longer talked of
him--'Scamperdale this, and Scamperdale that--Scamperdale, with whom he
could do anything he liked'; but he called him 'My Lord Scamperdale,' and
spoke of him in a reverent and becoming way. Distance often lends boldness
to the tongue, as the poet Campbell says it:

Lends enchantment to the view,
And robes the mountain in its azure hue.

There are few great men who haven't a dozen people, at least, who 'keep
them right,' as they call it. To hear some of the creatures talk, one
would fancy a lord was a lunatic as a matter of course.

Spigot at last put an end to their efforts by announcing that 'tea and
coffee were ready!' just as Mr. Sponge buzzed his bottle of port. They then
adjourned from the gloom of the large oak-wainscoted dining-room, to the
effulgent radiance of the well-lit, highly gilt, drawing-room, where our
fair friends had commenced talking Mr. Sponge over as soon as they retired
from the dining-room.

CHAPTER XVII

THE TEA

'And what do you think of _him_?' asked mamma.

'Oh, I think he's very well,' replied Emily gaily.

'I should say he was very _toor_-lerable,' drawled Miss Jawleyford, who
reckoned herself rather a judge, and indeed had had some experience of
gentlemen.

'_Tolerable_, my dear!' rejoined Mrs. Jawleyford, 'I should say he's very
well--rather _distingue_, indeed.'

'I shouldn't say _that_,' replied Miss Jawleyford; 'his height and figure
are certainly in his favour, but he isn't quite my idea of a gentleman. He
is evidently on good terms with himself; but I should say, if it wasn't for
his forwardness, he'd be awkward and uneasy.'

'He's a fox-hunter, you know,' observed Emily.

'Well, but I don't know that that should make him different to other
people,' rejoined her sister. 'Captain Curzon, and Mr. Lancaster, and Mr.
Preston, were all fox-hunters; but they didn't stare, and blurt, and kick
their legs about, as this man does.'

'Oh, you are so fastidious!' rejoined her mamma; 'you must take men as you
find them.'

'I wonder where he lives?' observed Emily, who was quite ready to take our
friend as he was.

'I wonder where he _does_ live?' chimed in Mrs. Jawleyford, for the
suddenness of the descent had given them no time for inquiry. 'Somebody
said Manchester,' observed Miss Jawleyford drily.

'So much the better,' observed Mrs. Jawleyford, 'for then he is sure to
have plenty of money.'

'Law, ma! but you don't s'pose pa would