Silvere looked at it, leaning forward and hesitating to get over.
But the peasant-girl must have been watching the young man askance, for she jumped up without saying anything, picked up the chisel, and handed it to Silvere, who then perceived that she was a mere child.

He was surprised and rather intimidated.

The young girl raised herself towards him in the red glare of the sunset.

The wall at this spot was low, but nevertheless too high for her to reach him.

So he bent low over the coping, while she still raised herself on tiptoes.