Final answer:
Kate was carrying a heavy object wrapped in a black scarf, and her hands were white and worn from working in the water. The importance of the object is signaled by this wrapping, and it piqued Reynie's curiosity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kate was carrying something that appeared to be quite heavy when she met Reynie and Sticky. The object in question was wrapped in a black scarf, which triggered Reynie's curiosity. When she returned from the water, her hands were white, puckered, and worn, indicating that she had been working hard and potentially that the object had been immersed. In both scenarios, the characters are faced with people carrying burdens, both emotional and physical, and the passages contemplate the weight of these burdens against the backdrop of their interactions.