The Whelp

           Itwasveryremarkablethatayounggentlemanwhohadbeenbroughtupunderonecontinuoussystemofunnaturalrestraint,shouldbeahypocrite;butitwascertainlythecasewithTom.Itwasverystrangethatayounggentlemanwhohadneverbeenlefttohisownguidanceforfiveconsecutiveminutes,shouldbeincapableatlastofgoverninghimself;butsoitwaswithTom.Itwasaltogetherunaccountablethatayounggentlemanwhoseimaginationhadbeenstrangledinhiscradle,shouldbestillinconveniencedbyitsghostintheformofgrovellingsensualities;butsuchamonster,beyondalldoubt,wasTom.

           ‘Doyousmoke?’askedMr.JamesHarthouse,whentheycametothehotel.

           ‘Ibelieveyou!’saidTom.

           HecoulddonolessthanaskTomup;andTomcoulddonolessthangoup.Whatwithacoolingdrinkadaptedtotheweather,butnotsoweakascool;andwhatwithararertobaccothanwastobeboughtinthoseparts;Tomwassooninahighlyfreeandeasystateathisendofthesofa,andmorethaneverdisposedtoadmirehisnewfriendattheotherend.

           Tomblewhissmokeaside,afterhehadbeensmokingalittlewhile,andtookanobservationofhisfriend.‘Hedon’tseemtocareabouthisdress,’thoughtTom,‘andyethowcapitallyhedoesit.Whataneasyswellheis!’

           Mr.JamesHarthouse,happeningtocatchTom’seye,remarkedthathedranknothing,andfilledhisglasswithhisownnegligenthand.

           ‘Thank’ee,’saidTom.‘Thank’ee.Well,Mr.Harthouse,IhopeyouhavehadaboutadoseofoldBounderbyto-night.