Nevertheless, Jack worked away in his usual carnivorous style, and finished by paying his respects to all the sweets, jellies, and things in succession.

He never got any of these, he said, at 'home,' meaning at Lord Scamperdale's--Amelia thought, if she was 'my lady,' he would not get any meat there either.
[Illustration: ENTER MR.

JACK SPRAGGON, FULL DRESS] At length Jack finished; and having discussed cheese, porter, and red herrings, the cloth was drawn, and a hard-featured dessert, consisting principally of apples, followed.

The wine having made a couple of melancholy circuits, the strained conversation about came to a full stop, and Spigot having considerately placed the little round table, as if to keep the peace between them, the ladies left the male worthies to discuss their port and sherry together.

Jack, according to Woodmansterne fashion, unbuttoned his waistcoat, and stuck his legs out before him--an example that Mr.Sponge quickly followed, and each assumed an attitude that as good as said 'I don't care twopence for you.' A dead silence then prevailed, interrupted only by the snap, snap, snapping of Jack's toothpick against his chair-edge, when he was not busy exploring his mouth with it.