ing; and, in my
journey back to Stockholm, I should be pleased to go round by Arnaes to
take personal leave of him.'

'However agreeable that might be to me,' said Mac Donalbain
equivocally, 'I must yet by anticipation regret that probably you would
not meet me. The amusement of the chase is my passion, and I am almost
always abroad.'

'So it appears,' said Megret with a piercing glance, and, turning to
the governor, he commenced a conversation with him, respecting the
preparations for war making by Denmark and Russia, which threatened
poor Sweden anew. Arwed who took a part in this discussion, could not
forbear casting an occasional scrutinizing glance at Mac Donalbain, who
had commenced a low and apparently interesting conversation with
Christine. He saw how the dark eyes of the Scot flashed upon the
angelic countenance of the maiden, saw how the latter regarded her wild
neighbor with a mixture of fear and anger, of passion and aversion, and
he thought, 'what a pity it would be, if this beautiful and innocent
creature should have thrown away her heart upon such a man!'

The table was at length cleared. Megret and Mac Donalbain bade their
host good night and went to their chambers. Christine kissed her father
with humble tenderness, and in a low voice asked him, 'are you still
angry?'

'Amend yourself, perverse girl,' said the old man; and gently parting
the golden locks from her fair forehead, impressed upon it an
affectionate parental kiss.

'My kind, kind father! indeed I do not deserve so much love,' cried the
maiden, with deep emotion, pressing his hand to her heaving bosom. She
then arose and departed, giving an unfriendly glance and a slighting
nod as she passed Arwed. He also wished to seek his bed; but his uncle
drew him into a chair near him and filled his goblet again.

'You must help me finish the last bottle, major,' said he. 'I have not
at all enjoyed your company yet, and must say to you once more, now we
are alone, how dear you are to me. Truly you have come to my house in a
good hour! and I hope at some future time to have much to thank you
for.'

'How mean you that, dear uncle?' asked Arwed, with some surprise, and
partly anticipating the point to which the old man was leading.

'Why should I dissemble with you?' burst forth the old man. 'Your
father, indeed, gave me long and broad instructions at Upsala, how I
should conduct myself toward you; but this spying and tacking and
managing may b