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！
accompany my father on one of those long walks which are now his chief
medicineand mine！
21
… Page 22…
Majorie Daw
CHAPTER XI。
EDWARD DELANY TO JOHN FLEMMING。
August 29； 1972。
I write in great haste to tell you what has taken place here since my
letter of last night。 I am in the utmost perplexity。 Only one thing is plain
you must not dream of coming to The Pines。 Marjorie has told her father
everything！ I saw her for a few minutes； an hour ago； in the garden； and；
as near as I could gather from her confused statement； the facts are these：
Lieutenant Bradlythat's the naval officer stationed at Rivermouthhas
been paying court to Miss Daw for some time past； but not so much to her
liking as to that of the colonel； who it seems is an old fiend of the young
gentleman's father。 Yesterday （I knew she was in some trouble when she
drove up to our gate） the colonel spoke to Marjorie of Bradly urged his
suit； I infer。 Marjorie expressed her dislike for the lieutenant with
characteristic frankness； and finally confessed to her fatherwell； I really
do not know what she confessed。 It must have been the vaguest of
confessions； and must have sufficiently puzzled the colonel。 At any rate； it
exasperated him。 I suppose I am implicated in the matter； and that the
colonel feels bitterly towards me。 I do not see why： I have carried no
messages between you and Miss Daw； I have behaved with the greatest
discretion。 I can find no flaw anywhere in my proceeding。 I do not see that
anybody has done anythingexcept the colonel himself。
It is probable； nevertheless； that the friendly relations between the two
houses will be broken off。 〃A plague o' both your houses；〃 say you。 I will
keep you informed； as well as I can； of what occurs over the way。 We shall
remain here until the second week in September。 Stay where you are； or； at
all events； do not dream of joining me。。。。Colonel Daw is sitting on the
piazza looking rather wicked。 I have not seen Marjorie since I parted with
her in the garden。
22
… Page 23…
Majorie Daw
CHAPTER XII。
EDWARD DELANEY TO THOMAS DILLON； M。D。； MADISON
SQUARE； NEW YORK。
August 30； 1872。
My Dear Doctor： If you have any influence over Flemming； I beg of
you to exert it to prevent his coming to this place at present。 There are
circumstances； which I will explain to you before long； that make it of the
first importance that he should not come into this neighborhood。 His
appearance here； I speak advisedly； would be disastrous to him。 In urging
him to remain in New York； or to go to some inland resort； you will be
doing him and me a real service。 Of course you will not mention my name
in this connection。 You know me well enough； my dear doctor； to be
assured that； in begging your secret cooperation； I have reasons that will
meet your entire approval when they are made plain to you。 We shall
return to town on the 15th of next month； and my first duty will be to
present myself at your hospitable door and satisfy your curiosity； if I have
excited it。 My father； I am glad to state； has so greatly improved that he
can no longer be regarded as an invalid。 With great esteem； I am； etc。； etc。
23
… Page 24…
Majorie Daw
CHAPTER XIII。
EDWARD DELANEY TO JOHN FLEMMING。
August 31； 1872。
Your letter； announcing your mad determination to come here； has just
reached me。 I beseech you to reflect a moment。 The step would be fatal to
your interests and hers。 You would furnish just cause for irritation to R。 W。
D。； and； though he loves Marjorie devotedly； he is capable of going to any
lengths if opposed。 You would not like； I am convinced； to be the means of
causing him to treat her with severity。 That would be the result of your
presence at The Pines at this juncture。 I am annoyed to be obliged to point
out these things to you。 We are on very delicate ground； Jack； the situation
is critical； and the slightest mistake in a move would cost us the game。 If
you consider it worth the winning； be patient。 Trust a little to my sagacity。
Wait and see what happens。 Moreover； I understand from Dillon that you
are in no condition to take so long a journey。 He thinks the air of the coast
would be the worst thing possible for you； that you ought to go inland； if
anywhere。 Be advised by me。 Be advised by Dillon。
24
… Page 25…
Majorie Daw
CHAPTER XIV。
TELEGRAMS。 September 1； 1872。
1。 … TO EDWARD DELANEY。
Letter received。 Dillon be hanged。 I think I ought to be on the ground。
J。 F。
2。 … TO JOHN FLEMMING。
Stay where you are。 You would only complicated matters。 Do not
move until you hear from me。 E。 D。
3。 … TO EDWARD DELANEY。
My being at The Pines could be kept secret。 I must see her。 J。 F。
4。 … TO JOHN FLEMMING。
Do not think of it。 It would be useless。 R。 W。 D。 has locked M。 in her
room。 You would not be able to effect and interview。 E。 D。
5。 … TO EDWARD DELANEY。
Locked her in her room。 Good God。 That settles the question。 I shall
leave by the twelve…fifteen express。 J。 F。
25
… Page 26…
Majorie Daw
CHAPTER XV。
THE ARRIVAL。
On the second day of September； 1872； as the down express； due at
3。40； left the station at Hampton； a young man； leaning on the shoulder of
a servant； whom he addressed as Watkins； stepped from the platform into a
hack； and requested to be driven to 〃The Pines。〃 On arriving at the gate of
a modest farm…house； a few miles from the station； the young man
descended with difficulty from the carriage； and； casting a hasty glance
across the road； seemed much impressed by some peculiarity in the
landscape。 Again leaning on the shoulder of the person Watkins； he walk