"That adventure in the West Indies showed he has plenty of pluck and presence of mind; but he is as shy as a girl.

Though I don't know why I should say that, for it's mighty few of them have any shyness about them.

He will grow out of it.

I was just the same myself when I was his age." Lieutenant Desmond burst into a roar of laughter.
"I should have liked to have known you then, O'Connor." O'Connor joined in the laugh.
"It's true though, Desmond.

I was brought up by two maiden aunts in the town of Dundalk, and they were always bothering me about my manners; so that though I could hold my own in a slanging match down by the riverside, I was as awkward as a young bear when in genteel company.