MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 115 



" Couldn't help it. Hang your helps — you're always doing it, 

 sir. You could stay at home, sir — I s'pose, sir — couldn't you, sir ? 

 eh, sir ? " 



Sponge was silent. 



" See, sir ! " continued his lordship, pointing to the mute pack 

 now following the huntsman, " you've lost us our fox, sir — yes, sir — 

 lost us our fox, sir. D'ye call that nothin', sir ? If you don't, I do, 

 you perpendicular-looking Puseyite pig-jobber ! By Jove ! you think 

 because I'm a lord, and can't swear, or use coarse language, that you 

 may do what you like — but I'll take my hounds home, sir — yes, sir, 

 I'll take my hounds home, sir." So saying, his lordship roared home 

 to Frostyface; adding, in an undertone to the first whip, "bid him 

 go to Furzing-fteld gorse." 



CHAPTER XXL 



A COUNTRY DINNER-PARTY. 



" Well, what sport ? " asked Jawleyford, as he encountered his 

 exceedingly dirty friend crossing the entrance hall to his bed-room 

 on his return from his day, or rather his non-day, with the " Flat 

 Hat Hunt." 



M Why, not much — that's to say, nothing particular — I mean, 

 I've not had any," blurted Sponge. 



" But you've had a run ? " observed Jawleyford, pointing to his 

 boots and breeches, stained with the variation of each soil. 



" Ah, I got most of that going to cover," replied Sponge; " coun- 

 try's awfully deep, roads abominably dirty;" adding, "I wish I'd 

 taken your advice, and stayed at home." 



" I wish you had," replied Jawleyford, " you'd have had a most 

 excellent rabbit-pie for luncheon. However, get changed, and we 

 will hear all about it after." So saying, Jawleyford waved an adieu, 

 and Sponge stamped away in his dirty water-logged boots. 



" I'm afraid you are very wet, Mr. Sponge," observed Amelia, 

 in the sweetest tone, with the most loving smile possible, as our 

 friend, with three steps at a time, bounded up-stairs, and nearly but- 

 ted her on the landing, as she was on the point of coming down. 



" I am that," exclaimed Sponge, delighted at the greeting; " I 

 am that," repeated he, slapping his much-stained cords ; " dirty, 

 too," added he, looking down at his nether man. 



" Hadn't you better get changed as quick as possible ? " asked 

 Amelia, still keeping her position before him. 



