mediate fulfilment, lest the 'cursed
lawyers' should interfere and interrupt their felicity. Somehow or other,
the 'cursed lawyers' always had interfered; and as sure as they walked in,
Mr. Sponge walked out. He couldn't bear the idea of their coarse,
inquisitive inquiries. He was too much of a gentleman!

Love, light as air, at sight of human ties
Spreads his light wings and in a moment flies.

So Mr. Sponge fled, consoling himself with the reflection that there was no
harm done, and hoping for 'better luck next time.'

He roved from flower to flower like a butterfly, touching here, alighting
there, but always passing away with apparent indifference. He knew if he
couldn't square matters at short notice, he would have no better chance
with an extension of time; so, if he saw things taking the direction of
inquiry he would just laugh the offer off, pretend he was only feeling his
way--saw he was not acceptable--sorry for it--and away he would go to
somebody else. He looked upon a woman much in the light of a horse; if she
didn't suit one man, she would another, and there was no harm in trying. So
he puffed and smoked, and smoked and puffed--gliding gradually into wealth
and prosperity.

[Illustration: MR. SPONGE AS HE APPEARED IN THE BEST BEDROOM]

A second cigar assisted his comprehension considerably--just as a second
bottle of wine not only helps men through their difficulties, but shows
them the way to unbounded wealth. Many of the bright railway schemes of
former days, we make no doubt, were concocted under the inspiring influence
of the bottle. Sponge now saw everything as he wished. All the errors of
his former days were apparent to him. He saw how indiscreet it was
confiding in Miss Trickery's cousin, the major; why the rich widow at
Chesterfield had _chasseed_ him; and how he was done out of the beautiful
Miss Rainbow, with her beautiful estate, with its lake, its heronry, and
its perpetual advowson. Other mishaps he also considered.

Having disposed of the past, he then turned his attention to the future.
Here were two beautiful girls apparently full of money, between whom there
wasn't the toss-up of a halfpenny for choice. Most exemplary parents, too,
who didn't seem to care a farthing about money.

He then began speculating on what the girls would have. 'Great house--great
establishment--great estate, doubtless. Why, confound it,' continued he,
casting his heavy eye lazily around, 'here's a roo