me., sponge's SPORTING TOUR. 379 



and commercial academy, at Flagellation Hall (late the Crown and 

 Sceptre Hotel and Posting House, on the Bankstone Road), where, 

 for forty pounds a year, eighty young gentlemen were fitted for the 

 pulpit, the senate, the bar, the counting-house, or anything else their 

 fond parents fancied them fit for. 



George was a tall stripling, out at the elbows, in at the knees, 

 with his red knuckled hands thrust a long way through his tight 

 coat. He was just of that awkward age when boys fancy themselves 

 men, and men are not prepared to lower themselves to their level. 

 Ladies get on better with them than men : either the ladies are more 

 tolerant of twaddle, or their discerning eyes see in the gawky youth 

 the germ of future usefulness. George was on capital terms with 

 himself. He was the oracle of Mr. Latherington's school, where he 

 was not only head boy and head swell, but a considerable authority 

 on sporting matters. He took in BelVs Life, which he read 

 from beginning to end, and " noted its contents," as they say in the 

 city. 



" I'll tell you what all these little (hiccup) animals will be want- 

 ing," observed Sir Harry, as he cayenne-peppered a turkey's leg; 

 " they'll be come for a (hiccup) hunt." 



" Wish they may get it," observed Captain Seedeybuck; adding, 

 " why, the ground's as hard as iron." 



" There's a big boy," observed Miss Howard, eyeing George Cheek 

 through the window. 



" Let's have him in, and see what he's got to say for himself," 

 said Miss Glitters. 



" You ask him, then," rejoined Miss Howard, who didn't care to 

 risk another rub. 



" Peter," said Lady Scattercash to the footman, who had been 

 loitering about, listening to the conversation,—" Peter, go and ask 

 that tall boy with the blue neckerchief and the riband round his hat 

 to come in." 



•' Yes, my lady," replied Peter. 



"And the (hiccup) Spooneys, and the (hiccup) Bulgeys, and 

 the (hiccup) Raws, and all the little (hiccup) rascals," added Sir 

 Harry. 



" The Raws won't come," Sir H., observed Miss Howard, so- 

 berly. 



" Bigger fools they," replied Sir Harry. 



Presently Peter returned with a tail, headed by George Cheek, 

 who came striding and slouching up the room, and stuck himself 

 down on Lady Scattercash's right. The small boys squeezed them- 

 selves in as they could, one by Captain Seedeybuck, another by Cap- 

 tain Bouncey, one by Miss Glitters, a fourth by Miss Howard, and 

 so oil. They all fell ravenously upon the provisions. 



Gobble, gobble, gobble was the order of the day. 



