Not long since he had, with awkward sympathy, thought her a proud humiliated woman; now she was marked by the humor of a careless girl.

He could, however, play up to her later mood, and when they set off he began to joke.
The rock slanted, and cracks and breaks gave a firm hold, but there was not a crack wherever one was needed and the pitch was steep.

Then in places the slabs were slippery with wet lichen and Lister's ordinary walking boots could get no grip.

His jokes stopped and the sweat began to dew his face.

His breath got hard and he felt his heart beat.