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What can bring him here? Our traveller's creaking boots and radiant leathers eclipsing the sombre habiliments of Mr. Spigot, Mrs. Jawleyford quickly rose from her Pembroke writing-desk, and proceeded to greet him. 'My daughters I think you know, Mr. Spraggon; also Mr. Sponge? Mr.
'Fine thing, observed Jawleyford, starting off to a side, and pointing to it; 'fine thing Italian marble by Frère cost a vast of money was offered three hundred for it. Are you a judge of these things? asked Jawleyford; 'are you a judge of these things? 'A little, replied Sponge, 'a little'; thinking he might as well see what his intended father-in-law's personal property was like.
His lordship thought at one time of entering into an explanation, telling Mr. Jawleyford the damage Sponge had done him, and the nuisance he was entailing upon him by harbouring him; but not being a great scholar, and several hard words turning up that his lordship could not well clear in the spelling, he just confined himself to a laconic, which, as it turned out, was a most fortunate course.
A stranger revising Jawleyford after an absence of a year or two, would very likely find the best fellows of former days transformed into the worst ones of that.
'My friend Lord Sparklebury said to me the last time he was here he's now in Italy, increasing his collection "Jawleyford, old boy," said he, for we are very intimate just like brothers, in fact; "Jawleyford, old boy, I wonder whether your collection or mine would fetch most money, if they were Christie-&-Manson'd."
'Jack, here, told me that he saw your flag flying as he passed, and I said what a pity it was but I'd known before; for Jawleyford, said I, is a real good fellow, one of the best fellows I know, and has asked me to dine so often that I'm almost ashamed to meet him; and it would have been such a nice opportunity to have volunteered a visit, the hounds being here, you see.
He was a fine, off-hand, open-hearted, cheery sort of fellow, who was always delighted to see you, would start at the view, and stand with open arms in the middle of the street, as though quite overjoyed at the meeting. Though he never gave dinners, nor anything where he was, he asked everybody, at least everybody who did give them, to visit him at Jawleyford Court.
Foozle would be occupied before the glass in his study arranging her head-gear, and seeing no symptoms of any further announcement, at last asked Foozle if his papa and mamma were not coming. 'No, my papa and mamma are not coming, replied he. 'Are you sure? asked Jawleyford, in a tone of excitement. 'Quite sure, replied Foozle, in the most matter-of-course voice.
Jawleyford was a great patron of the chase; and his keeper, Watson, always had a bag-fox ready to turn down when my lord's hounds met there. Jawleyford's covers were never known to be drawn blank. Though they had been shot in the day before, they always held a fox the next if a fox was wanted.
For instance: 'Well, Robert, have you been at Dulverton to-day? Answer, 'No, I've not been at Dulverton to-day. Question, 'Are you going to Dulverton to-morrow? Answer, 'No, I'm not going to Dulverton to-morrow. Having shaken hands with the party all round, and turned to the fire to warm his red fists, Jawleyford having stood at 'attention' for such time as he thought Mrs.
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