96 



"I shouldn't say that" replied Miss Jawleyford; "his height 

 and figure are certainly in his favour, but he isn't quite my idea 

 of a gentleman. He is evidently on good terms with himself; but 

 I should say, if it wasn't for his forwardness, he'd be awkward and 

 uneasy." 



" He's a foxhunter, you know," observed Emily. 



" Well, but I don't know that that should make him different to 

 other people," rejoined her sister. " Captain Curzon, and Mr. Lancas- 

 ter, and Mr. Preston were all foxhunters ; but they didn't stare, and 

 blurt, and kick their legs about, as this man does." 



" Oh, you are so fastidious ! " rejoined her mamma ; " you must 

 take men as you find them." 



" I wonder where he lives ? " observed Emily, who was quite 

 ready to take our friend as he was. 



" I wonder where he does live ? " chimed in Mrs. Jawleyford, for 

 the suddenness of the descent had given them no time for inquiry. 



" Somebody said Manchester" observed Miss Jawleyford, drily. 



" So much the better," observed Mrs. Jawleyford, " for then he 

 is sure to have plenty of money." 



" Law, ma ! but you don't 'spose pa would ever allow such a 

 thing," retorted Miss, recollecting her papa's frequent exhortations 

 to them to look high. 



" If he's a landowner," observed Mrs. Jawleyford, " we'll soon 

 find him out in Burke. Emily, my dear," added she, just go into your 

 pa's room, and bring me the ' Commoners ' — you'll find it on the large 

 table, between the ' Peerage ' and the ' Wellington Despatches.' " 



Emily tripped away to do as she was bid. The fair messenger 

 presently returned, bearing both volumes, richly bound and lettered, 

 with the Jawleyford crests studded down the backs, and an immense 

 coat of arms on the side. ' 



A careful search among the S's produced nothing in the shape of 

 Sponge. 



" Not likely, I should think," observed Miss Jawleyford, with a 

 toss of her head, as her mamma announced the fact. 



" Well, never mind," replied Mrs. Jawleyford, seeing that only 

 one of the girls could have him, and that one was quite ready ; " never 

 mind, I dare say I shall be able to find out something from himself," 

 and so they dropped the subject. 



In due time in swaggered our hero, himself, kicking his legs about 

 as men in tights or tops generally do. 



" May I give you tea or coflue ? " asked Emily, in the sweetest 

 tone possible, as she raised her finely turned gloveless arm towards 

 where the glittering appendages stood on the large silver tray. 



" Neither, thank you," said Sponge, throwing himself into an easy- 

 chair beside Mrs. Jawleyford. He then crossed his legs, and cocking 

 up a toe for admiration, began to yawn. 



