devil ! " replied Mr. Sponge, boiling up, as he eyed the 

 cottase-like dimensions of the place. 



The dialogue was interrupted by a sledge-hammer-like blow on 



