a,
interrupting him, and bowing graciously to Arwed. And it will be most
agreeable to us to learn that the son follows in the father's
footsteps. We shall remember to bestow upon him some peculiar mark of
our favor.'

She held out her hand for him to kiss. But Arwed, highly incensed at
all he had heard, would not be compelled to show this mark of reverence
to a woman whom he hated. He stood stiff and motionless, and the hand
of the queen remained in expectancy, unclasped and unkissed, suspended
in the air.

Shocked at the gross impropriety, the chief governor hemmed
emphatically. Colonel Brenner anxiously endeavored to push Arwed
forward, but he would not move a limb, and the hand of the princess
finally sank down by her side.

'The young man is certainly not well!' said Ulrika, with much
bitterness.

'After his long and forced journey it would not be strange,' said
Brenner, apologetically. 'He has need of rest. Is it the pleasure of
your royal highness that we now retire?'

'You can receive your despatches early in the morning from the
governor,' answered Ulrika with displeasure; 'and for your companion,
may he in time learn the courtesy due from every gentleman to a lady,
even though she were not the sister of his king.'

CHAPTER XI.

'Most assuredly,' said Brenner to Arwed, as soon as they had left the
palace behind them, 'you have a very peculiar talent for making your
way at court. You ought, at the least, to be made a master of
ceremonies. I have taken you with me to an audience once, but I would
never do it again.'

'Had you left me behind you, as I earnestly begged of you, colonel,'
answered Arwed, 'you would have spared me the pain of witnessing the
thoroughly disgusting scene, and yourself the mortification of my
awkwardness.'

'You do not understand the matter,' blustered Brenner. 'It was proper
for me to present my companion; and in doing so I was actuated by the
best intentions towards you. If our own hearts bled at the sad news we
brought, yet I knew well that it would be right welcome here; and the
face that brings good news may expect to win the good will of those in
authority. And every thing was going on so well, and the warm sun of
favor was beginning to shine clear and bright upon you, when satan must
come all at once into your back so that you could not bend it, into
your arm that you could not stretch it out, and into your lips that you
could not