360 * MR. sponge's sporting tour. 



it over each other say how they would like to subject themselves to 

 similar treatment. — But to our story. 



Facey Romford had now a splendid milk-white horse, well-known 

 in Mr. Nobbington's and Lord Leader's hunts as Mr. Hobler, but 

 who Facey kindly christened the " Nonpareil," which the now rising 

 price of oats, and falling state of his finances, made him particularly 

 anxious to get rid of, ere the horse performed the equestrian feat of 

 "eating its head off." He was a very hunter-like looking horse, but 

 his misfortune consisted in having such shocking seedy toes that he 

 couldn't keep his shoes on. If he got through the first field with 

 them on, they were sure to be off at the fence. This horse Facey 

 voted to be the very thing for Mr. Sponge, and hearing that he had 

 come into the country to hunt, it occurred to him that it would be a 

 capital thing if he could get him to take Mother Overend's spare 

 bed and lodge with him, twelve shillings a-week being more than 

 Facey liked paying for his rooms. Not that he paid twelve shillings 

 for the rooms alone ; on the contrary, he had a two-stalled stable, 

 with a sort of kennel for his pointers, and a sty for his pig into the 

 bargain. This pig, which was eaten many times in anticipation, had 

 at length fallen a victim to the butcher, and Facey's larder was un- 

 commonly well found in black-puddings, sausages, spareribs, and 

 the other component parts of a pig : so that he was in very hospitable 

 circumstances, — at least, in his rough and ready idea of what hospi- 

 tality ought to be. Indeed, whether he had or not, he'd have risked 

 it, being quite as good at carrying things off with a high hand as 

 Mr. Sponge himself. 



The invitation came most opportunely ; for, worn out with 

 jealousy and watching, Jog had made up his mind to cut to Australia, 

 and when Sponge returned after meeting Facey, Jog was in the act 

 of combing out an advertisement, offering all that desirable sport- 

 ing residence called Puddingpote Bower, with the coach-house, stables, 

 and offices thereunto belonging, to let, and announcing that the whole 

 of the valuable household furniture, comprising mahogany, dining, 

 loo, card, and Pembroke tables; sofa, couch, and chairs in hair seat- 

 ing; cheffonier, with plate glass; book-case; flower-stands; piano- 

 forte, by Collard and Collard ; music stool and Canterbury ; chimney 

 and pier-glasses ; mirror ; ormolu time-piece ; alabaster and wax 

 figures and shades ; China ; Brussels carpets and rugs ; fenders and 

 fire-irons ; curtains and cornices ; Venetian blinds ; mahogany four- 

 post, French, and camp bedsteads ; feather beds ; hair mattresses ; 

 mahogany chests of drawers ; dressing-glasses ; wash and dressing- 

 tables ; patent shower bath; bed and table-linen ; dinner and tea- 

 ware ; warming-pans, &c, would be exposed to immediate and unre- 

 served sale. - 



How gratefully Sponge's inquiry if he knew Mr. Romford fell on 

 his ear, as they sat moodily together after dinner over some' very low- 

 priced Port. 



