t of the hounds. After sundry attempts on
pink, blue, and green-tinted paper, he at last succeeded in hitting off the
following, on yellow:

'NONSUCH HOUSE.

'DEAR SIR HARRY,--I rode over this morning, hearing you
were to hunt, and am sorry to find you indisposed. I wish you
would drop me a line to Mr. Crowdey's, Puddingpote Bower, saying
when next you go out, as I should much like to have another look
at your splendid pack before I leave this country, which I fear
will have to be soon.--Yours in haste,

'H. SPONGE.

'P.S.--I hope you all got safe home the other night from Mr.
Peastraw's.'

Having put this into a richly gilt and embossed envelope, our friend
directed it conspicuously to Sir Harry Scattercash, Bart., and stuck it in
the centre of the mantelpiece. He then retraced his steps through the back
regions, informing the sleeping beauty he had before disturbed, and who was
now busy scouring a pan, that he had left a letter in the drawing-room for
Sir Harry, and if she would see that he got it, he (Mr. Sponge) would
remember her the next time he came, which he inwardly hoped would be soon.
He then made for the stable, and got his horse, to go home, sauntering more
leisurely along than one would expect of a man who had not got his
breakfast, especially one riding a hack hunter.

The truth was, Mr. Sponge did not much like the aspect of affairs. Sir
Harry's was evidently a desperately 'fast' house; added to which, the
guests by whom he was surrounded were clearly of the wide-awake order, who
could not spare any pickings for a stranger. Indeed, Mr. Sponge felt that
they rather cold-shouldered him at Farmer Peastraw's, and were in a greater
hurry to be off when the drag came, than the mere difference between inside
and outside seats required. He much questioned whether he got into Sir
Harry's at all. If it came to a vote, he thought he should not. Then, what
was he to do? Old Jog was clearly tired of him; and he had nowhere else to
go to. The thought made him stick spurs into the chestnut, and hurry home
to Puddingpote Bower, where he endeavoured to soothe his host by more than
insinuating that he was going on a visit to Nonsuch House. Jog inwardly
prayed that he might.

CHAPTER LVII

THE DEBATE

It was just as Mr. Sponge predicted with regard to his admission to Nonsuch
House. The first person who spied his note to Sir Harry Scattercash was
Captain Seedeybuc