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。"