She looked quickly away, and tried to withdraw her hand.
After a second or two he withdrew his hand and turned back toward me.
She made as if to withdraw her hand, but he held it for a moment longer.
The same moment the old woman withdrew her hands and it was gone.
She reached for it only to withdraw her hand suddenly.
But then he took a deep breath and withdrew his hand.
He withdrew his hand, and came to sit by me once more, but closer.
He reached out to touch me, then withdrew his hand.
I tried to withdraw my hand, but he would not release me.
After a few minutes, she felt a clear instruction to stop, and withdrew her hands.