“By Saint Olaf! you are right.  Mr. Benett, you are quite right.  Poor Hulda!  Unfortunately it is not Ole who is making her this present, but myself, and it is not to a blushing bride that I am going to offer it.”

“True, true, Mr. Hogg.”

“Let me look then at some jewelry suitable for a young girl.  How about this cross, Mr. Benett?”

“It is to be worn as a pendant, and being cut in concave facets it sparkles brilliantly with every movement of the wearer’s throat.”

“It is very pretty, very pretty, indeed, and you can lay it aside with the other articles, Mr. Benett.  When we have gone through all the show-cases we will make our selection.”

“Yes, but—­”

“What is the matter now?”

“This cross, too, is intended to be worn by Scandinavian brides on their marriage-day.”

“The deuce! friend Benett.  I am certainly very unfortunate in my selections.”

“The fact is, professor, my stock is composed principally of bridal jewelry, as that meets with the readiest sale.  You can scarcely wonder at that.”

“The fact doesn’t surprise me at all, Mr. Benett, though it places me in a rather embarrassing position.”

“Oh, well, you can still take the ring you asked me to put aside.”

“Yes, but I should like some more showy ornament.”

“Then take this necklace of silver filigree with its four rows of chains which will have such a charming effect upon the neck of a young girl.  See! it is studded with gems of every hue, and it is certainly one of the most quaint and curious productions of the Norwegian silversmiths.”

“Yes, yes,” replied Sylvius Hogg.  “It is a pretty ornament, though perhaps rather showy for my modest Hulda.  Indeed, I much prefer the corsage ornaments you showed me just now, and the pendant.  Are they so especially reserved for brides that they can not be presented to a young girl?”

“I think the Storthing has as yet passed no law to that effect,” replied Mr. Benett.  “It is an unpardonable oversight, probably, but—­”

“Well, well, it shall be attended to immediately, Mr. Benett.  In the meantime I will take the cross and corsage ornaments.  My little Hulda may marry some day after all.  Good and charming as she is she certainly will not want for an opportunity to utilize these ornaments, so I will buy them and take them away with me.”

“Very well, very well, professor.”

“Shall we have the pleasure of seeing you at the drawing, friend Benett?”

“Certainly.”

“I think it will be a very interesting affair.”

“I am sure of it.”

“But look here,” exclaimed the professor, bending over a show-case, “here are two very pretty rings I did not notice before.”

“Oh, they wouldn’t suit you, Mr. Hogg.  These are the heavily chased rings that the pastor places upon the finger of the bride and the groom during the marriage ceremony.”