mr. sponge's SPORTING TOUR. 123 



" No, I don't hunt," replied Robert. 



The "green seal " being demolished, Jawleyford ordered a bottle 

 of the " other," attributing the slight discoloration (which he did not 

 discover until they had nearly finished the bottle) to change of at- 

 mosphere in the outer cellar. Sponge tackled vigorously with the 

 new-comer, which was better than the first ; and Robert Foozle, 

 drinking as he spoke, by pattern, kept filling away, much to Jawley- 

 ford's dissatisfaction, who was compelled to order a third. During 

 the progress of its demolition, the host's tongue became considerably 

 loosened. He talked of hunting and the charms of the chase — of the 

 good fellowship it produced ; and expatiated on the advantages it 

 was of to the country in a national point of view, promoting as it did 

 a spirit of manly enterprise, and encouraging our unrivalled breed 

 of horses ; both of which he looked upon as national objects, well 

 worthy the attention of enlightened men like himself. 



Jawleyford was a great patron of the chase ; and his keeper, 

 "Watson, always had a bag-fox ready to turn down when my lord's 

 hounds met there. Jawleyford's covers were never known to be 

 drawn blank. Though they had been shot in the day before, they 

 always held a fox the next— if a fox was wanted. 



Sponge being quite at home on the subject of horses and hunting, 

 lauded all his papa-in-law's observations up to the skies ; occasionally 

 considering whether it would be advisable to sell him a horse, and 

 thinking, if he did, whether he should let him have one of the three 

 he had down, or should get old Buckram to buy some quiet screw 

 that would stand a little work and yield him (Sponge) a little profit, 

 and yet not demolish the great patron of English sports. The more 

 Jawleyford drank, the more energetic he became, and the greater 

 pleasure he anticipated from the meet of the morrow. He docked the 

 lord, and spoke of " Scamperdale "as an excellent fellow — a real, 

 good, hearty, honest Englishman — a man that " the more you knew 

 the more you liked ; " all of which was very encouraging to Sponge. 

 Spigot at length appeared to read the tea and coffee riot-act, when 

 Jawleyford, determined not to be done out of another bottle, pointing 

 to the nearly-emptied decanter, said to Robert Foozle, "I suppose 

 you'll not take any more wine ? " To which Robert replied, " No, 

 I'll not take any more wine." "Whereupon, pushing out his chair, and 

 throwing away his napkin, Jawleyford arose and led the way to the 

 drawing-room, followed by Sponge and this entertaining young gen- 

 tleman. 



A round game followed tea ; which, in its turn, was succeeded by 

 a massive silver tray, chiefly decorated with cold water and tumblers ; 

 and as the various independent clocks in the drawing-room began 

 chiming and striking eleven, Mr. Jawleyford thought he would try 

 to get rid of Foozle by asking him if he hadn't better stay all night. 



" Yes, I think I'd better stay all night," replied Foozle, 



