th me to the times of our happy childhood,
when we mutually imparted all our little secrets, when we laid our
hearts before each other like open books. Let me once more read in
yours: who is the man of your choice?'

'You _shall_ read it, Arwed,' cried Christine; 'by heaven you shall
read it! But not now,--only not to-day.'

'Why not now?' urged Arwed. 'The present is precisely the right moment.
Your heart is now softened and open. Pour it out towards me before
caprice and false shame shall again harden and close it. Name the man
of your choice to me, and take my word that I will honestly do whatever
I can to promote your happiness. Surely, Christine can have no reason
to be ashamed of her choice!'

'Pity me!' cried she; and, again bursting into tears, she fled from the
room.

'Strange!' said Arwed, looking after her. 'The maiden is not at peace
with herself; that is evident from the violence and eccentricity of her
behaviour. There is a wounded spot in her heart which smarts at the
least touch. Pray heaven it be not Mac Donalbain! It would be a pity
for so magnificent a creature.'

CHAPTER XXXII.

Arwed had soon become accustomed and reconciled to his exile at
Gyllensten. Excursions among its environs under the pretext of hunting,
afforded him ample enjoyment of the beauties of nature and free scope
for the play of his imagination; and these, together with the business
of the governor's bureau, in which, at his own request, he was
permitted to take a part, occupied his days; while the evenings were
employed in reading to the family circle, and in playing chess, a
favorite game with his uncle. Thus, by means of constant and varied
occupation, the time passed rapidly and pleasantly at the solitary
castle. Meanwhile Megret, who had already obtained two extensions of
his furlough, continued to besiege the heart of the fair Christine, and
to submit with patient resignation to all the caprices by which that
eccentric maiden chose to prove the constancy and perseverance of her
adorer. He was, indeed, almost the only one at Gyllensten who had to
suffer from them; for Arwed, true to the brotherly character which he
had assumed, did not spare his beautiful sister, and every instance of
arrogance in which the unevenness of her humor led her to indulge, was
quietly though earnestly reproved, until she was oftentimes brought to
despair. These little quarrels usually ended with tears and
su