Quotation from: Villette

Written by: Charlotte Bronte

And he took forth and held out to me a clean silk handkerchief. Now a
person who did not know M. Paul, who was unused to him and his
impulses, would naturally have bungled at this offer--declined
accepting the same--et cetera. But I too plainly felt this would never
do: the slightest hesitation would have been fatal to the incipient
treaty of peace. I rose and met the handkerchief half-way, received it
with decorum, wiped therewith my eyes, and, resuming my seat, and
retaining the flag of truce in my hand and on my lap, took especial
care during the remainder of the lesson to touch neither needle nor
thimble, scissors nor muslin. Many a jealous glance did M. Paul cast
at these implements; he hated them mortally, considering sewing a
source of distraction from the attention due to himself. A very
eloquent lesson he gave, and very kind and friendly was he to the
close. Ere he had done, the clouds were dispersed and the sun shining
out--tears were exchanged for smiles.