MR. sponge's sporting tour. 93 



and added a flavour to the repast not contemplated by the cook. The 

 room, which was large and lofty, being but rarely used, had a cold, 

 uncomfortable feel ; and, if it hadn't been for the looks of the thing, 

 Jawleyford would, perhaps, as soon that they had dined in the little 

 breakfast parlour. Still there was everything very smart ; Spigot in 

 full fig, with a shirt-frill nearly tickling his nose, an acre of white 

 waistcoat, and glorious calves swelling within his gauze-like stockings. 

 The improvised footman went creaking about, as such gentlemen 

 generally do. 



The style was perhaps better than the repast : still they had turtle- 

 soup (Shell & Tortoise, to be sure, but still turtle-soup) ; while the 

 wines were supplied by the well-known firm of " Wintle & Co." Jaw- 

 leyford sank where he got it, and pretended that it had been " ages " 

 in his cellar : " he. really had such a stock that he thought he never 

 should get through it ; " — to wit, two dozen old port at 36s. a 

 dozen, and one dozen at 48s. ; two dozen pale sherry at 36s., and one 

 dozen brown ditto at 48s. ; three bottles of Bucellas, of the " finest 

 quality imported," at 38s. a-dozen ; Lisbon " rich and dry," at 32s. ; 

 and some marvellous creaming champagne at 48s., in which they were 

 indulging when he made the declaration : " Don't wait of me, my dear 

 Mr. Sponge ! " exclaimed Jawleyford, holding up a long needle-case 

 of a glass with the Jawleyford crests emblazoned about ; " don't wait 

 of me, pray" repeated he, as Spigot finished dribbling the froth into 

 Sponge's glass ; and Jawleyford, with a flourishing bow and waive of 

 his empty needle-case, drank Mr. Sponge's very good health, adding, 

 "I'm extremely happy to see you at Jawleyford Court." 



It was then Jawleyford's turn to have a little froth ; and having 

 sucked it up with the air of a man drinking nectar, he set down his 

 glass with a shake of the head, saying, 



" There's no such wine as that to be got now-a-days." 



" Capital wine ! — Excellent ! " exclaimed Sponge, who was a bet- 

 ter judge of ale than champagne. " Pray, where might you get it ? " 



" Impossible to say ! — Impossible to say ! " replied Jawleyford, 

 throwing up his hands with a shake, and shrugging his shoulders. 

 " I have such a stock of wine as is really quite ridiculous." 



" Quite ridiculous," thought Spigot, who by the aid of a false key, 

 had been through the cellar. 



Except the " Shell & Tortoise " and "Wintle," the estate supplied 

 the repast. The carp was out of the home-pond ; the tench, or what- 

 ever it was, was out of the mill-pond ; the mutton was from the farm ; 

 the carrot-and-turnip-and-beet-bedaubed stewed beef was from ditto ; 

 while the garden supplied the vegetables that luxuriated in the mas- 

 sive silver side-dishes. Watson's gun furnished the old hare and 

 partridges that opened the ball of the second course ; and tarts, jel- 

 lies, preserves, and custards made their usual appearances. Some first- 

 growth Chateaux Margaux "Wintle," again at 66s., in very richly- 



