re 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. Marjorie expressed her
dislike for the lieutenant with characteristic frankness, and finally
confessed to her father--well, 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
anything--except 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