Altogether they were very
'thick.'
'And how's our friend Sponge?' asked Puffington, as the conversation at
length began to flag.
'Oh, he's nicely,' replied Jack, adding, 'hasn't he come yet?'
'Not that I've seen,' answered Puffington, adding, 'I thought, perhaps, you
might come together.'
'No,' grunted Jack; 'he comes from Jawleyford's, you know; I'm from
Woodmansterne.'
'We'll go and see if he's come,' observed Puffington, opening a door in the
garden-wall, into which he had manoeuvred Jack, communicating with the
courtyard of the stable.
'Here are his horses,' observed Puffington, as Mr. Leather rode through the
great gates on the opposite side, with the renowned hunters in full
marching order.
'Monstrous fine animals they are,' said Jack, squinting intently at them.
'They are that,' replied Puffington.
'Mr. Sponge seems a very pleasant, gentlemanly man,' observed Mr.
Puffington.
'Oh, he is,' replied Jack.
'Can you tell me--can you inform me--that's to say, can you give me any
idea,' hesitated Puffington, 'what is the usual practice--the usual
course--the usual understanding as to the treatment of those sort of
gentlemen?'
'Oh, the best of everything's good enough for them,' replied Jack, adding,
'just as it is with me.
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