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

Perhaps it was fortunate that Mr. Bragg did take the kennel management upon himself, or there is no saying but what with that and the house department, coupled with the usual fussiness of a bachelor, the Sponge visit might have proved too much for our master.  The notice of the intended visit was short; and there were invitations to send out, and answers to get, bedrooms to prepare, and culinary arrangements to make—­arrangements that people in town, with all their tradespeople at their elbows, can have no idea of the difficulty of effecting in the country.  Mr. Puffington was fully employed.

In addition to the parties mentioned as asked in his note to Lord Scamperdale, viz.  Washball, Charley Slapp, and Lumpleg, were Parson Blossomnose; Mr. Fossick of the Flat Hat Hunt, who declined—­Mr. Crane of Crane Hall; Captain Guano, late of that noble corps the Spotted Horse Marines; and others who accepted.  Mr. Spraggon was a sort of volunteer, at all events an undesired guest, unless his lordship accompanied him.  It so happened that the least wanted guest was the first to arrive on the all-important day.

Lord Scamperdale, knowing our friend Jack was not over affluent, had no idea of spoiling him by too much luxury, and as the railway would serve a certain distance in the line of Hanby House, he despatched Jack to the Over-shoes-over-boots station with the dog-cart, and told him he would be sure to find a ’bus, or to get some sort of conveyance at the Squandercash station to take him up to Puffington’s; at all events, his lordship added to himself, ’If he doesn’t, it’ll do him no harm to walk, and he can easily get a boy to carry his bag.’

The latter was the case; for though the station-master assured Jack, on his arrival at Squandercash, that there was a ’bus, or a mail gig, or a something to every other train, there was nothing in connexion with the one that brought him, nor would he undertake to leave his carpet-bag at Hanby House before breakfast-time the next morning.