He had an infinitely tender heart.

Gratitude entered it--gratitude as impassioned as had been his fear.

One week later Lincoln Maitland and he were friends, and friends so intimate that they never parted.
The affection, which was merely to the indifferent nature of Maitland a simple college episode, became to Florent the most serious, most complete sentiment of his life.

Those fraternities of election, the loveliest and most delicate of the heart of man, usually dawn thus in youth.

It is the ideal age of passionate friendship, that period between ten and sixteen, when the spirit is so pure, so fresh, still so virtuous, so fertile in generous projects for the future.