The right side, he declared, was always the best side.

He quoted several instances of men, whose lives he had read in his Sunday school books, to show how happy a good man may be in prison, or when all the world seemed to forsake him.
Tom assured him that he meant to reform and be a good boy; and Bobby told him that when any one meant to turn over a new leaf, it was "now or never." If he put it off, he would only grow worse, and the longer the good work was delayed, the more difficult it would be to do it.
Tom agreed to all this, and was sure he had reformed.
For these reasons Bobby had come to regard Tom with a feeling of deep interest.

He considered him as, in some measure, his disciple, and he felt a personal responsibility in encouraging him to persevere in his good work.

Nevertheless Bobby was not exactly pleased to have his fine air castle upset, and to be tipped out of the clouds upon the cold, uncompromising earth again; so the first greeting he gave Tom was not as cordial as it might have been.
"Hallo, Tom!" he replied, rather coolly.
"Been waiting for you this half hour." "Have you ?" "Yes; ain't you rather late ?" "No; I have plenty of time, though none to spare," answered Bobby; and this was a hint that he must not detain him too long.
"Come along then." "Where are you going, Tom ?" asked Bobby, a little surprised at these words.
"To Boston." "Are you ?" "I am; that's a fact.

You know I spoke to you about going into the book business." "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 anything till the time came.