Once, in the last intimate moments they had had together, he had refused to accept that attitude from her--had felt it a relationship altogether impossible.

She had seen his point of view, and recognised the justice of the embarrassment.

Now, very simply but very eagerly, she hoped, as with some tugging strain, that he would not reject it.

She knew she had missed this brother, who had refused to be brother to her.
But he had been about his own business, and he had been doing his own business, with a quiet splendour that drew her eyes to him, and as they stood there, thus linked, she wondered if her heart was following.

.