She sees the pause. Curiouser and curiouser. He is unlike any artificial life form she's ever met. Far more thoughtful, and compassionate. (And now the thought is niggling in the back of her brain, how far such compassion might extend.)

In the wardrobe he finds a woman's plain cotton shift, and the black over dress of a washer woman. She takes them from him, and catches his eye.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."