She feel these hands tremble, and she could feel Mr. Kidder's excitement. How eager she was to be gone from this room. Her heart was beating in mild revulsion from the man's touch, but Katya forced herself to remain still, politely unresisting. In Mr. Kidder's eyes, which brimmed with moisture, Katya saw such tenderness for her, such desire, or love, she felt that her throat might close, she might begin to cry. Gravely Mr. Kidder lowered his face to hers. Katya held her breath, but he just brushed his lips against her forehead and did not try to kiss her on the mouth.
In this excerpt from "A Fair Maiden," Katya experiences a mix of emotions as she interacts with Mr. Kidder. She senses his excitement, which heightens her own discomfort and desire to escape the situation. Despite feeling repulsed by his touch, she attempts to remain composed, reflecting a struggle between her internal feelings and the external expectations of politeness.
The moment intensifies as Mr. Kidder looks at her with emotional depth, showing tenderness that provokes a strong reaction in Katya. Although she anticipates a more intimate gesture, he only brushes his lips against her forehead instead of kissing her, leaving her in a state of emotional conflict between vulnerability and guardedness.