"Not lately."
"But I have been thinking about it all the time."
"What do your father and mother say?"
"O, they are all right."
"Have you asked them?"
"Certainly I have; they are willing I should go with you."
"Why didn't you speak of it then?"
"I thought I wouldn't say any thing till the time came. You know you fought shy when I spoke about it before."
And Bobby, notwithstanding the interest he felt in his companion, was a little disposed to "fight shy" now. Tom had reformed, or had pretended to do so; but he was still a raw recruit, and our hero was somewhat fearful that he would run at the first fire.
To the good and true man life is a constant battle. Temptation assails him at almost every point; perils and snares beset him at every step of his mortal pilgrimage, so that every day he is called upon to gird on his armor and fight the good fight.