There was something in Martin's voice and at the back of his eyes which made him see him plainly and suddenly as a man standing all alone and wounded.

But he waited in vain.

There was a curious silence,--a rather painful and embarrassing silence, during which these two lads, who had been pretending to be men, dodged each other's eyes.
And then Howard, with an uncharacteristic awkwardness, and looking very young, made a quick step forward, and with a sort of gentle roughness grasped Martin by the arm.

"But you've got something to say," he said.
"Good God, man, have we been pals for nothing?
I hide nothing from you.
I can help." But Martin shook his head.

He tried to speak and failed.