The day was fine and bright; the first skim of snow had fallen on Christmas Eve and made the world beautiful; the harbor was still open and glittering.
Captain Jim and Miss Cornelia came to dinner.

Leslie and Dick had been invited, but Leslie made excuse; they always went to her Uncle Isaac West's for Christmas, she said.
"She'd rather have it so," Miss Cornelia told Anne.

"She can't bear taking Dick where there are strangers.

Christmas is always a hard time for Leslie.

She and her father used to make a lot of it." Miss Cornelia and Mrs.Rachel did not take a very violent fancy to each other.