is beautiful
and lively daughter; 'do you not see who is with me in the hall?'

She drew up her beautiful form to its full height, and measured the
youth with a searching glance, in which no expression, other than that
of maiden pride, accompanied by a slight appearance of displeasure, was
discoverable, and Arwed looked in vain for that joy with which he had
expected to be received by his little cousin Christine.

'Is not this the guest whom you have been expecting, my father?' she
asked, after a long pause,--and, as her father nodded assent, she
turned to Arwed, saying with great coldness, 'I am happy to see you at
Gyllensten, captain.'

'Shame upon you, Christine!' said the old man, angrily. 'Is that a
reception for so near a kinsman, or for the playmate of your childhood?
Fall directly upon his neck, give him a hearty kiss, and say, welcome
cousin Arwed!'

The beauteous prude started back with a sinister expression, and,
spoiled by indulgence, she suffered it to be plainly seen that she had
no desire to obey the parental command.

'Do not annoy my cousin, uncle,' said Arwed, offended by her
uncourteous manners. 'Christine may already have seen many fops who
have availed themselves of their relationship to intrude upon ladies.
Since I have not the honor to be known to her, I cannot blame her for
thus taking care to insure herself against so disagreeable an
occurrence at the outset.'

Christine tossed her head and bit her lips.

'You have deserved this,' said her father, 'and may congratulate
yourself that your cousin has let you off with so mild a punishment.
Tell us now how it was you failed to encounter him on his way to the
castle.'

'We saw a wolf in a thicket,' answered Christine, 'and I could not deny
myself the pleasure of hunting him.'

'Only two of you--without hounds?' said the father with asperity. 'That
was another of those hazardous undertakings to which you have
accustomed me.'

'He appeared to be hungry and made a stand,' said Christine, by way of
excuse. 'My saddle pistols were ready loaded, and I hit him directly in
the head.'

'You know I do not like these Nimrod tricks,' murmured the old man.
'Why hazard your life in a contest with such an animal?'

'What would life be, father,' cried Christine with thoughtless levity,
'if one never dared gaily and joyfully to hazard it?'

'I would willingly hear such a sentiment from Arwed,' answered her
father, shaking his head; 'but it does not