MR. sponge's sporting tour. 323 



11 Most likely at church," observed brother Bob Spangles. 

 " Well, I don't think he'll corrupt ine," observed Captain Quod, 

 speaking between the fumes of a cigar. 



" He'll not borrow much of me," observed Captain Seedybuck, 

 producing a much tarnished green purse, and exhibiting two four- 

 penny pieces at one end, and three-halfpence at the other. 



" Oh, I dare say he's a good feller," observed Sir Harry ; " I 

 make no doubt he's one of the right sort." 



Just then in came the man himself, hat and whip in hand, waving 

 the brush proudly over his head. 



" Ah, that's (hiccup) right, old feller," exclaimed Sir Harry, 

 again advancing with extended hand to meet him ; adding, " you'd 

 (hiccup) all you wanted for your (hiccup) horse : mutton broth — I 

 mean barley-water, foot-bath, everything right. Let me introduce 

 my (hiccup) brother-in-law, Bob Spangles, my (hiccup) friend Cap- 

 tain Ladofwax, Captain Quod, Captain (hiccup) Bouncey, Captain 

 (hiccup) Seedybuck, and my (hiccup) brother-in-law, Mr. Spangles, 

 as lushy a cove as ever was seen ; ar'n't you, old boy ? " added he, 

 grasping the latter by the arm. 



All these gentlemen severally bobbed their heads as Sir Harry 

 called them over, and then resumed their respective occupations — 

 eating, drinking, and smoking. 



These were some of the debauched gentlemen Mr. Sponge had 

 seen before Nonsuch House in the morning. They were all captains, 

 or captains by courtesy. Ladofwax had been a painter and glazier 

 in the Borough, where he made the acquaintance of Captain Quod, 

 while that gentleman was an inmate of Captain Hudson's strong 

 house. Captain Bouncey was the too well-known betting-office 

 keeper ; and Seedybuck was such a constant customer of Mr. Com- 

 missioner Fonblanque's court, that that worthy legal luminary, on 

 diseharging hiin for the fifth time, said to him, with a very significant 

 shake of the head, " You'd better not come here again, sir." Seedy- 

 buck, being of the same opinion, had since fastened himself on to 

 Sir Harry Scattercash, who found him in meat, drink, washing, and 

 lodging. They were all attired in red coats, of one sort or another, 

 though some of which were of a very antediluvian, and others of a 

 very dressing-gown cut. Bouncey's had a hare on the button, and 

 Seedybuck's coat sat on him like a sack. Still a scarlet coat is a 

 scarlet coat in the eyes of some, and the coats were not a bit more 

 unsportsmanlike than the men. To Mr. Sponge's astonishment, in- 

 stead of breaking out in inquiries as to where they had run to, the 

 time, the distance, who was up, who was down, and so on, they began 

 recommending the victuals and drink; and this, notwithstanding Mr. 

 Sponge kept flourishing the brush. 



" We've had a rare run," said he, addressing himself to Sir Harry. 



