midday
Paula , of course , must prevent any new tie from being formed between herself and Orion ; and as for Orion , common prudence required that he should mention her -- her , whom he had but lately loaded with tenderness -- as a mere child , to protect himself against the jealousy of that austere `` other '' one . That he had loved her , at any rate that evening under the trees , she obstinately maintained in her own mind ; to that conviction she must cling desperately , or lose her last foothold . 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 .