MR. SPONGE'S SPOUTING- TOUR. 403 



wanting," observed Sir Harry, as he cayenne-peppered a turkey's 

 leg ; " they'll be come for a (hiccup) hunt." 



"Wish they may get it," observed Captain Seedeybuck; adding, 

 " "Why, the ground's as hard as iron." 



" There's a big boy," observed Miss Howard, eyeing George 

 Cheek through the window. 



"Let's have him in, and see what he's got to say for himself," 

 said Miss Glitters. 



" You ask him, then," rejoined Miss Howard, who didn't care 

 to risk another rub. 



" Peter," said Lady Scattercash to the footman, who had been 

 loitering about, listening to the conversation, — " Peter, go and ask 

 that tall boy with the blue neckerchief and the riband round his 

 hat to come in." 



" Yes, my lady," replied Peter. 



"And the (hiccup) Spooneys, and the (hiccup) Bulgeys, and 

 the (hiccup) Raws, and all the little (hiccup) rascals," added Sir 

 Harry. 



" The Eaws won't come, Sir H.," observed Miss Howard, 

 soberly. 



" Bigger fools they," replied Sir Harry. 



Presently Peter returned with a tail, headed by George Cheek, 

 who came striding and slouching up the room, and stuck himself 

 down on Lady Scattercash's right. The small boys squeezed 

 themselves in as they could, one by Captain Seedeybuck, another 

 by Captain Bouncey, one by Miss Glitters, a fourth by Miss 

 Howard, and so on. They all fell ravenously upon the 

 provisions. 



Gobble, gobble, gobble, was the order of the day. 



" "Well, and how often have you been flogged this half ? " 

 asked Lady Scattercash of George Cheek, as she gave him a cup of 

 coffee. 



Her ladyship hadn't much liking for youths of his age, and would 

 just as soon vex them as not. 



" Well, and how often have you been flogged this half ? " 

 asked she again, not getting an answer to her first inquiry. 



" Not at all," growled Cheek, reddening up. 



" Oh, flogged ! " exclaimed Miss Glitters. "You wouldn't have 

 a young man like him flogged ; it's only the little boys that get 

 that— is it, Mister Cheek?" 



" To be sure not," assented the youth. 



" Mister Cheek's a man," observed Miss Glitters, eyeing him 

 archly as he sat stuffing his mouth with currant-loaf plentifully 

 besmeared with raspberry-jam. " He'll be wanting a wife soon," 

 added she, smiling across the table at Captain Seedeybuck. 



"I question but he's got one," observed the captain. 



