I fear the effect of your abrupt advent here--under the
circumstances.
Miss Daw was evidently glad to see us back again, and gave me both
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 medicine--and 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 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 Bradly--that's
the naval officer stationed at Rivermouth--has 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.
Pages:
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43