He was endeavouring to catch and appreciate the sensation of being thus with her, his head upon her dress, before the event passed on into the heap of bygone things: (23)
Gabriel is aware that it is an extraordinary state that he may not have the chance to live it again, by his own will or wish. He wants to feel and live in that moment thoroughly and recall it later on with vivid perceptions and meaningful sensations. He wants to decode it in his memory in a way that would not allow him forget easily.

Though, on the surface, all he wants is to cherish their proximity and keep that precious moment in the long term memory, I think at this point his subconscious mind intervenes and predominates his conscious awareness. By attaching a fantasy component, a special emotional code to the event, as if they were sincere with each other, or there was a geniue warmth or closeness between them, he wants to meet a subconscious need.

Usually emotional loneliness accompanies illnesses or physical weaknesses, causing a temporary regression state, making us remember those early periods of our life. Compassion appears to be a psychological need at those times. Despite his masculen, strong characteristics, perhaps this is the most vulnerable state Gabriel has faced in his life. He is not only disabled physically but lonely emotionally as well. Here the lap is a place for consolation. It allows gazing, mutual interacation and transfer of affection. It is a skill of motherhood and exalts feminity. (Feminity has pressed down masculanity in that sense). Women, especially the mothers have that strong tool in healing the psychological wounds of their children by conveying compassion and unconditional love. Laying upon her lap, Gabriel must have felt like a little, vulnerable child, interacting with his mother.

By seting up a ground for a strong feeling like love, we can say both of them had witnessed the most vulnerable sides of each other on a subtle, defenseless line that excludes the external world.