MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 403 



" What makes you think that ? " asked her ladyship. 

 " Oh — ha — hem — haw — why, because he whopped his poor horse 

 — whopped him over the ears. Whop his horse, whop his wife ; whop 

 his wife, whop his horse. Reg'lar Rule-of-three sum." 



" Make her a bad husband, I dare say," observed Bob Spangles, 

 who was rather smitten with Lucy himself. 



" Never mind ; a bad husband's a deal better than none, Bob," 

 replied Lady Scattercash, determined not to be put out of conceit of 

 her man. 



" He, he, he! — haw, haw, haiv ! — ho, ho, ho! Well done you ! " 

 laughed several. 



" She'll have to keep him," observed Captain Cutitfat, whose 

 turn it now was to play. 



" What makes you think that ? " asked Lady Scattercash, coming 

 again to the charge. 



" He has nothing," replied Fat, coolly. 



" 'Deed, but he has — a very good property, too," replied her 

 ladyship. 



" In Airshire, I should think," rejoined Fat. 



" No, in Englandshire," retorted her ladyship ; " and great expec- 

 tations from an uncle," added she. 



" Ah — he looks like a man to be on good terms with his uncle," 

 sneered Captain Bouncey. 



" Make no doubt he pays him many a visit," observed Seedeybuck. 



" Indeed ! that's all you know," snapped Lady Scattercash. 



" It's not all I know," replied Seedeybuck. 



'^Well, then, what else do you know ? " asked she. 



" I know he has nothing," replied Seedey. 



" How do you know it ? " 



" I know," said Seedey, with an emphasis, now settling to his 

 stroke. 



" Well, never mind," retorted her ladyship ; " if he has nothing 

 she has nothing, and nothing can be nicer." 



So saying, she hurried out of the room. 



