Actually the book is called "The Little Willow" and it is by the author Frances Tower. Lisby is the main character of the story. She is shown as a shy girl who is always dominated and out shined by her sisters. She falls in love with a guy but is not able to profess her love for him. The same happens with the guy who is also shy and then he goes away for war. And after sometime she comes to know that he is dead and his last words were basically his profession of love for her. There is nothing spiritual to it as the lisby is plain shy and is under confident.