It was a lucky thing for Bob." "I think it was.

He was getting quite reckless in his pranks." The subject of this conversation was, of course, not aware of it.
The truth was that Bob was fairly holding himself in.

He saw many opportunities to play jokes--more, in fact, than he had ever seen before.

It was a great temptation to indulge in pranks, but he reflected that if he got into any more trouble he might not be allowed to take the sea voyage.
"And I wouldn't want that to happen for the world," he said to himself.

"Still I know a couple of dandy jokes I could play before I go.