'Ah, well,' interrupted Mr. Puffington, who was still eager about his mission, 'we'll talk about that after. At present I'm come to tell you,' continued he, holding up Mr. Sponge's note, 'that we must brush up a little--going to have a visit of inspection from the great Mr. Sponge.' 'Indeed, sir!' replied Mr. Bragg, with the slightest possible touch of his cap, which he still kept on. 'Mr. Sponge, sir!--indeed, sir--Mr. Sponge, sir--pray who may _he_ be, sir?' 'Oh--why--hay--hum--haw--he's Mr. Sponge, you know--been hunting with Lord Scamperdale, you know--great sportsman, in fact--great authority, you know.' 'Indeed--great authority is he--indeed--oh--yes--thinks so p'raps--sc-e-e-use me, sir, but des-say, sir, I've forgot more, sir, than Mr. Sponge ever knew, sir.' 'Well, but you mustn't tell him so,' observed Mr. Puffington, fearful that Bragg might spoil sport. 'Oh, tell him--no,' sneered Bragg, with a jerk of the head; 'tell him--no; I'm not exactly such a donkey as that; on the contrary, I'll make things pleasant, sir--sugar his milk for him, sir, in short, sir.' 'Sugar his milk!' exclaimed Mr. Puffington, who was only a matter-of-fact man; 'sugar his milk! I dare say he takes tea.' 'Well, then, sugar his tea,' replied Bragg, with a smile, adding, 'can 'commodate myself, sir, to circumstances, sir,' at the same time taking off his cap and setting a chair for his master. 'Thank you, but I'm not going to stay,' replied Mr. Puffington; 'I only came up to let you know who you had to expect, so that you might prepare, you know--have all on the square, you know--best horses--best hounds--best appearance in general, you know.' 'That I'll attend to,' replied Mr. Bragg, with a toss of the head--'that _I'll_ attend to,' repeated he, with an emphasis on the _I'll_, as much as to say, 'Don't you meddle with what doesn't concern you.' Mr. Puffington would fain have rebuked him for his impertinence, as indeed he often would fain have rebuked him; but Mr. Bragg had so overpowered him with science, and impressed him with the necessity of keeping him--albeit Mr. Puffington was sensible that he killed very few foxes--that, having put up with him so long, he thought it would never do to risk a quarrel, which might lose him the chance of getting rid of him and hounds altogether; therefore, Mr. Puffington, instead of saying, 'You conceited humbug, get out of this,' or indulging in any observations that might lead to controversy, said, with a satisfied, confidential nod of the head: 'I'm sure you will--I'm sure you will,' and took his departure, leaving Mr. Bragg, to remount the saddle-stand and take the remainder of his sitting. CHAPTER XXXVII MR. PUFFINGTON'S DOMESTIC ARRANGEMENTS