/**
  * Function caluclulate the length of a variable width string
  * @param string $string  the string we wish to calculate the length of
  * @param bool use_font_size default false -- 
  * @returns float the length of the string
  */
 protected function getVariableStringWidth($string, $use_font_size = false)
 {
     if ($this->direction != -1) {
         return $this->font_metrics[$this->direction]->getVariableStringWidth($string, $use_font_size);
     } else {
         return parent::getVariableStringWidth($string, $use_font_size);
     }
 }