"May I beg you to be so good as answer my question plainly ?" he said, in tones which were peremptory for the first time.

"Would you have objected to grant the fortnight's delay ?" She answered him, on the bare chance that a strong expression of her opinion, as the bride's mother, might, even now, induce him to revert to the date originally chosen for the wedding.

"I should certainly have objected," she said firmly.
"What difference could it possibly make to _you ?"_ There was suspicion in his manner, as well as surprise, when he put that question.

"For what reason would you have objected ?" "Is my objection, as Minna's mother, not worthy of some consideration, sir, without any needless inquiry into motives ?" "Your daughter's objection--as the bride--would have been a final objection, to my mind," Mr.Keller answered.

"But _your_ objection is simply unaccountable; and I press you for your motives, having this good reason for doing so on my side.