leyford.

'Why, as to that--haw,'--replied Sponge, stretching out his arms and legs
to their fullest extent, and yawning most vigorously--'why, as to that, I
can hardly say which you would call my country, for I have to do with so
many; but I should say, of all the countries I am--haw--connected
with--haw--Tom Scratch's is the worst.'

Mr. Jawleyford looked at Mrs. Jawleyford as a counsel who thinks he has
made a grand hit looks at a jury before he sits down, and said no more.

Mrs. Jawleyford looked as innocent as most jurymen do after one of these
forensic exploits.--Mr. Sponge beginning his nasal recreations, Mrs.
Jawleyford motioned the ladies off to bed--Mr. Sponge and his host
presently followed.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE EVENING'S REFLECTIONS

'Well, I think he'll do,' said our friend to himself, as having reached his
bedroom, in accordance with modern fashion, he applied a cedar match to the
now somewhat better burnt-up fire, for the purpose of lighting a cigar--a
cigar! in the state-bedroom of Jawleyford Court. Having divested himself
of his smart blue coat and white waistcoat, and arrayed himself in a grey
dressing-gown, he adjusted the loose cushions of a recumbent chair, and
soused himself into its luxurious depths for a 'think over.'

'He has money,' mused Sponge, between the copious whiffs of the cigar,
'splendid style he lives in, to be sure' (puff), continued he, after
another long draw, as he adjusted the ash at the end of the cigar. 'Two men
in livery' (puff), 'one out, can't be done for nothing' (puff). 'What a
profusion of plate, too!' (whiff)--'declare I never' (puff) 'saw such'
(whiff, puff) 'magnificence in the whole course of my' (whiff, puff)
'life.'

The cigar being then well under way, he sucked and puffed and whiffed in an
apparently vacant stupor, his legs crossed, and his eyes fixed on a
projecting coal between the lower bars, as if intent on watching the
alternations of flame and gas; though in reality he was running all the
circumstances through his mind, comparing them with his past experience,
and speculating on the probable result of the present adventure.

He had seen a good deal of service in the matrimonial wars, and was
entitled to as many bars as the most distinguished peninsular veteran. No
woman with money, or the reputation of it, ever wanted an offer while he
was in the way, for he would accommodate her at the second or third
interview: and always pressed for an im