eople. Indeed, humbugs are not always content to
defend their absent brother humbugs when they hear them abused, but they
will frequently lug each other in neck and crop, apparently for no other
purpose than that of proclaiming what excellent fellows they are, and see
if anybody will take up the cudgels against them.

Mr. Sponge, albeit with a considerable cross of the humbug himself, and one
who perfectly understood the usual worthlessness of general invitations,
was yet so taken with Mr. Jawleyford's hail-fellow-well-met, earnest sort
of manner, that, adopting the convenient and familiar solution in such
matters, that there is no rule without an exception, concluded that Mr.
Jawleyford was the exception, and really meant what he said.

Independently of the attractions offered by hunting, which were both strong
and cogent, we have said there were two young ladies, to whom fame attached
the enormous fortunes common in cases where there is a large property and
no sons. Still Sponge was a wary bird, and his experience of the
worthlessness of most general invitations made him think it just possible
that it might not suit Mr. Jawleyford to receive him now, at the particular
time he wanted to go; so after duly considering the case, and also the
impressive nature of the invitation, so recently given, too, he determined
not to give Jawleyford the chance of refusing him, but just to say he was
coming, and drop down upon him before he could say 'no.' Accordingly, he
penned the following epistle:

'BANTAM HOTEL, BOND-STREET, LONDON.

'DEAR JAWLEYFORD,

'I purpose being with you to-morrow, by the express train, which I see, by
Bradshaw, arrives at Lucksford a quarter to three. I shall only bring two
hunters and a hack, so perhaps you could oblige me by taking them in for
the short time I shall stay, as it would not be convenient for me to
separate them. Hoping to find Mrs. Jawleyford and the young ladies well, I
remain, dear sir,

'Yours very truly,

'H. SPONGE.

'To--JAWLEYFORD, Esq., Jawleyford Court, Lucksford.'

'Curse the fellow!' exclaimed Jawleyford, nearly choking himself with a
fish bone, as he opened and read the foregoing at breakfast. 'Curse the
fellow!' he repeated, stamping the letter under foot, as though he would
crush it to atoms. 'Who ever saw such a piece of impudence as that!'

'What's the matter, my dear?' inquired Mrs. Jawleyford, alarmed lest it was
her dunning jeweller writing