MR. sponge's SPORTING TOUR. 97 



" You'll feel tired after your journey ? " observed Mrs. Jawley- 

 ford. 



" No, I'm not," said Sponge, yawning again — a good yawn this 

 time. 



Miss Jawleyford looked significantly at her sister — a long pause 

 ensued. 



" I knew a family of your name," at length observed Mrs. Jaw- 

 leyford, in the simple sort of way women begin pumping men. " I 

 knew a family of your name," repeated she, seeing Sponge was half 

 asleep — " the Sponges of Toady Hall. Pray are they any relation 

 of yours ? " 



"Oh — ah — yes," blurted Sponge: "I suppose they are. The 

 fact is — the — haw — Sponges — haw — are rather a large family — haw. 

 Meet them almost every where." 



"You don't live in the same county, perhaps ?" observed Mrs. 

 Jawleyford. 



" No, we don't," replied he with a yawn. 



" Is yours a good hunting country; " asked Jawleyford, thinking 

 to sound him in another way. 



" No ; a devilish bad 'un," replied Sponge, adding with a grunt, 

 " or I wouldn't be here." 



" Who hunts it ? " asked Mr. Jawleyford. 



" Why, as to that — haw " — replied Sponge, stretching out his 

 arms and legs to their fullest extent, and yawning most vigorously — 

 " why, as to that, I can hardly say which you would call my country, 

 for I have to do with so many ; but I should say, of all the countries 

 I am — haw — connected with — haw — Tom Scratch's is the worst." 



Mr. Jawleyford looked at Mrs. Jawleyford as a counsel who 

 thinks he has made a grand hit looks at a jury before he sits down, 

 and said no more. 



Mrs. Jawleyford looked as innocent as most jurymen do after 

 one of these forensic exploits. — Mr. Sponge beginning his nasal 

 recreations, Mrs. Jawleyford motioned the ladies off to bed — Mr. 

 Sponge and his host presently followed. 



