sing
himself with the favorite Swedish preliminary to a good meal, knakebrod
and whiskey. Occasionally he cast an impatient glance towards the door.
'Where is my daughter?' asked he of a servant, who had just entered.

'The countess is ill,' he answered, 'and begs you will receive her
apology for not being able to appear at the table.'

'This is another of her whims,' said the old man angrily, 'of which she
has more than my Polish charger. Go again to her, Rasmus, and say, I
command her to be instantly well, and to come and preside at the
table.'

Megret advanced to speak a kind word in behalf of the capricious
beauty--but the governor motioned him back, and the servant departed.

Christine soon made her appearance, her eyes cast down and her face
glowing with displeasure. She silently took her place by her chair, and
motioned to the persons present to seat themselves.

'Before we are seated,' said her father, sternly, 'the affair between
you and the colonel must be adjusted. You will ask his pardon.'

'Spare me, my father!' implored Christine. 'If the colonel requires
satisfaction I will exchange shots with him; but sooner may you drive
me from the castle than I will ask the pardon of any man upon earth.'

'Que Dieu m'en garde!' cried Megret laughing. 'Your eyes are accustomed
to hitting and wounding men's hearts, and you would have a manifest
advantage over me. A blow from so beauteous a hand can as little
inflict dishonor as the knight-creating stroke of a king's sword upon a
victorious battle-field.'

'You have more luck than understanding,' remarked the governor, at the
same time causing himself to be conveyed to the table. For the future,
however, I shall expect that you will not forget the treatment which is
due to thy father's worthy guests.'

The maiden submissively kissed her father's hand and took her place on
his left; Megret seated himself on his right, and Christine nodded to
Arwed to sit by her; but he went round the table and seated himself by
Megret.

Christine observed this movement with great surprise. 'I love free
conversation at the table,' whispered he smilingly to her, 'and have no
helmet to protect me.'

'Insufferable!' murmured she, and in her anger at his unsparing irony,
filled her father's goblet so full, that the good old burgundy
overflowed and colored the exquisite damask table cloth.

Her father was again reproving her for this new impropriety, when the
servant announced si