354 MR. sponge's sporting tour. 



splendid pack, before I leave this country, which I fear will have to 

 be soon. Yours in haste, 



"H. Sponge. 



" P.S. — I hope you all got safe home the other night from Mr 

 Peastraw's." 



Having put this into a richly gilt and embossed envelope, our 

 friend directed it conspicuously to Sir Harry Scattercash, Bart., and 

 stuck it in the centre of the mantel-piece. He then retraced his 

 steps through the back regions, informing the sleeping beauty he had 

 before disturbed, and who was now busy scouring a pan, that he had 

 left a letter in the drawing-room for Sir Harry, and if she would see 

 that he got it, he (Mr. Sponge) would remember her the next time 

 he came, which he inwardly hoped would be soon. He then made 

 for the stable, and got his horse, to go home, sauntering more leisure- 

 ly along than one would expect of a man who had not got his break- 

 fast, especially one riding a hack hunter. 



The truth was, Mr. Sponge did not much like the aspect of af- 

 fairs. Sir Harry's was evidently a desperately " fast " house ; added 

 to which, the guests by whom he was surrounded, were clearly of the 

 wide-awake order, who could not spare any pickings for a stranger. 

 Indeed, Mr. Sponge felt that they rather cold-shouldered him at 

 Farmer Peastraw's, and were in a greater hurry to be off when the 

 drag came, than the mere difference between inside and outside seats 

 required. He much questioned whether he got into Sir Harry's 

 at all. If it came to a vote he thought he should not. Then, 

 what was he to do ? Old Jog was clearly tired of him ; and he 

 had nowhere else to go to. The thought made him stick spurs 

 into the chestnut, and hurry home to Puddingpote Bower, where he 

 endeavored to soothe his host by more than insinuating that he was 

 going on a visit to Nonsuch House. Jog inwardly prayed that he 

 might. 



CHAPTER LVII. 



THE DEBATE. 



It was just as Mr. Sponge predicted with regard to his admission to 

 Nonsuch House. The first person who spied his note to Sir Harry 

 Scattercash, was Capt. Seedeybuck, who, going into the drawing- 

 room the day after Mr. Sponge's visit to look for the top of his cigar 

 case, saw it occupying the centre of the mantel-piece. Having mas- 

 tered its contents, the captain refolded and placed it where he 



