Sponge would have asked fourteen.
'Couldn't,' said Jack, with a shake of the head; 'it really isn't with
(worth) the money.'
The two then rode on in silence for some little distance.
'I'll tell you what I'll do,' said Jack, spurring his horse, and trotting
up the space that the other had now shot ahead. 'I'll split the difference
with you!'
'Well, give me the sov.,' said Sponge, holding out his hand for earnest.
'Why, I haven't a sov. upon me,' replied Jack; 'but, honour bright, I'll do
what I say.'
'Give me eleven golden sovereigns for my chance,' repeated Sponge slowly,
in order that there might be no mistake.
'Eleven golden sovereigns for your chance,' repeated Jack.
'Done!' replied Sponge.
'Done!' repeated Jack.
'Let's jog on and do it at once while the thing's fresh in our minds,' said
Jack, working his horse into a trot.
Sponge did the same; and the grass-siding of Orlantire Parkwall favouring
their design, they increased the trot to a canter. They soon passed the
park's bounds, and entering upon one of those rarities--an unenclosed
common, angled its limits so as to escape the side-bar, and turning up
Farningham Green lane, came out upon the Kingsworth and Swillingford
turnpike within sight of Hanby House.
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