Till his hands reached blindly down and felt for her, and felt under the clothing to where she was smooth and warm.
'Ma lass!' he murmured. 'Ma little lass! Dunna let's fight! Dunna let's niver fight! I love thee an' th' touch on thee. Dunna argue wi' me! Dunna! Dunna! Dunna! Let's be together.'
She lifted her face and looked at him.
'Don't be upset,' she said steadily. 'It's no good being upset. Do you really want to be together with me?'
She looked with wide, steady eyes into his face. He stopped, and went suddenly still, turning his face aside. All his body went perfectly still, but did not withdraw.
Then he lifted his head and looked into her eyes, with his odd, faintly mocking grin, saying: 'Ay-ay! Let's be together on oath.'
'But really?' she said, her eyes filling with tears.
