But I was powerless. With a woman, when her spirit goes inert in opposition, a man can do nothing. I felt my life-flow sinking in my body.
"This house is awfully depressing," I said to her, as we mechanically danced. "Why don't you do something? Why don't you get out of this tangle? Why don't you break it?"
"How?" she said.
I looked down at her, wondering why she was suddenly hostile.
"You needn't fight," I said. "You needn't fight it. Don't get tangled up in it. Just side-step, on to another ground."
She made a pause of impatience before she replied:
"I don't see where I am to side-step to, precisely."
"You do," said I. "A little while ago, you were warm and unfolded and good. Now you are shut up and prickly, in the cold. You needn't be. Why not stay warm?"
"It's nothing I do," she said coldly.
"It is. Stay warm to me. I am here. Why clutch in a tug-of-war with Lady Lathkill?"