MR. sponge's SPORTING TOUR. 365 



" Well, under the hollies," rejoined Miss Glitters; adding, "it 

 was Captain Bouncey who said they were cedars." 



" Ah, I meant those beyond," observed the captain, nodding in 

 another direction. 



" Those are (hiccup) Scotch firs," rejoined Sir Harry. 



" Well, never mind what they are," resumed the lady ; " let us 

 have a dance under them." 



" Certainly," replied Sir Harry, who was always ready for any- 

 thing. 



"We shall have plenty of partners," observed Miss Howard, 

 recollecting how many men there were in the house. 



" And another coming," observed Captain Cutitfat, still fretting 

 at the idea. 



" Indeed ! " exclaimed Miss Howard, raising her hands and eye- 

 brows in delight ; " and who is he ? " asked she, with unfeigned glee. 



" Oh such a (hiccup) swell," replied Sir Harry; "reg'lar Leices- 

 tershire man. A (hiccup) Quornite in fact." 



" We'll not have the dance till he comes, then," observed Miss 

 Glitters. 



" No more we will," said Miss Howard, withdrawing from the 

 group. 



CHAPTER LX. 



FACEY ROMFORD AT HOME. 



We will now suppose our distinguished Sponge entering the village, 

 or what the natives call the town of Washingforde, towards the 

 close of a short December day, on his arrival from Mr. Jog's. 



" What sort of stables are there?" asked he, reining up his hack, 

 as he encountered the brandy-nosed Leather airing himself on the' 

 main street. 



" Stables be good enough — forage, too," replied the stud groom, 

 — "per-wided you likes the sittivation." 



" Oh, the sittivation '11 be good enough," retorted Sponge, think- 

 ing that, groom-like, Leather was grumbling because he hadn't got 

 the best stables. 



" Well, sir, as you please," replied the man. 



" Why, where are they ? " asked Sponge, seeing there was more 

 in Leather's manner than met the eye. 



" Rose and Crown ! " replied Leather, with an emphasis. 



"Rose and Crown!" exclaimed Sponge, starting in his sad- 

 dle ; " Rose and Crown ! Why, I am going to stay with Mr. Rom- 

 ford ! " 



