"She is too high-minded a person to raise any objection, I am sure." He paused, and reflected for awhile.

"Fritz counts for nothing," he went on.

"I think we ought to put the question, in the first instance, to the bride ?" He rang the bell, and then took the necklace out of Mrs.Wagner's hands.

"I have a very high opinion of little Minna," he resumed.

"We will see what the child's own kind heart says--undisturbed by the influence of the pearls, and without any prompting on the part of her mother." He closed the jewel case, and put it into a cabinet that stood near him.
Joseph was sent upstairs, with the necessary message.