"I had rather not," Thomas replied, attempting to smile, so as to conciliate his false friends.
"You're afraid of your money," said Boyd, in a half-sneering tone.
"It is not that, Boyd."
"Then what is it, pray?"
"I am afraid it is not right."
This was answered by a loud laugh from his two friends, which touched Thomas a good deal, and made him feel more ashamed of the scruples that held him back from entering into the temptation.
"Come down with your stake, Howland," Boyd said, after he had finished his laugh.
The hand of Thomas was in his pocket, and his fingers had grasped the silver coin, yet still he hesitated.
"Will you play, or not?" the friend of Boyd now said, with something of impatience in his tone. "Say yes, or no."
For a moment the mind of Thomas became confused—then the perception came upon him as clear as a sunbeam, that it was wrong to gamble. He remembered, too, vividly his father's parting injunction.