216 mr. sponge's sporting tour. 



him a bit ; and also learn something of the movements of his friend 

 Sponge. If he sarves Puff out as he's sarved me," continued his 

 lordship, rubbing his ribs with his elbows, he'll very soon have enough 

 of him." 



" Well," said Jack, " I really think it will be worth doing. I've 

 never been at the beggar's shop, and they say he lives well." 



" Well, aye ! " exclaimed his lordship ; "fat o' the land — dare say 

 that man has fish and soup every day." 



" And wax candles to read by, most likely," observed Jack, 

 squinting at the dim mutton-fats that Baggs now brought in. 



" Not so grand as that" observed his lordship, doubting whether 

 any man could be guilty of such extravagance ; " Composites, 

 p'raps." 



It being decided that Jack should answer Mr. Pumngton's invi- 

 tation as well and saucily as he could, and a sheet of very inferior 

 paper being at length discovered in the sideboard drawer, our friends 

 forthwith proceeded to concoct it. Jack having at length got all 

 square, and the black-ink lines introduced below, dipped his pen in 

 the little stone ink-bottle, and, squinting up at his lordship, said, 



" How shall I begin ? " 



" Begin ? " replied he. " Begin — oh, let's see — begin — begin, 

 1 Dear Puff,' to be sure." 



" That'll do," said Jack, writing away. 



(" Dear Puff ! " sneered our friend, when he read it ; " the idea 

 of a fellow like that writing to a man of my p-r-o-r-perty that way.") 



" Say ' Scamp,' " continued his lordship, dictating again, " ' is en- 

 gaged, but I'll be with you at feeding time.' " 



(" Scamp's engaged," read Puffington, with a contemptuous curl 

 of the lip — " Scamp's engaged : I like the impudence of a fellow like 

 that calling noblemen nicknames.") 



The letter concluded by advising Puffington to stick to the Beau- 

 fort Justice blood, for there was nothing in the world like it. And 

 now, having got both our friends booked for visits, we must yield 

 precedence to the nobleman, and accompany him to Jawleyford 

 Court. 



