She 's been handicapped by it all her life . She did n't mind it when she was free and ambitious , but it must gall now , believe ME . I 'm glad she seemed so bright and merry the evening she spent with you . Captain Jim told me he had fairly to put her cap and coat on and push her out of the door . Do n't be too long going to see her either . If you are she 'll think it 's because you do n't like the sight of Dick , and she 'll crawl into her shell again . Dick 's a great , big , harmless baby , but that silly grin and chuckle of his do get on some people 's nerves . Thank goodness , I 've no nerves myself . I like Dick Moore better now than I ever did when he was in his right senses -- though the Lord knows that is n't saying much . I was down there one day in housecleaning time helping Leslie a bit , and I was frying doughnuts . Dick was hanging round to get one , as usual , and all at once he picked up a scalding hot one I 'd just fished out and dropped it on the back of my neck when I was bending over . Then he laughed and laughed . Believe ME , Anne , it took all the grace of God in my heart to keep me from just whisking up that stew-pan of boiling fat and pouring it over his head . '' Anne laughed over Miss Cornelia 's wrath as she sped through the darkness . But laughter accorded ill with that night . She was sober enough when she reached the house among the willows . Everything was very silent . The front part of the house seemed dark and deserted , so Anne slipped round to the side door , which opened from the veranda into a little sitting room . There she halted noiselessly . The door was open .
Beyond , in the dimly lighted room , sat Leslie XXXXX , with her arms flung out on the table and her head bent upon them .
Anne Cornelia Jim Leslie Moore doughnuts evening night right stew-pan