a man!"

"What made him do that?" asked Anne, rather shocked.

"Couldn't get his way over something, so he jumped into the well. A
good riddance! He was a born tyrant. But of course it spoiled the
well. Flora could never abide the thought of using it again, poor
thing! So she had another dug and a frightful expense it was, and the
water as hard as nails. If he HAD to drown himself there was plenty of
water in the harbor, wasn't there? I've no patience with a man like
that. We've only had two suicides in Four Winds in my recollection.
The other was Frank West--Leslie Moore's father. By the way, has
Leslie ever been over to call on you yet?"

"No, but I met her on the shore a few nights ago and we scraped an
acquaintance," said Anne, pricking up her ears.

Miss Cornelia nodded.

"I'm glad, dearie. I was hoping you'd foregather with her. What do
you think of her?"

"I thought her very beautiful."

"Oh, of course. There was never anybody about Four Winds could touch
her for looks. Did you ever see her hair? It reaches to her feet when
she lets it down. But I meant how did you like her?"

"I think I could like her very much if she'd let me," said Anne slowly.

"But she wouldn't let you--she pushed you off and kept you at arm's
length. Poor Leslie! You wouldn't be much surprised if you knew what
her life has been. It's been a tragedy--a tragedy!" repeated Miss
Cornelia emphatically.

"I wish you would tell me all about her--that is, if you can do so
without betraying any confidence."

"Lord, dearie, everybody in Four Winds knows poor Leslie's story. It's
no secret--the OUTSIDE, that is. Nobody knows the INSIDE but Leslie
herself, and she doesn't take folks into her confidence. I'm about the
best friend she has on earth, I reckon, and she's never uttered a word
of complaint to me. Have you ever seen Dick Moore?"

"No."

"Well, I may as well begin at the beginning and tell you everything
straight through, so you'll understand it. As I said, Leslie's father
was Frank West. He was clever and shiftless--just like a man. Oh, he
had heaps of brains--and much good they did him! He started to go to
college, and he went for two years, and then his health broke down.
The Wests were all inclined to be consumptive. So Frank came home and
started farming. He married Rose Elliott from over harbor. Rose was
reckoned the beauty of Four Winds--Leslie takes her looks from her
mother, but she has ten