302 MR. sponge's sporting tour. 



money. He then deliberately fished up his green-and-gold purse, a 

 souvenir of Miss Smiler (the plaintiff in the breach-of-proniise 

 action, Smiler v. Jogglebury), and holding it with both hands before 

 his eyes, to see which end contained the silver, he slowly drew 

 the slide, and took out a shilling, though there were plenty of six- 

 pences in. 



This gave the man an errand into the toll-house to get one, and, 

 by way of marking his attention, when he returned he said, in the 

 negative way that country people put a question — 



" You'll not need a ticket, will you ? " 



" Ticket (puff), ticket (wheeze) ? " repeated Jog, thoughtfully. 

 " Yes, I'll take a ticket," said he. 



" Oh ! hang it no," replied Sponge ; let's get on ! " stamping 

 against the bottom of the phaeton to set the horse a-going. 



11 Costs nothin'," observed Jog, dryly, drawing the reins, as the 

 man again returned to the gate-house. 



A considerable delay then took place ; first, Pikey had to find his 

 glasses, as he called his spectacles, to look out a one-horse-chaise 

 ticket. Then he had to look out the tickets, when he found he had 

 all sorts except a one-horse- chaise one ready — waggons, hearses, 

 mourning-coaches, saddle-horses, chaises and pair, mules, asses, every 

 sort but the one that was wanted. Well, then he had to fill one up, 

 and to do this he had, first, to find the ink-horn, and then a pen that 

 would " mark, " so that, altogether a delay took place that would 

 have been peculiarly edifying to a Kennington Common or Lambeth 

 gate-keeper to witness. 



But it was not all over yet. Having got the ticket, Jog examined 

 it minutely, to see that it was all right, then held it to his nose to smell 

 it, and ultimately drew the purse-slide, and deposited it among the 

 sovereigns. He then restored that expensive trophy to his pocket, 

 shook his leg, to send it down, then buttoned the pocket, and took 

 the tight black coat with both hands, and dragged it across his chest, 

 so as to get his stomach in. He then gasped and held his breath, 

 making himself as small as possible, while he coaxed the buttons into 

 the holes ; and that difficult process being at length accomplished, he 

 stood still awhile, to take breath after the exertion. Then he began 

 to rebutton the easy, brown great coat, going deliberately up the 

 whole series, from the small button below, to keep the laps together, 

 up to the one on the neck, or where the neck would have been if Jog 

 had not been all stomach up to the chin. He then soused himself 

 into his seat, and snorting heavily through his nostrils, took the reins 

 and whip and long holly from Mr. Sponge, and drove leisurely on. 

 Sponge sat anathematising his slowness. 



When they reached the farm-house on the hill the hounds were 

 fairly in view. The huntsman was casting them, and the horsemen 

 were grouped about as usual, while the laggcrs were stealing quietly 



