Lady Molly - The EndIt was Mr. Felkin who spoke. I recognized his raucous delivery, but I could not distinguish
either of the two men in the gloom.
"Or what?" queried the other, in a voice which trembled with either rage or fear--perhaps with
both.
"You will give her up," repeated Felkin sullenly. "I tell you that it is an impossibility--do you
understand?--an impossibility for me to stand by and see her wedded to you, or to any other
man for the matter of that. But that is neither here nor there," he added after a slight pause.
"It is with you I have to deal now. You shan't have her--you shan't--I won't allow it, even if I
have to----"
He paused again. I cannot describe the extraordinary effect this rough voice coming out of
the darkness had upon my nerves. I had edged up to Lady Molly, and had succeeded in
getting hold of her hand. It was like ice, and she herself was as rigid as that piece of granite
on which we had been sitting.
"You seem bubbling over with covert threats," interposed Philip Baddock, with what was
obviously a sneer; "what are the extreme measures to which you will resort if I do not give up
the lady whom I love with my whole heart, and who has honored me today by accepting my
hand in marriage?"
"That is a lie!" shouted Felkin.
"What is a lie?" queried the other quietly.
"She has not accepted you--and you know it. You are trying to keep me away from her--
arrogating rights which you do not possess. Give her up, man, give her up. It will be best for
you. She will listen to me--I can win her all right--but you must stand aside for me this time.
Take the word of a desperate man for it, Baddock. It will be best for you to give her up."
Silence reigned in the wood for a few moments, and then we heard Philip Baddock's voice
again, but he seemed to speak more calmly, almost indifferently, as I thought.
"Are you going now?" he asked. "Won't you come in to dinner?"
"No," replied Felkin, "I don't want any dinner, and I have an appointment for afterwards."
"Don't let us part ill friends, Felkin," continued Philip Baddock in conciliatory tones. "Do you
know that, personally, my feeling is that no woman on earth is worth a serious quarrel
between two old friends, such as we have been."
"I'm glad you think so," rejoined the other dryly. "S'long."