As Arwed entered the castle of Gyllensten he was met by old Brodin,
who, with a face highly expressive of sorrow and condolence, bowed to
him in silence.
'What do you bring me, old honesty?' asked Arwed, with alarm' 'Not sad
news, I hope? How does my father?'
'The lord counsellor's excellency,' answered Brodin, 'is as well as
could be desired, and sends his kind regards to you. I am charged with
an important commission, for the execution of which I must beg a
private audience.'
'It concerns Georgina!' cried Arwed, with a sudden presentiment, and
without awaiting Brodin's answer he led him into his private chamber.
'Now speak!' cried he with vehemence. 'I am prepared to hear all.'
'Were you a weak-nerved lady,' commenced Brodin, slowly drawing a
letter from the pocket of his traveling coat, 'it might be necessary to
preface the unpleasant intelligence of which I am the bearer with a
fitting preamble. But you are a stout young man, as well as a brave
soldier, and therefore I may venture to spare you the torment of fear
and expectation.'
'Silence!' cried Arwed, tearing the letter from his hand. 'It is her
writing!' he exclaimed, breaking the seal, and then proceeded to read:
'MY NOBLE GYLLENSTIERNA!
'The sympathy you continue to evince for the poor Georgina, blesses,
while it rends her heart. Notwithstanding the clearness with which I
explained myself, you are yet unwilling to consider our connection
dissolved. Nothing therefore remains for me but to effect a last and
eternal separation. I could have desired to spend the remainder of my
life wedded to the remembrance of my first and only love; but you have
yourself rendered this impossible. 'While I live, lives also your hope
of one day possessing me!' By this resolution of your true heart, you
have made it my duty to become dead to you for this world. Your father
wishes to place the hand of his only son in that of his love-deserving
niece, and thereby secure a continuation of the power and splendor of
your noble house. I was the only obstruction to the accomplishment of
this rational wish. I must not so continue. I could not answer to
myself for destroying the welfare of a youth, whom I would so willingly
have made happy by my faithful love, by my irresolution. To make you
free, I have bound myself. To spare you the sacrifice you were
determined to make, I have sacrificed myself. Since yesterday I have
been the wife of a worthy man, whose character I must respect, and whom
I could have loved, had I never known you. In his arms I may find, with
the peace which results from the performance of duty, that quiet
happiness which can result from a marriage, in the contracting of which
passion had no voice. May you also be truly happy! May you deserve that
happiness through obedience to your father's wishes! Believe me, Arwed,
there is something better in this life than the intoxication of
passion. I feel it in this heavy hour. Think of me sometimes, not only
without anger, but with tranquil kindness, as you would of a beloved
being who has preceded you to that eternal world where you hope to see
her once again. I shall never forget you.
'GEORGINA VON EYBEN.'
Poor Arwed sank upon a seat as if annihilated. The faithful Brodin
observed him with looks of the deepest sympathy. All at once the
youth's eyes began to flash with savage fury. He sprung up, and,
seizing the old man with a lion's rage, thundered in his ears, 'this
whole affair is a fable devised for my deception!'
'Holy Savior! what is it you think?' cried the trembling Brodin.
'I have read in many old tales,' cried Arwed, with bitter anguish, 'of
pretended marriages, and forged letters of renunciation, by which
hearts have been artfully torn asunder, that would else have remained
eternally united.'
'Why, hey, count Arwed,' said Brodin chidingly, 'how can you so
misjudge your noble father as to suppose him guilty of such an
offence?'
'I know,' answered Arwed, 'that my father considers the dissolution of
my connection with Georgina a matter of the utmost importance. A
counsellor of the realm stands high enough to permit himself to do many
things that would carry a common citizen to a criminal's dungeon. The
whole may be a specimen of the newest Swedish political management.'
'Believe what you please, major!' angrily exclaimed Brodin. 'The letter
you have just read, I received from the hands of the writer, when I was
with her in obedience to your father's command.'
'Brodin!' said the agitated Arwed, 'you are an old man! So near the
grave, you will not defile your soul with a lie; therefore answer me,
honest and true, as you have been through the whole course of your long
life--is Georgina actually married?'
'By my God and his holy gospel!' cried the gray old man, solemnly
placing his hand upon his heart, 'I was myself, by her command, in the
cathedral church of Lubec, and saw her married to the imperial
counsellor von Eyben.'
'It is then true!' sighed Arwed, again sinking back into his seat.
Brodin approached, with humid eyes, to speak some words of
consolation,--but Arwed motioned him back, and the old man left the
room in silent sorrow.