'Ah!' exclaimed Jawleyford, when he was done; 'that's a pity--great pity--monstrous pity--never knew anything so unlucky in my life.' 'Misfortunes will happen,' replied Sponge, in a tone of unconcern.
'Ah, it wasn't so much the loss of the hunt I was thinking of,' replied Jawleyford, 'as the arrangements we have made in consequence of thinking you were gone.' 'What are they ?' asked Sponge.
'Why, my Lord Barker, a great friend of ours--known him from a boy--just like brothers, in short--sent over this morning to ask us all there--shooting party, charades, that sort of thing--and we accepted.' 'But that need make no difference,' replied Sponge; 'I'll go too.' Jawleyford was taken aback.

He had not calculated upon so much coolness.
'Well,' stammered he, 'that might do, to be sure; but--if--I'm not quite sure that I could take any one--' 'But if you're as thick as you say, you can have no difficulty,' replied our friend.
'True,' replied Jawleyford; 'but then we go a large party ourselves--two and two's four,' said he, 'to say nothing of servants; besides, his lordship mayn't have room--house will most likely be full.' 'Oh, a single man can always be put up; shake-down--anything does for him,' replied Sponge.

'But you would lose your hunting,' replied Jawleyford.
'Barkington Tower is quite out of Lord Scamperdale's country.' 'That doesn't matter,' replied Sponge, adding, 'I don't think I'll trouble his lordship much more.

These Flat Hat gentlemen are not over and above civil, in my opinion.' 'Well,' replied Jawleyford, nettled at this thwarting of his attempt, 'that's for your consideration.

However, as you've come, I'll talk to Mrs.
Jawleyford, and see if we can get off the Barkington expedition.' 'But don't get off on my account,' replied Sponge.