"Come in," with a shrug of his shoulders, and an impatient kick
at the sofa cushion at his feet, as though not half pleased at
the approaching visit.

Reader! Had you not ever a friend a few years older than
yourself, whose good opinions you were anxious to keep? A fellow
_teres atqua rotundus_; who could do everything better than you,
from Plato and tennis down to singing a comic song and playing
quoits? If you have had, wasn't he always in your rooms or
company whenever anything happened to show your little weak
points? Sanders, at any rate, occupied this position towards our
young friend Drysdale, and the latter, much as he liked Sander's
company, would have preferred it at any time than on an idle
morning just at the beginning of term, when the gentlemen
tradesmen, who look upon undergraduates in general, and
gentlemen-commoners in particular, as their lawful prey, are in
the habit of calling in flocks.

The new arrival was a tall florid man, with a half servile, half
impudent, manner, and a foreign accent; dressed in sumptuous
costume, with a velvet-faced coat, and a gorgeous plush
waist-coat. Under his arm he carried a large parcel, which he
proceeded to open, and placed upon a sofa the contents,
consisting of a couple of coats, and three or four waistcoats and
a pair of trousers. He saluted Sanders with a most obsequious
bow, looked nervously at Jack, who opened one eye from between
his master's legs and growled, and then, turning to Drysdale,
asked if he should have the honor of seeing him try on any of the
clothes?

"No; I can't be bored with trying them on now," said Drysdale;
"leave them where they are."

Mr. Schloss would like very much on his return to town, in a day
or two, to be able to assure his principals, that Mr. Drysdale's
orders had been executed to his satisfaction. He had also some
very beautiful new stuffs with him, which he should like to
submit to Mr. Drysdale, and without more ado began unfolding
cards of the most fabulous plushes and cloths.

Drysdale glanced first at the cards and then at Sanders, who sat
puffing his cigar, and watching Schloss's proceedings with a look
not unlike Jack's when anyone he did not approve of approached
his master.

"Confound your patterns, Schloss," said Drysdale; "I tell you I
have more things than I want already."

"The large stripe, such as these, is now very much worn in
London," went on Schloss, without heeding the rebuff, and
spreading his c