MR. sponge's sporting tour. 95 



however, are common in all countries — to sight-seers as -well as to 

 hunters. " Close by — close by," one day. " Oh ! a lo-o-ng way from 

 here," another. 



It is difficult for parties who have nothing in common, to drive a 

 conversation, especially when each keeps jibbing to get upon a private 

 subject of his own. Jawleyford was all for sounding Sponge as to 

 where he came from, and the situation of his property ; for as yet, it 

 must be remembered, he knew nothing of our friend, save what he 

 had gleaned at Laverick Wells, where certainly all parties concurred 

 in placing him high on the list of " desirables," while Sponge wanted 

 to talk about hunting, the meets of the hounds, and hear what sort 

 of a man Lord Scamperdale was. So they kept playing at cross- 

 purposes, without either getting much out of the other. Jawleyford's 

 intimacy with Lord Scamperdale seemed to have diminished with 

 propinquity, for he now no longer talked of him — " Scamperdale this, 

 and Scamperdale that — Scamperdale, with whom he could do any- 

 thing he liked ; " but he called him " My Lord Scamperdale," and 

 spoke of him in a reverent and becoming way. Distance often lends 

 boldness to the tongue, as the poet Campbell says it 



Lends enchantment to the view, 

 And robes the mountain in its azure hue. 



There are few great men who haven't a dozen people, at least, who 

 " keep them right," as they call it. To hear some of the creatures 

 talk, one would fancy a lord was a lunatic as a matter of course. 



Spigot at last put an end to their efforts by announcing that " tea 

 and coffee were ready ! " just as Mr. Sponge buzzed his bottle of port. 

 They then adjourned from the gloom of the large oak-wainscoted 

 dining-room, to the effulgent radiance of the well-lit, highly-gilt 

 drawing-room, where our fair friends had commenced talking Mr. 

 Sponge over as soon as they retired from the dining-room. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



THE TEA. 



" And what do you think of him ? " asked mamma. 



" Oh, I think he's very well," replied Emily, gaily. 



" I should say he was very foor-lerable," drawled Miss Jawleyford, 

 who reckoned herself rather a judge, and indeed had had some experi- 

 ence of gentlemen. 



" Tolerable, my dear ! " rejoined Mrs. Jawleyford, " I should say 

 he's very well — rather distingue, indeed." 



