148 MR. SrONGE's SPORTING TOUR. 



" Well," replied Jack, " I don't know but you're right. Chat- 

 terbox would soon wash his hands of him, as he has done of many 

 promising young gentlemen before, if he has nothing; but people 

 diifer so m their ideas of what nothing consists of." 



Jack spoke feelingly, for he was a^ gentleman who was generally 

 spoken of as having nothing a-year, paid quarterly ; and yet he was 

 in the enjoyment of an annuity of sixty pounds. 



" Oh, why, when I say he has nothing," replied Lord Scamper- 

 dale, " I mean that he has not what Jawleyford, who is a bumptious 

 sort of an ass, would consider sufficient to make him a fit match for 

 one of his daughters. He may have a fe sv hundreds a-year, but Jaw, 

 I'm sure, will look at nothing under thousands." 



" Oh, certainly not," said Jack; " there's no doubt about that," 

 " Well, then, you see, I was thinking," observed Lord Scamper- 

 dale, eyeing Jack's countenance, " that if you would dine there to- 

 morrow, as we fixed — " 



" Oh, dash it ! I couldn't do that," interrupted Jack, drawing 

 himself together in his chair like a horse refusing a leap ; " I couldn't 

 do that — I couldn't dine with Jaw not at no price." 



"Why not? " asked Lord Scamperdale; "he'll give you a good 

 dinner— -fricassees, and all sorts of good things ; far finer fare than 

 you have here." 



" That may all be," replied Jack, " but I don't want none of his 

 food. I hate the sight of the fellow, and detest him fresh every time 

 I see him. Consider, too, you said you'd let me off if I sarved out 

 Sponge ; and I'm sure I did my best. I led him over some awful 

 places, and then what a ducking I got ! My ears are full of water 

 still," added he, laying his head on one side to try to run it out. 



" You did well," observed Lord Scamperdale — " you did well, 

 and I fully intended to let you off, but then I didn't know what a 

 beggar I had to deal with. Come, say you'll go, that's a good 

 fellow." 



" Couldn't" replied Jack, squinting frightfully. 

 " You'll oblige me," observed Lord Scamperdale. 

 " Ah, well, I'd do anything to oblige your lordship," replied Jack, 

 thinking of the corner in the will. " I'd do anything to oblige your 

 lordship ; but the fact is, sir, I'm not prepared to go. I've lost my 

 specs — I've got no swell clothes — I can't go in the Stunner tartan," 

 added he, eyeing his backgammon-board-looking chest, and diving his 

 hands into the capacious pockets of his shooting-jacket. 



" I'll manage all that," replied his lordship ; " I've got a pair of 

 splendid silver-mounted spectacles in the Indian cabinet in the 

 drawing-room, that I've kept to be married in. I'll lend them to 

 you, and there's no saying but you may captivate Miss Jawleyford 

 in them. Then as to clothes, there's my new damson-coloured velvet 

 waistcoat with the steel buttons, and my fine blue coat with the 



