The process was slow because of the trembling of her fingers, which he felt but could not see.

She stood resolute, making him dress for the storm upon the threshold of the door.

He did not know how to strap on the snow-shoes.

She watched his first attempt with great curiosity; looking up, he was made the more determined to succeed with them by seeing the pain of incredulity returning to her eyes.
'How do you expect me to know how to manage things that I have never handled in my life before ?' 'But if you don't know how to put them on how can you walk in them ?' 'I have seen men walk in them, and there are a great many things we can do when something depends upon it.' She directed him how to cross and tie the straps; she continued to watch him, increasing anxiety betraying itself in her face.
The snow was so light that even the snow-shoes sank some four or five inches.

It was just below the porch that he had tied his straps, and when he first moved forward he trod with one shoe on the top of the other.