"He will not refuse," she answered, calmly, "but I wish you would take the matter in hand, uncle, and pay Wolff for his trouble."
Her eyes filled suddenly with angry tears.
"Oh, ta, ta! Why should I meddle with the matter?"
The old gentleman was deeply moved.
"I ask it of you, uncle, before it becomes the talk of the town."
A sob choked her words.
"Ah, do you think, my child, it is not already whispered about? Hm!--Well I will do it, but entirely from selfish motives, you know. Do you think it isn't disagreeable to me, too? Oh, ta, ta! What big drops those were! But will you promise me then to let well enough alone! What? You cannot leave him!"
The tears seemed frozen in her eyes.
"No," she replied, "but we shall agree upon a separation."
"Are you mad, child?" cried the old gentleman with a crimson face.