All this he suddenly abjured.

One fine morning he paid successive visits to his tailor, his boot-maker, his hatter, and his hosier, which left all those worthy tradesmen rubbing their hands with satisfaction.

About a week afterwards he emerged from his rooms in a state of gorgeousness which impressed his landlady and amazed his friends.

His old college companions hardly recognized Tom's honest phiz as it looked out above the most fashionable of coats and under the glossiest of hats.
His father was anything but edified by the change.
"I don't know what's coming over the lad, Kate," he remarked after one of his visits.

"If I thought he was going to turn to a fop, by the Lord Harry I'd disown him! Don't you notice a change in him yourself ?" Kate managed to evade the question, but her bright blush might have opened the old man's eyes had he observed it.