mr. sponge's SPORTING TOUR. 217 



CHAPTER XXXV. 



LORD SCAMPERDALE AT JAWLEYFORD COURT. 



Although we have hitherto depicted Lord Scamperdale either in his 

 great uncouth hunting-clothes, or in the flareup red and yellow Stun- 

 ner tartan, it must not be supposed that he had not fine clothes when 

 he chose to wear them, only he wanted to save them, as he said, to 

 be married in. That he had fine ones, indeed, was evident from the 

 rig-out he lent Jack, when that worthy went to Jawleyford Court, 

 and, in addition to those which were of the evening order, he had an 

 uncommonly smart Stultz frock-coat, with a velvet collar, facings, and 

 cuffs, and a silk lining. Though so rough and ready among the men* 

 he was quite the dandy among the ladies, and was as anxious about 

 his appearance as a girl of sixteen. He got himself clipped and 

 trimmed, and shaved with the greatest care, curving his whiskers high 

 on to the cheek-bones, leaving a great breadth of bare fallow below. 



Baggs the butler was despatched betimes to Jawleyford Court 

 with the dog-cart frieghted with clothes, driven by a groom to attend 

 to the horses, while his lordship mounted his galloping grey hack 

 towards noon, and dashed through the country like a comet. The 

 people, who were only accustomed to see him in his short, country- 

 cut hunting- coats, baggy breeches, and shapeless boots, could hardly 

 recognise the frock-coated, fancy-vested, military-trousered swell, as 

 Lord Scamperdale. Even Titus Grabbington, the superintendent of 

 police, declared that he wouldn't have known him but for his hat and 

 specs. The latter we need hardly say were the silver ones — the pair 

 that he would not let Jack have when he went to Jawleyford Court. 

 So his lordship went capering and careering along; avoiding, of 

 course, all the turnpike-gates, of which he had a mortal aversion. 



Jawleyford Court was in full dress to receive him — everything 

 was full fig. Spigot appeared in buckled shorts and black silk stock- 

 ings ; while vases of evergreens and winter flowers mounted sentry 

 on passage tables and landing-places. Everything bespoke the elegant 

 presence of the fair. 



To the credit of Dame Fortune let us record that everything went 

 smoothly and well Even the kitchen fire behaved as it ought. 

 Neither did Lord Scamperdale arrive before he was wanted, a very 

 common custom with people unused to public visiting. He cast up 

 just when he was wanted. His ring of the door-bell acted like the 

 little tinkling bell at the theatre, sending all parties to their places, 

 for the curtain to rise. 

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