And the dowry my father will give me would supply the daughters of ten knights." "I know it, sweetheart," interrupted Wolff dejectedly; "and how gladly I would be content with the smallest--" "Then be so!" she exclaimed cheerily.

"What you would call 'the smallest,' others term wealth.

You want more than competence, and I--the saints know-would be perfectly content with 'good.' Many a man has been shipwrecked on the cliffs of 'better' and 'best.'" Fired with passionate ardour, he exclaimed, "I am coming in now." "And the business ?" she asked mischievously.

"Let it go as it will," he answered eagerly, waving his hand.

But the next instant he dropped it again, saying thoughtfully: "No, no; it won't do, there is too much at stake." Els had already turned to send Katterle, the maid, to open the heavy house door, but ere doing so she put her beautiful head out again, and asked: "Is the matter really so serious?
Won't the monster grant you even a good-night kiss ?" "No," he answered firmly.