ren.'

'Silence!' cried Christine, angrily.

'All the peculiar qualities, however, which naturally belong to you,'
continued Arwed pleasantly, seizing Christine's hands and holding them
fast, as if he feared Megret's fate, 'all, and they are the noblest
which adorn your sex, must be lost in the masculine woman, and she will
be very fortunate if she preserve the purity of her soul, which is in
great danger, when the restraint of modest, maidenly customs is once
thrown off.'

Christine started with a sudden shudder. Tears burst from her beautiful
eyes, and she withdrew her hands from his.

'What is the matter, cousin?' he exclaimed, with deep sympathy.

'You despise me, Arwed!' sobbed the maiden.

'What an unfortunate idea!' answered Arwed. 'Whoever fears the contempt
of another, feels that he deserves it, and that can never be the case
with the countess Christine.'

'You are right!' exclaimed Christine, with a firm tone, applying her
handkerchief to her eyes to remove all traces of her tears, and
proceeding to the window to cool her flushed face in the morning air.

'You will not accompany me to the chase, then?' she finally asked, as
if nothing had occurred between them.

'No!' answered Arwed.

'Then I will also remain at home,' said she; and, calling to the
servants from the window, she directed them to give over their
preparations, as she was indisposed; after which she threw herself into
a seat opposite Arwed.

'This chase was in reality only devised to obtain an opportunity for an
undisturbed conversation with you,' said she, 'and that object can be
attained as well here. My father has had a bad night and now sleeps
soundly.'

'Well, speak on!' answered Arwed, placing himself in a listening
attitude. 'If what you wish to say be something good, it will give me
great pleasure to hear it.'

'Not altogether good,' said Christine, casting her eyes upon the floor
in great embarrassment.

'So I should imagine,' answered Arwed. 'The feelings you have
manifested toward me since my arrival have not been of the most
friendly kind.'

'By heaven, Arwed, you do me injustice!' exclaimed. Christine,
springing up and holding out her beautiful hand to him. 'My feelings
are as kind toward you now as formerly, when we, two joyous children,
sought shells together on the beach; and I would be on yet better terms
with you; only you appear not to desire it.'

'How do you mean?' asked the ingenuous Arwed, who understoo