MR. sponge's sporting tour. 149 



velvet collar, silk facings, and our button on it; altogether I'll rig 

 you out and make you such a swell as there's no saying but Miss 

 Jawleyford '11 offer to you, by way of consoling herself for the loss 

 of Sponge." 



" I'm afraid you'll have to make a settlement for me, then," 

 observed our friend. 



" Well, you are a good fellow, Jack," said his lordship, " and I'd 

 as soon make one on you as on any one." 



" I 'spose you'll send me on wheels ? " observed Jack. 



" In course," replied his lordship. " Dog cart — name behind — 

 Right Honourable the Earl of Scamperdale — lad with cockade — 

 every thing genteel ; " adding, " by Jove, they'll take you for me ! " 



Having settled all these matters, and arranged how the informa- 

 tion was to be communicated to Jawleyford, the friends at length 

 took their block-tin candlesticks, with their cauliliower-headed 

 candles, and retired to bed. 



CHAPTER XXV, 



When Mr. Sponge returned, all dirtied and stained, from the chase, 

 he found his host sitting in an arm-chair over the study fire, dressing- 

 gowned and slippered, with a pocket-handkerchief tied about his 

 head, shamming illness, preparatory to putting off Mr. Spraggon. 

 To be sure he played rather a better knife and fork at dinner than 

 is usual with persons with that peculiar ailment ; but Mr. Sponge, 

 being very hungry, and well attended to by the fair, — moreover, not 

 suspecting any ulterior design, — just ate and jabbered away as usual, 

 with the exception of omitting his sick papa-in-law in the round of 

 his observations. So the dinner passed over. 



" Bring me a tumbler and some hot water and sugar," said Mr. 

 Jawleyford, pressing his head against his hand, as Spigot, having 

 placed some bottle ends on the table, and reduced the glare of light, 

 was preparing to retire. " Bring me some hot water and sugar," 

 said he, " and tell Harry he will have to go over to Lord Scamper- 

 dale's with a note, the first thing in the morning." 



The young ladies looked at each other, and then at mamma, who, 

 seeing what was wanted, looked at papa, and asked " if he was going 

 to ask Lord Scamperdale over ? " Amelia, among her many " pre- 

 sentiments," had long enjoyed one that she was destined to be Lady 

 Scamperdale. 



