I am very glad to see him!'-- John had an off-hand manner of his own; so they shook hands warmly, and were friends in no time.
'Stand off a moment, Tom,' cried the old pupil, laying one hand on each of Mr Pinch's shoulders, and holding him out at arm's length.

'Let me look at you! Just the same! Not a bit changed!' 'Why, it's not so very long ago, you know,' said Tom Pinch, 'after all.' 'It seems an age to me,' cried John, 'and so it ought to seem to you, you dog.' And then he pushed Tom down into the easiest chair, and clapped him on the back so heartily, and so like his old self in their old bedroom at old Pecksniff's that it was a toss-up with Tom Pinch whether he should laugh or cry.

Laughter won it; and they all three laughed together.
'I have ordered everything for dinner, that we used to say we'd have, Tom,' observed John Westlock.
'No!' said Tom Pinch.

'Have you ?' 'Everything.

Don't laugh, if you can help it, before the waiters.