pplications on the part of Christine, which were so touching that it
required all the influence of Georgina's memory and the conviction of
Christine's secret love for another, to cool his youthful heart to that
degree of circumspection necessary in his peculiar circumstances. Mac
Donalbain's frequent visits to Gyllensten, moreover, seemed to exercise
a great and unhappy influence upon the disposition of the otherwise so
lovely maiden. During his presence she exhibited a constant excitement
which immediately after his departure changed to a deep melancholy, out
of which she emerged only to torment all who would suffer themselves to
be tormented by her, with her caprices. From her father she concealed
the state of her feelings as much as possible, and if it occasionally
occurred to him that all was not as it should be, the business of his
office, in consequence of the critical situation of the country,
prevented his looking too deeply into the affairs of his household or
his daughter's heart; and Arwed, though Christine still remained
indebted to him for her promised confidence, could not bring himself to
betray her to his uncle.

In this manner the summer had arrived, when one evening at the supper
table, in Megret's and Mac Donalbain's presence, the governor asked
Arwed if he had a desire to see a natural curiosity, to visit which
Charles XI did not hesitate to make a long journey.

Arwed joyfully assured him that he regarded the wonders of the natural
world as a spectacle, in comparison with which the greatest efforts of
human ingenuity were of little value,--and that it was, indeed, one of
his favorite occupations to contemplate them.

'The Tornea-Laplanders have lately made many complaints to me,' said
the governor. 'They complain especially of the collectors of the royal
taxes, and of the excesses of the Finlanders, attracted within their
boundaries by the chase. Since my gout has left me, I will myself ride
to Tornea, to examine and adjust all these affairs upon the spot; and
have selected the longest day in the year for that purpose. It is their
court day, and also the day of their annual fair, which collects
together the inhabitants of the whole country surrounding Tornea; and
we can at the same time enjoy the rare and beautiful spectacle of the
sun, which on this day does not set at all, enabling the king of Sweden
in a certain sense to claim the same honor of which the sovereign of
Spain and the Indies makes