212 MR. sponge's sporting tour. 



gative of the groom. It lias never been allowed I know in any place 

 I have lived ; nor do I think servants do justice to themselves or 

 their order who submit to it. Howsomever, the crittur has what Mr. 

 Cob den would call the ' raw material' for sport — that is to say, 

 plenty of money — and I must see and apply it in such a way as will 

 produce it. I'll do the thing as it should be, or not at all. 



" I hope your good lady is well— also all the little Bricks. I 

 purpose making a little tower of some of the best kennels as soon as 

 the drafts are arranged, and will spend a day or two with you, and see 

 how you get on without me. Dear Brick, 



" Yours to the far end. 



" Richard Bragg. 

 " To Benjamin Brick, Esq,, 

 Huntsman to the Right Hon. the Earl of Reynard, 

 Turkeypout Park. 



" P. S. I hope your old man keeps a cleaner tongue in his head 

 than he did when I was premier. I always say there was a good 

 bargeman spoiled when they made him a lord. 



" R. B." 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



THE BEAUFORT JUSTICE. 



There is nothing more indicative of real fine people than the easy 

 indifferent sort of way they take leave of their friends. They never 

 seem to care a farthing for parting. 



Our friend Jawleyford was quite a man of fashion in this respect. 

 He saw Sponge's preparations for departure with an unconcerned air, 

 and a — " sorry you're going," was all that accompanied an imitation 

 shake, or rather touch of the hand, on leaving. There was no " I 

 hope we shall see you again soon," or " Pray look in if you are pass- 

 ing our way," or " Now that you've found your way here, we hope 

 you'll not be long in being back," or any of those blarneyments that 

 fools take for earnest and wise men for nothing. Jawleyford had been 

 bit once, and he was not going to give Mr. Sponge a second chance. 

 Amelia, too, we are sorry to say, did not seem particularly distressed, 

 though she gave him just as much of a sweet look as he squeezed her 

 hand, as said, " Now, if you should be a man of money, and my Lord 

 Scamperdale does not make me my lady, you may," &c. 



There is an old saying, that it is well to be " off with the old love 

 before one is on with the new," and Amelia thought it was well to be 



