lly opened my heart to
him.'

'I love thee with all my soul, Georgina,' said Arwed with flashing
eyes: 'but at the same time Swedish pride claims its rights. It would
be disgraceful to a Gyllenstierna to be indebted to the prayers and
tears of the daughter for the consent of the proud stranger. And if
your father should now ask me what I had hitherto done for the honor of
the name which his child is to bear, and I could answer him nothing
except that I had read Greek and Latin with my tutor and listened to a
few college lectures at Upsala, I should sink into the earth for shame.
Yet not for that cause alone do I grasp the sword. With it I hope to
gain the favor of the king and independence of my father, who, though
he truly loves me, will hardly with a good will consent to the proposed
connection. Besides, having long since decided on my course, I beg that
you will not make more difficult by your sorrow a step which is already
sufficiently afflicting, since it separates me from you.'

'Cruel, perverse man!' said Georgina, kissing him. 'Yes, your sex are
our tyrants, and the worst of it is, that the more pitilessly you
torment us through your pride and severity, the more ardently we love
you. What can the poor feeble maiden do but submit to the hard fate
which her Arwed decrees--and henceforth weep, hope, wish, until her lot
is indissolubly united with his.' She dried her tears, and then with
assumed resolution asked; 'when do you leave?'

'This night I depart for Norway,' answered Arwed, 'but whether for the
north or the south, you must decide for me.'

'_I_?' asked Georgina, trembling: 'you mock me.'

'You know the reasons,' proceeded Arwed, 'which induce me to desire to
repair to Frederickshall. But my father insists with inexorable
severity, that I shall go to Armfelt, which he prefers as the better
path for promotion, and from fear that the reckless temerity of the
king may expose my life to unnecessary danger. I believe, however, that
the aversion which the fiery old aristocrat retains so firmly against
the great Charles, is the principal cause of his obstinacy. Now counsel
me Georgina. Uninfluenced by party hatreds, and all the low springs of
action which prevail in this kingdom setting brother against brother,
standest thou there, like a good angel, above the thunder and the
death-cry of the battle field, and only lookest down compassionately
upon the wild tumult.--With thee I shall find the truth, or nowher