108 MR. sponge's sporting tour. 



day's spread, with the addition of the Rev. Mr. Hobanob's company, 

 to say grace, and praise the " Wintle." 



An appetiteles3 dinner was succeeded by tea and music, as 

 before. 



The three elegant French clocks in the drawing-room being at 

 variance, one being three-quarters of an hour before the slowest, 

 and twenty minutes before the next, Mr. Hobanob (much to the hor- 

 ror of Jawleyford) having nearly fallen asleep with his Sevres coffee- 

 cup in his hand, at last drew up his great silver watch by its jack- 

 chain, and finding it was a quarter past ten, prepared to decamp — 

 taking as affectionate a leave of the ladies as if he had been going 

 to China. He was followed by Mr. Jawleyford, to see him pocket 

 his pumps, and also by Mr. Sponge, to see what sort of a night it was. 



The sky was clear, stars sparkled in the firmament, and a young 

 crescent moon shone with silvery brightness o'er the scene. 



"That'll do," said Sponge, as he eyed it; "no haze there. 

 Come," added he to his papa-in-law, as Hobanob's steps died out on 

 the terrace, " you'd better go to-morrow." 



" Can't," replied Jawleyford ; " go next day, perhaps — Scramble- 

 ford Green — better place — much. You may lock up," said he, turn- 

 ing to Spigot, who, with both footmen, was in attendance to see Mr. 

 Hobanob off; "you may lock up, and tell the cook to have break- 

 fast ready at nine precisely." 



" Oh, never mind about breakfast for me," interposed Sponge, 

 " I'll have some tea or coffee and chops, or boiled ham and eggs, or 

 whatever's going, in my bed-room," said he, " so never mind altering 

 your hour for me." 



" Oh, but, my dear fellow, we'll all breakfast together " (Jawley- 

 ford had no notion of standing two breakfasts), " we'll all breakfast 

 together," said he ; " no trouble, I assure you — rather the contrary. 

 Say half-past eight — half-past eight, Spigot ! to a minute, mind." 



And Sponge, seeing there was no help for it, bid the ladies good 

 night, and tumbled off to bed with little expectation of punc- 

 tuality. 



