where _did_ you spring from? I didn't know you were
in London."

"Ain't I, though!" replied Gus, tapping the end of his cigarette on his
cane. "But what are you up to, Tom?--you're not going in here, are
you?" pointing over his shoulder to the theatre.

"Well, no," said Tom; "that is," added he, with as much of a swagger as
he could assume on the spur of the moment, "I had been half thinking of
just seeing what it was like. Some of our fellows, you know, fancy the
place."

How suddenly and easily he was, under the eyes of these two "swells,"
casting off the few slender cords that still held him moored to the
shore.

"Oh, don't go in there," said Gus, with a look of disgust; "it's the
slowest place in London--nothing on but that old fool Shakespeare's
plays, or somebody's equally stupid. You come along with us, Tom, we'll
take you to a place where you'll get your money's worth and no mistake.
Won't we, Jack?"

The youth appealed to as Jack answered with a most affected drawl, and
with an effort which appeared to cause him no little fatigue, "Wathah."

"Come along," said Gus, lighting a fresh cigarette.

Tom was uncomfortable. He would not for worlds seem unwilling to go,
and yet he wished he could get out of it somehow.

"Very kind of you," he said, "I'd like it awfully; but I must get back
to do some work, you know, I've an exam coming on. It's an awful
nuisance!"

"Why, I thought you were going in here, in any case!" said Gus.

"Ah--well--yes, so I was, just for a little, to see what sort of affair
it was; but I meant to be home by nine."

"Well, just have a squint in at our place; and if you must go, you must.
Come along, old man; cut work for one evening, can't you? You've
become an awfully reformed character all of a sudden; you usen't to be
so hot on your books."

Tom had no ambition before these two to figure in the light of a
reformed character, and he therefore abandoned further protest, and
proceeded to accompany Gus and his friend down the street.

"Have a weed?" asked Gus.

"Thanks, I hardly ever smoke," said Tom.

"They're very mild," said Gus, with a sneer.

Tom took the proffered cigar without another word, and did his best
first to light and then to smoke it as if he were an experienced smoker.

"Who's your fwend?" inquired Gus's languid acquaintance.

"By the way," said that young man, "I've never introduced you two.
Mortimer, allow me to introduce you to my friend Tom Drif