"Is that what your friendship means?" he asked, holding her hands
closely and looking down steadily into her eyes while his own grew
brilliant. "If it does--it is going to be something a man might give up
a good deal for."
"Oh, how can you take such a cruel disappointment so?" she breathed.
"And to hear it just at Christmas, too. I've said all along that you
were just the bravest person I ever knew. But now!--Jerry, I'm not
worthy to be your friend."
"Ah, I'll not let you take back what you offered me. If you knew how
I've wanted to ask it----"
"Have you, really?" she asked so eagerly that he turned his head away
for a moment and set his lips firmly together as if he feared he might
presently be tempted to go beyond those strait boundaries of friendship.
Somehow from the lips of such a girl as Nan this sort of thing was the
most appealing flattery; at the same time it was unquestionably sincere.
"So you will seal the compact? Think it over carefully. I can never give
you the strong arm a well man could.
Pages:
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217