Did Miss Bryant tell you about Mr. Moore ? '' `` Yes , -- he 's mentally deficient , or something of the sort , is n't he ? But she said nothing about Mrs. Moore , and I supposed she 'd be the usual hustling country housewife who takes in boarders to earn an honest penny . '' `` Well , that 's just what Leslie is doing , '' said Anne crisply . `` And it is n't altogether pleasant for her , either . I hope you wo n't mind Dick . If you do , please do n't let Leslie see it . It would hurt her horribly . He 's just a big baby , and sometimes a rather annoying one . '' `` Oh , I wo n't mind him . I do n't suppose I 'll be much in the house anyhow , except for meals . But what a shame it all is ! Her life must be a hard one . '' `` It is . But she does n't like to be pitied . '' Leslie had gone back into the house and now met them at the front door . She greeted Owen Ford with cold civility , and told him in a business-like tone that his room and his supper were ready for him . Dick , with a pleased grin , shambled upstairs with the valise , and Owen Ford was installed as an inmate of the old house among the willows . CHAPTER 24 THE LIFE-BOOK OF CAPTAIN JIM `` I have a little brown cocoon of an idea that may possibly expand into a magnificent moth of fulfilment , '' Anne told Gilbert when she reached home . He had returned earlier than she had expected , and was enjoying Susan 's cherry pie .
Susan herself hovered in the background , like a rather grim but beneficent guardian spirit , and found as much pleasure in watching XXXXX eat pie as he did in eating it .
Bryant Dick Ford Gilbert JIM Leslie Moore boarders fulfilment valise