of her.'

'Do so, reverend sir,' said Arwed, somewhat relieved by this promise,
and placing a purse in the preacher's hand. 'The governor of West
Bothnia will gratefully acknowledge whatever kindness you may show to
his daughter.'

The preacher raised his hands in astonishment on thus learning the high
rank of the person committed to his care. 'I will plead for you with
your father!' said Arwed to Christine,--and, to shorten the painful
scene, he hastened to re-enter the tub. The signal was given, and Arwed
soon mounted to the regions of day, accompanied by the grateful prayers
of those he left behind.

CHAPTER XLIX.

Arwed sat by his uncle's sick bed, and, not without some embarrassment
and hesitation, gave an account of Christine's artifice, his weakness,
and her final resolution. The old man exhibited no sign of anger, as
Arwed had anticipated, but on the contrary nodded his assent to the
arrangement. 'She knows what is proper for her,' he at length said in a
trembling voice. 'Her honor is lost beyond redemption, and I therefore
consider it but reasonable and proper that she should hide herself in a
place so little different from the grave. Direct my steward to send a
hundred ducats to Oesterby yearly, for her use, that she may not suffer
from want, and henceforth name her to me no more. With her child you
will do what you think proper; you have an open treasury here, but
never let it come into my presence. I cannot acknowledge a child of Mac
Donalbain as my grandson.'

'Is Megret still here?' asked Arwed, for the purpose of changing the
subject.

'He is,' answered the governor, 'and I wish to have some conversation
with you respecting him. A great change has come over him since the
Ravensten expedition, and he has daily become more and more seriously
misanthropic. Since he clearly ascertained that the----person was
determined at all events to accompany her husband to Danemora, it seems
as if an evil spirit had entered him, and obtained entire possession of
his heart. I really believe the fool did not, until then, give up all
hope of gaining her hand. His presence here has become disagreeable to
me. He daily harasses his poor hounds, who howl about the castle like
damned spirits,--shamefully over-rides his noble horses from mere
caprice, and I have frequently caught him in smiling and pleased
contemplation of his bloody spurs. His groom leads a miserable life
with him, and I