'
'Shouldn't wonder,' replied Lord Scamperdale; adding, in an undertone, 'I
vote we have a rise out of old Jaw. I'll let you in for a good thing--you
shall dine with him.'
'Not I,' replied Jack.
'You _shall_, though,' replied his lordship firmly.
'Pray don't!' entreated Jack.
'By the powers, if you don't,' rejoined his lordship, 'you shall not have a
mount out of me for a month.'
While this conversation was going on, Jawleyford and Sponge, having risen
the hill, had resumed their seats in the saddle, and Jawleyford, setting
himself in attitude, tickled his horse with his spur, and proceeded to
canter becomingly up to the pack; Sponge and the groom following a little
behind.
'Ah, Jawleyford, my dear fellow!' exclaimed Lord Scamperdale, putting his
horse on a few steps to meet him as he came flourishing up. 'Ah,
Jawleyford, my dear fellow, I'm delighted to see you,' extending a hand as
he spoke. 'Jack, here, told me that he saw your flag flying as he passed,
and I said what a pity it was but I'd known before; for Jawleyford, said I,
is a real good fellow, one of the best fellows I know, and has asked me to
dine so often that I'm almost ashamed to meet him; and it would have been
such a nice opportunity to have volunteered a visit, the hounds being here,
you see.
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