“Well, I’ve said it, you see,” he answered, “and you won’t forget it, even if you do change the subject.” He turned his attention to the fire. Where is the man, worthy of the name to whom the business of fire building is not serious?
Presently seeing he needed help she dropped to her knees beside him and tried to shove a piece of wood into place. In the process her numbed fingers touched his, and he instantly dropped everything to catch her hand in both of his.
“Your hands are as cold as ice,” he said, holding them tightly, and thanking Fate that this bounty had fallen to his lot.
She withdrew them. “You are too conscientious,” she said. “That is not part of the duty of a rescue party.”
“It is, it is,” said Geoffrey violently. “It is the merest humanity.”
“Humanity?”
“To me, of course, if you will pin me down.”
“Oh, there is no reason for the rescued to be humane.”
“They ought to be grateful.”
“They are.”