“But you never can!”
“Oh yes, I can, now,” said Wilfred confidently. Suddenly his confidence ran out of him. “Well, sometimes I can,” he amended.
Stanny chuckled derisively.
“I know, I’m foolish . . . But you like me . . . ?”
Stanny squeezed his arm.
“I . . . I can’t tell you what you are to me, Stanny. . . .”
“Oh, for God’s sake, don’t try!” said Stanny quickly.
“To have somebody I can talk to like this . . . I can’t believe it! I had made up my mind that I was a freak. I expected to be laughed at, so I intended to hold my tongue all my life. . . . Do you think I am effeminate, Stanny?”
“Oh, for God’s sake . . . !”
He does think so; thought Wilfred; but it doesn’t matter if he is my friend.