At times, this secret consciousness marred the delight of their comradeship; at others it was almost forgotten; but Anne always felt the hidden thorn was there, and might prick her at any moment.

She felt a cruel sting from it on the day when she told Leslie of what she hoped the spring would bring to the little house of dreams.

Leslie looked at her with hard, bitter, unfriendly eyes.
"So you are to have THAT, too," she said in a choked voice.

And without another word she had turned and gone across the fields homeward.

Anne was deeply hurt; for the moment she felt as if she could never like Leslie again.