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.
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