Perhaps it was the unusual moist heat.

He said, "Yes, yes, dear, one does feel it." She did not guess that the obvious unhappiness of the lad who had won the soldier's heart was being felt by Penhallow without his seeing how he could end it and yet not lessen the value of a just verdict.
Of all those concerned Leila was the one most troubled.

On this hot afternoon she saw John disappear into the forest.

When Mrs.Ann came out on the porch where she had for a minute left the girl, she saw her sewing-bag on a chair and caught sight of the flowing hair and agile young figure as she set a hand on the low stone wall of the garden and was over and lost among the trees.

"Leila, Leila," cried Mrs.Ann, "I told you to finish--" It was useless.