e and being my friend."

"Well, it was only now and then you hated me, Leslie. Between times
you loved me, I think."

"I certainly did. But that other horrid feeling was always there,
spoiling it, back in my heart. I kept it down--sometimes I forgot
it--but sometimes it would surge up and take possession of me. I hated
you because I ENVIED you--oh, I was sick with envy of you at times.
You had a dear little home--and love--and happiness--and glad
dreams--everything I wanted--and never had--and never could have. Oh,
never could have! THAT was what stung. I wouldn't have envied you, if
I had had any HOPE that life would ever be different for me. But I
hadn't--I hadn't--and it didn't seem FAIR. It made me rebellious--and
it hurt me--and so I hated you at times. Oh, I was so ashamed of
it--I'm dying of shame now--but I couldn't conquer it.

"That night, when I was afraid you mightn't live--I thought I was going
to be punished for my wickedness--and I loved you so then. Anne, Anne,
I never had anything to love since my mother died, except Dick's old
dog--and it's so dreadful to have nothing to love--life is so
EMPTY--and there's NOTHING worse than emptiness--and I might have loved
you so much--and that horrible thing had spoiled it--"

Leslie was trembling and growing almost incoherent with the violence of
her emotion.

"Don't, Leslie," implored Anne, "oh, don't. I understand--don't talk
of it any more."

"I must--I must. When I knew you were going to live I vowed that I
would tell you as soon as you were well--that I wouldn't go on
accepting your friendship and companionship without telling you how
unworthy I was of it. And I've been so afraid--it would turn you
against me."

"You needn't fear that, Leslie."

"Oh, I'm so glad--so glad, Anne." Leslie clasped her brown,
work-hardened hands tightly together to still their shaking. "But I
want to tell you everything, now I've begun. You don't remember the
first time I saw you, I suppose--it wasn't that night on the shore--"

"No, it was the night Gilbert and I came home. You were driving your
geese down the hill. I should think I DO remember it! I thought you
were so beautiful--I longed for weeks after to find out who you were."

"I knew who YOU were, although I had never seen either of you before.
I had heard of the new doctor and his bride who were coming to live in
Miss Russell's little house. I--I hated you that very moment, Anne."

"I fel