Her tenderness for the bird, conflicting as it did with his earlier impression of her, both amused and perplexed him.

He couldn't reconcile her quick compassion with her resentful and mocking attitude toward himself.
At his impulsive offer of help the quiver shook her lips again, and stooping over she did something which appeared to him quite unnecessary to one gray suede shoe.

"No, it isn't as bad as that.

I don't need to be carried," she said.

"That sort of thing went out of fashion ages ago.