MR. sponge's sporting tour. 265 



claimed Mr. Pacey, frightened at Jack's vehemence, and the way 

 in which he now foamed at the mouth, and flourished his nightcap 

 about. " Oh, I assure you, I didn't mean anything of that sort," 

 repeated he, " only I thought p'raps you mighn't recollect all that 

 passed, p'raps ; and if we were to talk matters quietly over, by put- 

 ting that and that together, we might assist each other, and " 



" Oh, by Jove ! " interrupted Jack, dashing his nightcap against 

 the bedpost, " too late for anything of that sort, sir — downright 

 impeachment of one's integrity, sir — must be settled another way, 

 sir." 



" But I assure you, you mistake ! " exclaimed Pacey. 



" Hot your mistakes ! " interrupted Jack; " there's no mistake 

 in the matter. You've r^larly impeached my integrity — blood of 

 the Spraggons won't stand that. ' Death before Dishonour ! ' " 

 shouted he at the top of his voice, flourishing his nightcap over his 

 head, and then dashing it on to the middle of the floor. 



" What's the matter ? — what's the matter ? — what's the matter ? " 

 exclaimed Mr. Sponge, rushing through the connecting door. " What's 

 the matter ? " repeated he, placing himself between the bed in which 

 Jack still sat upright, squinting his eyes inside out, and where Mr. 

 Pacey stood. 



" Oh, Mr. Sponge ! " exclaimed Jack, clasping his raised hands in 

 thankfulness, " I'm so glad you're here ! — I'm so thankful you're 

 come. I have been insulted ! — oh, goodness, how I've been insulted ! " 

 added he, throwing himself back in the bed, as if thoroughly over- 

 come with his feelings. 



''Well, but what's the matter ? — what is it all about? " asked 

 Sponge, coolly, having a pretty good guess what it was. 



" Never was so insulted in my life ! " ejaculated Jack, from under 

 the bedclothes. 



ft Well, but what.2s it ? " repeated Sponge, appealing to Pacey, 

 who stood as pale as ashes. 



" Oh ! nothing," replied he ! quite a mistake ; Mr. Spraggon mis- 

 understood me altogether." 



" Mistake ! There's no mistake in the matter ! " exclaimed Jack, 

 appearing again on the surface like an otter ; " you gave me the lie as 

 plain as a pikestaff." 



" Indeed ! " observed Mr. Sponge, drawing in his breath and rising 

 his eyebrows right up into the roof of his head. " Indeed ! "repeated 

 he. 



" No ; nothing of the sort, I assure you," asserted Mr. Pacey. 



" Must have satisfaction ! " exclaimed Jack, again diving under 

 the bedclothes. 



" Well, but let us hear how matters stand," said Mr. Sponge, coolly, 

 as Jack's grizzly head dissappeared. 



" You'll be my second," growled Jack, from under the bedclothes. 

 12 



