Some days later, Arwed, prepared for his journey, approached the sick
bed of his uncle to take leave of him.
'You are going once more to Danemora?' asked the old man. 'What
occasion calls you there?'
'I wish to see how it goes with the poor Christine,' answered Arwed,
unwilling to disturb the sick man by naming the true motive.
'You are deceiving me,' said the old man reprovingly. 'Your business is
of a more unpleasant nature. You have executed the charge I gave you.
Megret has left us, and your journey relates to him. Danemora is only a
pretext to keep me in ignorance.'
'Truly no,' answered Arwed. 'Megret has appointed it for our place of
meeting.'
'Is it so!' cried the old man. 'I am sorry for it, and have a thousand
times repented of the charge I gave you. It would be a dreadful thing
if you should fall in this miserable combat. You can and must yet
become right useful to your father-land. Promise me at least that you
will pursue this affair no further than honor absolutely demands.'
'Forgive me, dear uncle,' said Arwed. 'I cannot give you that promise.
But one of us will leave the field alive. Yet quiet yourself with the
assurance that it was not your request, with which indeed there was no
necessity for my compliance, which occasions this duel; it has a more
weighty cause.
'What can that be?' doubtingly replied the uncle.
'Excuse my naming it to you,' answered Arwed. 'I fight not for our
house, nor for my own honor. I fight for Sweden!'
'Go then, bold combatant, and may God fight with you!' cried the old
man. 'It is possible you may not find me alive when you return. For
which reason receive now my thanks for your filial love and truth. That
I consider myself your father in the full sense of the word, my
testament, which I have already deposited with the high court at
Stockholm, will inform you. I have also written to your father and to
the queen. You must become my successor in the government of West
Bothnia.'
'Never!' cried Arwed, impetuously.
'You must!' persisted his uncle. 'Not for love of the queen, nor for
your own advantage; but for the welfare of this province. I may be
permitted to say that with me the office has been in good hands, and I
am unwilling that an unworthy courtier or unfeeling soldier should
demolish what has cost me so many long years to build up. You are
intelligent, brave and good; and you have, with me, become familiar
with the civil duties. You are the most suitable person, and you must
be governor; where the happiness of the people is concerned, anger,
vindictiveness, and similar trifling hindrances, must not dare to raise
their heads in such a heart as yours.'
'My dear uncle!' said the yielding Arwed, and kneeling down before the
bed, he kissed the invalid's wasted hand.
'God bless thee, my son!' said the latter, laying his hand upon the
youth's head.
'And also the poor Christine! is it not so?' asked Arwed.'
'Tell her--I--do not curse her!' cried the old man with a severe
struggle; 'and now leave me. These feelings are too strong for my
exhausted powers.'
He turned his face to the wall, and Arwed departed in sadness.