140 MR. sponge's sporting tour. 



" So he is," replied Mr. Sponge, who thought it fine to abuse a 

 nobleman. 



" The fact is," said Mr. Puffington, " these Flat Hat chaps are all 

 snobs. They think there are no such fine fellows as themselves under 

 the sun; and if ever a stranger looks near them, they make a point 

 of being as rude and disagreeable to him as they possibly can. This 

 is what they call keeping the hunt select." 



" Indeed ! " observed Mr. Sponge, recollecting how they had com- 

 plimented him; adding, " They seem a queer set." 



" There's a fellow they call ' Jack,' " observed Mr. Puffington, 

 * who acts as a sort of bulldog to his lordship, and worries whoever 

 his lordship sets him upon. He got into a clay-hole a little further 

 back, and a precious splashing he was making, along with the chap- 

 lain, old Blossomnose." 



" Ah, I saw him," observed Mr. Sponge. 



" You should come and see my hounds," observed Mr. Puffington. 



M What are they ? " asked Sponge. 



" The Hanby," replied Mr. Puffington. 



" Oh ! then you are Mr. Puffington," observed Sponge, who had 

 a sort of general acquaintance with all the hounds and masters — 

 indeed, with all the meets of all the hounds in the kingdom — which 

 he read in the weekly lists in " Bell's Life," just as he read " Mogg's 

 Cab Fares." " Then you are Mr. Puffington ? " observed Sponge. 



" The same," replied the stranger. 



" I'll have a look at you," observed Sponge ; adding, " do you take 

 in horses ? " 



" Yours, of course,''' 1 replied Mr. Puffington, bowing ; adding 

 something about great public characters, which Sponge didn't under- 

 stand. 



" I'll be down upon you, as the extinguisher said to the rushlight," 

 observed Mr. Sponge. 



" Do," said Mr. Puffington; " come before the frost. Where are 

 you staying now ? " 



" I'm at Jawleyford's," replied our friend. 



" Indeed ! — Jawleyford's, are you ? " repeated Mr. Puffington. 

 " Good fellow, Jawleyford — gentleman, Jawleyford. How long do 

 you stay ? " 



" Why, I haven't made up my mind," replied Sponge. " Have 

 no thoughts of budging at present." 



" Ah, well — good quarters," said Mr. Puffington, who now smelt 

 a rat ; " good quarters — nice girls — fine fortune — fine place, Jawley- 

 ford Court. Well, book me for the next visit," added he. 



" I will," said Sponge, " and no mistake. What do they call your 

 shop ? " 



" Hanby House," replied Mr. Puffington ; " Hanby House — any 

 body can tell you where Hanby House is." 



