'But where's my little friend, Augustus James?' asked he, on arriving at the wonder's high chair by the side of mamma. 'Where's my little friend, Augustus James?' asked he, with an air of concern. 'Oh, _Gustavus_ James,' replied Mrs. Jog, with an emphasis on Gustavus; '_Gustavus_ James is not very well this morning; had a little indigestion during the night.' 'Poor little hound,' observed Mr. Sponge, filling his mouth with hot kidney, glad to be rid for a time of the prodigy. 'I thought I heard a row when I came home, which was rather late for an early man like me, but the fact was, nothing would serve Sir Harry but I should go with him to get some refreshment at a tenant's of his; and we got on talking, first about one thing, and then about another, and the time slipped away so quickly, that day was gone before I knew where I was; and though Sir Harry was most anxious--indeed, would hardly take a refusal--for me to go home with him, I felt that, being a guest here, I couldn't do it--at least, not then; so I got my horse, and tried to find my way with such directions as the farmer gave me, and soon lost my way, for the moon was uncertain, and the country all strange both to me and my horse.' 'What farmer was it?' asked Jog, with the butter streaming down the gutters of his chin from a mouthful of thick toast. 'Farmer--farmer--farmer--let me see, what farmer it was,' replied Mr. Sponge thoughtfully, again attacking the kidneys. 'Oh, farmer Beanstraw, I should say.' '_Pea_straw, p'raps?' suggested Jog, colouring up, and staring intently at Mr. Sponge. 'Pea--Peastraw was the name,' replied Mr. Sponge. 'I know him,' said Jog; 'Peastraw of Stoke.' 'Ah, he said he knew you.' replied Mr. Sponge. 'Did he?' asked Jog eagerly. 'What did he say?' 'Say--let me see what he said,' replied he, pretending to recollect.' He said "you are a deuced good feller," and I'd to make his compliments to you, and to say that there were some nice young ash saplings on his farm that you were welcome to cut.' 'Did he?' exclaimed Jog; 'I'm sure that's very (puff) polite of him. I'll (wheeze) over there the first opportunity.' 'And what did you make of Sir Harry?' asked Mrs. Jog. 'Did you (puff) say you were going to (wheeze) over to him?' asked Jog eagerly. 'I told him I'd go to him before I left the country,' replied Mr. Sponge carelessly; adding, 'Sir Harry is rather too fast a man for me.' 'Too fast for himself, I should think,' observed Mrs. Jog. 'Fine (puff--wheeze) young man,' growled Jog into the bottom of his cup. 'Have you known him long?' asked Mrs. Jogglebury. 'Oh, we fox-hunters all know each other,' replied Mr. Sponge evasively. 'Well, now that's what I tell Mr. Jogglebury,' exclaimed she. 'Mr. Jog's so shy, that there's no getting him to do what he ought,' added the lady. 'No one, to hear him, would think he's the great man he is.'