mr. sponge's sporting tour. 295 



wished that he had not desired Leather to go to the meet. It would 

 have been better to have got the horses a little way off, and have 

 shirked J02;, who did not look like a desirable introducer to a hunting 

 field. 



" I'll be with you directly," replied Mr. Sponge, gulping down 

 the remains of his tea; adding, "I've just got to run up-stairs and 

 get a cigar." So saying, he jumped up and disappeared. 



Murry Ann, not approving of Sponge's smoking in his bedroom, 

 had hid the cigar-case under the toilet cover, at the back of the glass, 

 and it was some time before he found it. 



Mrs. Jogglebury availed herself of the lapse of time, and his ab- 

 sence, to pacify her young Turk, and try to coax him into reciting 

 the marvellous " Obin and Ichard." 



As Mr. Sponge came clanking clown stairs with the cigar-case in 

 his hand, she met him (accidentally, of courso) at the bottom, with 

 the boy in her arms, and exclaimed, " 0, Mr. Sponge, here's Gustavus 

 James wants to tell you a little story." 



Mr. Sponge stopped — inwardly hoping that it would not be a long 

 one. 



" Now, my darling," said she, sticking the boy up straight, to get 

 him to begin. 



" Novj then / " exclaimed Mr. Crowdey, in the true Jehu-like 

 style, from the vehicle at the door, in which he had composed him- 

 selfl 



" Coming, Jog ! coming ! " replied Mrs, Crowdey, with a frown 

 on her brow at the untimely interruption ; then appealing again to 

 the child, who was nestling in his mother's bosom, as if disinclined 

 to show off, she said, u Now, my darling, let the gentleman hear how 

 nicely you'll say it" 



,The child still slunk 



u That's a fine fellow, out with it ! " said Mr. Sponge, taking up 

 his hat to be off. 



" Now then ! " exclaimed his host again. 



" Coming I " replied Mr. Sponge. 



As if to thwart him, the child then began, Mrs. Jogglebury hold- 

 ing up her forefinger as well in admiration as to keep silence : — 



" Obin and Ichard, two pretty men, 

 Lay in bed till 'e clock struck ten ; 

 Up starts Obin, and looks at the sky " 



And then the brat stopped. 



"Very beautiful!" exclaimed Mr. Sponge; "very beautiful! 

 One of Moore's, isn't it ? Thank you, my little dear, thank you," 

 added he, chucking him under the chin, and putting on his hat to be 

 off. 



" 0, but stop, Mr. Sponge ! " exclaimed Mrs. Jogglebury, " you 

 haven't heard it all — there's more yet." 



