Welcome back, everyone to one thousand one classic short stories and tales.

This is your host and storyteller, John Haggardorn. Today we begin the second

half of Marjorie Daw. Beginning with Chapter 7, Edward Delaney to John Jack Fleming. August 20th, 1872.

You are correct in your surmises. I am on the most friendly terms with our neighbors.

The colonel and my father smoked their afternoon cigar together in our sitting room or on the

piazza opposite, and I pass an hour or two of the day or the evening with the daughter.

I am more and more struck by the beauty, modesty,

and intelligence of Miss Daw. You ask me why I do not fall in love with her. I will be

frank, Jack. I have thought of that. She is young, rich, accomplished, united in herself more

attractions, mental and, than I can recall

any girl of my acquaintance. But she lacks the something that would be necessary to inspire

in me that kind of interest. Possessing this unknown quality, a woman neither beautiful

nor wealthy, nor very young, could bring me to her feet. But not mistaw.

If we were shipwrecked together on an uninhabited island.

Let me suggest a tropical island, for it costs no more to be picturesque.

I would build her a bamboo hut.

I would fetch her breadfruit and coconuts.

I would fry yams for her.

I would lure the ingenious turtle and make her nourishing soups. But I wouldn't make love to her, not under 18 months.

I would like to have her for a sister that I might shield her and counsel her and spend half my

income on old threadlace and camel's hair shawls.

We're off the island now, obviously.

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