And Gus's friend was no less imposing--more so, indeed, for he wore an eyeglass.
Tom was so astonished at this unexpected meeting that he had noticed all this long before he found words to return his old schoolfellow's salutation.
Gus, however, relieved him of his embarrassment.
"Tom Drift, upon my honour! How are you, old horse, and how's your mother?
Who'd have thought of running up against you like this ?" Tom tried to look as much at his ease as he could as he replied,-- "Why, Gus, old man, 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.