Countess Elveda now approached Christian, and said to him, with her most gracious air:
“At present, baron, I sincerely trust that I shall have the pleasure of seeing you in Stockholm—”
“Will you still consent to receive me,” he replied, “only on condition that I am to start for Russia?”
“No,” she said, “I leave you free to select her to whom you have given your heart.”
“Will Countess Margaret accompany you to Stockholm?” said Christian, in a low voice.
“She may join me, perhaps, when you have gained your lawsuit, if lawsuit there is to be. In the meanwhile, she must return to her chateau. It is all settled, and prudence requires it. For my part, I hold to my promise, and am still ready to carry you to Stockholm, where you will be obliged to go to have your affairs settled.”
“I thank you, madame; but I am entirely under the control of my lawyer, who has further use for me here.”
“Au revoir, then!” replied the countess, taking the arm of the ambassador, who said to her, as they went out:
“I am quite as well pleased to have that handsome young baron decline travelling with you!”
Margaret bade adieu to her aunt at the door of Stollborg, and started with her governess and the Akerstrom family for the parsonage, where she was to take some rest before returning to Dalby. She did not exchange a word, or even a glance, with Christian, but it was none the less tacitly understood between them that she was not to leave the neighborhood until they had seen each other again.