MR. sponge's SPORTING TOUR. 375 



where," observed Sir Harry; adding to the footman, " you'd better 

 (hiccup) the door open, you know." 



" Perhaps you'd better try what one of yours will do," observed 

 Bob Spangles, to the convulsion of the company. 



In the midst of their mirth, Mr. Bottleends was seen piloting 

 Mr. Sponge up to her ladyship. 



" Mr. Sponge, my lady," said he, in as low and deferential a tone 

 as if he got his wages punctually every quarter-day. 



" How do you do, Mr. Sponge ? " said her ladyship, tendering 

 him her hand with an elegant curtsy. 



" How are you, Mr. (hiccup) Sponge ? " asked Sir Harry, offer- 

 ing his; u I believe you know the (hiccup) company?" continued he, 

 waving his hand around ; " Miss (hiccup) Glitters, Captain (hiccup) 

 Quod, Captain Bouncey, Mr. (hiccup) Bugles, Captain (hiccup) Seed- 

 eybuck, and so on ; " whereupon Miss Glitters curtsied, the gentle- 

 men bobbed their heads and drew near our hero, who had now sta- 

 tioned himself before the fire. 



" Coldish, to-night," said he, stooping and placing both hands to 

 the bars. " Coldish," repeated he, rubbing his hands and looking 

 around. 



" It generally is about this time of year, I think," observed Miss 

 Glitters, who was quite ready to enter for our friend. 



" Hope it won't stop hunting," said Mr. Sponge. 



" Hope not," replied Sir Harry; " would be a bore if it did." 



" I wonder you gentlemen don't prefer hunting in a frost," ob- 

 served Miss Howard ; " one would think it would be just the time 

 you'd want a good warming." 



" I don't agree with you there," replied Mr. Sponge, looking at 

 her, and thinking she was not nearly so pretty as Miss Glitters. 



" po you hunt to-morrow ? " asked he of Sir Harry, not having 

 been able to obtain any information at the stables. 



" (Hiccup) to-morrow ? Oh, I dare say we shall," replied Sir 

 Harry, who kept his hounds as he did his carriages, to be used when 

 wanted. " Dare say we shall," repeated he. 



But though Sir Harry spoke thus encouragingly of their pros- 

 pects, he took no steps, as far as Mr. Sponge could learn, to carry 

 out the design. Indeed, the subject of hunting was never once men- 

 tioned, the conversation after dinner, instead of being about the 

 Quorn, or the Pytchley, or Jack Thompson with the Atherstone, 

 turning upon the elegance and lighting of the Casinos in the Adelaide 

 Gallery and Windmill-street, and the relative merits of those estab- 

 lishments over the Casino de Venise in High Holborn. Nor did 

 morning produce any change for the better, for Sir Harry and all 

 the captains came down in their usual flashy broken-down player- 

 looking attire, their whole thoughts being absorbed in arranging for 

 a pool at billiards, in which the ladies took part. So with billiards, 



