feeble fashion

[GUEST2008]

Hi

A woman wondered whether to open her trunk or not. She was afraid what she might find there.

She knew that, having come so far and with such difficulty in order to look for some trace of her past, she was now, in a feeble fashion, reluctant to take the final step. The day had been a series of disappointments, and for a moment she doubted her strength to face yet another.

I'm not sure how to interpret the phrase "feeble fashion" here?

[bhaisahab]

Hi

A woman wondered whether to open her trunk or not. She was afraid what she might find there.

She knew that, having come so far and with such difficulty in order to look for some trace of her past, she was now, in a feeble fashion, reluctant to take the final step. The day had been a series of disappointments, and for a moment she doubted her strength to face yet another.

I'm not sure how to interpret the phrase "feeble fashion" here?

She didn't feel strong enough to "take the final step".

[GUEST2008]

So she both didn't feel strong and was reluctant?

[bhaisahab]

So she both didn't feel strong and was reluctant?

Not feeling strong enough caused or increased her reluctance.