Farquhar's attention to the blushing,
conscious Ruth--every such touch which would add a pang to her
self-reproach and keen jealousy, was added by her imagination.
She got up and walked about, to try and stop her over-busy fancy
by bodily exercise. But she had eaten little all day, and was
weak and faint in the intense heat of the sunny garden. Even the
long grass-walk under the filbert-hedge was parched and dry in
the glowing August sun. Yet her sisters found her there when they
returned, walking quickly up and down, as if to warm herself on
some winter's day. They were very weary; and not half so
communicative as on the day before, now that Jemima was craving
for every detail to add to her agony.
"Yes! Leonard came up before Mr. Farquhar. Oh! how hot it is,
Jemima! Do sit down, and I'll tell you about it, but I can't if
you keep walking so."
"I can't sit still to-day," said Jemima, springing up from the
turf as soon as she had sat down. "Tell me! I can hear you while
I walk about."
"Oh! but I can't shout; I can hardly speak, I am so tired. Mr.
Farquhar brought Leonard----"
"You've told me that before," said Jemima sharply.
"Well, I don't know what else to tell. Somebody had been since
yesterday, and gathered nearly all the strawberries off the grey
rock. Jemima! Jemima!" said Elizabeth faintly, "I am so dizzy--I
think I am ill."
The next minute the tired girl lay swooning on the grass.
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