It 's a mite lonely , to be sure , with neither the light nor the water for company , but if our friends come to see us often we 'll weather it through . '' Captain Jim had an ice boat , and many a wild , glorious spin Gilbert and Anne and Leslie had over the glib harbor ice with him . Anne and Leslie took long snowshoe tramps together , too , over the fields , or across the harbor after storms , or through the woods beyond the Glen . They were very good comrades in their rambles and their fireside communings . Each had something to give the other -- each felt life the richer for friendly exchange of thought and friendly silence ; each looked across the white fields between their homes with a pleasant consciousness of a friend beyond . But , in spite of all this , Anne felt that there was always a barrier between Leslie and herself -- a constraint that never wholly vanished . `` I do n't know why I ca n't get closer to her , '' Anne said one evening to Captain Jim . `` I like her so much -- I admire her so much -- I WANT to take her right into my heart and creep right into hers . But I can never cross the barrier . '' `` You 've been too happy all your life , Mistress Blythe , '' said Captain Jim thoughtfully . `` I reckon that 's why you and Leslie ca n't get real close together in your souls . The barrier between you is her experience of sorrow and trouble . She ai n't responsible for it and you ai n't ; but it 's there and neither of you can cross it . '' `` My childhood was n't very happy before I came to Green Gables , '' said Anne , gazing soberly out of the window at the still , sad , dead beauty of the leafless tree-shadows on the moonlit snow . `` Mebbe not -- but it was just the usual unhappiness of a child who has n't anyone to look after it properly . There has n't been any TRAGEDY in your life , Mistress Blythe . And poor Leslie 's has been almost ALL tragedy . She feels , I reckon , though mebbe she hardly knows she feels it , that there 's a vast deal in her life you ca n't enter nor understand -- and so she has to keep you back from it -- hold you off , so to speak , from hurting her . You know if we 've got anything about us that hurts we shrink from anyone 's touch on or near it . It holds good with our souls as well as our bodies , I reckon .
XXXXX 's soul must be near raw -- it 's no wonder she hides it away . ''
Blythe Gilbert Glen Green Jim Leslie communings mebbe tramps tree-shadows