For a moment he thought she was going to refuse to move, but she said nothing, and let him help her up. She was so tightly rolled round that it would have been difficult to move by herself.
He took the rug off, and folded it up busily so as not to have to meet her eyes, for he was afraid.
‘Help me out,’ she said.
He looked her suddenly in the face. ‘I’m glad I did it, anyhow,’ he said, flinging back his head.
‘Are you?’ she said.
She held out her hand to be helped. She looked rumpled.
‘Your little coat——’ he murmured, pulling it tidy; and he couldn’t keep his hand from shaking, because he loved her so—‘your little coat——’ Then he straightened himself, and looked her in the eyes. ‘Catherine, we’ve got to talk,’ he said.
‘Is that why you’ve brought me here?’
‘Yes,’ said Christopher.
‘Do you imagine I’m going to listen?’