a new direction?

[KuaiLe]

Dear Teachers,
From Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire:
"I took his hand, and I let my middle finger trail across the center of his palm. He took a swig of breath, being startled in a new direction, and my efforts were fruitful. I turned to smile at his and said, 'You have grown to such a man. If we knew each other better I might be a better mother to you. In this light vein I dragged him away from the subject."
What does it mean by "being startled in a new direction"? What direction? A new subject for conversation? What is he startled by?
(I find it strange to change the conversation subject by letting one's finger trail across the other person's palm! )

[Tdol]

The movement of the finger is a surprise for him and the shock changes the direction of the conversation. I would be startled if my mother ran her finger across my palm- it's not an everday gesture.


PS Are you enjoying this book- it seems as if you are going through it in great detail.

[KuaiLe]

Thanks for your reply. And, well...I find myself come to a bottleneck of English reading comprehension where I guess I may break through by clarifing every ambiguity I encounter. Besides, I do enjoy having my problems solved!

[Tdol]

Some of the ambiguities you have encountered have been amiguous to me too- that's creative writing for you.