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.
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