tly,
without equivocation, as becomes a noble Swedish maiden and my
daughter?'

'By the holy evangelists!' cried Christine, almost out of her senses,
'in the morning you shall learn my determination, and with God be the
result.'

'Respite the poor maiden for to-night,' entreated Arwed. 'The struggles
of her soul have agitated her too violently, and your words were too
sharp and heavy. Should your daughter's health give way under her
sufferings, you would repent it too late.'

'Go, then, Christine,' said the governor, 'and bring me in the morning
such a decision as I may be able to receive.'

Christine kissed his hand in silence, and then leaned, weeping, against
a tree.

'Yes! children are the gift of heaven!' said the old man to Arwed, 'and
the joys they bring us are the best in life. But when they are given in
anger, they become the most terrible scourges in his hands, through the
sorrows they cause.'

He walked slowly towards the castle, and Christine suddenly approached
Arwed, threw her arms passionately around him, impressed a burning kiss
upon his lips, and sobbed, 'farewell, Arwed,--do not despise me! Oh
that we had sooner met!'

She hastened away, and Arwed found himself alone.

CHAPTER XL.

The morning had dawned. The governor, with Arwed, had accompanied
Megret down to the courtyard, where his horses stood ready saddled for
the journey, and the traveler held out his hand to the governor to say
farewell.

'Allow me to give you a well meant warning at parting,' said the
colonel, dejectedly. 'Suffer not this Scot to remain longer at the
castle,--he is not worthy of breathing the same air with you. If you
would know more of him, ask your nephew. He witnessed a conversation
which I held yesterday with that man. My duty calls me to the tumult of
war. Should I ever return, I shall have a request to prefer to your
heart, and shall rely upon the friendship of which you have hitherto
deemed me worthy, for its favorable reception. Commend the remembrance
of a man who adores her to your charming daughter. Say to her:
notwithstanding the cruelty with which she has refused me a last
farewell, her image will accompany me to the field of danger and incite
me to victory or bless me in death!'

He overlooked the doubting shake of the head which preceded the answer
the governor was about to make, threw himself upon his horse and rode
rapidly out of the castle gate.

'The even