170 mr. sponge's sporting tour. 



with a lace-fringed kerchief in the one hand, and the Mark Lane 

 Express in the other. 



" Halloa ! Springey ! " followed by the heavy crack of a whip, 

 announced the arrival of his lordship before the green palings ; and 

 a loud view halloa burst from Jack, as the object of inquiry was 

 seen dancing about the open windowed room above, with his face all 

 flushed with the exertion of pulling on a very tight boot. 



" Come in, my lord ! pray, come in ! The missis is below ! " 

 exclaimed Spring wheat, from the window ; and just at the moment 

 the pad-groom emerged from the house, and ran to his lordship's 

 horse's head. 



His lordship and Jack then dismounted, and gave their hacks in 

 charge of the servant ; while Wake, and Fyle, and Archer, who were 

 also of the party, scanned the countenances of the surrounding idlers, 

 to see in whose hands they had best confide their nags. 



In Lord Scamperdale stamped, followed by his trainband bold, 

 and Maria, the maid, being duly stationed in the passage, threw 

 open the parlour-door on the left, and discovered Mrs. Springwheat 

 sitting in attitude. 



" Well, my lady, and how are you ? " exclaimed his lordship, 

 advancing gaily, and seizing both her pretty hands as she rose to- 

 receive him. " I declare you look younger and prettier every time 

 I see you," 



"Oh! my lord," simpered Mrs. Springwheat, "you gentlemen 

 are always so complimentary." 



" Not a bit of it ! " exclaimed his lordship, eyeing her intently 

 through his silver spectacles, for he had been obliged to let Jack 

 have the other pair of tortoiseshell-rimmed ones. 



" Not a bit of it," repeated his lordship. "I always tell Jack 

 you are the handsomest woman in Christendom; don't I, Jack ? " 

 inquired his lordship, appealing to his factotum. 



" Yes, my lord," replied Jack, who always swore to whatever his 

 lordship said. 



" By Jove ! " continued his lordship, with a stamp of his foot, 

 " if I could find such a woman I'd marry her to-morrow. Not such 

 women as you to pick up every da}'. And what a lot of pretty pups ! " 

 exclaimed his lordship, starting back, pretending to be struck with 

 the row of staring, black-haired, black-eyed, half-frightened children. 

 " Now, that's what I call a good entry," continued his lordship, 

 scrutinising them attentively, and pointing them out to Jack ; " all 

 dogs — all boys, I mean ? " added he. 



" No, my lord," replied Mrs. Springwheat, laughing, " these are 

 girls," laying her hand on the heads of two of them, who were now 

 full giggle at the idea of being taken for boys. 



" Well, they're devilish handsome, anyhow," replied his lordship, 

 thinking he might as well be done with the inspection. 



