'Prophecies were always disagreeable to me,' said Arwed. 'Imposition or fanaticism, it makes no difference. Now am I almost determined to go to Armfelt, merely to prove that I give no heed to such jugglery.'
'Hast thou forgotten what there awaits thee?' anxiously asked Georgina.
'An inglorious death would indeed be the greatest calamity that could befal me,' said Arwed; 'and the voice sounded so honest.'
'If thou lovest me, obey it,' implored Georgina,--and at that moment her companion approached to remind her that it was high time to return to the city.
'Fare thee well, my beloved life!' said Arwed, locking the sobbing maiden in his arms.
'Thou goest to Frederickshall?' inquired she, faintly.
'Hast thou not united the wish with my love?' asked the youth in return, and long and silently he pressed her beloved form to his bosom.
'Hasten, baroness!' anxiously entreated her companion.
Georgina finally forced herself from his embrace. 'I believe in a good God!' exclaimed she with a sort of inspiration: 'we shall meet again.'
The ladies proceeded to the boat which was waiting for them. Arwed remained standing silently on the spot where he had received Georgina's last kiss, gazing after the receding boat, until it disappeared in the shadow which the old Gothic church of the Ritterholm, behind which the moon was now rising, threw over the waters of the Malar.