CHAPTER LX

FACEY ROMFORD AT HOME

We will now suppose our distinguished Sponge entering the village, or what the natives call the town of Washingforde, towards the close of a short December day, on his arrival from Mr. Jog’s.

‘What sort of stables are there?’ asked he, reining up his hack, as he encountered the brandy-nosed Leather airing himself on the main street.

‘Stables be good enough—­forage, too,’ replied the stud groom—­’per-wided you likes the sittivation.’

’Oh, the sittivation ‘ll be good enough,’ retorted Sponge, thinking that, groom-like, Leather was grumbling because he hadn’t got the best stables.

‘Well, sir, as you please,’ replied the man.

‘Why, where are they?’ asked Sponge, seeing there was more in Leather’s manner than met the eye.

‘Rose and Crown!’ replied Leather, with an emphasis.

‘Rose and Crown!’ exclaimed Sponge, starting in his saddle; ’Rose and Crown!  Why, I’m going to stay with Mr. Romford!’

‘So he said.’ replied Leather; ’so he said.  I met him as I com’d in with the osses, and said he to me, said he, “You’ll find captle quarters at the Crown!"’ ‘The deuce!’ exclaimed Mr. Sponge, dropping the reins on his hack’s neck; ‘the deuce!’ repeated he with a look of disgust.  ’Why, where does he live?’

‘’Bove the saddler’s, thonder,’ replied Leather, nodding to a small bow-windowed white house a little lower down, with the gilt-lettered words: 

    OVEREND,
    SADDLER AND HARNESS-MAKER TO THE QUEEN,

above a very meagrely stocked shop.

‘The devil!’ replied Mr. Sponge, boiling up as he eyed the cottage-like dimensions of the place.

The dialogue was interrupted by a sledge-hammer-like blow on Sponge’s back, followed by such a proffered hand as could proceed from none but his host.

‘Glad to see ye!’ exclaimed Facey, swinging Sponge’s arm to and fro.  ’Get off!’ continued he, half dragging him down, ’and let’s go in; for it’s beastly cold, and dinner’ll be ready in no time!’

So saying, he led the captive Sponge down street, like a prisoner, by the arm, and, opening the thin house-door, pushed him up a very straight staircase into a little low cabin-like room, hung with boxing-gloves, foils, and pictures of fighters and ballet girls.

‘Glad to see ye!’ again said Facey, poking the diminutive fire.  ’Axed Nosey Nickel and Gutty Weazel to meet you,’ continued he, looking at the little ‘dinner-for-two’ table; ’but Nosey’s gone wrong in a tooth, and Gutty’s away sweetheartin’.  However, we’ll be very cosy and jolly together; and if you want to wash your hands, or anything afore dinner, I’ll show you your bedroom,’ continued he, backing Sponge across the staircase landing to where a couple of little black doors opened into rooms, formed by dividing what had been the duplicate of the sitting-room into two.