e maintain the honor of our name, and the coolness of age
sees farther than the heat of youth. The king has not yet learned to be
sparing of his soldiers, as there is none but God to call him to
account for his conduct. The general has more restricted duties. And
although I appreciate eagerness for action and am disposed to satisfy
it, yet I cannot consent to place your life at the disposal of
Charles's mad humour. You go to Armfelt.'

'Dear father!' implored Arwed, and at that moment the valet-de-chambre
entered with the count's hat and sword and announced that the carriage
was ready.

'It is settled,' said the senator in the most decided manner to his
son, whilst he buckled on his sword. 'I will hear nothing further in
opposition to my determination.'

He snatched his hat violently from the servant, and hastily sallied
forth.

'This is hard!' said the afflicted Arwed. 'Must I obey?' he asked
himself after a moment's pause,--'Why torment myself!' cried he
finally. 'Gushes not for me, in one kind heart, the silver fountain of
goodness and wisdom? She shall tell me what is right in the struggle
between filial duty and my own better conviction. She shall decide.'

CHAPTER II.

Alone, with folded arms, on the following evening, Arwed wandered up
and down the northern bank of the Suedermalm in the new volunteer
uniform, anxiously glancing across lake Malar towards the magnificent
city of Stockholm, which there arose with its palaces, cupolas and
towers, proud and lordly as became the queen of those waters. The sun
had already gone down, but it yet glowed redly upon the waves of the
lake, gently ruffled by a soft west wind, and its last rays glistened
upon the knob of the high towers of St. Gertrude, which it lighted up
like a giant star shining through the incipient twilight. With earnest
attention the youth's eyes glided from tower to tower and from palace
to palace, until they finally remained fixed upon that of the royal
residence, which in consequence of the continued impoverishment of the
treasury had not been rebuilt since the fire that destroyed it twenty
years before.

'What horrible desolation in the midst of so much splendor!' said Arwed
mournfully to himself. 'The ruins of the royal castle almost appear to
me to be symbols of the decay of this noble realm! Yet also this
palace,' proceeded he, consoling himself with the light-mindedness of
youth, 'will one day again r