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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！
The End