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plate; and she was obliged to give him another sitting。 I have an
intuition that something is troubling Marjorie。 She had an
abstracted air not usual with her。 However; it may be only my
fancy。 。 。 。 I end this; leaving several things unsaid; to
accompany my father on one of those long walks which are now his
chief medicineand mine!


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 plainyou 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。


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。


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。


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。


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 walked to the door of the
farm…house and inquired for Mr。 Edward Delaney。 He was informed by
the aged man who answered his knock; that Mr。 Edward Delaney had
gone to Boston the day before; but that Mr。 Jonas Delaney was
within。 This information did not appear satisfactory to the
stranger; who inquired if Mr。 Edward Delaney had left any message
for Mr。 John Flemming。 There was a letter for Mr。 Flemming if he
were that person。 After a brief absence the aged man reappeared
with a Letter。


XVI。

EDWARD DELANEY TO JOHN FLEMMING。

September 1; 1872。

I am horror…stricken at what I have done! When I began this
correspondence I had no other purpose than to relieve the tedium of
your sick…chamber。 Dillon told me to cheer you up。 I tried to。 I
thought that you entered into the spirit of the thing。 I had no
idea; until within a few days; that you were taking matters au
grand serieux。

What can I say? I am in sackcloth and ashes。 I am a pariah; a dog
of an outcast。 I tried to make a little romance to interest you;
something soothing and idyllic; and; by Jove! I have done it only
too well! My father doesn't know a word of this; so don't jar the
old gentleman any more than you can help。 I fly from the wrath to
comewhen you arrive! For oh; dear Jack; there isn't any piazza;
there isn't any hammockthere isn't any Marjorie Daw!





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