For a moment he set his lips, and then, while his nerves tingled, banished the disturbing doubts.
Dropping the paddle, he leaned forward, put his hand on the girl's waist, and drew her towards him.

He felt her yield, and heard her draw a fluttering breath.

Her head drooped so that he could not see her face; she was slipping into his arms, and then, in the moment of surrender, he felt her body stiffen.

She put her hands on his shoulder and pushed him back; the canoe lurched and he had some trouble to prevent a capsize.
The water splashed against the rocking craft, and Sadie, drawing away, fixed her eyes on him.

She was breathless, but rather from emotion than effort.
"Don't do that again!" she said.
Charnock saw she meant it, which was strange.