"No, Jonas, I will carry that for you."
Then he put forth his uninjured right hand, and took the kidney-iron stone from the anvil block, on which Mehetabel had left it.
"What do you want with that?" she asked.
"I may have to knock also," he answered. "Is it you alone who are allowed to have wishes?"
She said no more, but stepped along, not swiftly, cautiously, and turning at every step, to see that he was following, and that he had put his foot on substance that would support his weight.
"Why do you look at me?" he asked captiously.
"Jonas, you are in pain, and giddy with pain. You may lose your footing, and go into the water."
"So—that now is your desire?"
"I pray you," she answered, in distress, "Jonas, do not entertain such evil thoughts."
They attained a ridge of sand. She fell back and paced at his side.