The life you have to live has warped you a little , perhaps-but it would have ruined a nature less fine and noble than yours . I 'm letting you tell me all this because I believe it 's better for you to talk it out and rid your soul of it . But do n't blame yourself any more . '' `` Well , I wo n't . I just wanted you to know me as I am . That time you told me of your darling hope for the spring was the worst of all , Anne . I shall never forgive myself for the way I behaved then . I repented it with tears . And I DID put many a tender and loving thought of you into the little dress I made . But I might have known that anything I made could only be a shroud in the end . '' `` Now , Leslie , that IS bitter and morbid -- put such thoughts away . `` I was so glad when you brought the little dress ; and since I had to lose little Joyce I like to think that the dress she wore was the one you made for her when you let yourself love me . '' `` Anne , do you know , I believe I shall always love you after this . I do n't think I 'll ever feel that dreadful way about you again . Talking it all out seems to have done away with it , somehow . It 's very strange -- and I thought it so real and bitter . It 's like opening the door of a dark room to show some hideous creature you 've believed to be there -- and when the light streams in your monster turns out to have been just a shadow , vanishing when the light comes . It will never come between us again . '' `` No , we are real friends now , Leslie , and I am very glad . '' `` I hope you wo n't misunderstand me if I say something else .
XXXXX , I was grieved to the core of my heart when you lost your baby ; and if I could have saved her for you by cutting off one of my hands I would have done it .
Anne Joyce Leslie anything end friends life room shroud something