When they started she would have refused his help with scorn.

Now, after a moment's hesitation she yielded, and he felt her dear weight on him as he guided her carefully from stone to stone' In reality it is both difficult and risky to be helped over stepping-stones.

You had much better manage for yourself; and half way through, Catherine had a mind to tell him so.

But the words died on her lips, which smiled instead.

He could have wished that passage from stone to stone could have lasted forever.