118 mr. sponge's sporting tour. 



In passing the dining-room he looked in (to see if there were any 

 champagne-glasses set, we believe), when he saw that he should not 

 have an opportunity of sounding his intended papa-in-law after din- 

 ner, for he found the table laid for twelve, and a great display of 

 plate, linen, and china. 



He then swaggered on to the drawing-room, which was in a blaze 

 of light. The lively Emily had stolen a march on her sister, and 

 had just entered, attired in a fine new pale yellow silk dress with a 

 point-lace berthe and other adornments. 



High words had ensued between the sisters as to the meanness of 

 Amelia in trying to take her beau from her, especially after the airs 

 Amelia had given herself respecting Sponge ; and a minute observer 

 might have seen the slight tinge of red on Emily's eyelids, denoting 

 the usual issue of such scenes. The result was, that each determined 

 to do the best she could for herself; and free trade being proclaimed, 

 Emily proceeded to dress with all expedition, calculating that, as Mr. 

 Sponge had come in wet, he would very likely dress at once and 

 appear in the drawing-room in good time. Nor was she out in her 

 reckoning, for she had hardly enjoyed an approving glance in the 

 mirror ere our hero came swaggering in, twitching his arms as if he 

 hadn't got his wristbands adjusted, and working his legs as if they 

 didn't belong to him. 



" Ah, my dear Miss Emley ! " exclaimed he, advancing gaily 

 towards her with extended hand, which she took with all the pleasure 

 in the world ; adding, " And how have you been? " 



" Oh, pretty well, thank you," replied she, looking as though she 

 would have said, " As well as I can be without you." 



Sponge, though a consummate judge of a horse, and all the minu- 

 tiae connected with them, was still rather green in the matter of 

 woman ; and having settled in his own mind that Amelia should be 

 his choice, he concluded that Emily knew all about it, and was working 

 on her sister's account, instead of doing the agreeable for herself. And 

 there it is where elder sisters have such an advantage over younger 

 ones. They are always shown, or contrive to show themselves, first ; 

 and if a man once makes up his mind that the elder one will do, there 

 is an end of the matter ; and it is neither a deeper shade or two of 

 blue, nor a brighter tinge of brown, nor a little smaller foot, nor a 

 more elegant waist, that will make him change for a younger sister. 

 The younger ones immediately become sisters in the men's minds, 

 and retire, or are retired, from the field — " scratched," as Sponge 

 would say. 



Amelia, however, was not going to give Emily a chance ; for, 

 having dressed with all the expedition compatible with an attractive 

 toilet — a lavender-coloured satin with broad black lace flounces, and 

 some heavy jewellery on her well-turned arms, she came sidliug in so 

 gently as almost to catch Emily in the act of playing the agreeable. 



