380 mr. sponge's sporting tour. 



" Well, and how often have you been flogged this half ? " asked 

 Lady Scattercash of George Cheek, as she gave him a cup of 

 coffee. 



Her ladyship hadn't much liking for youths of his age, and would 

 just as soon vex them as not. 



" Well, and how often have you been flogged this half ? " asked 

 she again, not getting an answer to her first inquiry. 



" Not at all," Growled Cheek, reddening up. 



" Oh, flogged ! " exclaimed Miss Glitters, " You wouldn't have a 

 young man like him flogged ; it's only the little boys that get that — 

 is it, Mister Cheek ? " 



" To be sure not," assented the youth. 



" Mister Cheek's a man," observed Miss Glitters, eyeing him 

 archly as he sat stuffing his mouth with currant-loaf plentifully be- 

 smeared with raspberry-jam. " He'll be wanting a wife soon," added 

 she, smiling across the table at Captain Seedeybuck. 



" I question but he's got one," observed the captain. 



" N o, ar haven't" replied Cheek, pleased at the imputation. 



" Then there's a chance for you, Miss G.," retorted the cap- 

 tain. " Mrs. George Cheek will look well on a glazed card with gilt 



" What a cub ! " exclaimed Miss Howard, in disgust. 



" You're another," replied Master Cheek, amidst a roar of laugh- 

 ter from the party. 



" Well, but you ask your master if you mayn't have a wife next 

 half, and we'll see if we can't arrange matters," observed Miss Glit- 

 ters. 



" Noo, ar sharnt," replied George, stuffing his mouth full of pre- 

 served apricot. 



" Why not ? " asked Miss Howard. 



" Because — because — ar'll have somethin' younger," replied 

 George. 



" Bravo, young Chesterfield ! " exclaimed Miss Howard; adding, 

 " what it is to be thick with Lord John Manners ! " 



" Ar'm not ! " growled the boy, amidst the mirth of the com- 

 pany. 



" Well, but what must we do with these little (hiccup) ? " asked 

 Sir Harry, at last rising from the breakfast-table, and looking list- 

 lessly round the company for an answer. 



" ! liquor them well, and send them home to their mammas," 

 suggested Captain Bouncey, who was all for the drink. 



11 But they won't take their (hiccup)," replied Sir Harry, holding 

 up a Curacoa bottle to show how little had disappeared. 



" Try them with cherry brandy," suggested Captain Seedeybuck ; 

 adding, " it's sweeter. Now, young man," continued he, addressing 

 George Cheek, as he poured him out a wine-glassful, " this is the real 



