"
Mollie did, but she fidgeted in her seat, and felt particularly
uncomfortable, all the same. Now that it was too late, she began to
think she had acted unwisely in appointing this meeting.
"Why didn't I let well enough alone?" thought the young lady. "At a
distance, it seemed the easiest thing in the world; now that I am in
the man's power, I am afraid of him, more so than I ever was before."
The man had taken his seat beside her. At this juncture he put his arm
around her waist.
"Why can't we be comfortable and affectionate, as man and wife
should--eh, Mollie? You don't know how much obliged to you I am for
this interview."
There was a ring of triumph in his tone that Mollie could not fail to
perceive. Her heart gave a great jump of terror, but she angrily flung
herself out of his arm.
"Keep your distance, sir! How dare you? You sing quite a new song since
I saw you last! Don't you lay a finger on me, or I'll--"
"What, pretty Cricket?" with a sardonic laugh.
Mollie caught her breath. That name, that tone--both were altogether new
in the unknown man.
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