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'Hoo-ray! exclaimed Captains Quod and Cutitfat, who now came panting up. 'Now, Mr. Watchorn! cried Captain Seedeybuck, adding, 'You're a huntsman! 'Yooi over, Prosperous! Yooi over, Buster! cheered Watchorn, still pretending anxiety about his hounds. 'Let me have a shy, squeaked George Cheek, backing his giraffe, as he had seen Mr. Sponge and Miss Glitters do.
'Hate vinegar tops, growled Seedeybuck. Just then, in came Lady Scattercash, attended by Mr. Orlando Bugles, the ladies' attractions having caused that distinguished performer to forfeit his engagement at the Surrey Theatre. Captain Cutitfat, Bob Spangles, and Sir Harry quickly followed, and the Sponge question was presently renewed.
'With all the honours! exclaimed Captain Cutitfat, filling his glass and rising to give the time; 'Watchorn, your good health! 'Watchorn, your good health! sounded from all parts, which Watchorn kept acknowledging, and looking about for the means to return the compliment, his friends being more intent upon drinking his health than upon supplying him with wine.
'I think not, replied Captain Cutitfat, with an emphasis. 'Wonder what made Sir Harry ask him! whispered Bouncey, adding, aloud, for the bystanders to hear, 'That's a fine cow, isn't it? 'Very, replied Cutitfat, in the same key, adding, in a whisper, with a shrug of his shoulders, 'Wonder what made him ask half the people that are here!
There was Bob Spangles, in a swallow-tailed, mulberry-coloured scarlet, that looked like an old pen-wiper, white duck trousers, and lack-lustre Napoleon boots; Captain Cutitfat, in a smart new 'Moses and Son's' straight-cut scarlet, with bloodhound heads on the buttons, yellow-ochre leathers, and Wellington boots with drab knee-caps; little Bouncey in a tremendously baggy long-backed scarlet, whose gaping outside-pockets showed that they had carried its late owner's hands as well as his handkerchief; the clumsy device on the tarnished buttons looking quite as much like sheep's-heads as foxes'. Bouncey's tight tweed trousers were thrust into a pair of wide fisherman's boots, which, but for his little roundabout stomach, would have swallowed him up bodily.
Captain Quod saw it next, then Captain Bouncey, who told Captain Cutitfat what was in it, who agreed with Bouncey that it wouldn't do to have Mr. Sponge there. Indeed, it seemed agreed on all hands that their party rather wanted weeding than increasing.
'Certainly, replied Sir Harry, who was always ready for anything. 'We shall have plenty of partners, observed Miss Howard, recollecting how many men there were in the house. 'And another coming, observed Captain Cutitfat, still fretting at the idea. 'Indeed! exclaimed Miss Howard, raising her hands and eyebrows in delight; 'and who is he? asked she, with unfeigned glee.
'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, haw! ho, ho, ho! Well done you! laughed several. 'She'll have to keep him, observed Captain Cutitfat, whose turn it now was to play.
'Hate that Sponge, observed Captain Cutitfat. 'So do I, replied Captain Quod. 'Well, never mind the beggar! It's you to play! exclaimed Bob Spangles to Captain Seedeybuck.
'Indeed, my dear, replied Lady Scattercash, who was sitting gloriously fine and very beautiful at the head of the table, 'I don't know anything about it. 'Who is it from? asked brother Bob Spangles. 'Mr. 'What a name! exclaimed Captain Seedeybuck. 'Who is he? asked Captain Quod. 'No doubt, assented Captain Cutitfat, adding, 'what business has he with the hounds?
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