第3章

ANEVENINGATFOURWINDSPOINT

ItwaslateSeptemberwhenAnneandGilbertwereabletopayFourWindslighttheirpromisedvisit。Theyhadoftenplannedtogo，butsomethingalwaysoccurredtopreventthem。CaptainJimhad"droppedin"severaltimesatthelittlehouse。

"Idon’tstandonceremony，MistressBlythe，"hetoldAnne。"It’sarealpleasuretometocomehere，andI’mnotgoingtodenymyselfjestbecauseyouhaven’tgotdowntoseeme。Thereoughtn’ttobenobargaininglikethatamongtheracethatknowsJoseph。

I’llcomewhenIcan，andyoucomewhenyoucan，andsolong’swehaveourpleasantlittlechatitdon’tmatteramitewhatroof’soverus。"

CaptainJimtookagreatfancytoGogandMagog，whowerepresidingoverthedestiniesofthehearthinthelittlehousewithasmuchdignityandaplombastheyhaddoneatPatty’sPlace。

"Aren’ttheythecutestlittlecusses？"hewouldsaydelightedly；andhebadethemgreetingandfarewellasgravelyandinvariablyashedidhishostandhostess。

CaptainJimwasnotgoingtooffendhouseholddeitiesbyanylackofreverenceandceremony。

"You’vemadethislittlehousejustaboutperfect，"hetoldAnne。"Itneverwassonicebefore。MistressSelwynhadyourtasteandshedidwonders；butfolksinthosedaysdidn’thavetheprettylittlecurtainsandpicturesandnicknacksyouhave。AsforElizabeth，shelivedinthepast。You’vekinderbroughtthefutureintoit，sotospeak。I’dberealhappyevenifwecouldn’ttalkatall，whenIcomehere——jesttositandlookatyouandyourpicturesandyourflowerswouldbeenoughofatreat。It’sbeautiful——beautiful。"

CaptainJimwasapassionateworshipperofbeauty。

Everylovelythingheardorseengavehimadeep，subtle，innerjoythatirradiatedhislife。Hewasquitekeenlyawareofhisownlackofoutwardcomelinessandlamentedit。

"FolkssayI’mgood，"heremarkedwhimsicallyupononeoccasion，"butIsometimeswishtheLordhadmademeonlyhalfasgoodandputtherestofitintolooks。

Butthere，IreckonHeknewwhatHewasabout，asagoodCaptainshould。Someofushavetobehomely，orthepurtyones——likeMistressBlythehere——wouldn’tshowupsowell。"

OneeveningAnneandGilbertfinallywalkeddowntotheFourWindslight。Thedayhadbegunsombrelyingraycloudandmist，butithadendedinapompofscarletandgold。Overthewesternhillsbeyondtheharborwereamberdeepsandcrystallineshallows，withthefireofsunsetbelow。Thenorthwasamackerelskyoflittle，fierygoldenclouds。Theredlightflamedonthewhitesailsofavesselglidingdownthechannel，boundtoasouthernportinalandofpalms。Beyondher，itsmoteuponandincarnadinedtheshining，white，grasslessfacesofthesanddunes。Totheright，itfellontheoldhouseamongthewillowsupthebrook，andgaveitforafleetingspacecasementsmoresplendidthanthoseofanoldcathedral。Theyglowedoutofitsquietandgraynesslikethethrobbing，blood-redthoughtsofavividsoulimprisonedinadullhuskofenvironment。

"Thatoldhouseupthebrookalwaysseemssolonely，"

saidAnne。"Ineverseevisitorsthere。Ofcourse，itslaneopensontheupperroad——butIdon’tthinkthere’smuchcomingandgoing。Itseemsoddwe’venevermettheMooresyet，whentheylivewithinfifteenminutes’walkofus。Imayhaveseentheminchurch，ofcourse，butifsoIdidn’tknowthem。I’msorrytheyaresounsociable，whentheyareouronlynearneighbors。"

"Evidentlytheydon’tbelongtotheracethatknowsJoseph，"laughedGilbert。"Haveyoueverfoundoutwhothatgirlwaswhomyouthoughtsobeautiful？"

"No。SomehowIhaveneverrememberedtoaskabouther。

ButI’veneverseenheranywhere，soIsupposeshemusthavebeenastranger。Oh，thesunhasjustvanished——andthere’sthelight。"

Astheduskdeepened，thegreatbeaconcutswathesoflightthroughit，sweepinginacircleoverthefieldsandtheharbor，thesandbarandthegulf。

"Ifeelasifitmightcatchmeandwhiskmeleaguesouttosea，"saidAnne，asonedrenchedthemwithradiance；andshefeltratherrelievedwhentheygotsonearthePointthattheywereinsidetherangeofthosedazzling，recurrentflashes。

AstheyturnedintothelittlelanethatledacrossthefieldstothePointtheymetamancomingoutofit——amanofsuchextraordinaryappearancethatforamomenttheybothfranklystared。Hewasadecidedlyfine-lookingperson-tall，broad-shouldered，well-

featured，withaRomannoseandfrankgrayeyes；hewasdressedinaprosperousfarmer’sSundaybest；insofarhemighthavebeenanyinhabitantofFourWindsortheGlen。But，flowingoverhisbreastnearlytohisknees，wasariverofcrinklybrownbeard；andadownhisback，beneathhiscommonplacefelthat，wasacorrespondingcascadeofthick，wavy，brownhair。

"Anne，"murmuredGilbert，whentheywereoutofearshot，"youdidn’tputwhatUncleDavecalls`alittleoftheScottAct’inthatlemonadeyougavemejustbeforewelefthome，didyou？"

"No，Ididn’t，"saidAnne，stiflingherlaughter，lesttheretreatingenigmashouldhearhere。"Whointheworldcanhebe？"

"Idon’tknow；butifCaptainJimkeepsapparitionslikethatdownatthisPointI’mgoingtocarrycoldironinmypocketwhenIcomehere。Hewasn’tasailor，oronemightpardonhiseccentricityofappearance；hemustbelongtotheover-harborclans。

UncleDavesaystheyhaveseveralfreaksoverthere。"

"UncleDaveisalittleprejudiced，Ithink。Youknowalltheover-harborpeoplewhocometotheGlenChurchseemverynice。Oh，Gilbert，isn’tthisbeautiful？"

TheFourWindslightwasbuiltonaspurofredsand-stonecliffjuttingoutintothegulf。Ononeside，acrossthechannel，stretchedthesilverysandshoreofthebar；ontheother，extendedalong，curvingbeachofredcliffs，risingsteeplyfromthepebbledcoves。Itwasashorethatknewthemagicandmysteryofstormandstar。Thereisagreatsolitudeaboutsuchashore。Thewoodsareneversolitary——

theyarefullofwhispering，beckoning，friendlylife。

Buttheseaisamightysoul，forevermoaningofsomegreat，unshareablesorrow，whichshutsitupintoitselfforalleternity。Wecanneverpierceitsinfinitemystery——wemayonlywander，awedandspellbound，ontheouterfringeofit。Thewoodscalltouswithahundredvoices，buttheseahasoneonly——amightyvoicethatdrownsoursoulsinitsmajesticmusic。Thewoodsarehuman，buttheseaisofthecompanyofthearchangels。

AnneandGilbertfoundUncleJimsittingonabenchoutsidethelighthouse，puttingthefinishingtouchestoawonderful，full-rigged，toyschooner。Heroseandwelcomedthemtohisabodewiththegentle，unconsciouscourtesythatbecamehimsowell。

"Thishasbeenapurtynicedayallthrough，MistressBlythe，andnow，rightatthelast，it’sbroughtitsbest。Wouldyouliketositdownhereoutsideabit，whilethelightlasts？I’vejustfinishedthisbitofaplaythingformylittlegrandnephew，Joe，upattheGlen。AfterIpromisedtomakeitforhimIwaskindersorry，forhismotherwasvexed。She’safraidhe’llbewantingtogotosealateronandshedoesn’twantthenotionencouragedinhim。ButwhatcouldIdo，MistressBlythe？I’dPROMISEDhim，andIthinkit’ssorterrealdastardlytobreakapromiseyoumaketoachild。Come，sitdown。Itwon’ttakelongtostayanhour。"

Thewindwasoffshore，andonlybrokethesea’ssurfaceintolong，silveryripples，andsentsheenyshadowsflyingoutacrossit，fromeverypointandheadland，liketransparentwings。Theduskwashangingacurtainofvioletgloomoverthesanddunesandtheheadlandswheregullswerehuddling。Theskywasfaintlyfilmedoverwithscarfsofsilkenvapor。

Cloudfleetsrodeatanchoralongthehorizons。Aneveningstarwaswatchingoverthebar。

"Isn’tthataviewworthlookingat？"saidCaptainJim，withaloving，proprietarypride。"Niceandfarfromthemarket-place，ain’tit？Nobuyingandsellingandgettinggain。Youdon’thavetopayanything——allthatseaandskyfree——`withoutmoneyandwithoutprice。’There’sgoingtobeamoonrisepurtysoon，too——I’mnevertiredoffindingoutwhatamoonrisecanbeoverthemrocksandseaandharbor。There’sasurpriseiniteverytime。"

Theyhadtheirmoonrise，andwatcheditsmarvelandmagicinasilencethataskednothingoftheworldoreachother。Thentheywentupintothetower，andCaptainJimshowedandexplainedthemechanismofthegreatlight。Finallytheyfoundthemselvesinthediningroom，whereafireofdriftwoodwasweavingflamesofwavering，elusive，sea-bornhuesintheopenfireplace。

"Iputthisfireplaceinmyself，"remarkedCaptainJim。"TheGovernmentdon’tgivelighthousekeeperssuchluxuries。Lookatthecolorsthatwoodmakes。Ifyou’dlikesomedriftwoodforyourfire，MistressBlythe，I’llbringyouupaloadsomeday。Sitdown。

I’mgoingtomakeyouacupoftea。"

CaptainJimplacedachairforAnne，havingfirstremovedtherefromahuge，orange-coloredcatandanewspaper。

"Getdown，Matey。Thesofaisyourplace。ImustputthispaperawaysafetillIcanfindtimetofinishthestoryinit。It’scalledAMadLove。’Tisn’tmyfavoritebrandoffiction，butI’mreadingitjesttoseehowlongshecanspinitout。It’satthesixty-secondchapternow，andtheweddingain’tanynearerthanwhenitbegun，far’sIcansee。WhenlittleJoecomesIhavetoreadhimpirateyarns。

Ain’titstrangehowinnocentlittlecreatureslikechildrenliketheblood-thirstieststories？"

"LikemyladDavyathome，"saidAnne。"Hewantstalesthatreekwithgore。"

CaptainJim’steaprovedtobenectar。HewaspleasedasachildwithAnne’scompliments，butheaffectedafineindifference。

"ThesecretisIdon’tskimpthecream，"heremarkedairily。CaptainJimhadneverheardofOliverWendellHolmes，butheevidentlyagreedwiththatwriter’sdictumthat"bigheartneverlikedlittlecreampot。"

"Wemetanodd-lookingpersonagecomingoutofyourlane，"saidGilbertastheysipped。"Whowashe？"

CaptainJimgrinned。

"That’sMarshallElliott——amightyfinemanwithjestonestreakoffoolishnessinhim。Is’poseyouwonderedwhathisobjectwasinturninghimselfintoasortofdimemuseumfreak。"

"IsheamodernNazariteoraHebrewprophetleftoverfromoldentimes？"askedAnne。

"Neitherofthem。It’spoliticsthat’satthebottomofhisfreak。AllthoseElliottsandCrawfordsandMacAllistersaredyed-in-the-woolpoliticians。They’rebornGritorTory，asthecasemaybe，andtheyliveGritorTory，andtheydieGritorTory；andwhatthey’regoingtodoinheaven，wherethere’sprobablynopolitics，ismorethanIcanfathom。ThisMarshallElliottwasbornaGrit。I’maGritmyselfinmoderation，butthere’snomoderationaboutMarshall。

Fifteenyearsagotherewasaspeciallybittergeneralelection。Marshallfoughtforhispartytoothandnail。HewasdeadsuretheLiberalswouldwin——sosurethathegotupatapublicmeetingandvowedthathewouldn’tshavehisfaceorcuthishairuntiltheGritswereinpower。Well，theydidn’tgoin——andthey’venevergotinyet——andyousawtheresulttodayforyourselves。Marshallstucktohisword。"

"Whatdoeshiswifethinkofit？"askedAnne。

"He’sabachelor。ButifhehadawifeIreckonshecouldn’tmakehimbreakthatvow。ThatfamilyofElliottshasalwaysbeenmorestubbornthannatteral。

Marshall’sbrotherAlexanderhadadoghesetgreatstoreby，andwhenitdiedthemanactillywantedtohaveitburiedinthegraveyard，`alongwiththeotherChristians，’hesaid。Course，hewasn’tallowedto；soheburieditjustoutsidethegraveyardfence，andneverdarkenedthechurchdooragain。ButSundayshe’ddrivehisfamilytochurchandsitbythatdog’sgraveandreadhisBibleallthetimeservicewasgoingon。

Theysaywhenhewasdyingheaskedhiswifetoburyhimbesidethedog；shewasameeklittlesoulbutshefiredupatTHAT。ShesaidSHEwasn’tgoingtobeburiedbesidenodog，andifhe’dratherhavehislastrestingplacebesidethedogthanbesideher，jesttosayso。AlexanderElliottwasastubbornmule，buthewasfondofhiswife，sohegiveinandsaid，`Well，durnit，burymewhereyouplease。ButwhenGabriel’strumpblowsIexpectmydogtorisewiththerestofus，forhehadasmuchsoulasanydurnedElliottorCrawfordorMacAllisterthateverstrutted。’ThemwasHISpartingwords。AsforMarshall，we’reallusedtohim，buthemuststrikestrangersasrightdownpeculiar-looking。I’veknownhimeversincehewasten——he’saboutfiftynow——andIlikehim。Himandmewasoutcod-fishingtoday。That’saboutallI’mgoodfornow——catchingtroutandcodoccasional。But’tweren’talwaysso——notbynomannerofmeans。Iusedtodootherthings，asyou’dadmitifyousawmylife-book。"

Annewasjustgoingtoaskwhathislife-bookwaswhentheFirstMatecreatedadiversionbyspringinguponCaptainJim’sknee。Hewasagorgeousbeastie，withafaceasroundasafullmoon，vividgreeneyes，andimmense，white，doublepaws。CaptainJimstrokedhisvelvetbackgently。

"IneverfanciedcatsmuchtillIfoundtheFirstMate，"heremarked，totheaccompanimentoftheMate’stremendouspurrs。"Isavedhislife，andwhenyou’vesavedacreature’slifeyou’reboundtoloveit。It’snextthingtogivinglife。There’ssometurriblethoughtlesspeopleintheworld，MistressBlythe。Someofthemcityfolkswhohavesummerhomesovertheharboraresothoughtlessthatthey’recruel。It’stheworstkindofcruelty——thethoughtlesskind。Youcan’tcopewithit。Theykeepcatsthereinthesummer，andfeedandpet’em，anddoll’emupwithribbonsandcollars。Andtheninthefalltheygooffandleave’emtostarveorfreeze。Itmakesmybloodboil，MistressBlythe。OnedaylastwinterIfoundapooroldmothercatdeadontheshore，lyingagainsttheskin-and-bonebodiesofherthreelittlekittens。

She’ddiedtryingtoshelter’em。Shehadherpoorstiffpawsaround’em。Master，Icried。ThenIswore。

ThenIcarriedthempoorlittlekittenshomeandfed’emupandfoundgoodhomesfor’em。IknewthewomanwholeftthecatandwhenshecomebackthissummerI

jestwentovertheharborandtoldhermyopinionofher。Itwasrankmeddling，butIdolovemeddlinginagoodcause。"

"Howdidshetakeit？"askedGilbert。

"Criedandsaidshe`didn’tthink。’Isaystoher，saysI，`Doyous’posethat’llbeheldforagoodexcuseinthedayofJedgment，whenyou’llhavetoaccountforthatpooroldmother’slife？TheLord’llaskyouwhatHegiveyouyourbrainsforifitwasn’ttothink，Ireckon。’Idon’tfancyshe’llleavecatstostarveanothertime。"

"WastheFirstMateoneoftheforsaken？"askedAnne，makingadvancestohimwhichwererespondedtograciously，ifcondescendingly。

"Yes。IfoundHIMonebittercolddayinwinter，caughtinthebranchesofatreebyhisdurn-foolribboncollar。Hewasalmoststarving。Ifyoucouldhaveseenhiseyes，MistressBlythe！Hewasnothingbutakitten，andhe’dgothislivingsomehowsincehe’dbeenleftuntilhegothungup。WhenIloosedhimhegavemyhandapitifulswipewithhislittleredtongue。Hewasn’ttheableseamanyouseenow。HewasmeekasMoses。Thatwasnineyearsago。Hislifehasbeenlonginthelandforacat。He’sagoodoldpal，theFirstMateis。"

"Ishouldhaveexpectedyoutohaveadog，"saidGilbert。

CaptainJimshookhishead。

"Ihadadogonce。IthoughtsomuchofhimthatwhenhediedIcouldn’tbearthethoughtofgettinganotherinhisplace。HewasaFRIEND——youunderstand，MistressBlythe？Matey’sonlyapal。I’mfondofMatey——allthefonderonaccountofthespiceofdevilmentthat’sinhim——likethereisinallcats。

ButILOVEDmydog。IalwayshadasneakingsympathyforAlexanderElliottaboutHISdog。Thereisn’tanydevilinagooddog。That’swhythey’remorelovablethancats，Ireckon。ButI’mdarnedifthey’reasinteresting。HereIam，talkingtoomuch。Whydon’tyoucheckme？WhenIdogetachancetotalktoanyoneIrunonturrible。Ifyou’vedoneyourteaI’veafewlittlethingsyoumightliketolookat——picked’emupinthequeercornersIusedtobepokingmynoseinto。"

CaptainJim’s"fewlittlethings"turnedouttobeamostinterestingcollectionofcurios，hideous，quaintandbeautiful。Andalmosteveryonehadsomestrikingstoryattachedtoit。

Anneneverforgotthedelightwithwhichshelistenedtothoseoldtalesthatmoonliteveningbythatenchanteddriftwoodfire，whilethesilverseacalledtothemthroughtheopenwindowandsobbedagainsttherocksbelowthem。

CaptainJimneversaidaboastfulword，butitwasimpossibletohelpseeingwhataherothemanhadbeen——brave，true，resourceful，unselfish。Hesatthereinhislittleroomandmadethosethingsliveagainforhishearers。Byaliftoftheeyebrow，atwistofthelip，agesture，aword，hepaintedawholesceneorcharactersothattheysawitasitwas。

SomeofCaptainJim’sadventureshadsuchamarvellousedgethatAnneandGilbertsecretlywonderedifhewerenotdrawingaratherlongbowattheircredulousexpense。Butinthis，astheyfoundlater，theydidhiminjustice。Histaleswereallliterallytrue。

CaptainJimhadthegiftofthebornstoryteller，whereby"unhappy，far-offthings"canbebroughtvividlybeforethehearerinalltheirpristinepoignancy。

AnneandGilbertlaughedandshiveredoverhistales，andonceAnnefoundherselfcrying。CaptainJimsurveyedhertearswithpleasureshiningfromhisface。

"Iliketoseefolkscrythatway，"heremarked。

"It’sacompliment。ButIcan’tdojusticetothethingsI’veseenorhelpedtodo。I’ve’emalljotteddowninmylife-book，butIhaven’tgottheknackofwritingthemoutproperly。IfIcouldhitonjesttherightwordsandstring’emtogetherproperonpaperI

couldmakeagreatbook。ItwouldbeatAMadLoveholler，andIbelieveJoe’dlikeitaswellasthepirateyarns。Yes，I’vehadsomeadventuresinmytime；and，doyouknow，MistressBlythe，Istilllustafter’em。Yes，oldanduselessasIbe，there’sanawfullongingsweepsovermeattimestosailout——out——outthere——foreverandever。"

"LikeUlysses，youwould`SailbeyondthesunsetandthebathsOfallthewesternstarsuntilyoudie，’"

saidAnnedreamily。

"Ulysses？I’vereadofhim。Yes，that’sjusthowI

feel——jesthowallusoldsailorsfeel，Ireckon。I’lldieonlandafterall，Is’pose。Well，whatistobewillbe。TherewasoldWilliamFordattheGlenwhoneverwentonthewaterinhislife，’causehewasafraidofbeingdrowned。Afortune-tellerhadpredictedhewouldbe。Andonedayhefaintedandfellwithhisfaceinthebarntroughandwasdrowned。Mustyougo？Well，comesoonandcomeoften。Thedoctoristodothetalkingnexttime。HeknowsaheapofthingsIwanttofindout。I’msorterlonesomeherebytimes。

It’sbeenworsesinceElizabethRusselldied。Herandmewassuchcronies。"

CaptainJimspokewiththepathosoftheaged，whoseetheiroldfriendsslippingfromthemonebyone——friendswhoseplacecanneverbequitefilledbythoseofayoungergeneration，evenoftheracethatknowsJoseph。AnneandGilbertpromisedtocomesoonandoften。

"He’sarareoldfellow，isn’the？"saidGilbert，astheywalkedhome。

"Somehow，Ican’treconcilehissimple，kindlypersonalitywiththewild，adventurouslifehehaslived，"musedAnne。

"Youwouldn’tfinditsohardifyouhadseenhimtheotherdaydownatthefishingvillage。OneofthemenofPeterGautier’sboatmadeanastyremarkaboutsomegirlalongtheshore。CaptainJimfairlyscorchedthewretchedfellowwiththelightningofhiseyes。Heseemedamantransformed。Hedidn’tsaymuch——butthewayhesaidit！You’dhavethoughtitwouldstripthefleshfromthefellow’sbones。IunderstandthatCaptainJimwillneverallowawordagainstanywomantobesaidinhispresence。"

"Iwonderwhyhenevermarried，"saidAnne。"Heshouldhavesonswiththeirshipsatseanow，andgrandchildrenclimbingoverhimtohearhisstories——he’sthatkindofaman。Instead，hehasnothingbutamagnificentcat。"

ButAnnewasmistaken。CaptainJimhadmorethanthat。

Hehadamemory。

CHAPTER10

LESLIEMOORE

"I’mgoingforawalktotheoutsideshoretonight，"

AnnetoldGogandMagogoneOctoberevening。Therewasnooneelsetotell，forGilberthadgoneovertheharbor。AnnehadherlittledomaininthespecklessorderonewouldexpectofanyonebroughtupbyMarillaCuthbert，andfeltthatshecouldgadshorewardwithaclearconscience。Manyanddelightfulhadbeenhershorerambles，sometimeswithGilbert，sometimeswithCaptainJim，sometimesalonewithherownthoughtsandnew，poignantly-sweetdreamsthatwerebeginningtospanlifewiththeirrainbows。Shelovedthegentle，mistyharborshoreandthesilvery，wind-hauntedsandshore，butbestofallshelovedtherockshore，withitscliffsandcavesandpilesofsurf-wornboulders，anditscoveswherethepebblesglitteredunderthepools；anditwastothisshoreshehiedherselftonight。

Therehadbeenanautumnstormofwindandrain，lastingforthreedays。Thunderoushadbeenthecrashofbillowsontherocks，wildthewhitesprayandspumethatblewoverthebar，troubledandmistyandtempest-torntheerstwhilebluepeaceofFourWindsHarbor。Nowitwasover，andtheshorelayclean-washedafterthestorm；notawindstirred，buttherewasstillafinesurfon，dashingonsandandrockinasplendidwhiteturmoil——theonlyrestlessthinginthegreat，pervadingstillnessandpeace。

"Oh，thisisamomentworthlivingthroughweeksofstormandstressfor，"Anneexclaimed，delightedlysendingherfargazeacrossthetossingwatersfromthetopofthecliffwhereshestood。Presentlyshescrambleddownthesteeppathtothelittlecovebelow，wheresheseemedshutinwithrocksandseaandsky。

"I’mgoingtodanceandsing，"shesaid。"There’snooneheretoseeme——theseagullswon’tcarrytalesofthematter。ImaybeascrazyasIlike。"

Shecaughtupherskirtandpirouettedalongthehardstripofsandjustoutofreachofthewavesthatalmostlappedherfeetwiththeirspentfoam。Whirlingroundandround，laughinglikeachild，shereachedthelittleheadlandthatranouttotheeastofthecove；

thenshestoppedsuddenly，blushingcrimson；shewasnotalone；therehadbeenawitnesstoherdanceandlaughter。

Thegirlofthegoldenhairandsea-blueeyeswassittingonaboulderoftheheadland，half-hiddenbyajuttingrock。ShewaslookingstraightatAnnewithastrangeexpression——partwonder，partsympathy，part——coulditbe？——envy。Shewasbare-headed，andhersplendidhair，morethaneverlikeBrowning’s"gorgeoussnake，"wasboundaboutherheadwithacrimsonribbon。Sheworeadressofsomedarkmaterial，veryplainlymade；butswathedaboutherwaist，outliningitsfinecurves，wasavividgirdleofredsilk。Herhands，claspedoverherknee，werebrownandsomewhatwork-hardened；buttheskinofherthroatandcheekswasaswhiteascream。Aflyinggleamofsunsetbrokethroughalow-lyingwesterncloudandfellacrossherhair。Foramomentsheseemedthespiritoftheseapersonified——allitsmystery，allitspassion，allitselusivecharm。

"You——youmustthinkmecrazy，"stammeredAnne，tryingtorecoverherself-possession。Tobeseenbythisstatelygirlinsuchanabandonofchildishness——she，Mrs。Dr。Blythe，withallthedignityofthematrontokeepup——itwastoobad！

"No，"saidthegirl，"Idon’t。"

Shesaidnothingmore；hervoicewasexpressionless；

hermannerslightlyrepellent；buttherewassomethinginhereyes——eageryetshy，defiantyetpleading——whichturnedAnnefromherpurposeofwalkingaway。Instead，shesatdownontheboulderbesidethegirl。

"Let’sintroduceourselves，"shesaid，withthesmilethathadneveryetfailedtowinconfidenceandfriendliness。"IamMrs。Blythe——andIliveinthatlittlewhitehouseuptheharborshore。"

"Yes，Iknow，"saidthegirl。"IamLeslieMoore——Mrs。DickMoore，"sheaddedstiffly。

Annewassilentforamomentfromsheeramazement。Ithadnotoccurredtoherthatthisgirlwasmarried——thereseemednothingofthewifeabouther。

AndthatsheshouldbetheneighborwhomAnnehadpicturedasacommonplaceFourWindshousewife！Annecouldnotquicklyadjusthermentalfocustothisastonishingchange。

"Then——thenyouliveinthatgrayhouseupthebrook，"

shestammered。

"Yes。Ishouldhavegoneovertocallonyoulongago，"saidtheother。Shedidnotofferanyexplanationorexcusefornothavinggone。

"IwishyouWOULDcome，"saidAnne，recoveringherselfsomewhat。"We’resuchnearneighborsweoughttobefriends。ThatisthesolefaultofFourWinds——therearen’tquiteenoughneighbors。Otherwiseitisperfection。"

"Youlikeit？"

"LIKEit！Iloveit。ItisthemostbeautifulplaceI

eversaw。"

"I’veneverseenmanyplaces，"saidLeslieMoore，slowly，"butI’vealwaysthoughtitwasverylovelyhere。I——Iloveit，too。"

Shespoke，asshelooked，shyly，yeteagerly。Annehadanoddimpressionthatthisstrangegirl——theword"girl"wouldpersist——couldsayagooddealifshechose。

"Ioftencometotheshore，"sheadded。

"SodoI，"saidAnne。"It’sawonderwehaven’tmetherebefore。"

"ProbablyyoucomeearlierintheeveningthanIdo。

Itisgenerallylate——almostdark——whenIcome。AndI

lovetocomejustafterastorm——likethis。Idon’tliketheseasowellwhenit’scalmandquiet。Ilikethestruggle——andthecrash——andthenoise。"

"Iloveitinallitsmoods，"declaredAnne。"TheseaatFourWindsistomewhatLover’sLanewasathome。

Tonightitseemedsofree——sountamed——somethingbrokelooseinme，too，outofsympathy。ThatwaswhyI

dancedalongtheshoreinthatwildway。Ididn’tsupposeanybodywaslooking，ofcourse。IfMissCorneliaBryanthadseenmeshewouldhaveforbodedagloomyprospectforpooryoungDr。Blythe。"

"YouknowMissCornelia？"saidLeslie，laughing。Shehadanexquisitelaugh；itbubbledupsuddenlyandunexpectedlywithsomethingofthedeliciousqualityofababy’s。Annelaughed，too。

"Oh，yes。Shehasbeendowntomyhouseofdreamsseveraltimes。"

"Yourhouseofdreams？"

"Oh，that’sadear，foolishlittlenameGilbertandI

haveforourhome。Wejustcallitthatbetweenourselves。ItslippedoutbeforeIthought。"

"SoMissRussell’slittlewhitehouseisYOURhouseofdreams，"saidLesliewonderingly。"_I_hadahouseofdreamsonce——butitwasapalace，"sheadded，withalaugh，thesweetnessofwhichwasmarredbyalittlenoteofderision。

"Oh，Ioncedreamedofapalace，too，"saidAnne。"I

supposeallgirlsdo。Andthenwesettledowncontentedlyineight-roomhousesthatseemtofulfillallthedesiresofourhearts——becauseourprinceisthere。YOUshouldhavehadyourpalacereally，though——youaresobeautiful。YouMUSTletmesayit——ithastobesaid——I’mnearlyburstingwithadmiration。YouaretheloveliestthingIeversaw，Mrs。Moore。"

"IfwearetobefriendsyoumustcallmeLeslie，"

saidtheotherwithanoddpassion。

"OfcourseIwill。AndMYfriendscallmeAnne。"

"IsupposeIambeautiful，"Lesliewenton，lookingstormilyouttosea。"Ihatemybeauty。IwishIhadalwaysbeenasbrownandplainasthebrownestandplainestgirlatthefishingvillageoverthere。

Well，whatdoyouthinkofMissCornelia？"

Theabruptchangeofsubjectshutthedooronanyfurtherconfidences。

"MissCorneliaisadarling，isn’tshe？"saidAnne。

"GilbertandIwereinvitedtoherhousetoastatetealastweek。You’veheardofgroaningtables。"

"Iseemtorecallseeingtheexpressioninthenewspaperreportsofweddings，"saidLeslie，smiling。

"Well，MissCornelia’sgroaned——atleast，itcreaked——positively。Youcouldn’thavebelievedshewouldhavecookedsomuchfortwoordinarypeople。Shehadeverykindofpieyoucouldname，Ithink——exceptlemonpie。ShesaidshehadtakentheprizeforlemonpiesattheCharlottetownExhibitiontenyearsagoandhadnevermadeanysinceforfearoflosingherreputationforthem。"

"Wereyouabletoeatenoughpietopleaseher？"

"_I_wasn’t。Gilbertwonherheartbyeating——Iwon’ttellyouhowmuch。Shesaidsheneverknewamanwhodidn’tlikepiebetterthanhisBible。Doyouknow，I

loveMissCornelia。"

"SodoI，"saidLeslie。"SheisthebestfriendI

haveintheworld。"

Annewonderedsecretlywhy，ifthiswereso，MissCorneliahadnevermentionedMrs。DickMooretoher。

MissCorneliahadcertainlytalkedfreelyabouteveryotherindividualinornearFourWinds。

"Isn’tthatbeautiful？"saidLeslie，afterabriefsilence，pointingtotheexquisiteeffectofashaftoflightfallingthroughacleftintherockbehindthem，acrossadarkgreenpoolatitsbase。"IfIhadcomehere——andseennothingbutjustthat——Iwouldgohomesatisfied。"

"Theeffectsoflightandshadowallalongtheseshoresarewonderful，"agreedAnne。"Mylittlesewingroomlooksoutontheharbor，andIsitatitswindowandfeastmyeyes。Thecolorsandshadowsareneverthesametwominutestogether。"

"Andyouareneverlonely？"askedLeslieabruptly。

"Never——whenyouarealone？"

"No。Idon’tthinkI’veeverbeenreallylonelyinmylife，"answeredAnne。"EvenwhenI’maloneIhaverealgoodcompany——dreamsandimaginationsandpretendings。ILIKEtobealonenowandthen，justtothinkoverthingsandTASTEthem。ButIlovefriendship——andnice，jollylittletimeswithpeople。

Oh，WON’Tyoucometoseeme——often？Pleasedo。I

believe，"Anneadded，laughing，"thatyou’dlikemeifyouknewme。"

"IwonderifYOUwouldlikeME，"saidLeslieseriously。Shewasnotfishingforacompliment。Shelookedoutacrossthewavesthatwerebeginningtobegarlandedwithblossomsofmoonlitfoam，andhereyesfilledwithshadows。

"I’msureIwould，"saidAnne。"Andpleasedon’tthinkI’mutterlyirresponsiblebecauseyousawmedancingontheshoreatsunset。NodoubtIshallbedignifiedafteratime。Yousee，Ihaven’tbeenmarriedverylong。Ifeellikeagirl，andsometimeslikeachild，yet。"

"Ihavebeenmarriedtwelveyears，"saidLeslie。

Herewasanotherunbelievablething。

"Why，youcan’tbeasoldasIam！"exclaimedAnne。

"Youmusthavebeenachildwhenyouweremarried。"

"Iwassixteen，"saidLeslie，rising，andpickingupthecapandjacketlyingbesideher。"Iamtwenty-eightnow。Well，Imustgoback。"

"SomustI。Gilbertwillprobablybehome。ButI’msogladwebothcametotheshoretonightandmeteachother。"

Lesliesaidnothing，andAnnewasalittlechilled。

Shehadofferedfriendshipfranklybutithadnotbeenacceptedverygraciously，ifithadnotbeenabsolutelyrepelled。Insilencetheyclimbedthecliffsandwalkedacrossapasture-fieldofwhichthefeathery，bleached，wildgrasseswerelikeacarpetofcreamyvelvetinthemoonlight。WhentheyreachedtheshorelaneLeslieturned。

"Igothisway，Mrs。Blythe。Youwillcomeoverandseemesometime，won’tyou？"

Annefeltasiftheinvitationhadbeenthrownather。

ShegottheimpressionthatLeslieMooregaveitreluctantly。

"Iwillcomeifyoureallywantmeto，"shesaidalittlecoldly。

"Oh，Ido——Ido，"exclaimedLeslie，withaneagernesswhichseemedtoburstforthandbeatdownsomerestraintthathadbeenimposedonit。

"ThenI’llcome。Good-night——Leslie。"

"Good-night，Mrs。Blythe。"

AnnewalkedhomeinabrownstudyandpouredouthertaletoGilbert。

"SoMrs。DickMooreisn’toneoftheracethatknowsJoseph？"saidGilbertteasingly。

"No——o——o，notexactly。Andyet——IthinksheWASoneofthemonce，buthasgoneorgotintoexile，"saidAnnemusingly。"Sheiscertainlyverydifferentfromtheotherwomenabouthere。Youcan’ttalkabouteggsandbuttertoHER。TothinkI’vebeenimaginingherasecondMrs。RachelLynde！HaveyoueverseenDickMoore，Gilbert？"

"No。I’veseenseveralmenworkingaboutthefieldsofthefarm，butIdon’tknowwhichwasMoore。"

"Shenevermentionedhim。IKNOWsheisn’thappy。"

"FromwhatyoutellmeIsupposeshewasmarriedbeforeshewasoldenoughtoknowherownmindorheart，andfoundouttoolatethatshehadmadeamistake。It’sacommontragedyenough，Anne。

Afinewomanwouldhavemadethebestofit。Mrs。

Moorehasevidentlyletitmakeherbitterandresentful。"

"Don’tletusjudgehertillweknow，"pleadedAnne。

"Idon’tbelievehercaseissoordinary。Youwillunderstandherfascinationwhenyoumeether，Gilbert。

Itisathingquiteapartfromherbeauty。Ifeelthatshepossessesarichnature，intowhichafriendmightenterasintoakingdom；butforsomereasonshebarseveryoneoutandshutsallherpossibilitiesupinherself，sothattheycannotdevelopandblossom。

There，I’vebeenstrugglingtodefinehertomyselfeversinceIlefther，andthatisthenearestIcangettoit。I’mgoingtoaskMissCorneliaabouther。"

CHAPTER11

THESTORYOFLESLIEMOORE

"Yes，theeighthbabyarrivedafortnightago，"saidMissCornelia，fromarockerbeforethefireofthelittlehouseonechillyOctoberafternoon。"It’sagirl。Fredwasrantingmad——saidhewantedaboy——whenthetruthishedidn’twantitatall。Ifithadbeenaboyhe’dhaverantedbecauseitwasn’tagirl。Theyhadfourgirlsandthreeboysbefore，soI

can’tseethatitmademuchdifferencewhatthisonewas，butofcoursehe’dhavetobecantankerous，justlikeaman。Thebabyisrealpretty，dressedupinitsnicelittleclothes。Ithasblackeyesandthedearest，tinyhands。"

"Imustgoandseeit。Ijustlovebabies，"saidAnne，smilingtoherselfoverathoughttoodearandsacredtobeputintowords。

"Idon’tsaybutwhatthey’renice，"admittedMissCornelia。"Butsomefolksseemtohavemorethantheyreallyneed，believeME。MypoorcousinFloraupattheGlenhadeleven，andsuchaslaveassheis！Herhusbandsuicidedthreeyearsago。Justlikeaman！"

"Whatmadehimdothat？"askedAnne，rathershocked。

"Couldn’tgethiswayoversomething，sohejumpedintothewell。Agoodriddance！Hewasaborntyrant。

Butofcourseitspoiledthewell。Floracouldneverabidethethoughtofusingitagain，poorthing！Soshehadanotherdugandafrightfulexpenseitwas，andthewaterashardasnails。IfheHADtodrownhimselftherewasplentyofwaterintheharbor，wasn’tthere？

I’venopatiencewithamanlikethat。We’veonlyhadtwosuicidesinFourWindsinmyrecollection。TheotherwasFrankWest——LeslieMoore’sfather。Bytheway，hasLeslieeverbeenovertocallonyouyet？"

"No，butImetherontheshoreafewnightsagoandwescrapedanacquaintance，"saidAnne，prickingupherears。

MissCornelianodded。

"I’mglad，dearie。Iwashopingyou’dforegatherwithher。Whatdoyouthinkofher？"

"Ithoughtherverybeautiful。"

"Oh，ofcourse。TherewasneveranybodyaboutFourWindscouldtouchherforlooks。Didyoueverseeherhair？Itreachestoherfeetwhensheletsitdown。

ButImeanthowdidyoulikeher？"

"IthinkIcouldlikeherverymuchifshe’dletme，"

saidAnneslowly。

"Butshewouldn’tletyou——shepushedyouoffandkeptyouatarm’slength。PoorLeslie！Youwouldn’tbemuchsurprisedifyouknewwhatherlifehasbeen。

It’sbeenatragedy——atragedy！"repeatedMissCorneliaemphatically。

"Iwishyouwouldtellmeallabouther——thatis，ifyoucandosowithoutbetrayinganyconfidence。"

"Lord，dearie，everybodyinFourWindsknowspoorLeslie’sstory。It’snosecret——theOUTSIDE，thatis。

NobodyknowstheINSIDEbutLeslieherself，andshedoesn’ttakefolksintoherconfidence。I’maboutthebestfriendshehasonearth，Ireckon，andshe’sneverutteredawordofcomplainttome。HaveyoueverseenDickMoore？"

"No。"

"Well，Imayaswellbeginatthebeginningandtellyoueverythingstraightthrough，soyou’llunderstandit。AsIsaid，Leslie’sfatherwasFrankWest。Hewascleverandshiftless——justlikeaman。Oh，hehadheapsofbrains——andmuchgoodtheydidhim！Hestartedtogotocollege，andhewentfortwoyears，andthenhishealthbrokedown。TheWestswereallinclinedtobeconsumptive。SoFrankcamehomeandstartedfarming。HemarriedRoseElliottfromoverharbor。RosewasreckonedthebeautyofFourWinds——Leslietakesherlooksfromhermother，butshehastentimesthespiritandgothatRosehad，andafarbetterfigure。Nowyouknow，Anne，Ialwaystakethegroundthatuswomenoughttostandbyeachother。

We’vegotenoughtoendureatthehandsofthemen，theLordknows，soIholdwehadn’toughttoclapper-clawoneanother，anditisn’toftenyou’llfindmerunningdownanotherwoman。ButIneverhadmuchuseforRoseElliott。Shewasspoiledtobeginwith，believeME，andshewasnothingbutalazy，selfish，whiningcreature。Frankwasnohandtowork，sotheywerepoorasJob’sturkey。Poor！Theylivedonpotatoesandpoint，believeME。Theyhadtwochildren——LeslieandKenneth。Lesliehadhermother’slooksandherfather’sbrains，andsomethingshedidn’tgetfromeitherofthem。ShetookafterherGrandmotherWest——asplendidoldlady。Shewasthebrightest，friendliest，merriestthingwhenshewasachild，Anne。Everybodylikedher。Shewasherfather’sfavoriteandshewasawfulfondofhim。Theywere`chums，’assheusedtosay。Shecouldn’tseeanyofhisfaults——andheWASatakingsortofmaninsomeways。

"Well，whenLesliewastwelveyearsold，thefirstdreadfulthinghappened。SheworshippedlittleKenneth——hewasfouryearsyoungerthanher，andheWAS

adearlittlechap。Andhewaskilledoneday——felloffabigloadofhayjustasitwasgoingintothebarn，andthewheelwentrightoverhislittlebodyandcrushedthelifeoutofit。Andmindyou，Anne，Lesliesawit。Shewaslookingdownfromtheloft。Shegaveonescreech——thehiredmansaidheneverheardsuchasoundinallhislife——hesaiditwouldringinhisearstillGabriel’strumpdroveitout。Butsheneverscreechedorcriedagainaboutit。Shejumpedfromtheloftontotheloadandfromtheloadtothefloor，andcaughtupthelittlebleeding，warm，deadbody，Anne——theyhadtotearitfromherbeforeshewouldletitgo。Theysentforme——Ican’ttalkofit。"

MissCorneliawipedthetearsfromherkindlybrowneyesandsewedinbittersilenceforafewminutes。

"Well，"sheresumed，"itwasallover——theyburiedlittleKennethinthatgraveyardovertheharbor，andafterawhileLesliewentbacktoherschoolandherstudies。ShenevermentionedKenneth’sname——I’veneverhearditcrossherlipsfromthatdaytothis。I

reckonthatoldhurtstillachesandburnsattimes；

butshewasonlyachildandtimeisrealkindtochildren，Anne，dearie。Afterawhileshebegantolaughagain——shehadtheprettiestlaugh。Youdon’toftenhearitnow。"

"Ihearditoncetheothernight，"saidAnne。"ItIS

abeautifullaugh。"

"FrankWestbegantogodownafterKenneth’sdeath。Hewasn’tstronganditwasashocktohim，becausehewasrealfondofthechild，though，asI’vesaid，Lesliewashisfavorite。Hegotmopyandmelancholy，andcouldn’torwouldn’twork。Andoneday，whenLesliewasfourteenyearsofage，hehangedhimself——andintheparlor，too，mindyou，Anne，rightinthemiddleoftheparlorfromthelamphookintheceiling。Wasn’tthatlikeaman？Itwastheanniversaryofhisweddingday，too。Nice，tastytimetopickforit，wasn’tit？And，ofcourse，thatpoorLesliehadtobetheonetofindhim。Shewentintotheparlorthatmorning，singing，withsomefreshflowersforthevases，andthereshesawherfatherhangingfromtheceiling，hisfaceasblackasacoal。Itwassomethingawful，believeME！"

"Oh，howhorrible！"saidAnne，shuddering。"Thepoor，poorchild！"

"Lesliedidn’tcryatherfather’sfuneralanymorethenshehadcriedatKenneth’s。Rosewhoopedandhowledfortwo，however，andLesliehadallshecoulddotryingtocalmandcomforthermother。IwasdisgustedwithRoseandsowaseveryoneelse，butLeslienevergotoutofpatience。Shelovedhermother。Leslieisclannish——herowncouldneverdowronginhereyes。Well，theyburiedFrankWestbesideKenneth，andRoseputupagreatbigmonumenttohim。

Itwasbiggerthanhischaracter，believeME！Anyhow，itwasbiggerthanRosecouldafford，forthefarmwasmortgagedformorethanitsvalue。ButnotlongafterLeslie’soldgrandmotherWestdiedandsheleftLesliealittlemoney——enoughtogiveherayearatQueen’sAcademy。Lesliehadmadeuphermindtopassforateacherifshecould，andthenearnenoughtoputherselfthroughRedmondCollege。Thathadbeenherfather’spetscheme——hewantedhertohavewhathehadlost。Lesliewasfullofambitionandherheadwaschockfullofbrains。ShewenttoQueen’s，andshetooktwoyears’workinoneyearandgotherFirst；

andwhenshecamehomeshegottheGlenschool。Shewassohappyandhopefulandfulloflifeandeagerness。WhenIthinkofwhatshewasthenandwhatsheisnow，Isay——dratthemen！"

MissCorneliasnippedherthreadoffasviciouslyasif，Nero-like，shewasseveringtheneckofmankindbythestroke。

"DickMoorecameintoherlifethatsummer。Hisfather，AbnerMoore，keptstoreattheGlen，butDickhadasea-goingstreakinhimfromhismother；heusedtosailinsummerandclerkinhisfather’sstoreinwinter。Hewasabig，handsomefellow，withalittleuglysoul。Hewasalwayswantingsomethingtillhegotit，andthenhestoppedwantingit——justlikeaman。

Oh，hedidn’tgrowlattheweatherwhenitwasfine，andhewasmostlyrealpleasantandagreeablewheneverythingwentright。Buthedrankagooddeal，andthereweresomenastystoriestoldofhimandagirldownatthefishingvillage。Hewasn’tfitforLeslietowipeherfeeton，that’sthelongandshortofit。

AndhewasaMethodist！Buthewascleanmadabouther——becauseofhergoodlooksinthefirstplace，andbecauseshewouldn’thaveanythingtosaytohiminthesecond。Hevowedhe’dhaveher——andhegother！"

"Howdidhebringitabout？"

"Oh，itwasaniniquitousthing！I’llneverforgiveRoseWest。Yousee，dearie，AbnerMooreheldthemortgageontheWestfarm，andtheinterestwasoverduesomeyears，andDickjustwentandtoldMrs。WestthatifLesliewouldn’tmarryhimhe’dgethisfathertoforeclosethemortgage。Rosecarriedonterrible——faintedandwept，andpleadedwithLeslienottoletherbeturnedoutofherhome。Shesaiditwouldbreakherhearttoleavethehomeshe’dcometoasabride。Iwouldn’thaveblamedherforfeelingdreadfulbadoverit——butyouwouldn’thavethoughtshe’dbesoselfishastosacrificeherownfleshandbloodbecauseofit，wouldyou？Well，shewas。

AndLesliegavein——shelovedhermothersomuchshewouldhavedoneanythingtosaveherpain。ShemarriedDickMoore。Noneofusknewwhyatthetime。Itwasn’ttilllongafterwardthatIfoundouthowhermotherhadworriedherintoit。Iwassuretherewassomethingwrong，though，becauseIknewhowshehadsnubbedhimtimeandagain，anditwasn’tlikeLeslietoturnface——aboutlikethat。Besides，IknewthatDickMoorewasn’tthekindofmanLesliecouldeverfancy，inspiteofhisgoodlooksanddashingways。Ofcourse，therewasnowedding，butRoseaskedmetogoandseethemmarried。Iwent，butIwassorryIdid。

I’dseenLeslie’sfaceatherbrother’sfuneralandatherfather’sfuneral——andnowitseemedtomeIwasseeingitatherownfuneral。ButRosewassmilingasabasketofchips，believeME！

"LeslieandDicksettleddownontheWestplace——Rosecouldn’tbeartopartwithherdeardaughter！——andlivedthereforthewinter。InthespringRosetookpneumoniaanddied——ayeartoolate！Lesliewasheart-brokenenoughoverit。Isn’titterriblethewaysomeunworthyfolksareloved，whileothersthatdeserveitfarmore，you’dthink，nevergetmuchaffection？AsforDick，he’dhadenoughofquietmarriedlife——justlikeaman。Hewasforupandoff。

HewentovertoNovaScotiatovisithisrelations——hisfatherhadcomefromNovaScotia——andhewrotebacktoLesliethathiscousin，GeorgeMoore，wasgoingonavoyagetoHavanaandhewasgoingtoo。ThenameofthevesselwastheFourSistersandtheyweretobegoneaboutnineweeks。

"ItmusthavebeenarelieftoLeslie。Butsheneversaidanything。Fromthedayofhermarriageshewasjustwhatsheisnow——coldandproud，andkeepingeveryonebutmeatadistance。Iwon’tBEkeptatadistance，believeME！I’vejuststucktoLeslieascloseasIknewhowinspiteofeverything。"

"Shetoldmeyouwerethebestfriendshehad，"saidAnne。

"Didshe？"exclaimedMissCorneliadelightedly。

"Well，I’mrealthankfultohearit。SometimesI’vewonderedifshereallydidwantmearoundatall——sheneverletmethinkso。Youmusthavethawedheroutmorethanyouthink，orshewouldn’thavesaidthatmuchitselftoyou。Oh，thatpoor，heart-brokengirl！

IneverseeDickMoorebutIwanttorunaknifecleanthroughhim。"

MissCorneliawipedhereyesagainandhavingrelievedherfeelingsbyherblood-thirstywish，tookuphertale。

"Well，Lesliewasleftovertherealone。Dickhadputinthecropbeforehewent，andoldAbnerlookedafterit。ThesummerwentbyandtheFourSistersdidn’tcomeback。TheNovaScotiaMooresinvestigated，andfoundshehadgottoHavanaanddischargedhercargoandtookonanotherandleftforhome；andthatwasalltheyeverfoundoutabouther。BydegreespeoplebegantotalkofDickMooreasonethatwasdead。Almosteveryonebelievedthathewas，thoughnoonefeltcertain，formenhaveturneduphereattheharborafterthey’dbeengoneforyears。Leslieneverthoughthewasdead——andshewasright。Athousandpitiestoo！

ThenextsummerCaptainJimwasinHavana——thatwasbeforehegaveupthesea，ofcourse。Hethoughthe’dpokeroundabit——CaptainJimwasalwaysmeddlesome，justlikeaman——andhewenttoinquiringroundamongthesailors’boardinghousesandplaceslikethat，toseeifhecouldfindoutanythingaboutthecrewoftheFourSisters。He’dbetterhaveletsleepingdogslie，inmyopinion！Well，hewenttooneout-of-the-wayplace，andtherehefoundamanheknewatfirstsightitwasDickMoore，thoughhehadabigbeard。CaptainJimgotitshavedoffandthentherewasnodoubt——DickMooreitwas——hisbodyatleast。Hismindwasn’tthere——asforhissoul，inmyopinionheneverhadone！"

"Whathadhappenedtohim？"

"Nobodyknowstherightsofit。Allthefolkswhokepttheboardinghousecouldtellwasthataboutayearbeforetheyhadfoundhimlyingontheirdoorsteponemorninginanawfulcondition——hisheadbatteredtoajellyalmost。Theysupposedhe’dgothurtinsomedrunkenrow，andlikelythat’sthetruthofit。Theytookhimin，neverthinkinghecouldlive。Buthedid——andhewasjustlikeachildwhenhegotwell。

Hehadn’tmemoryorintellectorreason。Theytriedtofindoutwhohewasbuttheynevercould。Hecouldn’teventellthemhisname——hecouldonlysayafewsimplewords。Hehadaletteronhimbeginning`DearDick’

andsigned`Leslie，’buttherewasnoaddressonitandtheenvelopewasgone。Theylethimstayon——helearnedtodoafewoddjobsabouttheplace——andthereCaptainJimfoundhim。Hebroughthimhome——I’vealwayssaiditwasabadday’swork，thoughIs’posetherewasnothingelsehecoulddo。HethoughtmaybewhenDickgothomeandsawhisoldsurroundingsandfamiliarfaceshismemorywouldwakeup。Butithadn’tanyeffect。Therehe’sbeenatthehouseupthebrookeversince。He’sjustlikeachild，nomorenorless。

Takesfractiousspellsoccasionally，butmostlyhe’sjustvacantandgoodhumoredandharmless。He’sapttorunawayifheisn’twatched。That’stheburdenLesliehashadtocarryforelevenyears——andallalone。OldAbnerMoorediedsoonafterDickwasbroughthomeanditwasfoundhewasalmostbankrupt。

WhenthingsweresettleduptherewasnothingforLeslieandDickbuttheoldWestfarm。LeslierentedittoJohnWard，andtherentisallshehastoliveon。Sometimesinsummershetakesaboardertohelpout。Butmostvisitorsprefertheothersideoftheharborwherethehotelsandsummercottagesare。

Leslie’shouseistoofarfromthebathingshore。

She’stakencareofDickandshe’sneverbeenawayfromhimforelevenyears——she’stiedtothatimbecileforlife。Andafterallthedreamsandhopessheoncehad！

Youcanimaginewhatithasbeenlikeforher，Anne，dearie——withherbeautyandspiritandprideandcleverness。It’sjustbeenalivingdeath。"

"Poor，poorgirl！"saidAnneagain。Herownhappinessseemedtoreproachher。Whatrighthadshetobesohappywhenanotherhumansoulmustbesomiserable？

"WillyoutellmejustwhatLesliesaidandhowsheactedthenightyoumetherontheshore？"askedMissCornelia。

Shelistenedintentlyandnoddedhersatisfaction。

"YOUthoughtshewasstiffandcold，Anne，dearie，butIcantellyoushethawedoutwonderfulforher。Shemusthavetakentoyourealstrong。I’msoglad。Youmaybeabletohelpheragooddeal。IwasthankfulwhenIheardthatayoungcouplewascomingtothishouse，forIhopeditwouldmeansomefriendsforLeslie；especiallyifyoubelongedtotheracethatknowsJoseph。YouWILLbeherfriend，won’tyou，Anne，dearie？"

"IndeedIwill，ifshe’llletme，"saidAnne，withallherownsweet，impulsiveearnestness。

"No，youmustbeherfriend，whethershe’llletyouornot，"saidMissCorneliaresolutely。"Don’tyoumindifshe’sstiffbytimes——don’tnoticeit。Rememberwhatherlifehasbeen——andis——andmustalwaysbe，I

suppose，forcreatureslikeDickMooreliveforever，I

understand。Youshouldseehowfathe’sgotsincehecamehome。Heusedtobeleanenough。JustMAKEherbefriends——youcandoit——you’reoneofthosewhohavetheknack。Onlyyoumustn’tbesensitive。Anddon’tmindifshedoesn’tseemtowantyoutogoovertheremuch。Sheknowsthatsomewomendon’tliketobewhereDickis——theycomplainhegivesthemthecreeps。Justgethertocomeoverhereasoftenasshecan。Shecan’tgetawaysoverymuch——shecan’tleaveDicklong，fortheLordknowswhathe’ddo——burnthehousedownmostlikely。Atnights，afterhe’sinbedandasleep，isabouttheonlytimeshe’sfree。Healwaysgoestobedearlyandsleepslikethedeadtillnextmorning。

Thatishowyoucametomeetherattheshorelikely。

Shewandersthereconsiderable。"

"IwilldoeverythingIcanforher，"saidAnne。HerinterestinLeslieMoore，whichhadbeenvivideversinceshehadseenherdrivinghergeesedownthehill，wasintensifiedathousandfoldbyMissCornelia’snarration。Thegirl’sbeautyandsorrowandlonelinessdrewherwithanirresistiblefascination。Shehadneverknownanyonelikeher；herfriendshadhithertobeenwholesome，normal，merrygirlslikeherself，withonlytheaveragetrialsofhumancareandbereavementtoshadowtheirgirlishdreams。LeslieMoorestoodapart，atragic，appealingfigureofthwartedwomanhood。Anneresolvedthatshewouldwinentranceintothekingdomofthatlonelysoulandfindtherethecomradeshipitcouldsorichlygive，wereitnotforthecruelfettersthathelditinaprisonnotofitsownmaking。

"Andmindyouthis，Anne，dearie，"saidMissCornelia，whohadnotyetwhollyrelievedhermind，"Youmustn’tthinkLeslieisaninfidelbecauseshehardlyevergoestochurch——oreventhatshe’saMethodist。Shecan’ttakeDicktochurch，ofcourse——notthatheevertroubledchurchmuchinhisbestdays。Butyoujustrememberthatshe’sarealstrongPresbyterianatheart，Anne，dearie。"