373 



CHAPTER LXI. 



NONSUCH HOUSE AGAIN. 



The gallant inmates of Nonsuch House had resolved themselves into 

 a committee of speculation, as to whether Mr. Sponge was coming or 

 not ; indeed, they had been betting upon it, the odds at first being a 

 hundred to one that he came, though they had fallen a point or two 

 on the arrival of the post without an answer. 



" Well, I say Mr. What-d'ye-call-him — Sponge — doesn't come ! " 

 exclaimed Captain Seedeybuck, as he lay full length, with his shaggy, 

 greasy head on the fine rose-coloured satin sofa, and his legs cocked 

 over the cushion. 



" Why not ? " asked Miss Glitters, who was beguiling the twilight 

 half-hour before candles with knitting. 



"Don't know," replied Seedeybuck, twirling his moustache, 

 " don't know — have & presentiment he won't." 



" Sure to come ! " exclaimed Captain Bouncey, knocking the 

 ashes off his cigar on to the fine Tournay carpet, " I'll lay ten to one 

 — ten fifties to one — he does, — a thousand to ten if you like." If 

 all the purses in the house had been clubbed together, we don't be- 

 lieve Chey would have raised fifty pounds. 



" What sort of a looking man is he ? " asked Miss Glitters, now 

 counting her loops. 



" Oh — whoy — ha — hern — haw — he's just an ordinary sort of 

 lookin' man — nothin' 'tickler any way," drawled Captain Seedeybuck, 

 now wetting and twirling his moustache. 



" Two legs, a head, a back, and so on, I presume," observed the 

 lady. 



" Just so," assented Captain Seedeybuck. 



" He's a horsey lookin' sort o' man, I should say," observed Cap- 

 tain Bouncey, "walks as if he ought to be ridin' — wears vinegar 

 tops." 



" Hate vinegar tops," growled Seedeybuck. 



Just then, in came Lady Scattercash, attended by Mr. Orlando 

 Bugles, the ladies' attractions having caused that distinguished per- 

 former to forfeit his engagement at the Surrey Theatre. Captain 

 Cutitfat, Bob Spangles, and Sir Harry quickly followed, and the 

 Sponge question was presently renewed. 



"Who says old brown boots comes?" exclaimed Seedeybuck 

 from the sofa. 



