Yet the thought still persisted.

It bewildered her that she should desire to place her hands on that sunburned neck.

In truth, she was far from robust, and the need of her body and mind was for strength.

But she did not know it.

She knew only that no man had ever affected her before as this one had, who shocked her from moment to moment with his awful grammar.
"Yes, I ain't no invalid," he said.