“You think too badly of yourself, old man,” declared Frank. “You were jealous, and jealousy has parted the truest friends.”
Bart turned and caught hold of Merry.
“But it shall not part us!” he cried fiercely. “Say it shall not part us, Frank!”
“I hope not, Bart. We will not permit it.”
“No, no! Such friendship as ours comes but once in a lifetime! Once lost, nothing can ever take its place.”
Frank nodded.
“That is true,” he said. “I think there is no danger, Bart.”
“But can you feel just the same toward me after—after this?”
“Just the same, old man? If anything, I must think more of you. You might have hidden it from me, and I’d never been the wiser.”