按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
I spoke of your amiability； of your patience under this severe affliction； of
your touching gratitude when Dillon brings you little presents of fruit； of
your tenderness to your sister Fanny； whom you would not allow to stay in
town to nurse you； and how you heroically sent her back to Newport；
preferring to remain alone with Mary； the cook； and your man Watkins； to
whom； by the way； you were devotedly attached。 If you had been there；
Jack； you wouldn't have known yourself。 I should have excelled as a
criminal lawyer； if I had not turned my attention to a different branch of
jurisprudence。
Miss Marjorie asked all manner of leading questions concerning you。
It did not occur to me then； but it struck me forcibly afterwards； that she
evinced a singular interest in the conversation。 When I got back to my
room； I recalled how eagerly she leaned forward； with her full； snowy
throat in strong moonlight； listening to what I said。 Positively； I think I
made her like you！
Miss Daw is a girl whom you would like immensely； I can tell you that。
A beauty without affectation； a high and tender natureif one can read the
soul in the face。 And the old colonel is a noble character； too。
I am glad that the Daws are such pleasant people。 The Pines is an
isolated spot； and my resources are few。 I fear I should have found life
here somewhat monotonous before long； with no other society than that of
my excellent sire。 It is true； I might have made a target of the defenceless
invalid； but I haven't a taste for artillery； moi。
11
… Page 12…
Majorie Daw
CHAPTER VI。
JOHN FLEMMING TO EDWARD DELANEY。
August 17； 1872。
For a man who hasn't a taste for artillery； it occurs to me； my friend；
you are keeping up a pretty lively fire on my inner works。 But go on。
Cynicism is a small brass field…piece that eventually bursts and kills the
artilleryman。
You may abuse me as much as you like； and I'll not complain； for I
don't know what I should do without your letters。 They are curing me。 I
haven't hurled anything at Watkins since last Sunday； partly because I have
grown more amiable under your teaching； and partly because Watkins
captured my ammunition one night； and carried it off to the library。 He is
rapidly losing the habit he had acquired of dodging whenever I rub my ear；
or make any slight motion with my right arm。 He is still suggestive of the
wine…cellar； however。 You may break； you may shatter Watkins； if you will；
but the scent of the Roederer will hang round him still。
Ned； that Miss Daw must be a charming person。 I should certainly like
her。 I like her already。 When you spoke in your first letter of seeing a
young girl swinging in a hammock under your chamber window； I was
somehow strangely drawn to her。 I cannot account for it in the least。 What
you have subsequently written of Miss Daw has strengthened the
impression。 You seem to be describing a woman I have known in some
previous state of existence； or dreamed of in this。 Upon my word； if you
were to send me her photograph； I believe I should recognize her at a
glance。 Her manner； that listening attitude； her traits of character； as you
indicate them； the light hair and the dark eyesthey are all familiar things
to me。 Asked a lot of questions； did she？ Curious about me？ That is
strange。
You would laugh in your sleeve； you wretched old cynic； if you knew
how I lie awake nights； with my gas turned down to a star； thinking of The
Pines and the house across the road。 How cool it must be down there！ I
12
… Page 13…
Majorie Daw
long for the salt smell in the air。 I picture the colonel smoking his cheroot
on the piazza。 I send you and Miss Daw off on afternoon rambles along
the beach。 Sometimes I let you stroll with her under the elms in the
moonlight； for you are great friends by this time； I take it； and see each
other every day。 I know your ways and your manners！ Then I fall into a
truculent mood； and would like to destroy somebody。 Have you noticed
anything in the shape of a lover hanging around the colonel Lares and
Penates？ Does that lieutenant of the horse…marines or that young Stillwater
parson visit the house much？ Not that I am pining for news of them； but
any gossip of the kind would be in order。 I wonder； Ned； you don't fall in
love with Miss Daw。 I am ripe to do it myself。 Speaking of photographs；
couldn't you manage to slip one of her cartes…de…visite from her album
she must have an album； you knowand send it to me？ I will return it
before it could be missed。 That's a good fellow！ Did the mare arrive safe
and sound？ It will be a capital animal this autumn for Central Park。
Ohmy leg？ I forgot about my leg。 It's better。
13
… Page 14…
Majorie Daw
CHAPTER VII。
EDWARD DELANEY TO JOHN FLEMMIMG。
August 20； 1872。
You are correct in your surmises。 I am on the most friendly terms with
our neighbors。 The colonel and my father smoke their afternoon cigar
together in our sitting…room or on the piazza opposite； and I pass an hour
or two of the day or the evening with the daughter。 I am more and more
struck by the beauty； modesty； and intelligence of Miss Daw。
You asked me why I do not fall in love with her。 I will be frank； Jack； I
have thought of that。 She is young； rich； accomplished； uniting in herself
more attractions； mental and personal； than I can recall in any girl of my
acquaintance； but she lacks the something that would be necessary to
inspire in me that kind of interest。 Possessing this unknown quality； a
woman neither beautiful nor wealthy nor very young could bring me to her
feet。 But not Miss Daw。 If we were shipwrecked together on an
uninhabited islandlet me suggest a tropical island； for it costs no more to
be picturesqueI would build her a bamboo hut； I would fetch her bread…
fruit and cocoanuts； I would fry yams for her； I would lure the in