nything of the past.
Then she reverted to the interesting subject of settlements. 'What had Mr.
Sponge got, and what would he do?' This Lucy couldn't tell. 'What! hadn't
he told her where is estates were?--'No.' 'Well, was his dad dead?' This
Lucy didn't know either. They had got no further than the tender prop. 'Ah!
well; would get it all out of him by degrees.' And with the reiteration of
her 'so glads,' and the repayment of the kiss Lucy had advanced, her
ladyship advised her to get off her habit and make herself comfortable
while she ran downstairs 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.

'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,' observed Captain
Seedeybuck.

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

'Ah, to whom indeed! That's the question,' rejoined her ladyship 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 l