majorie daw(马祖绿·多)-第4章
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August 22； 1872。
Your letter in reply to my last has occupied my thoughts all the
morning。 I do not know what to think。 Do you mean to say that you are
seriously half in love with a woman whom you have never seen with a
shadow； a chimera？ for what else can Miss Daw to be you？ I do not
understand it at all。 I understand neither you nor her。 You are a couple of
ethereal beings moving in finer air than I can breathe with my
commonplace lungs。 Such delicacy of sentiment is something that I
admire without comprehending。 I am bewildered。 I am of the earth earthy；
and I find myself in the incongruous position of having to do with mere
souls； with natures so finely tempered that I run some risk of shattering
them in my awkwardness。 I am as Caliban among the spirits！
Reflecting on your letter； I am not sure that it is wise in me to continue
this correspondence。 But no； Jack； I do wrong to doubt the good sense that
forms the basis of your character。 You are deeply interested in Miss Daw；
you feel that she is a person whom you may perhaps greatly admire when
you know her： at the same time you bear in mind that the chances are ten
to five that； when you do come to know her； she will fall far short of your
ideal； and you will not care for her in the least。 Look at it in this sensible
light； and I will hold back nothing from you。
Yesterday afternoon my father and myself rode over to Rivermouth
with the Daws。 A heavy rain in the morning had cooled the atmosphere
and laid the dust。 To Rivermouth is a drive of eight miles； along a winding
road lined all the way with wild barberry bushes。 I never saw anything
more brilliant than these bushes； the green of the foliage and the faint
blush of the berries intensified by the rain。 The colonel drove； with my
father in front； Miss Daw and I on the back seat。 I resolved that for the
first five miles your name should not pass my lips。 I was amused by the
artful attempts she made； at the start； to break through my reticence。 Then
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a silence fell upon her； and then she became suddenly gay。 That keenness
which I enjoyed so much when it was exercised on the lieutenant was not
so satisfactory directed against myself。 Miss Daw has great sweetness of
disposition； but she can be disagreeable。 She is like the young lady in the
rhyme； with the curl on her forehead；
〃When she is good； She is
very； very good； And when she is bad； she is horrid！〃
I kept to my resolution； however； but on the return home I relented；
and talked of your mare！ Miss Daw is going to try a side… saddle on
Margot some morning。 The animal is a trifle too light for my weight。 By
the bye； I nearly forgot to say that Miss Daw sat for a picture yesterday to
a Rivermouth artist。 If the negative turns out well； I am to have a copy。 So
our ends will be accomplished without crime。 I wish； though； I could send
you the ivorytype in the drawing…room； it is cleverly colored； and would
give you an idea of her hair and eyes； which of course the other will not。
No； Jack； the spray of mignonette did not come from me。 A man of
twenty…eight doesn't enclose flowers in his lettersto another man。 But
don't attach too much significance to the circumstance。 She gives sprays of
mignonette to the rector； sprays to the lieutenant。 She has even given a
rose from her bosom to your slave。 It is her jocund nature to scatter
flowers； like Spring。
If my letters sometimes read disjointedly； you must understand that I
never finish one at a sitting； but write at intervals； when the mood is on
me。
The mood is not on me now。
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CHAPTER IX。
EDWARD DELANEY TO JOHN FLEMMING。
August 23； 1872。
I have just returned from the strangest interview with Marjorie。 She
has all but confessed to me her interest in you。 But with what modesty and
dignity！ Her words elude my pen as I attempt to put them on paper； and；
indeed； it was not so much what she said as her manner； and that I cannot
reproduce。 Perhaps it was of a piece with the strangeness of this whole
business； that she should tacitly acknowledge to a third party the love she
feels for a man she has never beheld！ But I have lost； through your aid； the
faculty of being surprised。 I accept things as people do in dreams。 Now
that I am again in my room； it all appears like an illusionthe black
masses of Rembrandtish shadow under the trees； the fireflies whirling in
Pyrrhic dances among the shrubbery； the sea over there； Marjorie sitting
on the hammock！
It is past midnight； and I am too sleepy to write more。 Thursday
Morning。
My father has suddenly taken it into his head to spend a few days at
the Shoals。 In the meanwhile you will not hear from me。 I see Marjorie
walking in the garden with the colonel。 I wish I could speak to her alone；
but shall probably not have an opportunity before we leave。
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CHAPTER X。
EDWARD DELANEY TO JOHN FLEMMING。
August 28； 1872。
You were passing into your second childhood； were you？ Your
intellect was so reduced that my epistolary gifts seemed quite considerable
to you； did they？ I rise superior to the sarcasm in your favor of the 11th
instant； when I notice that five days' silence on my part is sufficient to
throw you into the depths of despondency。
We returned only this morning from Appledore； that enchanted island …
…at four dollars per day。 I find on my desk three letters from you！
Evidently there is no lingering doubt in your mind as to the pleasure I
derive from your correspondence。 These letters are undated； but in what I
take to be the latest are two passages that require my consideration。 You
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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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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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
