The girl 's beauty and sorrow and loneliness drew her with an irresistible fascination . She had never known anyone like her ; her friends had hitherto been wholesome , normal , merry girls like herself , with only the average trials of human care and bereavement to shadow their girlish dreams . Leslie Moore stood apart , a tragic , appealing figure of thwarted womanhood . Anne resolved that she would win entrance into the kingdom of that lonely soul and find there the comradeship it could so richly give , were it not for the cruel fetters that held it in a prison not of its own making . `` And mind you this , Anne , dearie , '' said Miss Cornelia , who had not yet wholly relieved her mind , `` You must n't think Leslie is an infidel because she hardly ever goes to church -- or even that she 's a Methodist . She ca n't take Dick to church , of course -- not that he ever troubled church much in his best days . But you just remember that she 's a real strong Presbyterian at heart , Anne , dearie . '' CHAPTER 12 LESLIE COMES OVER Leslie came over to the house of dreams one frosty October night , when moonlit mists were hanging over the harbor and curling like silver ribbons along the seaward glens . She looked as if she repented coming when Gilbert answered her knock ; but Anne flew past him , pounced on her , and drew her in . `` I 'm so glad you picked tonight for a call , '' she said gaily . `` I made up a lot of extra good fudge this afternoon and we want someone to help us eat it -- before the fire -- while we tell stories . Perhaps Captain Jim will drop in , too . This is his night . '' `` No . Captain Jim is over home , '' said Leslie . `` He -- he made me come here , '' she added , half defiantly . `` I 'll say a thank-you to him for that when I see him , '' said Anne , pulling easy chairs before the fire . `` Oh , I do n't mean that I did n't want to come , '' protested Leslie , flushing a little . `` I -- I 've been thinking of coming -- but it is n't always easy for me to get away . '' `` Of course it must be hard for you to leave Mr. Moore , '' said Anne , in a matter-of-fact tone .
She had decided that it would be best to mention Dick XXXXX occasionally as an accepted fact , and not give undue morbidness to the subject by avoiding it .
Anne Cornelia Gilbert Jim Leslie Moore Presbyterian fire glens night