majorie daw(马祖绿·多)-第6章
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will pardon my candor； dear Flemming； but the conviction forces itself
upon me that as your leg grows stronger your head becomes weaker。 You
ask my advice on a certain point。 I will give it。 In my opinion you could do
nothing more unwise that to address a note to Miss Daw； thanking her for
the flower。 It would； I am sure； offend her delicacy beyond pardon。 She
knows you only through me； you are to her an abstraction； a figure in a
dreama dream from which the faintest shock would awaken her。 Of
course； if you enclose a note to me and insist on its delivery； I shall deliver
it； but I advise you not to do so。
You say you are able； with the aid of a cane； to walk about your
chamber； and that you purpose to come to The Pines the instant Dillon
thinks you strong enough to stand the journey。 Again I advise you not to。
Do you not see that； every hour you remain away； Marjorie's glamour
deepens； and your influence over her increases？ You will ruin everything
by precipitancy。 Wait until you are entirely recovered； in any case； do not
come without giving me warning。 I fear the effect of your abrupt advent
hereunder the circumstances。
Miss Daw was evidently glad to see us back again； and gave me both
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Majorie Daw
hands in the frankest way。 She stopped at the door a moment this
afternoon in the carriage； she had been over to Rivermouth for her pictures。
Unluckily the photographer had spilt some acid on the 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！
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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。
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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。
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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。
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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 se
