150 MR. sponge's sporting tour. 



"No — over — no," snapped Jawleyford; "what should put that 

 in your head ? " 



" Oh, I thought as Mr. Sponge was here, you might think it a 

 good time to ask him." 



"His lordship knows he can come^when he likes," replied Jaw- 

 leyford ; adding, " it's to put that Mr. John Spraggon off", who 

 thinks he may do the same." 



" Mr. Spraggon ! " exclaimed both the young ladies. " Mr. Sprag- 

 gon ! — what should set him here ? " 



" What, indeed ? " asked Jawleyford. 



" Poor man ! I dare say there's no harm in him," observed Mrs. 

 Jawleyford, who was always ready for anybody. 



" No good either," replied Jawleyford, — " at all events, we'll be 

 just as well without him. You know him, don't you?" added he, 

 turning to Sponge — "great coarse man in spectacles." 



" Oh yes, I know him," replied Sponge ; " a great ruffian he is, 

 too," added he. 



" One ought to be in robust health to encounter such a man," 

 observed Jawleyford, " and have time to get a man or two of the 

 same sort to meet him. We can do nothing with such a man. I 

 can't understand how his lordship puts up with such a fellow." 



" Finds him useful, I suppose," observed Mr. Sponge. 



Spigot presently appeared with a massive silver salver, bearing 

 tumblers, sugar, lemon, nutmeg, and other implements of negus. 



" Will you join me in a little wine-and-water ? " asked Jawley- 

 ford, pointing to the apparatus and bottle ends, " or will you have a 

 fresh bottle ? — -plenty in the cellar," added he, with a flourish of his 

 hand, though he kept looking steadfastly at the negus-tray. 



"Oh — why — I'm afraid — J doubt — I think I should hardly be 

 able to do justice to a bottle single-handed," replied Sponge. 



" Then have negus, " said Jawleyford; "you'll find it very re- 

 freshing; medical men recommend it after violent exercise in pre- 

 ference to wine. But pray have wine if you prefer it." 



" Ah — well, I'll finish off with a little negus, perhaps," replied 

 Sponge ; adding, " meanwhile the ladies, I dare say, would like a 

 little wine." 



" The ladies drink white wine — sherry " — rejoined Jawleyford, 

 determined to make a last effort to save his port. " However, you 

 can have a bottle of port to yourself, you know." 



" Very well," said Sponge. 



" One condition I must attach," said Mr. Jawleyford, " which is, 

 that you finish the bottle. Don't let us have any waste, you know." 



" I'll do my best," said Sponge, determined to have it ; whereupon 

 Mr. Jawleyford growled the word " Port " to the butler, who had 

 been witnessing his master's efforts to direct attention to the negus. 

 Thwarted in his endeavour, Jawleyford's headache became worse, 



