But I was under no temptation to smile.
I had to confine my mind pretty closely to the general principle, and rather studiously to ignore the particular instance, before I could bring myself to answer the almost infantile inquiry in those honest eyes.
"My dear fellow, it must!" Bob looked disappointed but resigned.
"Well, then, I won't press it, though I'm not sure that I agree.

You see, it's not as though there was or ever would be anything between us.
The idea's absurd.

We are absolute pals and nothing else.

That's what makes all this such a silly bore.

It's so unnecessary.