“Love oo too!”
Elizabeth Hunter sprang to her feet as if a clap of thunder had unexpectedly sent its report through the hot afternoon air. Her guilty eyes sought Hugh’s. Jack encircled her knees with his fat little arms and, standing on his tiptoes to be taken, repeated:
“Love oo too!”
There was a noise at the well and Elizabeth, glad of a chance to escape from the room, went out. John was pumping water over a jug to cool it before he filled it. The sight of the man who was her husband had a curious effect on Elizabeth; everything in her, mentally and physically, became chaotic, her ears buzzed, her temples throbbed, and there was an inner shrinking which could scarcely be controlled. John had seen her and waited for her to come out to the well.
When the jug was full, John leaned forward to kiss Jack and a sick sort of fear took hold of her lest he would offer to kiss her also. His breath fell hot on her neck as he sought Jack’s face on her shoulder, but he did not offer to kiss her, and she turned away with an unspeakable relief.
“Take Jack and I’ll carry the jug out to the boys while you have a chat with Hugh,” Elizabeth said suddenly.
John was very tired, the field where they had been cutting shock corn was very hot, and the house looked cool and inviting.
“Well, I guess I will.”
The jug was heavier than Elizabeth had thought and she sat down to rest on the way, observing as she did so that Doctor Morgan was driving into the lane.
“I am not absolved from blame because he scolds,” she told herself.