200 MR. sponge's sporting tour. 



So saying we linked arms, and pursuing our course at a proper 

 kill-time sort of pace, we were at length brought up at the end of 

 Vere-street, along which there was a regular rush of carriages, cutting 

 away as if they were going to a fire instead of to a finery shop. 



Many were the smiles, and bows, and nods, and finger kisses, and 

 bright eyes, and sweet glances, that the^fair flyers shot at our friend 

 as they darted past. We were lost in astonishment at the sight. 

 " Verily," said we, '• but the old man was right. This is an amaazin 

 instance of a pop'lar man." 



Young Puflmgton was then in the heyday of youth, about one- 

 and-twenty or so, fair-haired, fresh-complexioned, slim, and standing, 

 with the aid of high-heeled boots, little under six feet high. He had 

 taken after his mother, not after old Tom Trodgers, as they called 

 his papa. At length we crossed over Oxford-street, and taking the 

 shady side of Bond-street, were quickly among the real swells of the 

 world — men who crawled along as if life was a perfect burden to 

 them — men with eye-glasses fixed and tasseled canes in their hands, 

 scarcely less ponderous than those borne by the footmen. Great 

 Heavens ! but they were tight, and smart, and shiny ; and Puflmgton 

 was just as tight, and smart, and shiny as any of them. He was as 

 much in his element here as he appeared to be out of it in Oxford- 

 street. It might be prejudice, or want of penetration on our part, but 

 we thought he looked as high-bred as any of them. They all seemed 

 to know each other, and the nodding, and winking, and jerking, began 

 as soon as we got across. Puff kindly acted as cicerone , or we should 

 not have been aware of the consequence we were encountering. 



" Well, Jemmy ? " exclaimed a debauched-looking youth to our 

 friend, " how are you ? — breakfasted yet ? " 



" Going to," replied Puflmgton, whom they called Jemmy because 

 his name was Tommy. 



" That," said he, in an undertone, "is a capital fellow, — Lord 

 Legbail, eldest son of the Marquis of Loosefish — will be Lord Loose- 

 fish. We were at the Finish together till six this morning — such 

 fun ! — bonneted a Charley, stole his rattle, and broke an early break- 

 fast-man's stall all to shivers." Just then up came a broad-brimmed 

 hat, above a confused mass of great coats and coloured shawls. 



" Holloa, Jack ? " exclaimed Mr. Puflmgton, laying hold of a 

 mother-of-pearl button, nearly as large as a tart-plate. — " not off 

 yet?" 



" Just going," replied Jack, with a touch of his hat, as he rolled 

 on ; adding, " want aught down the road ? " 



u What coachman is that ? " 



"Coachman!" replied Puff, with a snort; " that's Jack Linch- 

 pin — Honourable Jack Linchpin — son of Lord Spliuterbars, — best 

 gentleman coachman in England. 



So Puflmgton sauntered along good morninging " Sir Harrys," 





