“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.