MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 413 



most extraordinary and incongruous habiliments. There was 

 Bob Spangles, in a swallow-tailed, mulberry-coloured scarlet, that 

 looked like an old pen-wiper, white duck trousers, and lack-lustre 

 Napoleon boots; Captain Cutitfat, in a smart new "Moses and 

 Son's " straight-cut scarlet, with blood-hound heads on the 

 buttons, yellow-ochre leathers, and Wellington boots with drab 

 knee-caps ; little Bouncey in a tremendously baggy long-backed 

 scarlet, whose gaping outside-pockets showed that they had carried 

 its late owner's hands as well as his handkerchief ; the clumsy device 

 on the tarnished buttons looking quite as much like sheep's-heads 

 as foxes'. Bouncey's tight tweed trousers were thrust into a pair 

 of wide fisherman's boots, which, but for his little roundabout 

 stomach, would have swallowed him up bodily. Captain Quod 

 appeared in a venerable dress-coat of the Melton Hunt, made in 

 the popular reign of Mr. Errington, whose much-stained and 

 smeared silk facings bore testimony to the good cheer it had seen. 

 As if in contrast to the light airiness of this garment, Quod had 

 on a tremendously large shaggy brown waistcoat, with horn buttons, 

 a double tier of pockets, and a nick out in front. With an unfair 

 partiality his nether man was attired in a pair of shabby old 

 black, or rather brown, dress trousers, thrust into long Wellington 

 boots with brass heel spurs. Captain Seedeybuck had on a spruce 

 swallow-tailed green coat of Sir Harry's, a pair of old tweed 

 trousers of his own, thrust into long chamois-leather opera-boots, 

 with red morocco tops, giving the whole a very unique and novel 

 appearance. Mr. Orlando Bugles, though going to drive with my 

 lady, thought it incumbent to put on his jack-boots, and appeared 

 in kerseymere shorts, and a highly frogged and furred blue frock- 

 coat, with the corner of a musked cambric kerchief acting the 

 part of a star on his breast. 



" Here comes old sixteen-string'd Jack ? " exclaimed Bob 

 Spangles, as his brother-in-law, Sir Harry, came hitching and 

 limping along, all strings, and tapes, and ends, as usual, followed 

 by Mr. Sponge in the strict and severe order of sporting costume ; 

 doubie-stitched, back-stitched, sleeve-strapped, pull-devil, pull-baker 

 coat, broad corduroy vest with fox-teeth buttons, still broader 

 corded breeches, and the redoubtable vinegar tops. " Now we're 

 all ready ! " exclaimed Bob, working his arms as if anxious to be 

 off, and giving a shrill shilling-gallery whistle with his fingers, 

 causing the stable-doors to fly open, and the variously tackled 

 steeds to emerge from their stalls. 



" A horse ! ahorse ! my kingdom for a horse ! " exclaimed Miss 

 Glitters, running up as fast as her long habit, or rather Lady 

 Scattercash's long habit, would allow her. " A horse ! a horse ! 

 my kingdom for a horse ! " repeated she, diving into the throng. 



" White Surrey is saddled for the field," replied Mr. Orlando. 



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