402 mr. 



the repayment of the kiss Lucy had advanced, her ladyship advised 

 her to get off her habit and make herself comfortable, while she ran 

 down stairs to communicate the astonishing intelligence to the party 

 below. 



" What d'ye think ? " exclaimed she, bursting into the billiard- 

 room, where the party were still engaged in a game at pool, all our 

 sportsmen, except Captain Cutitfat, who still sported his new Moses 

 and Son's scarlet, having divested themselves of their hunting-gear — 

 " What d'ye think ? " exclaimed she, darting into the middle of 

 them. 



" That Bob don't cannon ? " observed Captain Bouncey from 

 below the bandage that encircled his broken head, nodding towards 

 Bob Spangles, who was just going to make a stroke. 



" That Wax is out of limbo ? " suggested Captain Seedeybuck, in 

 the same breath. 



" No. Guess again ! " exclaimed Lady Scattercash, rubbing her 

 hands in high glee. 



" That the Pope's got a son ? " observed Captain Quod. 



" No. Guess again ! " exclaimed her ladyship, laughing. 



" I give it up," replied Captain Bouncey. 



" So do I," added Captain Seedeybuck. 



" That Mr. Sponge is going- to be married" enunciated her 

 ladyship, slowly and emphatically, waving her arms. 



u Ho-o-ray! Only think of that!" exclaimed Captain Quod. 

 " Old 'hogany-tops goin' to be spliced ! " 



" Did you ever ? " asked Bob Spangles. 



" No, I never" replied Captain Bouncey. 



" He should be called Spooney Sponge, not Soapey Sponge," ob- 

 served Captain Seedeybuck. 



" Well, but to whom ? " asked Captain Bouncey. 



" Ah, to whom, indeed ! That's the question," rejoined her lady- 

 ship archly. 



" I know," observed Bob Spangles. 



" No, you don't." 



" Yes, I do." 



" Who is it, then ? " demanded her ladyship. 



" Lucy Glitters, to be sure," replied Bob, who hadn't had his 

 stare out of the billiard-room window for nothing. 



" Pity her," observed Bouncey, sprawling along the billiard-table 

 to play for a cannon. 



" Why ? " asked Lady Scattercash. 



" Reg'lar scamp," replied Bouncey, vexed at missing his stroke. 



" Dare Say you know nothing about him," snapped her ladyship. 



" Don't I?" replied Bouncey, complacently; adding, " that's all 

 you know." 



" He'll whop her, to a certainty," observed Seedeybuck. 



