noon
Her whole being was a prey to a frightful turmoil of feeling . Her hands shook ; her mouth was parched as by the midday heat ; she knew that there were withered leaves between her feet and the sandals she wore , that twigs had got caught in her hair ; but she could not care and when the pair were screened from her by the denser shrubs she flew back to her raised seat-from which she could again discover them . At this moment she would have given all she held best and dearest , to be the thing it vexed her so much to be called : a water-wagtail , or some other bird . It must be very near noon if not already past ; she dusted her sandals and tidied her curly hair , picking out the dry leaves and not noticing that at the same time a rose fell out on the ground . Only her hands were busy ; her eyes were elsewhere , and suddenly they brightened again , for the couple on which she kept them fixed were coming back , straight towards the hedge , and she would soon be able again to hear what they were saying . Orion and Paula had had much to talk about , since the young man had arrived . The discussion over the safe keeping of the girl 's money had been tedious .