d to approach him; but, her heart
impelling her forward while profound respect held her back, she
remained irresolutely standing in the centre of the room.

'Please to permit, baroness,' said Arwed, 'that my son and your
daughter retire to the ante-chamber. My communication requires no
witnesses.'

The young pair seemed to be well pleased with the proposition. The
baroness looked doubtingly at Arwed, as if she feared a private
interview; but finally her heart conquered. She nodded permission to
Georgina, and the two disappeared with a celerity that astonished the
mother.

The former youthful lovers were alone. Georgina motioned Arwed to a
seat upon the sofa, placed herself beside him, and both remained a long
time silent, whilst the past was loudly speaking in their hearts.

'Georgina!' at length Arwed exclaimed, seizing her hand.

'Be tranquil, dear Arwed!' said she. 'If the strong man cannot control
his feelings, how can a feeble woman command hers? Let us first speak
of the present. Have you not a letter for me from the king?'

'Cruel!' sighed Arwed, drawing forth a letter and solemnly rising from
his seat, 'You have petitioned his majesty for the restoration of your
father's confiscated property in the German provinces. I bring you the
king's answer.'

'The person selected as its bearer is a guaranty of a merciful
decision,' said Georgina, also rising. With trembling hands she took
the letter, unfolded and attempted to read it,--but her vision became
indistinct, her hands shook, and at length amid streaming tears she
cried, 'I cannot! Read the letter for me, dear Arwed.'

He read:

'I esteem the memory of the renowned and unfortunate baron von Goertz
too much to receive without emotion the intelligence that there is yet
remaining one of those children who were made orphans by the tyranny
and shocking injustice of the queen Ulrika Eleonore and of the persons
who presided in her courts and councils. His innocent blood has
remained too long unavenged. Sweden, through long, unhappy, desolating,
distracting years, has paid the tribute demanded by the anger of heaven
for the crime committed against a great and unfortunate man. I
therefore wish, as first citizen of my native land, in the name of that
native land, to hasten the reparation of the injustice of my
predecessors. To this title, which I look upon as one of the fairest
granted to me by Providence, I add that of my family, for whom Goertz
was made an