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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouquée
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Undine
+
+Author: Friedrich de la Motte Fouquée
+
+Editor: Mary Macgregor
+
+Illustrator: Katharine Cameron
+
+Release Date: July 4, 2006 [EBook #18752]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDINE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jason Isbell, Sankar Viswanathan, and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                     TOLD TO THE CHILDREN SERIES
+
+                       EDITED BY LOUEY CHISHOLM
+
+
+       [Illustration: On the threshold stood a little maiden.]
+
+
+
+
+                    Friedrich de la Motte Fouquée
+
+
+                                UNDINE
+
+
+                       TOLD TO THE CHILDREN BY
+
+                            MARY MACGREGOR
+
+
+                           WITH PICTURES BY
+
+                          KATHARINE CAMERON
+
+
+
+
+                     LONDON: T. C. & E. C. JACK
+
+                     NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO.
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+TO MARGARET
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+ABOUT THIS BOOK
+
+Undine is the name of the water maiden whose story you will read as
+you turn the leaves of this little book.
+
+Undine is beautiful as the dawn stealing across the waters, beautiful
+as the spray of the crystal waves.
+
+Yet when she comes to earth she comes to seek for that without which
+her beauty will be for ever cold, cold and chill as the surge of the
+salt, salt sea.
+
+Look deep into her blue eyes and you will see why her beauty is so
+cold, so chill.
+
+In the eyes of every mortal you may see a soul. In the gay blue eyes
+of Undine, look you long and never so deep, no soul will look forth to
+meet your gaze.
+
+Love, joy, sorrow, these are the pearls that shine in the eyes of
+every mortal. But in the eyes of the water maiden there is no gleam
+of love, no sparkle of joy, no tear of sorrow.
+
+Undine has come to earth to seek for a soul. Without one she may never
+know the golden gifts God has given to each mortal, gifts these of
+love, joy, sorrow.
+
+You will read in this little book how Undine, the water maiden, won
+for herself a human soul.
+
+MARY MACGREGOR.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+Chap.
+
+I.     The Fisherman and the Knight
+
+II.    Undine is Lost
+
+III.   Undine is Found
+
+IV.    The Knight's Story
+
+V.     The Knight stays at the Cottage
+
+VI.    The Wedding
+
+VII.   Undine's Story
+
+VIII.  Huldbrand and Undine leave the Cottage
+
+IX.    The Knight returns to the City
+
+X.     The Birthday Feast
+
+XI.    The Journey to Castle Ringstetten
+
+XII.   Castle Ringstetten
+
+XIII.  The Black Valley
+
+XIV.   Huldbrand forgets his Promise
+
+XV.    Huldbrand and Bertalda
+
+XVI.   Bertalda's Wedding
+
+XVII.  The Burial
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF PICTURES
+
+
+On the threshold stood a little maiden  _Frontispiece_
+
+Amid the sweet-scented grass, safe from the fury of the storm
+
+'I saw in a great cavern a group of little goblins'
+
+In the little cottage were heard the solemn words of the marriage service
+
+The three travellers soon reached the leafy shades of the forest
+
+At the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears
+
+The little waves seemed to sob as they whispered, 'Alas! alas!'
+
+Slowly, slowly there rose out of the mouth of the well a white figure
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE FISHERMAN AND THE KNIGHT
+
+
+A fisherman brought a stool to the doorway of his home and, sitting
+down, he began to mend his nets.
+
+His cottage stood in the midst of green meadows, and his eyes grew
+glad as he looked at the green grass. After the heat of the fair
+summer's day it was so cool, so refreshing.
+
+At the foot of the meadows lay a large lake of clear blue water. The
+fisherman knew it well. It was there his work was done, through
+sunshine or through storm.
+
+To-day, as his gaze wandered from the green meadows to the blue lake,
+he thought he saw the waters stretch out soft arms, until slowly they
+drew the fair meadows, the little cottage into a loving embrace.
+
+The fisherman, his wife and their foster-child lived very quietly on
+this pleasant spot. It was but seldom that any one passed their door,
+for between the beautiful meadows and the nearest town lay a wood. So
+wild and gloomy was the wood, so tangled its pathway, that no one
+cared to enter it.
+
+Moreover, it was said that there were strange beings lurking amid the
+gloom--ugly goblins, misshapen gnomes; and there were shadowy spirits
+too, which flitted through the branches of the strongest trees, and
+these even the bravest would not wish to see.
+
+Through this dark and haunted wood the old fisherman had often to
+journey.
+
+It was true that he entered the dreaded shades with fear, yet no
+spectre ever crossed his path. But perhaps that was because the
+thoughts of the old man were pure, or perhaps because he never entered
+the forest without singing a hymn in a clear brave voice.
+
+As the fisherman sat mending his nets on this fair summer eve he began
+to move restlessly, to glance around uneasily.
+
+Then a sudden terror fell upon him as he heard a noise in the forest
+behind.
+
+Ah, how the trees rustled and how the grass was being trampled
+underfoot! Could it be a horseman who made haste to escape from some
+terrible foe?
+
+And now, although he was wide awake, the fisherman seemed to see a
+figure, which he had seen before only in his dreams.
+
+He saw the figure of a tall, strong, snow-white man, who came with
+slow steps toward him, and at each step he took, the figure nodded his
+great white head.
+
+The fisherman rubbed his eyes as he glanced toward the wood. At the
+same moment the wind seemed to blow the leaves aside to make room for
+the snow-white man, whose head never ceased to nod.
+
+'Well,' said the fisherman to himself, 'I have ever passed through the
+forest unharmed, why should I fear that evil will befall me here?' and
+he began to repeat aloud a verse of the Bible.
+
+At the sound of his own voice courage crept back into the heart of the
+fisherman, moreover the words of the Holy Book rebuked his fears. Nor
+was it long before he was able even to laugh and to see how foolish he
+had been.
+
+For listen! The white nodding man was after all only a stream which
+the fisherman knew very well, a stream which ran and bubbled out of
+the forest and fell into the lake. As for the rustling noise, the
+fisherman saw what had caused that, as a gaily clad knight rode forth
+from the forest shadows toward the little cottage.
+
+This was no spectre or spirit of the wood, this stranger who wore the
+garments of a knight of high degree. He rode a white horse, which
+stepped softly, so that the flowers in the meadows lifted their
+delicate heads uninjured by his tread.
+
+The fisherman raised his cap as the stranger drew near, and then
+quietly went on mending his nets.
+
+Now when the knight saw the old man's face it was welcome to him, as
+indeed any human face would have been after the terrors of the forest.
+There he had seen strange mocking faces peering at him whichever way
+he turned, there he had been followed by strange shadowy forms from
+which escape had been wellnigh impossible; here at length was a kind
+and friendly mortal. He would ask him for the food and shelter of
+which both he and his steed stood in need.
+
+'Dear sir,' answered the fisherman when he had listened to the
+knight's request, 'dear sir, if you will deign to enter our lonely
+cottage, you will find a welcome with the food and shelter we offer.
+As for your horse, can it have a better stable than this tree-shaded
+meadow, or more delicious fodder than this green grass?'
+
+Well pleased with this answer, the knight dismounted, and together he
+and the fisherman freed the white horse from its saddle and bridle,
+and turned it loose into the waving meadow.
+
+Then the old man led the stranger into the cottage.
+
+Here, by the light of the kitchen fire, sat the fisherman's wife. She
+rose, with a kind greeting for the unexpected guest. Then seating
+herself again in her armchair, she pointed to an old stool with a
+broken leg. 'Sit there, good knight,' she said; 'only you must sit
+still, lest the broken leg prove too weak to bear you.'
+
+Carrying the stool over beside the old woman, the knight placed it
+carefully on the floor and seated himself as he was bidden. As he sat
+there talking with the good old fisherman and his wife, it seemed to
+him almost as though he were their son, who had come home again after
+journeying in a distant land.
+
+It was only when the knight began to speak of the wood that the
+fisherman grew restless and refused to listen.
+
+'It were wiser, Sir Knight,' he said, 'not to talk of the wood at
+nightfall, or indeed to say much of it at any time.'
+
+And then the old couple told their guest how simply they lived in the
+little cottage by the lake, and they in their turn listened eagerly
+while the knight told them of himself. He was named Sir Huldbrand, and
+he dwelt in his castle of Ringstetten, which stood near the source of
+the river Danube.
+
+Now, as he talked or listened to the quiet tales of the old fisherman,
+the knight heard a strange sound that seemed to come from the
+direction of the window. Again and again it came, a strange sound as
+of water being dashed against the window-panes.
+
+It was plain that the fisherman heard it too, for at each splash a
+frown crossed his good-natured face.
+
+A louder splash, and a shower of water streamed through the loosely
+built window-frame into the kitchen.
+
+Then the old man could sit still no longer. He hastened to the window,
+and opening it called out in an angry voice, 'Undine, cease these
+childish tricks. A stranger, and he a knight, is in our cottage.'
+
+A low laugh answered him. Hearing it, the old man shut the window and
+sat down again, saying to his guest, 'Sir Knight, forgive this rude
+behaviour. Undine my foster-daughter is still only a child, although
+she is now nearly eighteen years of age. Yet her tricks are harmless,
+and she herself is full of kindness.'
+
+'Ah,' said the old woman to her husband, 'to you, who are not with her
+save when the day's work is over, her pranks may seem harmless. But
+you would not talk so lightly of her ways were she by your side all
+day. Ever I must watch her, lest she spoil my baking, or undo my
+spinning or burn the soup. Nay--'
+
+'It is true,' said the old man, interrupting his wife with a smile,
+'it is true that you have the maiden by your side throughout the
+livelong day, while I have but the sea. Yet when the sea is rough and
+breaks down my dykes I do not love it the less. Even so do you love
+the little one no less for all her tricks and tiresome ways.'
+
+The old woman turned to her guest. 'Indeed, Sir Knight, he speaks
+truly. It is not possible to be angry with the maiden long.'
+
+At that moment the door flew open, and she, the maiden of whom they
+spoke, entered the little kitchen. She was fairer far than any one the
+knight had ever seen.
+
+'Father,' she cried, 'where is he, the stranger guest?'
+
+Even as she spoke her eyes fell on the knight, who had sprung to his
+feet as she entered the cottage. He stood gazing in wonder at the
+marvellous beauty of the maiden.
+
+But before he could greet her, she was at his side, trustingly looking
+up into his face. Then kneeling before him, she seized his hand and
+made him seat himself again on the broken old stool.
+
+'You are beautiful, Sir Knight,' she said, 'but how did you come to
+this little cottage? Have you looked for us long before you could find
+us? Have you had to pass through the terrible forest ere you could
+reach us, Sir Knight?'
+
+The knight would have told the maiden the story of his adventures in
+the wood, but Undine's foster-mother was already speaking, and her
+tones were loud and angry.
+
+'Go, maiden, go get you to work, and trouble not the stranger with
+your questions.'
+
+Then Undine, unashamed, drew a little footstool near to Huldbrand, and
+sitting down to her spinning, cried, 'I shall work here, close to the
+beautiful knight.'
+
+The old fisherman took no notice of the wilful maiden, and began to
+speak of other things, hoping that the guest would forget his
+foster-daughter's questions.
+
+But even had the knight been able to forget, Undine did not mean to
+sit there quietly, her questions unanswered.
+
+Her sweet voice broke upon the silence. 'Our beautiful guest has not
+yet told me how he reached our cottage,' she said.
+
+'It is even as you thought,' answered the knight. 'I journeyed through
+the haunted wood ere I found this safe and hospitable shelter.'
+
+'Then tell me of your wonderful adventures,' demanded the maiden, 'for
+without these no one may pass through the forest.'
+
+Huldbrand shuddered as he remembered the strange beings who had
+startled him as he rode through the wood. He glanced distrustfully
+toward the window. Were the grim figures there, peering at him through
+the window-pane? No, he could see nothing save the dim night light,
+which now closed them in.
+
+The knight drew himself up, ashamed of his foolish fears, and turning
+toward the maiden, he was beginning to tell her of the wonders which
+had befallen him, when the fisherman hurriedly interrupted.
+
+'Nay, now, Sir Knight,' he cried, 'tell not your tale until the hours
+of dark have passed.'
+
+At her foster-father's words Undine sprang angrily from the footstool
+and stood before him. Her eyes flashed and grew larger, colder.
+
+'You say to the stranger not to tell his tale, father,' she cried,
+'you say to him not to answer me. But he shall speak, he shall, he
+shall!' And in her anger she stamped her little feet.
+
+The knight wellnigh smiled as he watched the maiden's wrath, but the
+old man was grieved that the stranger should see the wayward behaviour
+of his foster-child, and he reproved her for her anger. The old woman
+also muttered her displeasure.
+
+Then Undine slipped quickly toward the door of the little cottage. She
+did not choose to listen to these rebukes.
+
+'I will not stay with you, for you do nothing but scold me, and you
+will not do anything that I wish,' she cried, and before they could
+reach her she had opened the door, and was away and out, out into the
+dark night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+UNDINE IS LOST
+
+
+Huldbrand and the fisherman sprang after the maiden, but when they
+reached the door of the cottage and looked out into the night she was
+nowhere to be seen, nor could they catch the sound of her tiny feet to
+guide them whither she had fled.
+
+The knight looked in astonishment at his host. Was the beautiful
+maiden only another of the wonderful beings who had bewildered him in
+the forest? Was she some lovely elf or sprite who had come but to vex
+them with her pranks?
+
+But as he looked at the old man standing by his side, and saw the
+tears streaming from his eyes, he knew it was for no spirit of the
+wood that he thus grieved.
+
+'Alas,' sighed the fisherman, 'this is not the first time that the
+maiden has treated us thus. It may be she will not return the
+livelong night, and until she returns it is not possible that we
+should close our eyes. For what terror may not seize upon her as she
+wanders hither and thither in the darkness.'
+
+'We must follow her, father, follow her without delay!' cried the
+young knight.
+
+'Nay,' answered the fisherman, 'my limbs are stiff. Though I knew
+whither she had fled, I could never follow with speed enough to reach
+her. Ever she would vanish as I drew near, for she is fleet, fleet as
+an arrow from the bow.'
+
+'If we may not follow her, at least let us call and entreat her to
+return,' said the young knight, and without waiting for an answer he
+called, 'Undine! Undine!'
+
+But the old man shook his head. 'It is useless to call,' he said, 'the
+little one will not heed your voice.' Yet still the knight's cry rang
+out into the night, 'Undine, dear Undine, I pray you return!'
+
+No answer came back from the darkness, and at length Huldbrand
+returned with the fisherman to the cottage.
+
+The old woman, who seemed little troubled by Undine's flight, had gone
+to bed and the fire was wellnigh out. But the fisherman, drawing the
+ashes together, placed wood on the top of them, and soon the fire
+blazed brightly.
+
+Then in the light of the flames they sat and talked, yet they thought
+only of Undine. The window rattled. They raised their heads to listen.
+The rain fell in heavy drops, pitter, patter. They thought it was the
+tread of tiny feet.
+
+'It is she, it is Undine!' they would cry, yet still the maiden did
+not come. Then they shook their heads sadly, but as they went on
+talking they listened still.
+
+'It was fifteen years ago, on such a night of wind and rain, that she
+came,' murmured the old man. 'Our home was sad and desolate, for we
+had lost our own little child.'
+
+'Ah,' said the knight, 'tell me how the beautiful maiden came to your
+little cottage.'
+
+Now this is the story the fisherman told to the knight.
+
+'It is fifteen years ago,' began the old man, 'since I went through
+the forest, hoping to sell my fish in the city beyond. I was alone,
+for my wife was at home watching our little babe. Our little babe was
+dear to us and very fair.
+
+'In the evening, having sold all my fish, I went home through the
+haunted forest, nor did I fear its gloom, for the Lord was at my
+right hand.
+
+'But no sooner had I left the wood than I saw my wife running toward
+me, while tears streamed from her eyes. She had dressed herself, I
+noticed, in black garments, and this she was not used to do. I felt
+sure that trouble had befallen us.
+
+'"Where is our child, our little one?" I cried, though even as I spoke
+my voice was choked with sobs.
+
+'"Our child is with God, the great Father," answered my wife.
+
+'Then in the midst of her tears the poor mother told her sad tale.
+
+'"I took our child down to the edge of the lake, and there we played
+together, so happy, so merry. Suddenly the little one bent forward as
+though she saw something beautiful in the water. Then she smiled, and
+stretched out her tiny hands, and even as she did so, she slipped from
+my arms into the lake, and I saw her no more."
+
+'That evening,' said the fisherman, 'my wife and I sat by our hearth
+in silence, we were too sad for words. Suddenly the door of our
+cottage flew open, and there before us,[1] on the threshold, stood a
+little maiden, three or four years of age. Her eyes were blue and her
+hair was gold and she was clothed in beautiful garments.
+
+[Footnote 1: See frontispiece.]
+
+'We gazed in wonder at the tiny vision. Who was she? From whence had
+she come? Was she only a magic child come to mock us in our
+loneliness, or was she a real, a living child?
+
+'Then as we looked we saw that water trickled from her golden hair and
+that little streams were gathering at her tiny feet, as the water
+dripped and dripped from her beautiful clothing.
+
+'"She must have fallen into the lake," I said to my wife, "and in some
+strange way have wandered into our cottage. We have lost our own dear
+child, let us now do all we can to help this little one." Thus it came
+to pass that the little stranger slept in the cot in which until now
+our own babe had lain.
+
+'When morning dawned my wife fed our tiny guest with bread and milk,
+and the little one looked upon us, and her blue eyes danced merrily,
+but never a word did she say.
+
+'We asked her where her father and mother dwelt and how she had come
+to our cottage. But her only answer was some childish talk of crystal
+palaces and shining pearls. Even now indeed she speaks of things so
+marvellous that we know not what to think.
+
+'After some days we asked her once again from whence she came. She
+told us that she had been on the sea with her mother, and had fallen
+from her arms into the water, nor had she known more until she awoke
+under the trees, close to our cottage, so well pleased with the fair
+shore that she felt no fear.
+
+'Then we said, "Let us keep the little stranger, and care for her as
+we would have cared for our own lost child." We sent for a priest, who
+baptized her, giving her the name by which she called herself, though
+indeed it seemed no name for a Christian child.
+
+'"Undine," said the priest as he performed the holy rite, while she,
+the little one, stood before him gentle and sweet. No sooner, however,
+was the service ended than she grew wild, wilful as was her way. For
+it is true that my wife has had much trouble with the maiden--'
+
+At that moment the knight interrupted the fisherman.
+
+'Listen,' he cried, 'how the stream roars as it dashes past the
+window!'
+
+Together they sprang to the door. The moon had risen, and the knight
+and the fisherman saw that the stream which ran from the wood had
+burst its banks. It was now rushing wildly along, carrying with it
+stones and roots of trees. As they looked, the clouds grew dark and
+crept across the face of the moon, the wind rose and lashed the water
+of the lake into great waves.
+
+'Undine! Undine!' cried the two men together, but no answer reached
+them save the shrieking of the wind among the trees of the forest.
+
+Then, careless of the storm, the fisherman and the knight rushed from
+the cottage in search of the maiden.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+UNDINE IS FOUND
+
+
+As Huldbrand rushed out into the night, followed by the fisherman, the
+storm seemed to rage yet more fiercely. The old man was soon left far
+behind in the search for the lost maiden.
+
+The knight, battling bravely with the storm, hastened hither and
+thither, but all his efforts were vain. Undine was nowhere to be
+found.
+
+And now, as the rain dashed down upon him and the wind hustled him,
+Huldbrand grew bewildered. The storm seemed to have changed the
+peaceful meadows into a weary wilderness, and even the maiden herself
+seemed to flit before him as a phantom spirit of the wind.
+
+Could it all have been but a dream? Had the cottage, the fisherman and
+his wife been as unreal as the figures that had followed him in the
+haunted forest? No, that he would not believe, for even yet in the
+distance he could hear the faint echo of the fisherman's voice as he
+called out pitifully, 'Undine! Undine!' Now in his search the knight
+had reached the edge of the stream. The stream, as you know, had
+already overflowed its bank, and as the moon suddenly shone through
+the dark clouds, Huldbrand saw that the water was rushing back toward
+the forest. In this way the little bit of meadow-land on which the
+fisherman's cottage stood was turned into an island.
+
+A terrible thought struck the knight. Had Undine strayed into the
+fearful forest she could not now return to the cottage, save across
+the raging stream, nay, she might even now be surrounded by the
+spirits of the wood. She would be among them alone, helpless.
+
+At once Huldbrand made up his mind to cross the torrent. He plunged
+into the water, and even as he did so he seemed to see on the other
+shore the figure of a tall white man, who nodded his head and mocked
+him as he struggled on. Huldbrand knew the tall white figure only too
+well. It was the one that had followed him as he journeyed through the
+forest.
+
+Now; in his haste to find Undine, the knight was leaping from stone to
+stone, sometimes slipping into the water, then with a struggle
+placing his feet once again upon the stones. These, tossed by the
+rushing stream, gave no firm foothold to the knight, and he was forced
+to seize the branch of a fir-tree to help him across the dangerous
+passage.
+
+While he was still in the midst of the current, he heard a sweet voice
+crying, 'Trust not the stream, trust it not, for it is full of craft!'
+
+The knight knew the voice. It was that of the maiden for whom he
+sought. Yet though he peered eagerly through the gloom he could see no
+trace of her.
+
+'See! you can find me now, Sir Knight, for the moon is shining clear,'
+cried the voice he longed to hear, and looking around him Huldbrand
+saw where Undine had found a shelter. It was on a little island,
+beneath the branches of a great tree, that the maiden sat. There was
+no terror of the storm in her eyes. She was even smiling happily as
+she nestled amid the sweet scented grass, safe from the fury of the
+storm.
+
+A few quick strides and the knight had crossed the stream and stood by
+the side of the maiden. She bade him sit down on the grass, and then,
+whispering low, she said, 'You shall tell me your story here, Sir
+Knight, on this quiet island here, where no cross old people will
+disturb us, and where we are sheltered from the storm that rages
+beyond.'
+
+[Illustration: Amid the sweet-scented grass, safe from the fury of the
+storm]
+
+Then Huldbrand forgot all about the old man who was still seeking for
+his child, forgot too all about the old woman who was alone in the
+little cottage by the lake, and he sat down to tell his tale as the
+maiden wished.
+
+Meanwhile the fisherman had reached the brink of the stream, and great
+was his surprise to see the knight seated by the side of his lost
+child.
+
+'You have found her, you have found my little one!' he cried
+reproachfully. 'Why did you not hasten to tell me she was found, Sir
+Knight?'
+
+Then Huldbrand was ashamed, though, as he told the old man, it was but
+a little while since his search had ceased.
+
+'Bring her without more delay to the mainland!' shouted the fisherman,
+when he had listened to the sorry excuse which was all the knight
+could offer.
+
+But Undine had no wish to go home. She would rather stay with the
+knight in the forest than go back to the cottage, for there, so she
+said, no one would do as she wished.
+
+Then, flinging her arms around the knight, she clung to him and
+begged him to stay with her in the forest.
+
+The old fisherman wept as he heard her words, yet Undine did not seem
+to notice his tears. But the knight could not help seeing the old
+man's grief, and he was troubled.
+
+'Undine,' he cried, 'the tears of your foster-father have touched my
+heart. We will return to him.'
+
+The blue eyes of the maiden opened wide with surprise, yet she
+answered gently, 'Sir Knight, if this is indeed your will, we shall
+return to the mainland. There you must make the old man promise to
+listen in silence to all that you saw as you journeyed through the
+forest.'
+
+'Only come, and you shall do all that you wish!' cried the fisherman,
+and he stretched out his arms and nodded his head, to show to the
+maiden how glad he was that she should do as she wished. But the
+knight shuddered as his eyes fell upon the fisherman. The nodding
+head, the white hair reminded him once again of the tall white man of
+the forest.
+
+Shaking off his fears he lifted Undine in his arms and bore her across
+the stream. Already the storm was wellnigh over and the waters flowed
+more quietly. It now seemed to the knight only a few steps from the
+grassy plot where he had found the maiden to the green meadows among
+which the cottage stood.
+
+'Now will I hear the brave knight's story,' cried the maiden, and the
+old people smiled and said they too would hear the tale.
+
+And the sun rose slowly over the lake and the birds sang merrily on
+the wet and leafy trees, as the knight began his tale.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE KNIGHT'S STORY
+
+
+'It must be about eight days ago now,' said the knight, 'since I left
+my castle of Ringstetten, and journeyed toward the city which lies
+beyond the haunted forest.
+
+'The city was gay with lords and ladies who had come thither for the
+tournament which was then being held.
+
+'I at once entered the lists, for my steed was strong and I myself was
+eager for the fray. Once, as I rested from the combat, my eyes fell
+upon a lady who was wondrous fair. She was looking down from a gallery
+upon the tournament.
+
+'Bertalda was the name of the beautiful maiden, and she was the
+foster-child of a great duke. I knew that, as I again seized my lance,
+the lady's eyes followed me into the lists, and I fought even more
+bravely than before.
+
+'In the evening a great festival was held, and here I met Bertalda,
+and danced with her; indeed, evening after evening we were together
+until the tournament drew to a close.'
+
+As Huldbrand spoke these words he felt a sharp pain in his left hand.
+It was hanging by his side, and as he looked down to see what had
+caused the pain, he found that Undine had fastened in it her little
+pearly teeth.
+
+The knight could see that the maiden's face was no longer smiling. She
+looked up at him, and there was sorrow in her large blue eyes as she
+whispered, 'Sir Knight, it is your own fault that I hurt you. I would
+not have you praise the lady Bertalda.' Then quickly, as though
+ashamed of her words, she hid her face in her hands.
+
+As the knight went on with his story, his face was grave.
+
+'It is true,' he said, 'that Bertalda was a lovely maiden, yet as I
+knew her better I found her ways were cold and proud. She pleased me
+less as the days passed by, though, as she looked upon me with favour,
+I begged that as a token of it she would give me a glove.
+
+"You shall have it," answered she, "if you will go alone through the
+forest which men say is haunted, and bring me tidings of all that
+happens to you."
+
+'I cared little for her glove, but I would not tarry to be asked a
+second time to go through the forest, lest the maiden should doubt my
+courage.'
+
+'I thought Bertalda had loved you,' cried Undine, 'yet then had she
+not driven you from her into the haunted forest.'
+
+The knight smiled at the maiden's words and went on with his tale.
+
+'It was but yesterday morning that I set forth on my adventure. The
+sun shone bright, so bright that it was not easy to believe that evil
+was lurking in the shadows beneath the rustling leaves. "I shall soon
+return," I said to myself, as I plunged into the green shade.
+
+'But amid the maze of trees it was not long ere I lost sight of the
+path by which I had entered the wood.
+
+'"It may be that I shall lose myself in this mighty forest," I
+thought, "but no other danger threatens me."
+
+'I gazed up toward the sun, which had risen higher now than when first
+I entered the wood, and as I gazed I saw a black thing among the
+branches of a leafy oak.
+
+'Was it a bear, I wondered, and my hand felt for the sword that hung
+by my side.
+
+'But it was no bear, for ere long I heard a voice mocking me with
+rough and cruel words. "Aha, Sir Wiseacre," said the voice, "I am
+breaking twigs off these tall trees, so that at midnight I may light a
+fire in which to roast you." Then, before I could answer, the black
+thing grinned at me and rustled the branches, until my steed grew
+restless and at length galloped away.'
+
+Undine looked at the knight, her blue eyes sparkling as she cried,
+'But indeed the wicked creature did not dare to roast you, Sir
+Knight!'
+
+'In its terror,' continued Huldbrand, 'my horse dashed itself against
+the trees, reared and again rushed madly forward. Onward we flew,
+until at length I saw before me a dark abyss. Yet still I found it
+impossible to pull up my frightened steed.
+
+'Then all at once a tall white man stood still directly in front of my
+maddened horse, which swerved aside as soon as it saw the tall man,
+and in that moment I was once more master of my steed. I saw also that
+my deliverer was not a tall white man, as I had imagined, but a brook,
+which shone silver in the sunlight.'
+
+'Dear brook, I will be grateful to you for evermore,' cried Undine,
+clapping her hands as she spoke, in childish glee. But the fisherman
+shook his head and was silent.
+
+'And now,' said the knight, 'I was anxious to hasten as quickly as
+possible through the forest, for it seemed to me that not only might I
+find it difficult to regain the pathway I had lost, but that strange
+beings might again startle both me and my noble steed.
+
+'I turned my horse away from the dark chasm which lay before us, but
+even as I did so I found at my side a strange little man. He was
+uglier than any one I had ever seen. His nose was wellnigh as large as
+all the rest of his body, and his mouth was so big that it stretched
+from one ear to the other.
+
+'This ugly creature, as soon as he saw that I had noticed him, grinned
+at me, until his mouth looked even larger than before. He scraped his
+feet along the ground and bowed mockingly to me a thousand times.
+
+'My horse was trembling at the sight of the strange figure, so I
+resolved to ride on in search of further adventure, or if I found
+none, to ride back to the city which I had left in the morning.
+
+'But the ugly little man did not mean to let me escape. Quick as
+lightning he sprang round and stood again in front of my horse.
+
+'"Get out of the way," I now cried in anger, "lest my steed tramples
+you under its feet."
+
+'This did not seem to frighten the strange creature. He laughed in my
+face, and then said in a gruff voice, "You must give me gold, for it
+was I who turned your horse aside from yonder dark abyss."
+
+'"Nay, what you say is not true," I answered him, "for it was the
+silver brook that saved me and my horse from being dashed to pieces.
+Nevertheless, take thy gold and begone."
+
+'As I spoke I flung a coin into the strange-shaped cap which he was
+holding before me, then putting spurs to my horse I rode quickly
+forward.
+
+'I heard the ugly little man give a loud scream, then to my surprise
+there he was, running by my side, grinning and making horrible
+grimaces.
+
+'My horse was galloping, and I thought I would soon get away from the
+little man. But it seemed impossible to go faster than he, for he took
+a spring, a jump, and there he was still by my side. He held up the
+piece of gold I had thrown to him, and in a hollow voice he cried, "It
+is a false coin, a false coin!"
+
+'At length I could bear his horrible shrieks no longer. I pulled up my
+steed, and holding out two coins I called to him, "Take the gold, but
+follow me no farther!"
+
+'Then the little ugly man began to scrape his feet and bow his head,
+but it was plain that he was not yet satisfied.
+
+'"I do not wish your gold," he grumbled. "I have gold enough and to
+spare, as you shall soon see."
+
+'As he spoke a strange thing happened. The beautiful green ground
+seemed to change into clear green glass. I looked through the glass
+and saw in a great cavern a group of little goblins.
+
+'They were playing at ball, these little goblins, and I noticed that
+all their toys were made of silver or gold. Merry little creatures
+they were, running swiftly hither and thither after the ball, nor was
+it easy to see whether they were standing on their heads or on their
+heels, or whether they were running on their hands or on their feet.
+No sooner was their game ended than they pelted each other with their
+playthings, then in a mad frolic lifted handfuls of gold dust and
+flung it each in the other's eyes.
+
+'All this time the ugly little man was standing half on the ground and
+half within the great cavern where the tiny goblins played their
+games. Now I heard him call to the mischievous imps to give him
+handfuls of gold.
+
+[Illustration: 'I saw in a great cavern a group of little goblins']
+
+'This they did, and then he, laughing in my face, showed the gold to
+me ere he flung it back again into the cavern.
+
+'Then the ugly little man called to the tiny goblins to stop their
+pranks and look at the coins I had given to him. When they caught
+sight of them they held their little sides, shaking with laughter;
+then all at once they turned and hissed at me.
+
+'In spite of myself terror crept over me. Again I plunged my spurs
+into my horse's sides, and it dashed madly off into the midst of the
+forest.
+
+'When at length the flight ended, the evening lay cool and quiet
+around me. A white footpath seemed to point out the way which led back
+to the city. But each time I tried to approach it a face peered at me
+from between the trees. I turned to escape from this new phantom, but
+in vain, for whichever way I turned there was the face still staring
+at me.
+
+'I grew angry and urged my horse in the direction of the shadowy face,
+only however to find myself drenched by a stream of white foam.
+
+'Thus I was driven away from the white footpath, and only one way,
+rough and tangled, was left open to me. As soon as I began to follow
+it, the face, though it kept close behind, did me no further harm.
+
+'Yet again and again I turned, hoping to find that the face had
+disappeared. Instead I found it closer than before, and now I could
+see that it belonged to a tall white man. It was true that at times
+the long white figure seemed to be but a wandering stream, but of this
+I was never sure.
+
+I was weary now and my horse was exhausted. It seemed useless to try
+any longer to force my way past the white face, so I went on riding
+quietly along the one path left open to me. The head of the tall man
+then began to nod, as though to say that at length I was doing as he
+wished.
+
+'By this path I reached the end of the wood, and as the meadows and
+the lake came into sight the white man vanished, and I found myself
+standing near to your little cottage.'
+
+As the knight had now finished the story of his adventure, the
+fisherman began to talk to his guest of how he might return in safety
+to the city and to the followers who there awaited him.
+
+Huldbrand, listening to the old man, yet caught the soft ripple of
+Undine's laughter.
+
+'Why do you laugh, Undine?' asked the knight. 'Are you so pleased to
+hear your foster-father talk of my return to the city?'
+
+'I laugh for joy that you cannot leave us,' said the maiden. 'You have
+but to look to see that you must stay.'
+
+Huldbrand and the fisherman rose and saw that what the maiden had said
+was indeed true. It would not be possible for the knight to leave the
+little island until the stream had once more returned to its usual
+course.
+
+As they entered the cottage, Huldbrand whispered to the maiden,
+'Undine, tell me that you are glad that I cannot yet return to the
+crowded city.'
+
+But the maiden's face was no longer glad, nor would she answer the
+knight's question. She had remembered Bertalda.
+
+When the stream had grown quiet the knight would go back to the lady
+for whose sake he had undergone such strange perils. And of that time
+the wilful maiden did not wish to think.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE KNIGHT STAYS AT THE COTTAGE
+
+
+Day after day the forest stream rushed wildly on. The bed along which
+it thus hastened grew wider and wider, separating the island with the
+fisherman's cottage yet farther from the mainland.
+
+The knight was well pleased to linger where he was. Never had he found
+the days pass by so swiftly.
+
+He discovered an old crossbow in a corner of the cottage. When he had
+mended it he would wander forth in search of birds, and if he
+succeeded in bringing some down with his arrows, he would carry them
+back to fill the larder of the little cottage.
+
+And Undine, for she was pitiful, would not fail to upbraid the knight
+for taking the life of the little birds, so glad, so free. Seeing them
+lying there, quiet and still, she would weep.
+
+Yet, did Huldbrand return without his prey, so wilful was the maiden
+that she would blame him, and complain that she could now have nought
+to eat save fish or crabs.
+
+But the knight loved Undine's wayward words. And well he knew that
+after she had shown her anger most, she would in but a little while be
+again kind and gentle as before.
+
+On the quiet island Huldbrand heard no call to knightly deeds. His
+sword hung unused on the cottage wall, his steed fed undisturbed among
+the sweet-scented meadows.
+
+'The maiden is the daughter of a great prince, thought the knight. 'It
+is not possible that she should remain in this humble cottage all her
+life. She shall be my bride, and in days to come she shall dwell in my
+castle of Ringstetten on the banks of the Danube.'
+
+Meanwhile, naught disturbed the dwellers in the little cottage, save
+now and again when her foster-mother would chide Undine in the
+presence of the knight.
+
+Now, though this displeased Huldbrand, he could not blame the old
+woman, for it was ever true that the maiden deserved reproof more
+often than she received it.
+
+At length wine and food began to grow scarce in the little cottage.
+In the evening, when the wind howled around their home, the fisherman
+and the knight had been used to cheer themselves with a flask of wine.
+But now that the fisherman was not able to reach the city, his supply
+of wine had come to an end. Without it the old man and the knight grew
+silent and dull.
+
+Undine teased them, laughed at them, but they did not join in her
+merriment.
+
+Then one evening the maiden left the cottage, to escape, so she said,
+from the gloomy faces in the little kitchen. It was a stormy night,
+and as it grew dark the wind began to blow, the waters to rise.
+Huldbrand and the fisherman thought of the terrible night on which
+they had sought so long in vain for the wilful maiden. They even began
+to fear that they had lost her again, and together they rushed to the
+door. But to their great delight Undine was standing there, laughing
+and clapping her little hands.
+
+'Come with me,' she cried when she saw them, 'come with me and I will
+show you a cask which the stream has thrown ashore. If it is not a
+wine cask you may punish me as you will.'
+
+The men went with her, and there in a little creek they found the
+cask and began to roll it toward the cottage.
+
+But though they rolled it rapidly the storm crept quickly up. So black
+were the clouds, so threatening, that it seemed each moment that the
+rain would burst forth upon them.
+
+Undine helped the men to roll the cask, and as the sky grew yet more
+threatening she looked up at the dark clouds and said in a warning
+voice, 'Beware, beware that you wet us not.'
+
+'It is wrong of you thus to try to rebuke the storm,' said her
+foster-father, but at his words the maiden only laughed low to herself
+in the darkness.
+
+It would seem, however, that Undine's warning had been of use, for it
+was not until the cask was rolled in at the cottage door that the
+storm broke.
+
+By the bright glow of the fire they opened the cask and found that it
+did indeed hold wine. They tasted it and found it very good, and soon
+they were once more as gay as the maiden could wish.
+
+Then suddenly the fisherman grew grave, grieving for him who had lost
+the cask.
+
+'Nay, grieve not,' said the knight, 'I will seek for the owner and
+repay him for his loss when I come again to my castle at
+Ringstetten.'
+
+The fisherman smiled and was content.
+
+Undine, however, was angry with the knight. 'It is foolish,' said she,
+'to talk of seeking for the owner of the cask. Were you lost in the
+search I should weep. Would you not rather stay by my side?'
+
+'Yes, and that do you right well know,' answered the knight.
+
+'Then,' said the maiden, 'why should you speak of helping other
+people. It is but foolish talk.'
+
+The foster-mother sighed as she listened to Undine's careless words,
+while the fisherman forgot his usual quiet and scolded her sharply.
+
+'Your words are wild, and are such as no Christian maiden should
+utter,' he said. 'May God forgive both you and those who have allowed
+you thus to speak.'
+
+'It is indeed true,' said Undine, 'that as I think I speak. Why,
+therefore, should you scold me for my words.'
+
+'Say no more,' said the fisherman, for he was very angry.
+
+Then the maiden, who, for all her wilfulness, was timid as a bird,
+drew close to the knight and whispered, 'Are you also angry with me,
+Sir Knight.'
+
+Huldbrand could find no words with which to comfort the maiden, whom
+he had learned to love. He could only hold her hand and stroke her
+golden hair, but with this Undine was well content.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE WEDDING
+
+
+Now it was on this same night on which the cask was found that, as the
+storm still raged, a knock was heard at the cottage door. It startled
+all within, for who was there could have crossed the stream that now
+separated them from the mainland? It could surely be no mortal who
+stood without.
+
+As the inhabitants of the little cottage sat silent, thinking these
+thoughts, the knock was heard again. It was followed by a low groan.
+Then the knight rose and took his sword from the wall where it had
+hung for many days. But the fisherman, watching him, shook his head as
+he muttered, 'A sword will be of but little use to-night.'
+
+Undine meanwhile had gone toward the door. She did not open it, but
+she called out in a loud voice, 'Remember, whoever you be, spirit of
+earth or fire, that if harm befall us my uncle Kühleborn will punish
+you.'
+
+These strange words made the knight marvel. But a voice answered the
+maiden, 'I am no wandering spirit, but an old frail man. For the love
+of God open your door and give me shelter from the storm.'
+
+At these words Undine, holding a lamp high in one hand, flung the door
+wide open with the other. Before her stood an old priest, who looked
+upon her with surprise. How came so fair a maiden to be dwelling in so
+lonely a home? he wondered, and in his bewilderment he stood still
+outside the shelter and warmth which awaited him.
+
+'Will you not enter, holy Father?' said Undine.
+
+The priest roused himself to thank the beautiful maiden, and then
+entered the kitchen. Water flowed from his long robe and trickled from
+his long white beard and snowy locks.
+
+'Come with me, Father,' said the fisherman, and he drew the priest
+into a little room and made him take off all his wet garments. Then,
+clad in a suit of dry clothes which belonged to his host, the priest
+returned to the kitchen.
+
+The old woman pulled forward her own armchair and made the priest sit
+in it, while Undine brought a little stool and put it beneath the feet
+of the stranger.
+
+Meanwhile food was placed before the priest. When he had eaten he was
+refreshed and able to tell his host how he had reached the island.
+
+'It was but yesterday,' he said, 'that I was sailing across the lake,
+when a sudden storm arose. A wave dashed upon my boat, overturning it
+and throwing me on to the shore. I lay there stunned for some time.
+Then, as I slowly recovered my senses, I saw a footpath before me, and
+following it I reached the shelter of your cottage.'
+
+Then the fisherman said to the priest, 'Unless the stream subsides we
+shall, I fear, be in need of food. For days I have found it wellnigh
+impossible to fish in the lake, and even should I be able to do so I
+could not sell my fish. It would be too hard a task to reach the city
+beyond the wood until the stream once more runs quietly between its
+banks.'
+
+To Huldbrand as he listened it mattered not though the stream rushed
+on for ever. The world beyond the wood was becoming to the knight more
+and more as a dream. Also the little island on which he was living
+seemed to him the most beautiful spot on earth, for on it dwelt the
+maiden he loved so well.
+
+As these thoughts passed through the knight's mind he turned, and saw
+at once that Undine must have annoyed her foster-mother, for the old
+woman was casting angry looks upon the maiden. Perhaps the angry looks
+would be followed by harsh words, as had happened on other days.
+
+Quickly the knight made up his mind. Were Undine but his wife, no one
+would venture to reprove her. The priest was in the cottage. Why
+should he not marry the beautiful maiden without delay?
+
+He spoke a few words to Undine, then drawing her gently toward the
+priest he said, 'Father, you see before you the maiden whom I love,
+whom, if her foster-parents are willing, I would wed this very day.'
+
+The priest turned to the fisherman and his wife. 'You hear the words
+of the noble knight,' he said. 'Are you willing that he should wed the
+maiden?'
+
+It was easy to see that the old people were in no way startled by the
+priest's words.
+
+'To no braver or more courteous knight could we give our
+foster-child,' said the fisherman, and his wife smiled and nodded as
+he spoke.
+
+Then the foster-mother brought two candles, which long years before
+had been blessed by a holy man, and placed them on the kitchen table,
+while the knight, unfastening the chain which hung around his neck,
+began to take off it two golden rings, one for Undine, the other for
+himself.
+
+'Ah, do not so,' cried the maiden. 'Touch not the golden chain.
+Believe me, my parents, could they know, would wish us to use the
+rings they entrusted to my care when I was but a child.'
+
+She ran quickly from the room, and when she came back she held in her
+hand two radiant rings, one of which she gave to the knight, while the
+other she kept for herself.
+
+Her foster-parents looked at Undine in surprise, for they had neither
+seen the rings nor known that their foster-child had any jewels in her
+possession.
+
+Then the maiden, seeing their astonishment, told how her parents had
+stitched the rings into the little garments she had worn when first
+she came to them, a tiny child. 'They bid me also tell no one that
+they had given me these precious gems until the evening of my
+wedding-day.'
+
+Meanwhile the priest had clad himself again in his own garments, and
+lighting the candles, he called to Huldbrand and the maiden to come
+and kneel before him.
+
+[Illustration: In the little cottage were heard the solemn words of
+the marriage service]
+
+Gladly they obeyed, and then in the little cottage were heard the
+solemn words of the marriage service, and Undine became the wife of
+Huldbrand, the knight of Ringstetten.
+
+The maiden had been unusually quiet as she listened to the solemn
+words of the marriage service, but now a spirit of mischief seemed to
+seize her. She laughed and danced, she played childish tricks upon her
+husband, her foster-parents, even upon the priest himself.
+
+Her foster-mother would have rebuked Undine as of old, but the knight
+silenced her, for Undine was now his wife. Yet he himself was little
+pleased with her behaviour. When Undine saw a frown upon his brow, it
+is true that she would grow quieter, and sitting near him, would for a
+little while smooth his brow with her soft white hand. Soon, however,
+a new fancy would take hold of her, she would jump up, and her tricks
+would grow even more vexing than before.
+
+Then the priest spoke, and his voice was grave.
+
+'Lady, you are fair to look on, but I pray you to cease these foolish
+ways, lest your soul become less beautiful than your face.'
+
+Undine's laughter ceased. After a while she looked at the priest and
+asked in a timid whisper, 'What is this thing which you call a soul,
+holy Father?'
+
+Over the little kitchen a hush fell as the holy man answered, 'How can
+I tell you what this strange thing which we call our soul really is?
+Yet can I tell you why God gives us this great gift. It is that we may
+learn to know and love Him. Our bodies will grow old, and we will lay
+them aside as a garment which we no longer need, while our souls will
+live and dwell with Him for ever.'
+
+Undine's eyes grew sad, tears streamed down her cheek. 'Ah,' she
+sobbed, 'I have no soul, no soul. I think it would hurt me to have a
+soul, yet fain would I have one.'
+
+Then, with one of those quick changes which had at times startled her
+foster-parents, she dried her tears, and ran quickly to the window.
+She looked out into the night. It seemed to call her forth to a
+careless, thoughtless life. Why should she stay when the wind
+whispered to her and the waters brought her messages from the depths
+of the sea?
+
+'Ah no, I will have no soul!' cried Undine, turning once more toward
+the priest. 'I must be free, free as the breezes and the dancing
+waters.'
+
+'Your love for me will change and grow cold,' said the knight sadly,
+'unless you have a human soul. For none can love truly without this
+precious gift.'
+
+Yet even as he spoke Huldbrand was trying to stifle a fear that had
+begun to creep into his heart, a fear that the maiden he had wedded
+was a fairy or a mocking spirit from another world.
+
+But his beautiful wife was smiling softly, for as he had spoken his
+last words she had learned a secret. And as the knight looked into her
+blue love-lit eyes he too learned the secret. Through love Undine had
+won a soul, which is indeed the gift of God to every mortal.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+UNDINE'S STORY
+
+
+Undine lost her wilful ways on her wedding-day.
+
+Her foster-parents watched her, bewildered, so gentle was she, so
+thoughtful. She, who had but seldom flung her arms around them,
+embraced them now, and thanked them with tears in her eyes for all
+their care. Nor would she let them go, until she saw that the old
+woman wished to prepare breakfast.
+
+Then she herself flew to the hearth, and making her foster-mother
+rest, she swept and dusted, and prepared the meal. It was strange that
+she had never thought of doing this before.
+
+And those who dwelt with her, as they watched her grow so gracious, so
+gentle, learned to love her even more than in the days when she had
+been wild and wilful.
+
+One evening Undine, with Huldbrand by her side, wandered along the
+bank of the forest stream.
+
+The knight marvelled that the waters had suddenly grown peaceful, and
+that now again they were gliding quietly along their usual course.
+
+'To-morrow,' said his fair wife sorrowfully, 'to-morrow you can ride
+forth where you will.'
+
+'But,' said Huldbrand, 'you know well that if I go I will not leave
+you behind.'
+
+'I do not think you will leave me, Huldbrand. Yet carry me across to
+yonder little island, for there I will tell to you the story of the
+maiden you have made your wife. It may be that when you have heard it,
+you will ride away alone into the wide world.'
+
+Then silently the knight carried her, as she wished, across the stream
+to the tiny island, and laid her down on the green grass. It was on
+this very spot that he had found her on the night of the terrible
+storm.
+
+'Sit there, where I can look into your eyes as I tell my tale,' said
+his wife, 'for as I look I shall be able to see what you are thinking,
+nor will there be any need for you to tell me.'
+
+'In the world,' said Undine, 'there are many beings whom mortals
+seldom see, for should these beings hear a mortal drawing near, they
+quickly hide themselves. These beings of whom I tell you are spirits
+that dwell in fire, earth, air and water.
+
+'Those who dwell in the flames are called salamanders, nor do these
+spirits wish for any other home, as they play merrily and fearlessly
+among the sparkling fires.
+
+'Deep under the earth live the gnomes, rough and fearsome spirits
+they, full of malice too, should any mortal cross their path.
+
+'In lofty forests dwell more fair and joyous spirits, guarding each
+some well-loved spot from a mortal's heavy tread.
+
+'And better known and better loved than these of whom I have told you
+are the spirits who haunt the waters. These have their home in sea or
+lake, in river or in little brook.
+
+'Deep down under the blue waters, hidden from mortal eyes, are the
+palaces of the water spirits. Their walls are built of crystal and are
+hung with coral, their floors are paved with shining pearls.
+
+'Deep down under the blue waters are yellow sands. There the merry
+little water-spirits play their games and gambol all the glad long
+days, until they leave their childhood far behind.
+
+'Pure and fair, more fair even than the race of mortals are the
+spirits of the water. Fishermen have chanced to see these water-nymphs
+or mermaidens, and they have spoken of their wondrous beauty. Mortals
+too have named these strange women Undines. Look upon me, Huldbrand,
+look long and well, for I, your wife, am an Undine!'
+
+The knight gazed sadly upon his beautiful wife. He wished to believe
+that she was but weaving fairy tales with which to charm him through
+the quiet eventide, yet as he gazed upon her he shuddered lest the
+tale she told was true.
+
+Undine saw that he shuddered, and tears sprang into her blue eyes as
+she went on with her story.
+
+'When I was a child I lived in the depths of the sea. My father's
+crystal palace was my home, for he, my father, is the Lord of the
+Ocean. Kühleborn is my uncle. He used to watch me with his big eyes
+until I grew afraid, and even now, although I live above the waters,
+he comes to me and ofttimes he frightens me as though I were again a
+little child.
+
+'Brothers and cousins, too, were mine and played with me on the yellow
+sands beneath the blue sea.
+
+'Merry were our lives and free, for the sorrows of mortals came not
+near to us. We had no soul, the gift God gives to every mortal, and
+without a soul no pain could enter into our lives.
+
+'Yet my father, the King of the Ocean, longed that I, his only
+daughter, should gain the great gift which is given to every mortal.
+And this he wished, though well he knew that to mortals was given,
+with the gift of a soul, the power to suffer.
+
+'An Undine can gain a soul in one way alone. She must love and be
+loved by one of mortal birth.
+
+'You, Huldbrand, you have given me my soul, and should you now despise
+me or drive me from you, I should suffer even as one of your own race.
+
+'Yet if you care not to have an Undine for your wife, leave me, and I
+will plunge into the waters. Then Kühleborn, my uncle, who brought me
+a merry happy child to the fisherman, will come and carry me back to
+my ocean home. There will I live, loving, sorrowing, for into the
+depths of the blue sea will I carry my new-won soul.'
+
+Then Huldbrand forgot everything save the great love he bore his fair
+wife Undine. He took her in his arms and carried her across the
+little stream, whispering to her that she should never leave him.
+
+Together they went back to the cottage, and to the water-maiden the
+little dwelling gleamed more bright than the crystal palace of the
+Ocean King.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+HULDBRAND AND UNDINE LEAVE THE COTTAGE
+
+
+The following day Undine was up and out early in the morning, to see
+if the forest stream was still flowing quietly within its banks. Now
+the forest stream was the one haunted by her uncle Kühleborn, and
+often he would use the waters for his own purposes. Sometimes
+Kühleborn's purposes were kind, sometimes they were unkind.
+
+Undine was, in the cottage again, preparing the morning meal, when
+Huldbrand entered the kitchen. She greeted him brightly.
+
+'My uncle Kühleborn has made the waters calm,' she cried. 'The stream
+is gliding peaceful as of old through the forest. Neither in air nor
+water are there spirits to molest us. Should you wish it, you can
+journey homeward to-day.'
+
+Huldbrand did not like to hear Undine speak of her strange kinsfolk,
+yet so gentle was she, so full of grace, that he soon forgot his
+vexation.
+
+Together the knight and his wife went to the door of the cottage, and
+looked out at the meadows and the lake lying in the morning sunshine.
+
+'Why should we leave this quiet spot to-day?' said Huldbrand, for well
+he loved the island where he had found his beautiful bride. 'In the
+great world we will spend no gladder days than in this simple
+meadow-land. Let us, then, yet linger here for a few days.'
+
+'It shall be as you wish,' answered Undine. 'Yet will my
+foster-parents grieve the more when I leave them, should they learn
+that I have now a soul. To-day they only marvel that I am kind and
+thoughtful, thinking that to-morrow I will once again be wild and
+careless as of old. But should I dwell here much longer they will know
+that never in the days to come will I be thoughtless as in former
+days. For I cannot hide my new gift. They will hear it in my voice,
+they will feel it in my touch, they will see it in my eyes. And having
+known that now, at length, I could love them well, they would grieve
+to lose me.'
+
+'We will leave to-day, this very hour,' said the knight, so pleased
+was he with Undine's new care for her kind old foster-parents.
+
+The priest who had found shelter in the cottage was also ready to
+return to his monastery. He would journey with the knight and his lady
+until they were safe from the perils of the haunted wood.
+
+Accordingly they sought the fisherman and his wife, and told them that
+now they must leave the shelter of their cottage and journey toward
+the city that lay beyond the forest.
+
+The farewells were said and Huldbrand lifted his beautiful wife and
+seated her on his horse. He himself would walk by her side.
+
+The three travellers soon reached the leafy shades of the forest.
+
+On one side of the lady walked the priest, clad in a long white robe,
+while, guarding her on the other side, was, as I told you, the knight.
+His armour was burnished and his sword was once more girt by his side.
+
+As Huldbrand and Undine talked joyfully together, a stranger joined
+the priest, yet they in their joy did not notice this.
+
+The stranger wore a garment such as a monk might wear. The hood was
+drawn forward and wellnigh hid his face, while the whole robe hung
+loosely around him, in great folds, so that at each step he must
+gather it up and throw it over his arm.
+
+[Illustration: The three travellers soon reached the leafy shades of
+the forest]
+
+'I have lived in the forest for many years,' said the stranger to the
+priest, 'and I love it for its great beauty. As I flit in and out
+among the dark shadows of the trees, I play with the stray sunbeams as
+they cast their glances here and there on my white robe.'
+
+'Tell me your name, for I would fain know who you are,' said the
+priest to his companion.
+
+'Nay, tell me first who are you who ask?' said the stranger.
+
+'Father Heilman is my name,' answered the priest, 'and I am journeying
+back to my monastery, after an absence of many days.'
+
+'Now I,' said the stranger, 'am named Lord Kühleborn, though sometimes
+I am called Kühleborn the Free, for indeed I am free as the wild birds
+of the air to go hither and thither as I will. Meanwhile, Sir Priest,
+I bid you farewell, for I would speak to yonder lady.'
+
+Even as he spoke, Kühleborn left the priest and came close up to
+Undine. He bent forward as though he would whisper in her ear. But
+Undine drew herself quickly away, crying as she saw who was by her
+side, 'I no longer wish to have aught to do with you!'
+
+But her uncle only laughed at her words.
+
+'You are my niece,' he said, 'and I am here to guide you through the
+forest. The goblins in the cavern beneath the earth might come forth
+to do you harm were I not here to keep them quiet. The priest, who is
+named Father Heilman, speaks to me more kindly than do you. Know you
+not that it was I who brought him in safety to the little island to be
+ready for your wedding-day?'
+
+Undine and the knight turned to the priest, but he was walking as one
+in deep thought, and had, it was easy to see, heard nothing that the
+stranger had said.
+
+Then Undine turned again to her uncle. 'See yonder,' she cried, 'I can
+see already the end of the wood. We need your help no longer. I pray
+you vanish and do not disturb us further.'
+
+When Kühleborn saw that Undine really wished him to leave her, he was
+angry. He made faces and shook his fist at his niece, until at length
+she screamed, 'Huldbrand, Huldbrand, save me, I entreat you!'
+
+The knight at once drew his sword and would have struck at the rude
+stranger. But as he thrust in the direction of Kühleborn he felt a
+waterfall come rushing down from a rock above him. He drew his wife
+back, that she might not be drenched, but as he did so a white spray
+was flung after them which wet them both to the skin. At that moment
+they heard, as they thought, a low mocking laugh.
+
+'It is strange,' said the priest, 'that the ripple of the stream
+should sound almost as the voice of a man.'
+
+To Huldbrand the stream still seemed to be speaking, and these were
+the words he thought he heard. 'You were foolish, Sir Knight, to draw
+your sword, yet will I not be angry with you, nor will I quarrel with
+you so long as you guard well your beautiful wife. Yet be not again
+thus hasty, Sir Knight.'
+
+As the voice faded away into silence the travellers reached the end of
+the wood. Before them was the city, glowing red in the rays of the
+setting sun.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE KNIGHT RETURNS TO THE CITY
+
+
+Now all this time the lady Bertalda had been very unhappy because of
+the knight's long absence. Indeed, she had no sooner sent Huldbrand
+forth into the haunted forest than she began to wish that she had kept
+him by her side. As day after day passed and he did not return, she
+grew fearful lest he had lost his way and perished in the mazes of the
+wood. When a little later she heard of the floods that had made the
+country around impassable, she wellnigh lost all hope of his return.
+
+In spite of this, however, she begged the knights who had taken part
+in the tournament to go in search of Huldbrand, but this they were
+unwilling to do.
+
+As for the knight's own servants, they would not leave the city
+without their master, yet neither would they follow him into the
+dreaded forest. They lingered on at an inn of the city, lamenting his
+absence, but doing nought to bring him back.
+
+It was now, when there seemed but little hope of his return, that
+Huldbrand, to the surprise of every one, appeared in the city,
+bringing with him a wife of wondrous beauty, as well as Father
+Heilman, the priest who had married them.
+
+Huldbrand's servants rejoiced to see their young master alive and
+well. And the town folk, who had heard of his disappearance, were glad
+that the light-hearted knight, who had always treated them with
+courtesy, had suffered no harm in his adventure.
+
+But the lady Bertalda, though she was glad that the knight had
+returned, was sad when she saw that he had not come back alone. She
+herself had loved him, and had hoped that, if ever he should return,
+he would claim her as his bride.
+
+Yet though Bertalda was sad, she was a wise maiden, and she received
+Undine kindly, thinking that she was a princess whom Huldbrand had
+rescued from a wicked wizard. For the true story of the beautiful
+Undine was known to none, save to the knight alone.
+
+As for Undine, she no sooner saw Bertalda than she loved her, and
+begged her to stay in the city until she and her husband left it.
+Nay, more, she even asked the maiden to promise to go with them when
+they set out for the castle of Ringstetten, which stood on the banks
+of the river Danube, and Bertalda was well pleased with this request.
+
+One evening they three together walked up and down in the public
+square. In the midst of the square stood a beautiful fountain, and
+here they lingered to watch the water as it tumbled and tossed. So
+violently did it do this that it seemed as though the fountain must
+break, and the water, bursting its bonds, must flow away far and free.
+
+At that moment a tall man came towards them from the market-place,
+and, bowing to the knight and Bertalda, he drew the young wife aside
+that he might speak to her alone.
+
+Huldbrand looked at the stranger, and as he looked he felt sure that
+he had seen him before. He grew a little angry, this hasty knight, as
+he watched his wife and the stranger whispering together. He caught a
+few words too, and they seemed to him to be in a foreign language, and
+this displeased him yet more.
+
+At this moment, however, Undine left the stranger. As she came toward
+her husband she was laughing merrily and clapping her hands.
+
+But the stranger, as she left him, shook his head and frowned. Then he
+walked with great strides toward the fountain, and stepping into it he
+vanished and was seen no more.
+
+'It is Kühleborn, the spirit of the forest stream--I know him now,'
+thought Huldbrand to himself.
+
+But Bertalda seemed to see nothing unusual about the stranger. She
+thought he was the Master of the fountain, and turning to Undine she
+asked her what the man had said to make her laugh so gaily.
+
+'The day after to-morrow is your birthday, dear Bertalda,' said
+Undine. 'Wait only until then, and I will tell you the reason of my
+joy.'
+
+Then, saying farewell to Bertalda, Undine and the knight walked toward
+their home.
+
+'Was it Kühleborn who spoke to you by the fountain?' asked Huldbrand,
+and his voice sounded cold, for he did not wish to be reminded of his
+wife's strange relations.
+
+'It was he,' answered Undine. 'He told me tidings that made me
+rejoice. I will tell you without delay, should you desire it, what the
+tidings were. Yet if you will but wait until Bertalda's birthday, you
+will give me great pleasure, and you yourself will enjoy a great
+surprise.'
+
+Listening to her gentle words, the knight forgot the ill-humour he had
+but lately felt, and willingly he agreed to wait until she herself
+wished to tell him the good news.
+
+And Undine, as she fell asleep that night, was smiling happily.
+'Bertalda, dear Bertalda,' she murmured, 'how she will rejoice when I
+tell her the tidings brought to me by him whom she calls the Master of
+the fountain.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE BIRTHDAY FEAST
+
+
+It had been Undine's wish to give a great banquet in honour of
+Bertalda's birthday. The knight had ordered that all should be done as
+she desired.
+
+The feast was now spread, and the guests, of whom there were a great
+number, had already taken their seats.
+
+At the upper end of the table sat Bertalda, surrounded with flowers
+and jewels, gifts these which her foster-parents and friends had
+showered upon her. By her side sat the knight and his fair young wife.
+
+When at length the fruit was placed on the table, the doors of the
+banqueting-room were flung open. (In Germany, where the knight lived,
+it was usual to do this that the peasant folk might look in and see
+how their masters fared.) Wine and cakes were offered to those who on
+this evening came to show their pleasure in the joy of the knight and
+his young wife.
+
+Huldbrand and Bertalda, meanwhile, were watching Undine with eager
+eyes. Had she not a secret to tell them, which, when they knew it,
+would make them even happier than before?
+
+But Undine only smiled upon them as she caught their eyes, and shook
+her head slightly as though to say, 'No, it is still too soon, too
+soon.'
+
+At this moment the guests begged the young mistress of the feast to
+sing. She seemed pleased with the request, and taking her lute in her
+hands, she began to play softly, while her clear voice filled the
+room.
+
+It was a song of sunshine and green grass, of sweet flowers and
+sparkling waters, and the guests, listening spellbound, forgot all
+else save the singer and her song.
+
+But hark! the song is changing. Who is the child of whom Undine sings?
+A child who has been borne by the waves far from the home of her
+birth. The little one is lying like a flower among the meadow grass
+(the guests can see her as the singer sings) and reaches out her tiny
+hands for help.
+
+Ah! now they hear the tramp, tramp of a horse. A noble duke is riding
+slowly along. He halts, for he sees the little maid. He stoops and
+lifts her in his arms, and carries her off to his own castle, and
+surrounds her with splendour and with wealth.
+
+And now tears gather in the eyes of the guests. The song is drawing to
+a close, and Undine is singing of an unknown shore, where in a little
+cottage sit a father and mother, desolate and sad, for they have lost
+their little child, and they know not where to find her.
+
+Among all the guests were none who listened to the song more eagerly
+than Bertalda's noble foster-parents.
+
+'She has sung the story of Bertalda, the little child we found so long
+ago,' they said each to the other. 'It was even thus we found her in
+the meadow, among the flowers.'
+
+And Bertalda herself cried out in haste, 'Undine, Undine, you know my
+parents, bring them to me, bring them to me, I entreat you!'
+
+Then Undine, with tears that were tears of joy in her eyes, looked at
+Bertalda, and said softly, 'They are here, your parents are here, dear
+maiden, and when you see them you will rejoice. Well do I know the
+tender care they will give to you, for it was even they who were my
+own foster-parents.'
+
+At a sign from Undine the old fisherman and his wife now stepped
+forward from the corner in which their foster-child had bidden them
+wait. It was she, Undine, who had sent for them that they might claim
+Bertalda, who was, as Kühleborn told her, their child.
+
+The eyes of all the guests were fixed in astonishment on the humble
+fisherman and his wife. Could these poor working folk be indeed the
+parents of the maiden who stood before them, so cold, so full of
+pride?
+
+'Yes, here is your long-lost daughter,' said Undine softly, as the old
+people stood bewildered before Bertalda. Then they, taking courage
+from her words, threw their arms around their daughter. And as they
+embraced her, tears streamed down their old worn faces, while they
+thanked God for His goodness in giving them back their child.
+
+But Bertalda tore herself from their arms. She, the child of a poor
+old fisherman and his wife! She could not believe it. She did not wish
+to believe it. In her pride she had hoped to be known as the daughter
+of a beautiful princess, or even of a queen. Now in her anger she
+believed that Undine had brought the fisherman and his wife to the
+banquet only to crush her pride and to humble her before Huldbrand and
+his guests.
+
+The angry maiden took no pains to hide her rage. She reproached
+Undine, Undine who had only wished to give her joy, nor had she any
+words too bitter to fling at the fisherman and his wife.
+
+And Undine, who had hoped to make her friend and her foster-parents
+happy, listened sadly, now to Bertalda, now to the old fisherman and
+his wife.
+
+'Bertalda,' she cried, 'Bertalda, do not be angry. Have you not a
+soul? Let it teach you not to grieve your parents more.'
+
+But Bertalda only grew more angry, and the poor parents, as they heard
+her scorn, more sad.
+
+As for the guests, they were talking loudly, some being sorry for the
+maiden, others for the fisherman and his wife.
+
+Then Undine begged the knight to let her speak to their guests. And he
+yielding to her wish, she walked to the upper end of the table, and
+while all eyes were fixed upon her, she spoke.
+
+'My secret, which I thought would cause Bertalda joy, has caused her
+sorrow. Yet must I tell you that I have spoken the truth. For he who
+told me was he who, when Bertalda was but a little babe, drew her into
+the water, and thereafter laid her in the green meadow through which
+the duke rode toward his castle.'
+
+'Do not listen to her words!' shouted Bertalda in her rage. 'She is a
+witch, a witch!'
+
+'Nay, I am no witch. Look upon me that you may know,' answered Undine.
+And as they gazed upon her pure face and into her clear blue eyes, the
+guests knew that she spoke the truth. Undine was not a witch.
+
+'If she is not a witch, she at least has not told the truth,' cried
+Bertalda, scorn in her cold voice. 'She has no proof that I am the
+child of these wretched old people.' Then, turning to her noble
+foster-parents, she entreated them to take her away at once from the
+city, where such shame had been brought upon her.
+
+But the duke did not move, while the duchess said in a firm voice, 'We
+shall not leave this room, nor shall you, proud maiden, until we know
+the truth.'
+
+Then the fisherman's wife drew near to the noble lady, and curtsying
+low she said, 'Should this bad maiden be indeed my daughter, as I do
+think she is, she will have between her shoulders a mark like a
+violet, and this mark also you will find on the instep of her left
+foot. Let the maiden come with me that--'
+
+But Bertalda rudely interrupted the old woman's words.
+
+'I will not go with the peasant!' she said.
+
+'But you will come with me into another room,' said the duchess, and
+Bertalda knew that she would have to go. 'And the old woman shall come
+with us,' added the noble lady in a kind voice.
+
+As the three went out of the banqueting-room, silence fell upon the
+guests. Now they would soon know the truth.
+
+Slowly the moments passed. At length the door opened and the duchess
+returned with Bertalda and the old woman. Bertalda looked pale and
+frightened.
+
+'It is but just,' said the noble lady, looking round the room, 'it is
+but just that you should know the truth. It is as our hostess has
+said. Bertalda is indeed the daughter of the fisherman and his wife.'
+
+The duke and duchess then left the room, followed by their
+foster-child, the duke bidding Bertalda's true parents come with them
+also.
+
+In silence the other guests slipped away, to talk in their own homes
+over all that they had heard and seen, and Undine, left alone with her
+husband, wept bitterly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE JOURNEY TO CASTLE RINGSTETTEN
+
+
+The knight did all he could to comfort his wife, and although he was
+sorry to see her tears, he was glad to think that she, who had been so
+wild and wilful, had now a soul so kind and loving.
+
+'If it is true that Undine has won through love a soul, it is one more
+pure than mortals know,' he thought to himself.
+
+As he comforted his wife Huldbrand made up his mind to take her away
+from the city as soon as possible.
+
+In the city the lady Bertalda was well known, and people talked of the
+strange story of her birth. But among them all none was heard to say
+an unkind word about Undine, while many there were who blamed Bertalda
+for her cruel behaviour toward her friend and the poor old fisherman
+and his wife. But this neither the knight nor his lady knew, nor
+would it have comforted Undine had she been told.
+
+The morning after the feast a beautiful carriage stood at the door.
+Huldbrand and his wife were ready to set out on their journey to the
+castle of Ringstetten.
+
+As the knight and Undine were stepping into the carriage a fisher-girl
+drew near, and begged them to buy her fish.
+
+'We are leaving the city, we do not need any fish,' said the knight
+courteously. But at the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears,
+and Huldbrand saw with surprise that it was Bertalda who had spoken to
+him.
+
+'Why do you weep so bitterly?' asked Undine, drawing Bertalda into the
+house, and the maiden, who had no pride left, told her story.
+
+'My foster-parents,' she said between her sobs, 'my foster-parents are
+so displeased with my cruel behaviour to you and to the old fisherman
+and his wife, that they no longer wish me to live with them. They have
+given me a large sum of money and have sent me away into the wide
+world. The fisherman and his wife, to whom they have also given gifts,
+have gone back to their cottage by the lake. I was too fearful to wish
+to be left alone in the world, and fain would I have gone with them to
+their simple home, but he who is said to be my father--'
+
+[Illustration: At the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears]
+
+'In truth he is your father,' interrupted Undine, and her voice was
+grave.
+
+'Even if he be my father,' answered Bertalda, 'yet would he not take
+me with him to his cottage. Did I care for him or for his wife, he
+said, I would not fear to journey alone through the haunted forest,
+until I found my home. Nor would he welcome me should I go to him
+dressed in aught save the dress of a fisher-girl. Although the thought
+of the forest makes me tremble, yet will I do as he has said. But
+first I have come to you, gentle lady,' and as she spoke Bertalda
+looked entreatingly at Undine, 'I have come to ask your forgiveness
+for my behaviour yesterday. I believe that you did indeed wish to give
+me joy by bringing my poor parents to the feast. O forgive me, forgive
+all the bold and unkind words I spoke, for indeed I am very unhappy.'
+
+But the gentle Undine would let the miserable maiden say no more. She
+threw her arms around Bertalda's neck, and said, 'Bertalda, dear
+Bertalda, you shall live with me and be my sister. You shall come with
+me to Ringstetten this very day.'
+
+The maiden dried her tears and looked timidly at the knight. He also
+felt sorry for Bertalda, nor did it please him to think of her
+venturing alone into the forest. Too well he knew the terrors which
+might surround her there. He took her hand, as he saw her timid look,
+and said in a gentle voice, 'You shall live with us at Ringstetten,
+and I and my wife will take care of you. But lest the good old
+fisherman is troubled as the days pass and you do not reach the
+cottage, I will send to tell him that you have come with us and are
+safe at Castle Ringstetten.' Then, giving Bertalda his arm, he placed
+her in the carriage with Undine. The knight himself mounted his horse
+and rode along gaily by their side, and soon they left the city and
+all sad thoughts behind.
+
+At length, one fair summer evening, the travellers reached
+Ringstetten. There was much to make the knight busy after his long
+absence, and thus it was that Undine and Bertalda spent many days
+alone together. Often they would walk in the beautiful country which
+lay without the castle grounds.
+
+One day, as they wandered along the banks of the river Danube, a tall
+man came toward them, and would have spoken to Undine. But Undine,
+gentle as were her ways, had no welcome for the stranger. When she saw
+him, a frown crossed her sweet face and she bid him at once begone.
+Shaking his head the tall man yet obeyed, and walking with hasty steps
+toward a little wood, he soon disappeared.
+
+'Is not the stranger he who spoke to you in the city, the Master of
+the fountain?' cried Bertalda fearfully. She would always be afraid of
+the man who had told Undine the secret of her birth.
+
+'Fear nothing, dear Bertalda,' said Undine hastily, 'the Master of the
+fountain shall not do you harm. I will tell you who he is, and then
+you will no longer be afraid. His name is Kühleborn and he is my
+uncle. It was he who carried you away from your mother's arms and put
+me there in your place.'
+
+Then, as Bertalda listened with wide open eyes, Undine told her of her
+childhood's home in the crystal palace under the blue sea, and of the
+free and careless life she had lived in the cottage by the lake. She
+told her, too, of the coming of the knight, and of their wedding-day,
+when she had won for herself a soul, a gift given to no Undine save
+through the power of love.
+
+Bertalda listened to the strange story in silence, but as she listened
+she felt a faint feeling of dread creep into her heart. And the
+feeling grew and grew until at last it seemed to stand as a wall
+between her and the gentle Undine.
+
+At supper that evening she began to be sorry for the knight, who had
+married a lady beautiful indeed and good, yet one who seemed to belong
+to another world than theirs.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+CASTLE RINGSTETTEN
+
+
+Now as the days passed, a change crept over those who dwelt in the
+castle.
+
+Huldbrand saw that Bertalda seemed to shrink away from his beautiful
+wife. And when at length he asked her the reason that she no longer
+loved Undine so well as she had been used to do, she told him that she
+now knew from whence his wife had come. 'And for the spirit world,'
+said Bertalda, 'I do not care, for I know it not. It and those who
+have dwelt there fill me with fear and dread.'
+
+Little by little the knight himself began to look at his wife with
+less loving eyes, little by little he began to shun her presence.
+
+Then Undine, seeing that her husband's love grew less, wept, and the
+knight, seeing her tears, would speak kindly to her, yet even as he
+spoke he would leave her side to walk with Bertalda.
+
+She, Bertalda, meanwhile grew once more rude and proud, nor could
+Undine's patience win her to behave more wisely.
+
+Then in the long dark passages of the old castle, spectres began to
+appear to Huldbrand and Bertalda, and worse than any was the tall form
+of Kühleborn, or the Master of the fountain, as the maiden still
+called him.
+
+Now one day, when Huldbrand had ridden to the hunt, Undine gathered
+all her servants together in the court of the castle and bade them
+bring a big stone to cover up the fountain which stood in the middle
+of the square.
+
+The servants, who loved their mistress, hastened to obey her commands.
+A huge stone was carried into the court, and was just about to be
+placed on the fountain when Bertalda came hurriedly to the spot.
+
+'The fountain must not be closed,' she cried haughtily, 'for it is
+from it that water is drawn for my daily bath.'
+
+But Undine, who on other days had often given way to the wishes of
+Bertalda, was to-day determined that her will should be done.
+
+'It is I who am mistress of the castle in the absence of my lord,' she
+said, and her voice was firm though it was kind, 'and the fountain
+shall be closed as I have commanded.'
+
+'But look,' cried Bertalda angrily, 'the water itself bubbles and
+heaves as though disturbed at the thought of being shut out from the
+glad sunshine.'
+
+The water was indeed, as the maiden said, fretting against the stones
+and throwing out sudden jets as though in a violent passion.
+
+The more excited grew the water, however, the more determined grew
+Undine to have her order fulfilled, and that without delay.
+
+As for the servants, they had no wish to please the haughty Bertalda,
+they were even glad to disobey her when that might be.
+
+Accordingly they no longer delayed to do the will of their gentle
+mistress, and the stone was soon placed securely over the opening of
+the fountain. Undine then bent over it and silently wrote on the top
+of the stone some strange letters.
+
+That evening, when Huldbrand came home, Bertalda met him with tears in
+her eyes, and complained to him of his wife's strange conduct.
+
+'Tell me why you have ordered that the fountain should be sealed,'
+said the knight, turning sullenly to his wife. 'It was a strange
+deed.'
+
+'I will tell you the reason when we are alone,' said Undine. 'It was
+a grave one indeed.'
+
+'It matters not if Bertalda should hear,' said the knight, and he did
+not hide the impatience that he felt.
+
+'I will tell you in her presence if you so desire,' said Undine, 'but
+I beseech you, desire it not.'
+
+As the knight looked into her pleading face and let her sweet voice
+steal into his heart, he grew ashamed of himself. How could he ever be
+unkind to so fair, so good a wife!
+
+Thinking thus Huldbrand did not speak, but he drew Undine gently from
+the room, that she might speak to him alone as she wished to do.
+
+'Ah, now I can tell you,' said Undine, and she smiled in her content.
+'You know that Kühleborn, my uncle, has begun to haunt the castle. I
+send him away in my displeasure, yet again and again he returns. Now I
+have shut the door by which he comes, and here he will disturb our
+peace no more. It is true that the stone can easily be raised by
+strong men, in spite of the letters which I wrote upon it. If you wish
+to do as Bertalda demands, remove the stone, yet do I warn you that
+Kühleborn may well harm the maiden, for against her he bears more
+ill-will than he does against others.'
+
+Once more, as Huldbrand listened to his wife, he was ashamed. So
+gentle was she, so kind to the haughty maiden who but mocked at her
+for all her love. Peerless indeed was the soul of his beautiful wife,
+and once again love for her sprang up within his heart.
+
+'The stone shall not be removed, nor shall anything that you order be
+undone, my sweet Undine,' said the knight.
+
+At these words, and yet more at the kindness of his voice, Undine
+rejoiced. Then, seizing Huldbrand's hand, she begged him to grant her
+one request.
+
+'If at any time, in the days that are to come,' she said, 'you upbraid
+me, promise that this you will never do while we are sailing or while
+we are near to sea or lake or tiny rivulet. For should one of my race
+hear you use harsh words toward me, then would they regain their
+power, and snatch me away from you for ever. Then would I be forced to
+dwell all the rest of my life in the crystal palace below the blue
+sea. Nor could I ever come up to you unless, indeed, I was sent by my
+kindred, when alas! only great sadness would befall us both. Promise
+me, therefore, that when we are near water, you will remember what I
+have now told you.'
+
+Huldbrand promised, and hand in hand they went in search of Bertalda.
+
+She meanwhile had called together some workmen, and as she saw the
+knight and Undine drawing near, she gave her orders to the men in a
+loud, discontented voice. 'The stone may now be removed. Hasten, see
+that it be done immediately!'
+
+But the knight was angry with the maiden for daring thus to give what
+orders she pleased, and he shouted at once, so that the workmen might
+hear, 'The stone shall stay where it is! It shall not be removed!'
+
+And the men went away, well pleased that they need not undo what their
+gentle mistress had ordered to be done.
+
+Huldbrand then reproved Bertalda for her rude behaviour to his wife,
+but she scarcely heard his words, as she turned away in anger and
+hastened to her room.
+
+Soon supper was placed on the table, but Huldbrand and Undine waited
+in vain for Bertalda. At length they sent a servant to call her, but
+the maid came back only to tell them that she was nowhere to be found.
+In her room, however, a letter had been left addressed to the knight.
+Huldbrand opened it hastily and read:--
+
+'Forgive me, Sir Knight, that I have forgotten that I am only a poor
+fisher-girl. I will go to my father's miserable cottage, where I
+cannot well commit the same fault again. Fare you well, you and your
+beautiful wife.'
+
+'You must go without delay to seek her and bring her back,' said
+Undine.
+
+And Huldbrand did not need to be urged. Already he had ordered his
+horse to be saddled that he might ride after the maiden.
+
+In vain he asked the servants in what direction Bertalda had gone. No
+one had seen her. It was only as the knight impatiently mounted his
+steed, that a page ran up to him crying, 'The lady Bertalda rode
+toward the Black Valley.'
+
+Without a pause the knight darted off in the direction of the valley.
+He did not hear his wife's voice crying after him, 'Huldbrand,
+Huldbrand, go not there, not to the valley, Huldbrand, or, if go you
+must, take me, I entreat of you.'
+
+Then when Undine saw that her cry was unheard, she ordered her palfrey
+to be saddled instantly, and mounting it, she rode forth alone to
+follow the knight into the Black Valley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE BLACK VALLEY
+
+
+The Black Valley was a gloomy place. Fir-trees grew tall and dark on
+the banks of the stream, casting strange shadows on the sunny waters.
+
+As the knight entered the valley, evening had fallen and the stream
+rushed, dark and sullen, between the rocks.
+
+Huldbrand glanced anxiously from side to side, but no trace could be
+found of the maiden whom he sought. He began to fear lest already she
+were in peril, and thinking thus he urged his horse yet further into
+the valley.
+
+Peering through the bushes as he rode, he at length caught sight of
+something white lying on the ground. Had he found Bertalda at last?
+
+He spurred his horse onward toward the white gleam which had caught
+his eye, but the animal no sooner saw the object which had gladdened
+his master's eye than it started violently and refused to move. Then
+the knight dismounted, and tying his now rearing steed to an elm, he
+pushed his way on foot through the brushwood.
+
+Thunder began to rumble around the mountains, and the evening dew fell
+cold and damp on the anxious knight.
+
+He could still see the white figure lying on the ground, but as he
+drew nearer to it a strange dread struck at Huldbrand's heart.
+
+'Was Bertalda asleep,' he wondered, 'or did she lie there unconscious,
+perchance even dead?'
+
+He was close to her now, bending over her. She never stirred. He
+rustled the branches, rattled his sword. Still she lay there quiet,
+motionless. He called her by her name, 'Bertalda!' but no voice
+answered him. He called again, more loud, 'Bertalda!' but only a
+sorrowful echo answered his cry.
+
+Then the knight bent nearer yet to the maiden, but darkness hid the
+face on which he longed to gaze.
+
+Suddenly the whole valley was bright as at mid-day. A vivid flash of
+lightning showed to Huldbrand the face over which he bent.
+
+It was a terrible face. And a voice, awful as the face, rang out harsh
+and hollow.
+
+With a cry of terror the knight sprang away from the horrid vision.
+But was it a vision? Huldbrand knew that it was creeping after him,
+and he could catch some muttered words. 'Get you gone, get you gone,'
+he heard, 'there are evil spirits abroad. Get you gone, or I shall
+seize you and hold you fast,' and the white figure stretched out his
+bony arms to catch him. Ah! now the knight knew who it was that had
+given him so cruel a fright. It was none other than Kühleborn, the
+malicious water spirit.
+
+Seizing his sword, Huldbrand struck fiercely at the white figure, only
+however to see it vanish, while a heavy shower of water drenched him
+from head to foot.
+
+'He may wish to drive me away, but he shall not succeed in doing so,'
+murmured the knight. 'Bertalda shall not be left to the vengeance of
+this evil spirit.'
+
+Huldbrand now turned back to go to his horse, but ere he reached the
+animal, he heard in the distance a sound of weeping. It reached his
+ears even though the thunder still rolled and the wind still blew. He
+hastened towards the spot from which the sound seemed to come. There,
+on the hillside, trying to climb up out of the darkness of the valley,
+he found Bertalda.
+
+The maiden was too glad to see Huldbrand to remember how but lately he
+had angered her. She clung to him, calling him her deliverer, her
+knight, for to her too the valley had been full of horrible forms and
+strange visions.
+
+Soothing her with kind words, Huldbrand led the maiden toward his
+horse.
+
+But no sooner did the animal see his master approach with Bertalda on
+his arm than it began to rear, beating the air madly with its
+forefeet.
+
+It was not possible to mount Bertalda, and the knight soon gave up the
+attempt. He drew the horse gently forward by the bridle, while with
+his other arm he supported the fearful maiden.
+
+But Bertalda, though she was anxious to escape from the dark valley,
+could walk but slowly, and at each step her strength grew less. For
+Kühleborn had played her many pranks ere she had been found. The storm
+also had bruised her slender form.
+
+At length she slipped from the knight's arm, and falling on the grass,
+she sighed, 'Leave me, noble knight, leave me to suffer the punishment
+I deserve.'
+
+'I will never leave you, dear Bertalda,' cried the knight. As he
+spoke, the steed began to plunge even more furiously than before. It
+was impossible for Huldbrand to control the animal. All he could do
+was to force it away a few paces from where the maiden lay, for he
+feared lest the horse should trample her to death.
+
+He had gone but a few steps when he heard her calling to him,
+'Huldbrand, Huldbrand, leave me not alone,' for already all her
+courage had faded away.
+
+As he hesitated, the knight heard the wheels of a wagon rumble slowly
+over the rough road that led through the valley. He at once called to
+the driver to come to his help. A man's voice called back quickly,
+'Have but patience, and I will come.'
+
+Soon afterwards Huldbrand saw two white horses appear through the
+trees. Then a wagon covered with a great white hood was to be seen,
+and last of all the driver, who was dressed in a white carter's frock.
+
+The driver drew near to the knight and tried to help him to quiet his
+frightened steed.
+
+'Do you know, Sir Knight, why your good horse shivers thus?' asked the
+carter, 'for if not I can tell you. A bad water spirit dwells in this
+valley, and often he would bewitch my horses when first I ventured
+through it. But now I have learned a little spell. If you wish it, I
+will whisper it in the ear of your steed, and he will stand steady as
+my greys.'
+
+'You may try your spell,' said the knight, 'though I fear that it will
+be of but little use.'
+
+Then the driver of the wagon went quietly up to the panting steed, and
+said a few words to it. At once the horse stood still, without a trace
+of the fear which had made it so restless and unmanageable.
+
+Huldbrand had no time to wonder what the wagoner had said to his
+horse. He was too eager to get Bertalda out of the valley to think of
+anything else.
+
+'My wagon will take the fair lady safely back to Ringstetten,' said
+the wagoner. 'She may sit in it in comfort, for it is filled with bags
+of the softest cotton.'
+
+The knight was glad to accept this offer, and as his horse, though
+quiet, was tired and weary, Huldbrand himself was easily persuaded
+that he also should ride in the wagon with Bertalda, while his steed
+was fastened behind.
+
+'It is well,' said the wagoner, 'that the road is downhill. My trusty
+greys will step out bravely.'
+
+Thus they started, the driver walking by the side of his wagon.
+
+And Bertalda and the knight did not heed the jolting of the wagon, as
+they sat side by side on the soft bags of cotton.
+
+Suddenly they were startled by a loud shout from the driver.
+
+'Steady, now, my trusty greys, steady, lest you fall.'
+
+Already the wagon was in the midst of a stream of rushing water, and
+it seemed as though the horses must be carried off their feet. The
+wagoner had sprung into the wagon untouched by the swirling waters.
+
+'This is a strange way by which to drive us,' said Huldbrand to the
+wagoner. 'It seems to go right into the middle of the stream.'
+
+'Nay, now, Sir Knight,' laughed the driver, 'if you look again, you
+will see that it is the stream which is rushing across our path. See,
+it has overflowed its banks.'
+
+The knight looked and saw that the whole valley was being rapidly
+flooded. Then, all at once, he knew that this was Kühleborn's doing.
+
+'It is Kühleborn,' he cried aloud, 'Kühleborn the water spirit, who is
+doing his utmost to drown us. Do you not know a spell against his
+power?'
+
+'Yea, by my troth I know a spell,' answered the wagoner, 'but ere I
+use it, I must tell you who I am.'
+
+'I care not who you may be,' shouted the angry knight. 'See you not
+that there is no time to lose. The water is rising rapidly.'
+
+'Nevertheless,' answered the man,' you shall hear my name, for I am
+Kühleborn!'
+
+He laughed a mocking laugh, and at that moment the wagon seemed to
+disappear, and Bertalda and the knight were struggling in the flood.
+Above them rose the wagoner, who was indeed, as he had said,
+Kühleborn. Taller and taller he towered above them, until he seemed at
+last to change into a great white wave.
+
+With horror-stricken eyes the maiden and the knight saw the wave swoop
+down upon the noble steed, which had been vainly struggling in the
+water. Then slowly once more the wave reared itself higher and higher
+yet above the heads of the two who watched and waited until they too
+should be for ever buried beneath the waters.
+
+But ere the great white wave rolled down upon them, they were saved.
+Through the tumult of the waters a sweet voice floated to Bertalda and
+the knight. Then, as the moon broke through the clouds, they saw
+Undine on a hill looking down into the valley.
+
+She rebuked the waters, she even threatened the vast wave that towered
+above Bertalda and the knight, until muttering gloomily it vanished
+from their sight.
+
+As the waters ran more quietly through the valley, Undine flew to them
+swiftly as a bird and drew them up out of reach of the water. Bidding
+them rest a while, for they were weary, she went a little way off to
+fetch her white palfrey. Then, telling the knight to place Bertalda on
+the saddle, she led them safely back to the castle.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+HULDBRAND FORGETS HIS PROMISE
+
+
+Undine was full of joy when she had saved Bertalda and Huldbrand from
+the dangers of the Black Valley, and brought them back safely to
+Castle Ringstetten. Her joy grew daily greater as her husband became
+kind and gentle to her as he had used to be when they dwelt together
+in the cottage by the lake. Indeed the knight had grown ashamed of his
+careless words and ways. He would never again speak harshly to Undine
+or leave her side to spend long hours with Bertalda; so he thought to
+himself. For when she had hastened to save him and the maiden from the
+doom which had all but overtaken them, he had seen once more, in a
+flash, the soul of his beautiful young wife. It shone before him now,
+fair and spotless in its beauty.
+
+Bertalda, too, had been touched by the goodness of her friend. She no
+longer wished to mock her gentle words, and though her heart was
+cold, she grew more humble.
+
+Thus trouble and care passed away from Ringstetten, and spectres no
+longer haunted the dark corners of the castle.
+
+Winter came, cold and chill, but it had no power to freeze the hearts
+of Undine and the knight.
+
+Spring came, and the trees grew green, and the sky shone more blue,
+and the little birds began to use their wings. Soon the swallows and
+the storks came home from their long winter journeys. And those in the
+castle, as they thought of the fair countries these had seen, began
+themselves to wish to travel.
+
+One beautiful evening Huldbrand with his wife and Bertalda walked
+along the banks of the river Danube. The knight, who had ofttimes
+sailed down the river, told them tales of the wonderful countries
+through which it flowed, and of the beautiful town of Vienna, which
+rose so proudly on its banks.
+
+'Ah!' said Bertalda, 'how I wish we might sail to this city of which
+you tell.'
+
+And Undine, ever anxious to give pleasure to her friend, said, 'Yes,
+let us visit Vienna while the spring is still fair.' Huldbrand also
+was pleased at the thought of the journey, only once he bent toward
+Undine and whispered, 'Kühleborn, will we not be in his power if we
+sail down the river?'
+
+His beautiful wife only laughed. She was too happy now to fear her
+uncle's power.
+
+They therefore got ready for the journey with much merriment and many
+hopes.
+
+When at length the three travellers, with their attendants, set out on
+their voyage, it seemed as though all would be as joyful as they had
+wished. As they sailed on, the river grew more broad, more green the
+grasses too in the rich meadow-lands.
+
+But erelong a shadow crept across their joy. The river, indeed, flowed
+smooth as before, the country smiled only more graciously upon the
+travellers, but Kühleborn had already begun to show that on this part
+of the river he could use his power.
+
+Undine, it is true, reproved her uncle before he had done more than
+play a few tricks upon them. Yet though he would cease his pranks when
+she spoke, it was but a few moments before he was as troublesome as
+ever.
+
+Soon the crew began to crowd together, whispering fearfully and
+glancing timidly at the knight and his fair ladies. Kühleborn was
+making them afraid.
+
+Huldbrand saw their strange glances and he began to grow angry. He
+even muttered crossly, 'This is Undine's mad uncle come to disturb us.
+I would her strange kindred would leave us alone.'
+
+Thinking thus, the knight looked with displeasure at his poor wife.
+She knew but too well what his glance meant, and worn out with sorrow
+and with her constant watch over Kühleborn, she at length fell fast
+asleep.
+
+But no sooner were her eyes closed than her uncle again began his
+tiresome tricks.
+
+It seemed to the sailors, and indeed to all on board, that they were
+bewitched, for look which way each one would, there before him,
+peering out of the water, was the head of a very ugly man.
+
+Each man turned, in his terror, to point out to his fellow the hideous
+head. But on every face the same horror was already painted. Then when
+each tried to tell the other what each one had seen, they ended by
+crying out together, 'See, here is the face! nay, look, it is here!'
+
+Undine awoke as the terrified crew broke into loud screams, and as she
+opened her eyes the ugly faces vanished.
+
+But Huldbrand had not been frightened. He had been growing more and
+more angry, and now he would have spoken roughly to his wife, had she
+not pleaded with loving eyes and soft voice, 'For God's sake, rebuke
+me not while we are on the water. Bethink you of your promise.'
+
+The knight was silent, for well he remembered how Undine had entreated
+him never to reprove her while she was near water.
+
+Then she, seeing he was silent, whispered, 'Let us give up this
+voyage, for now has our joy turned into sadness. Let us go back to the
+castle where nothing can disturb us.'
+
+Huldbrand, however, was not to be so easily restored to good humour.
+He answered her crossly, 'Why should I have to stay shut up at home?
+Even there can I have quiet only so long as the fountain remains
+sealed. I wish that your foolish kinsfolk--'
+
+He could say no more, for Undine's hand was over his lips, and her
+voice was beseeching him to be silent.
+
+Meanwhile Bertalda sat quietly in the ship, thinking of all the
+strange things that had happened. As she sat thus thinking, she
+unfastened a golden necklace which the knight had given to her, and
+holding it in her hand over the side of the bark she drew it
+carelessly through the water. Then dreamily she watched it as it
+gleamed and glistened in the light of the setting sun.
+
+All at once a huge white hand came up out of the river, seized the
+necklace, and disappeared with it below the water.
+
+Bertalda shrieked in terror, and a mocking laugh answered her cry.
+
+Then could the anger of the knight no longer be concealed. He sprang
+up, shouting to the water spirits to claim no kinship with him, but to
+come and learn from his sword-thrusts how much he hated them.
+
+The maiden meanwhile wept for her lost necklace. But Undine had thrust
+her hand into the water, and was murmuring strange words to herself,
+stopping from time to time to say to her husband, 'Chide me not here,
+Huldbrand, chide me not here, lest you lose me for ever.'
+
+And, indeed, though the knight shook with rage, yet he spoke no word
+of reproach to his wife.
+
+At length Undine drew out the hand which she had been holding under
+the water, and in it she held a coral necklace of wondrous beauty.
+
+'Take it and weep no longer,' she said in her gentle voice, and she
+held the necklace out toward Bertalda. 'I have had it brought to me
+from the palaces below the sea. Grieve no longer for the one which you
+have lost.'
+
+But the knight saw in the necklace only another sign of Undine's
+strange dealings with the water spirits. He sprang between Bertalda
+and his wife and snatched from Undine's hand the beautiful necklace,
+flinging it far away into the river. Then in his passion he turned to
+his wife, and cried, 'Go and abide with your kindred! You are a witch,
+go, dwell with those who are as you are, and take with you your gifts!
+Go, trouble us no more!'
+
+Undine looked at Huldbrand. Tears were in her blue eyes, and she wept
+as a little blameless child might weep.
+
+'Alas, beloved,' she sighed, 'farewell! No harm shall touch you while
+I have power to shield you from evil. Alas, alas! why have you sent me
+hence?'
+
+She seemed to glide as she spoke over the edge of the bark, and be
+drawn down into the river. And the little waves lapped against the
+boat and seemed to sob as they whispered, 'Alas, alas!'
+
+No sooner had the knight spoken than he knew what he had done. He had
+lost his wife, his beautiful fair-souled Undine. He lay on the deck
+stretching out empty arms, shedding bitter tears, until at length his
+misery made the strong man swoon.
+
+[Illustration: The little waves seemed to sob as they whispered,
+'Alas! alas!']
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+HULDBRAND AND BERTALDA
+
+
+When he recovered, the knight of Ringstetten went back to his castle
+with Bertalda. So bitterly did he mourn the loss of his gentle wife,
+that at length he began to believe that he would never cease to weep
+for her. Bertalda wept by his side, and for a long time they lived
+quietly together, thinking and talking of none save the beautiful
+Undine.
+
+But as the months passed by, Huldbrand began to think a little less
+and yet a little less of his beautiful lost wife.
+
+Now about this time the old fisherman appeared at the castle. He had
+come to tell the knight that it was time that his daughter Bertalda
+should come to live with him in his lonely cottage by the lake.
+
+Then the knight began to think how strange and silent it would be in
+the castle if Bertalda left him. The more he thought about it the
+more he disliked the thought of being left alone.
+
+At length he spoke to the fisherman and begged him not to take
+Bertalda away. 'Let her stay with me and be my wife,' said the knight.
+
+And in time the fisherman yielded to the wishes of the knight, and the
+wedding-day was fixed.
+
+Then a letter was sent to Father Heilman, begging him to come without
+delay to the castle that he might perform the wedding-rite between the
+knight and the lady Bertalda. Now Father Heilman was the very priest
+who had wedded Huldbrand to Undine in the cottage by the lake.
+
+When the priest had read Huldbrand's letter he hastened at once to the
+castle.
+
+Huldbrand and Bertalda were sitting side by side under the trees, the
+fisherman near them, when they saw the priest enter the court.
+
+They all rose eagerly to welcome him, but Father Heilman began to
+speak without delay.
+
+'Sir Knight, I have come with as great haste as my old limbs would
+carry me to tell you that I do not believe the beautiful Undine is
+dead. Last night and for many nights before, she was with me in my
+dreams, wringing her white hands, and crying, "Ah, holy Father, I
+live, I live. Let not Huldbrand forget me, for should he wed again
+great danger may, alas, come to him, nor will I have power to shield
+him. Help me, therefore, holy Father." What the dream meant I knew not
+until your letter reached me. Now have I come, not to marry you to
+Bertalda, but to tell you that Undine, your wife, is yet alive.'
+
+The knight himself, as well as Bertalda and the fisherman, believed in
+their hearts that what the priest said was true, yet would they not
+own that they believed his words. Even the old fisherman, who so
+dearly loved his foster-child, thought that as the marriage with
+Bertalda had been arranged, it were well it should take place without
+more delay.
+
+They all, therefore, refused to listen to the priest, when he
+reproached them for their conduct. They even told him, what was not
+really true, that they did not believe his foolish dreams.
+
+Sadly shaking his head, the priest left the castle. He saw that should
+he speak again no one would listen to his words. Nor would he linger
+to taste any of the refreshments that were placed before him. He had
+failed to make any one believe his dream, and he was too sad to eat.
+
+The following morning the knight sent to the nearest monastery for a
+priest, who promised to wed him to Bertalda in a few days.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+BERTALDA'S WEDDING
+
+
+The wedding-day dawned bright and clear, the guests assembled in the
+castle and wore their gayest garments, yet over everything there
+brooded a dark cloud. It seemed to the knight, as well as to his
+guests, that some one was missing from the feast, and the thoughts of
+all turned to the beautiful Undine.
+
+The bride seemed happier than any one else, yet even she knew a cloud
+was in her sky.
+
+Slowly the hours of the wedding-day dragged on, but at length the
+ceremony was over, the feast ended, and the guests ready to depart.
+
+When they had gone, Bertalda, thinking to dispel the gloom which had
+now fallen upon her spirit, told her maids to spread out before her
+all her rich jewels and gorgeous robes. She would choose to-night the
+garments in which she would array herself on the morrow.
+
+Her waiting-maids did as they were told, and when the dresses and
+jewels were spread out before their new mistress, they began to
+flatter her and tell her that none was fairer than she.
+
+Bertalda listened with pleasure to their praises. Then looking at
+herself in the mirror she sighed. 'Alas, but see these little brown
+spots that have appeared on my neck.'
+
+The maids saw indeed, as their mistress said, that there were freckles
+on her neck, but still they flattered her, saying that the little
+spots only made her skin look the whiter.
+
+But Bertalda did not believe their words. She wanted to get rid of the
+freckles that had only lately appeared on her slender throat.
+
+'Had I but water from the fountain, the spots would vanish in a day,'
+she cried pettishly.
+
+Then one of Bertalda's maids thought to herself, 'My mistress shall
+have the water she so much desires,' and laughing gaily to herself,
+she slipped from the room.
+
+In but a few moments heavy footsteps were heard in the court below.
+The footsteps tramped backward and forward.
+
+Bertalda, looking from her window, smiled, for she saw that the noisy
+steps were those of workmen, who were busy removing the stone which
+had been placed over the fountain. She guessed that this was the doing
+of one of her maids, but she still smiled contentedly. The freckles
+would not spoil her beauty for another day. The water from the
+fountain would make them disappear, and that was all she cared about
+just then.
+
+At first the workmen tried in vain to remove the stone. Perhaps some
+of them, remembering that their sweet young mistress Undine had
+ordered it to be placed there, did not try very hard to lift it from
+its place. All at once, however, the stone began to move. It almost
+seemed as though it were being pushed up from beneath. It moved
+slowly, then seemed to rise up into the air, after which it rolled on
+to the pavement with a tremendous crash.
+
+Then slowly, slowly there rose out of the mouth of the well a white
+figure, veiled and weeping. And those who gazed spellbound at the
+sight saw that the figure which stepped from the fountain was that of
+a woman. Weeping and wringing her hands, she walked slowly,
+sorrowfully toward the castle.
+
+The workmen now fled in terror from the court, while Bertalda with her
+maids still gazed from her window at the pale shadowy figure. As it
+passed beneath her window it looked upward, sobbing pitifully, and
+the bride saw under the veil the sweet sad face of the mistress of the
+castle, Undine.
+
+Bertalda called aloud to her maids to go fetch the knight, her
+husband, but not one was found with courage to go in search of him.
+
+On and on went the wanderer slowly, as though she would fain turn
+backward, on and up the stairs she knew so well, through the long
+quiet passages, and as she walked her tears fell yet more fast.
+
+In a room at the end of the long passages stood the knight. A torch
+burnt dully by his side. As he stood there thinking of the days that
+had passed away for ever, he heard steps coming slowly along the
+passage. He listened, and, as he listened, the slow footsteps halted
+outside his door.
+
+Soft fingers tapped, and then very gently the door was opened, and
+Huldbrand, standing before a long mirror, saw, without turning, a
+white-veiled figure enter and close the door.
+
+'The stone has been taken away from the fountain, and I have come to
+you and you must die,' said a soft voice.
+
+Ah, it was Undine, his beautiful lost Undine, who had come back to
+him. How he longed to see her face, yet how he feared to have the veil
+removed lest she should have changed since last he gazed upon her.
+
+[Illustration: Slowly, slowly there rose out of the mouth of the well
+a white figure]
+
+'If you are beauteous as in days gone by, if in your eyes I may see
+your soul tender as of old, draw aside your veil, that as I die I may
+gaze upon you,' faltered the knight.
+
+Silently Undine threw back her veil, and Huldbrand saw her, fair as on
+the day he had won her for his bride. As he looked upon her, he knew
+that he had never loved any one in all the wide world as he loved
+Undine.
+
+He bent toward the sweet face. Then Undine, kissing the knight, drew
+him into her arms and wept. And as she wept the tears flowed into his
+very heart and he also wept. Softly she laid him on his couch, and
+with her arms around him, Huldbrand died.
+
+Then sorrowfully Undine raised herself from the couch, and sorrowfully
+she passed from the chamber.
+
+'My tears fell on his heart until, for very sorrow, it broke,' she
+said, as she glided, a pale veiled figure, through the terrified
+servants.
+
+And some who dared to follow her saw that she went slowly down toward
+the fountain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE BURIAL
+
+
+Now when Father Heilman heard that the knight was dead, he hastened to
+the castle to comfort Bertalda. The priest, who but the day before had
+married the maiden to the knight, had already fled from the haunted
+house.
+
+But Father Heilman found that the haughty spirit of the bride needed
+no comfort. She was more angry with Undine than sorrowful that she had
+lost the knight. Indeed, as she thought of the strange way in which
+Huldbrand had been snatched away from her, she cried aloud, 'Why did
+Huldbrand bring a water spirit to his home? She is worse than a
+mermaiden, she is a witch, a sorceress!'
+
+Then the old fisherman, who heard her cruel words, hushed her, saying,
+'It was God's will that Huldbrand should die, and Undine alone,
+forsaken, weeps for his death in great sorrow of soul.'
+
+But if Father Heilman was not needed to comfort Bertalda, his presence
+was wanted at the burial of the knight.
+
+Not far off there was a little village church to which the lord of
+Ringstetten and others of his race had given gifts. It was arranged
+that in the churchyard the knight should be laid to rest.
+
+His shield and helmet were laid on his coffin and would be buried with
+him, for the knight of Ringstetten had left no son to bear them in the
+years that were to come.
+
+On the day that had been fixed the mourners walked slowly toward the
+churchyard, Father Heilman in front carrying a crucifix.
+
+Then slowly a figure clad in snow-white garments, and wringing her
+hands in great sorrow, came to join the mourners, who all wore black
+clothes as a sign of their grief. Those who noticed the white-veiled
+figure drew closer together, terror-stricken. Others, seeing them thus
+fearful, turned to see the reason of their fear, and soon these too
+drew aside, for the white-robed figure was in their very midst.
+
+Seeing the confusion among the mourners, some soldiers, trying to be
+brave, as was their duty, spoke to the white-robed figure and even
+tried to drive her away. But she glided quickly past them and followed
+onward, still toward the little church.
+
+The maids who were walking close to Bertalda saw that the white-veiled
+figure would soon be by their side, and they, lest she should harm
+them, drew back, so that it was easy for the shadowy form to keep
+close to the new-made bride.
+
+Softly, noiselessly she moved, so noiselessly that Bertalda neither
+heard nor saw the phantom figure.
+
+At length the mourners reached the churchyard and gathered around the
+grave. Then Bertalda, looking up, saw the white-veiled figure standing
+by her side, and knew that it was Undine.
+
+Fear whispered to Bertalda to leave the veiled figure undisturbed,
+anger bade Bertalda order that it should at once depart. And anger was
+going to have its way, for Bertalda opened her lips to speak, but
+Undine shook her head and held out her hands as though she begged for
+mercy.
+
+Then Bertalda remembered all the kindness Undine had shown toward her,
+and especially how lovingly she had held out to her the coral
+necklace as they were sailing on the Danube, and as she remembered her
+hard heart melted, and she wept.
+
+At that moment Father Heilman began to pray, and all the mourners
+knelt around the grave, in which the coffin bearing the shield and
+helmet of the knight had now been placed.
+
+When the prayer was ended the company arose, but the white-veiled
+figure was no longer to be seen.
+
+Only on the spot where she had knelt a stream of crystal water gushed
+out of the earth. Quietly it flowed around the grave of the knight and
+then onward until it joined the river which ran past the little
+village church.
+
+And in days to come the villagers would ofttimes point to the crystal
+stream as they told their children in solemn whispers that it, the
+little crystal stream, was none other than Undine, poor forsaken
+Undine, who thus surrounded and protected Huldbrand, her beloved.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouquée
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+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Undine, by Mary Macgregor
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+/*<![CDATA[  XML blockout */
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+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouquée
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Undine
+
+Author: Friedrich de la Motte Fouquée
+
+Editor: Mary Macgregor
+
+Illustrator: Katharine Cameron
+
+Release Date: July 4, 2006 [EBook #18752]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDINE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jason Isbell, Sankar Viswanathan, and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+<h4>There are several editions of this ebook in the Project Gutenberg collection. Various characteristics of each ebook are listed to aid in selecting the preferred file.<br />Click on any of the filenumbers below to quickly view each ebook.
+</h4>
+
+
+<table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto" cellpadding="4" border="3">
+
+<tr><td>
+ <b><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18752/18752-h/18752-h.htm">
+18752</a> </b> </td><td>(Illustrated in Color))
+</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>
+ <b><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2825/2825-h/2825-h.htm">
+2825</a></b></td><td>(Plain html file)
+</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>
+ <b><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3714/3714-h/3714-h.htm">
+3714</a></b> </td><td>(Plain html file)
+</td></tr>
+
+</table>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+
+
+<div class="center"><img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover" width="600" height="732" /></div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>TOLD TO THE CHILDREN SERIES</h3>
+<h3>EDITED BY LOUEY CHISHOLM</h3>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+
+<p class="center"><a name="imge_1" id="imge_1"></a><img src="images/image_01.jpg" alt="On the threshold stood a little maiden" width="500" height="756" /><br />
+<span class="caption">On the threshold stood a little maiden. See page <a href="#Page_14">14</a> .</span></p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>Friedrich de la Motte Fouqu&eacute;e</h3>
+<h1>UNDINE</h1>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h4>TOLD TO THE CHILDREN BY</h4>
+<h2>MARY MACGREGOR</h2>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h4>WITH PICTURES BY</h4>
+<h2>KATHARINE CAMERON</h2>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p class="center"><img src="images/seal.jpg" alt="Seal" width="200" height="186" /></p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h3>LONDON: T. C. &amp; E. C. JACK</h3>
+<h3>NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON &amp; CO.</h3>
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<h2>TO MARGARET</h2>
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p>
+<h2>ABOUT THIS BOOK</h2>
+<p>Undine is the name of the water maiden whose story you will read as
+you turn the leaves of this little book.</p>
+
+<p>Undine is beautiful as the dawn stealing across the waters, beautiful
+as the spray of the crystal waves.</p>
+
+<p>Yet when she comes to earth she comes to seek for that without which
+her beauty will be for ever cold, cold and chill as the surge of the
+salt, salt sea.</p>
+
+<p>Look deep into her blue eyes and you will see why her beauty is so
+cold, so chill.</p>
+
+<p>In the eyes of every mortal you may see a soul. In the gay blue eyes
+of Undine, look you long and never so deep, no soul will look forth to
+meet your gaze.</p>
+
+<p>Love, joy, sorrow, these are the pearls that shine in the eyes of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span>every mortal. But in the eyes of the water maiden there is no gleam
+of love, no sparkle of joy, no tear of sorrow.</p>
+
+<p>Undine has come to earth to seek for a soul. Without one she may never
+know the golden gifts God has given to each mortal, gifts these of
+love, joy, sorrow.</p>
+
+<p>You will read in this little book how Undine, the water maiden, won
+for herself a human soul.</p>
+
+<p class="sig">MARY MACGREGOR.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></p>
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<table summary="Contents">
+<tr><td class="tocch f1">Chap.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="tocpg f1">Page</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">I.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_I">The Fisherman and the Knight</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">II.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Undine is Lost</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">III.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Undine is Found</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">IV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">The Knight's Story</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">V.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_V">The Knight stays at the Cottage</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">VI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">The Wedding</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">VII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Undine's Story</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">VIII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Huldbrand and Undine leave the Cottage</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_54">54</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">IX.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">The Knight returns to the City</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">X.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_X">The Birthday Feast</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">XI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">The Journey to Castle Ringstetten</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">XII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Castle Ringstetten</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">XIII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">The Black Valley</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">XIV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Huldbrand forgets his Promise</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">XV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Huldbrand and Bertalda</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">XVI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">Bertalda's Wedding</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch">XVII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">The Burial</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span></p>
+<h2>LIST OF PICTURES</h2>
+
+
+<table class="tb1" summary="Pictures">
+<tr><td><a href="#imge_1">On the threshold stood a little maiden</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg f1"><i><a href="#imge_1">Frontispiece</a></i></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td></td><td class="tocpg f1">At page</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#imge_2">Amid the sweet-scented grass, safe from the fury of the storm</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#imge_3">'I saw in a great cavern a group of little goblins'</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_31">31</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#imge_4">In the little cottage were heard the solemn words of the marriage service</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#imge_5">The three travellers soon reached the leafy shades of the forest</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#imge_6">At the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#imge_7">The little waves seemed to sob as they whispered, 'Alas! alas!'</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#imge_8">Slowly, slowly there rose out of the mouth of the well a white figure</a></td>
+<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2>
+
+<h3>THE FISHERMAN AND THE KNIGHT</h3>
+<p>A fisherman brought a stool to the doorway of his home and, sitting
+down, he began to mend his nets.</p>
+
+<p>His cottage stood in the midst of green meadows, and his eyes grew
+glad as he looked at the green grass. After the heat of the fair
+summer's day it was so cool, so refreshing.</p>
+
+<p>At the foot of the meadows lay a large lake of clear blue water. The
+fisherman knew it well. It was there his work was done, through
+sunshine or through storm.</p>
+
+<p>To-day, as his gaze wandered from the green meadows to the blue lake,
+he thought he saw the waters stretch out soft arms, until slowly they
+drew the fair meadows, the little cottage into a loving embrace.</p>
+
+<p>The fisherman, his wife and their foster-child lived very quietly on
+this pleasant spot. It was but seldom that any one passed their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> door,
+for between the beautiful meadows and the nearest town lay a wood. So
+wild and gloomy was the wood, so tangled its pathway, that no one
+cared to enter it.</p>
+
+<p>Moreover, it was said that there were strange beings lurking amid the
+gloom&mdash;ugly goblins, misshapen gnomes; and there were shadowy spirits
+too, which flitted through the branches of the strongest trees, and
+these even the bravest would not wish to see.</p>
+
+<p>Through this dark and haunted wood the old fisherman had often to
+journey.</p>
+
+<p>It was true that he entered the dreaded shades with fear, yet no
+spectre ever crossed his path. But perhaps that was because the
+thoughts of the old man were pure, or perhaps because he never entered
+the forest without singing a hymn in a clear brave voice.</p>
+
+<p>As the fisherman sat mending his nets on this fair summer eve he began
+to move restlessly, to glance around uneasily.</p>
+
+<p>Then a sudden terror fell upon him as he heard a noise in the forest
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>Ah, how the trees rustled and how the grass was being trampled
+underfoot! Could it be a horseman who made haste to escape from some
+terrible foe?</p>
+
+<p>And now, although he was wide awake, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> fisherman seemed to see a
+figure, which he had seen before only in his dreams.</p>
+
+<p>He saw the figure of a tall, strong, snow-white man, who came with
+slow steps toward him, and at each step he took, the figure nodded his
+great white head.</p>
+
+<p>The fisherman rubbed his eyes as he glanced toward the wood. At the
+same moment the wind seemed to blow the leaves aside to make room for
+the snow-white man, whose head never ceased to nod.</p>
+
+<p>'Well,' said the fisherman to himself, 'I have ever passed through the
+forest unharmed, why should I fear that evil will befall me here?' and
+he began to repeat aloud a verse of the Bible.</p>
+
+<p>At the sound of his own voice courage crept back into the heart of the
+fisherman, moreover the words of the Holy Book rebuked his fears. Nor
+was it long before he was able even to laugh and to see how foolish he
+had been.</p>
+
+<p>For listen! The white nodding man was after all only a stream which
+the fisherman knew very well, a stream which ran and bubbled out of
+the forest and fell into the lake. As for the rustling noise, the
+fisherman saw what had caused that, as a gaily clad knight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> rode forth
+from the forest shadows toward the little cottage.</p>
+
+<p>This was no spectre or spirit of the wood, this stranger who wore the
+garments of a knight of high degree. He rode a white horse, which
+stepped softly, so that the flowers in the meadows lifted their
+delicate heads uninjured by his tread.</p>
+
+<p>The fisherman raised his cap as the stranger drew near, and then
+quietly went on mending his nets.</p>
+
+<p>Now when the knight saw the old man's face it was welcome to him, as
+indeed any human face would have been after the terrors of the forest.
+There he had seen strange mocking faces peering at him whichever way
+he turned, there he had been followed by strange shadowy forms from
+which escape had been wellnigh impossible; here at length was a kind
+and friendly mortal. He would ask him for the food and shelter of
+which both he and his steed stood in need.</p>
+
+<p>'Dear sir,' answered the fisherman when he had listened to the
+knight's request, 'dear sir, if you will deign to enter our lonely
+cottage, you will find a welcome with the food and shelter we offer.
+As for your horse, can it have a better stable than this tree-shaded
+meadow,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> or more delicious fodder than this green grass?'</p>
+
+<p>Well pleased with this answer, the knight dismounted, and together he
+and the fisherman freed the white horse from its saddle and bridle,
+and turned it loose into the waving meadow.</p>
+
+<p>Then the old man led the stranger into the cottage.</p>
+
+<p>Here, by the light of the kitchen fire, sat the fisherman's wife. She
+rose, with a kind greeting for the unexpected guest. Then seating
+herself again in her armchair, she pointed to an old stool with a
+broken leg. 'Sit there, good knight,' she said; 'only you must sit
+still, lest the broken leg prove too weak to bear you.'</p>
+
+<p>Carrying the stool over beside the old woman, the knight placed it
+carefully on the floor and seated himself as he was bidden. As he sat
+there talking with the good old fisherman and his wife, it seemed to
+him almost as though he were their son, who had come home again after
+journeying in a distant land.</p>
+
+<p>It was only when the knight began to speak of the wood that the
+fisherman grew restless and refused to listen.</p>
+
+<p>'It were wiser, Sir Knight,' he said, 'not to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> talk of the wood at
+nightfall, or indeed to say much of it at any time.'</p>
+
+<p>And then the old couple told their guest how simply they lived in the
+little cottage by the lake, and they in their turn listened eagerly
+while the knight told them of himself. He was named Sir Huldbrand, and
+he dwelt in his castle of Ringstetten, which stood near the source of
+the river Danube.</p>
+
+<p>Now, as he talked or listened to the quiet tales of the old fisherman,
+the knight heard a strange sound that seemed to come from the
+direction of the window. Again and again it came, a strange sound as
+of water being dashed against the window-panes.</p>
+
+<p>It was plain that the fisherman heard it too, for at each splash a
+frown crossed his good-natured face.</p>
+
+<p>A louder splash, and a shower of water streamed through the loosely
+built window-frame into the kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>Then the old man could sit still no longer. He hastened to the window,
+and opening it called out in an angry voice, 'Undine, cease these
+childish tricks. A stranger, and he a knight, is in our cottage.'</p>
+
+<p>A low laugh answered him. Hearing it, the old man shut the window and
+sat down again,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> saying to his guest, 'Sir Knight, forgive this rude
+behaviour. Undine my foster-daughter is still only a child, although
+she is now nearly eighteen years of age. Yet her tricks are harmless,
+and she herself is full of kindness.'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah,' said the old woman to her husband, 'to you, who are not with her
+save when the day's work is over, her pranks may seem harmless. But
+you would not talk so lightly of her ways were she by your side all
+day. Ever I must watch her, lest she spoil my baking, or undo my
+spinning or burn the soup. Nay&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>'It is true,' said the old man, interrupting his wife with a smile,
+'it is true that you have the maiden by your side throughout the
+livelong day, while I have but the sea. Yet when the sea is rough and
+breaks down my dykes I do not love it the less. Even so do you love
+the little one no less for all her tricks and tiresome ways.'</p>
+
+<p>The old woman turned to her guest. 'Indeed, Sir Knight, he speaks
+truly. It is not possible to be angry with the maiden long.'</p>
+
+<p>At that moment the door flew open, and she, the maiden of whom they
+spoke, entered the little kitchen. She was fairer far than any one the
+knight had ever seen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Father,' she cried, 'where is he, the stranger guest?'</p>
+
+<p>Even as she spoke her eyes fell on the knight, who had sprung to his
+feet as she entered the cottage. He stood gazing in wonder at the
+marvellous beauty of the maiden.</p>
+
+<p>But before he could greet her, she was at his side, trustingly looking
+up into his face. Then kneeling before him, she seized his hand and
+made him seat himself again on the broken old stool.</p>
+
+<p>'You are beautiful, Sir Knight,' she said, 'but how did you come to
+this little cottage? Have you looked for us long before you could find
+us? Have you had to pass through the terrible forest ere you could
+reach us, Sir Knight?'</p>
+
+<p>The knight would have told the maiden the story of his adventures in
+the wood, but Undine's foster-mother was already speaking, and her
+tones were loud and angry.</p>
+
+<p>'Go, maiden, go get you to work, and trouble not the stranger with
+your questions.'</p>
+
+<p>Then Undine, unashamed, drew a little footstool near to Huldbrand, and
+sitting down to her spinning, cried, 'I shall work here, close to the
+beautiful knight.'</p>
+
+<p>The old fisherman took no notice of the wilful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> maiden, and began to
+speak of other things, hoping that the guest would forget his
+foster-daughter's questions.</p>
+
+<p>But even had the knight been able to forget, Undine did not mean to
+sit there quietly, her questions unanswered.</p>
+
+<p>Her sweet voice broke upon the silence. 'Our beautiful guest has not
+yet told me how he reached our cottage,' she said.</p>
+
+<p>'It is even as you thought,' answered the knight. 'I journeyed through
+the haunted wood ere I found this safe and hospitable shelter.'</p>
+
+<p>'Then tell me of your wonderful adventures,' demanded the maiden, 'for
+without these no one may pass through the forest.'</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand shuddered as he remembered the strange beings who had
+startled him as he rode through the wood. He glanced distrustfully
+toward the window. Were the grim figures there, peering at him through
+the window-pane? No, he could see nothing save the dim night light,
+which now closed them in.</p>
+
+<p>The knight drew himself up, ashamed of his foolish fears, and turning
+toward the maiden, he was beginning to tell her of the wonders which
+had befallen him, when the fisherman hurriedly interrupted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Nay, now, Sir Knight,' he cried, 'tell not your tale until the hours
+of dark have passed.'</p>
+
+<p>At her foster-father's words Undine sprang angrily from the footstool
+and stood before him. Her eyes flashed and grew larger, colder.</p>
+
+<p>'You say to the stranger not to tell his tale, father,' she cried,
+'you say to him not to answer me. But he shall speak, he shall, he
+shall!' And in her anger she stamped her little feet.</p>
+
+<p>The knight wellnigh smiled as he watched the maiden's wrath, but the
+old man was grieved that the stranger should see the wayward behaviour
+of his foster-child, and he reproved her for her anger. The old woman
+also muttered her displeasure.</p>
+
+<p>Then Undine slipped quickly toward the door of the little cottage. She
+did not choose to listen to these rebukes.</p>
+
+<p>'I will not stay with you, for you do nothing but scold me, and you
+will not do anything that I wish,' she cried, and before they could
+reach her she had opened the door, and was away and out, out into the
+dark night.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2>
+
+<h3>UNDINE IS LOST</h3>
+<p>Huldbrand and the fisherman sprang after the maiden, but when they
+reached the door of the cottage and looked out into the night she was
+nowhere to be seen, nor could they catch the sound of her tiny feet to
+guide them whither she had fled.</p>
+
+<p>The knight looked in astonishment at his host. Was the beautiful
+maiden only another of the wonderful beings who had bewildered him in
+the forest? Was she some lovely elf or sprite who had come but to vex
+them with her pranks?</p>
+
+<p>But as he looked at the old man standing by his side, and saw the
+tears streaming from his eyes, he knew it was for no spirit of the
+wood that he thus grieved.</p>
+
+<p>'Alas,' sighed the fisherman, 'this is not the first time that the
+maiden has treated us thus. It may be she will not return the
+livelong<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> night, and until she returns it is not possible that we
+should close our eyes. For what terror may not seize upon her as she
+wanders hither and thither in the darkness.'</p>
+
+<p>'We must follow her, father, follow her without delay!' cried the
+young knight.</p>
+
+<p>'Nay,' answered the fisherman, 'my limbs are stiff. Though I knew
+whither she had fled, I could never follow with speed enough to reach
+her. Ever she would vanish as I drew near, for she is fleet, fleet as
+an arrow from the bow.'</p>
+
+<p>'If we may not follow her, at least let us call and entreat her to
+return,' said the young knight, and without waiting for an answer he
+called, 'Undine! Undine!'</p>
+
+<p>But the old man shook his head. 'It is useless to call,' he said, 'the
+little one will not heed your voice.' Yet still the knight's cry rang
+out into the night, 'Undine, dear Undine, I pray you return!'</p>
+
+<p>No answer came back from the darkness, and at length Huldbrand
+returned with the fisherman to the cottage.</p>
+
+<p>The old woman, who seemed little troubled by Undine's flight, had gone
+to bed and the fire was wellnigh out. But the fisherman, drawing the
+ashes together, placed wood on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> the top of them, and soon the fire
+blazed brightly.</p>
+
+<p>Then in the light of the flames they sat and talked, yet they thought
+only of Undine. The window rattled. They raised their heads to listen.
+The rain fell in heavy drops, pitter, patter. They thought it was the
+tread of tiny feet.</p>
+
+<p>'It is she, it is Undine!' they would cry, yet still the maiden did
+not come. Then they shook their heads sadly, but as they went on
+talking they listened still.</p>
+
+<p>'It was fifteen years ago, on such a night of wind and rain, that she
+came,' murmured the old man. 'Our home was sad and desolate, for we
+had lost our own little child.'</p>
+
+<p>'Ah,' said the knight, 'tell me how the beautiful maiden came to your
+little cottage.'</p>
+
+<p>Now this is the story the fisherman told to the knight.</p>
+
+<p>'It is fifteen years ago,' began the old man, 'since I went through
+the forest, hoping to sell my fish in the city beyond. I was alone,
+for my wife was at home watching our little babe. Our little babe was
+dear to us and very fair.</p>
+
+<p>'In the evening, having sold all my fish, I went home through the
+haunted forest, nor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> did I fear its gloom, for the Lord was at my
+right hand.</p>
+
+<p>'But no sooner had I left the wood than I saw my wife running toward
+me, while tears streamed from her eyes. She had dressed herself, I
+noticed, in black garments, and this she was not used to do. I felt
+sure that trouble had befallen us.</p>
+
+<p>'"Where is our child, our little one?" I cried, though even as I spoke
+my voice was choked with sobs.</p>
+
+<p>'"Our child is with God, the great Father," answered my wife.</p>
+
+<p>'Then in the midst of her tears the poor mother told her sad tale.</p>
+
+<p>'"I took our child down to the edge of the lake, and there we played
+together, so happy, so merry. Suddenly the little one bent forward as
+though she saw something beautiful in the water. Then she smiled, and
+stretched out her tiny hands, and even as she did so, she slipped from
+my arms into the lake, and I saw her no more."</p>
+
+<p>'That evening,' said the fisherman, 'my wife and I sat by our hearth
+in silence, we were too sad for words. Suddenly the door of our
+cottage flew open, and there before us,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> threshold, stood a
+little maiden, three or four years of age. Her eyes were blue and her
+hair was gold and she was clothed in beautiful garments.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> See <a href="#imge_1">frontispiece</a>.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>'We gazed in wonder at the tiny vision. Who was she? From whence had
+she come? Was she only a magic child come to mock us in our
+loneliness, or was she a real, a living child?</p>
+
+<p>'Then as we looked we saw that water trickled from her golden hair and
+that little streams were gathering at her tiny feet, as the water
+dripped and dripped from her beautiful clothing.</p>
+
+<p>'"She must have fallen into the lake," I said to my wife, "and in some
+strange way have wandered into our cottage. We have lost our own dear
+child, let us now do all we can to help this little one." Thus it came
+to pass that the little stranger slept in the cot in which until now
+our own babe had lain.</p>
+
+<p>'When morning dawned my wife fed our tiny guest with bread and milk,
+and the little one looked upon us, and her blue eyes danced merrily,
+but never a word did she say.</p>
+
+<p>'We asked her where her father and mother dwelt and how she had come
+to our cottage. But her only answer was some childish talk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> of crystal
+palaces and shining pearls. Even now indeed she speaks of things so
+marvellous that we know not what to think.</p>
+
+<p>'After some days we asked her once again from whence she came. She
+told us that she had been on the sea with her mother, and had fallen
+from her arms into the water, nor had she known more until she awoke
+under the trees, close to our cottage, so well pleased with the fair
+shore that she felt no fear.</p>
+
+<p>'Then we said, "Let us keep the little stranger, and care for her as
+we would have cared for our own lost child." We sent for a priest, who
+baptized her, giving her the name by which she called herself, though
+indeed it seemed no name for a Christian child.</p>
+
+<p>'"Undine," said the priest as he performed the holy rite, while she,
+the little one, stood before him gentle and sweet. No sooner, however,
+was the service ended than she grew wild, wilful as was her way. For
+it is true that my wife has had much trouble with the maiden&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>At that moment the knight interrupted the fisherman.</p>
+
+<p>'Listen,' he cried, 'how the stream roars as it dashes past the
+window!'</p>
+
+<p>Together they sprang to the door. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> moon had risen, and the knight
+and the fisherman saw that the stream which ran from the wood had
+burst its banks. It was now rushing wildly along, carrying with it
+stones and roots of trees. As they looked, the clouds grew dark and
+crept across the face of the moon, the wind rose and lashed the water
+of the lake into great waves.</p>
+
+<p>'Undine! Undine!' cried the two men together, but no answer reached
+them save the shrieking of the wind among the trees of the forest.</p>
+
+<p>Then, careless of the storm, the fisherman and the knight rushed from
+the cottage in search of the maiden.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2>
+
+<h3>UNDINE IS FOUND</h3>
+<p>As Huldbrand rushed out into the night, followed by the fisherman, the
+storm seemed to rage yet more fiercely. The old man was soon left far
+behind in the search for the lost maiden.</p>
+
+<p>The knight, battling bravely with the storm, hastened hither and
+thither, but all his efforts were vain. Undine was nowhere to be
+found.</p>
+
+<p>And now, as the rain dashed down upon him and the wind hustled him,
+Huldbrand grew bewildered. The storm seemed to have changed the
+peaceful meadows into a weary wilderness, and even the maiden herself
+seemed to flit before him as a phantom spirit of the wind.</p>
+
+<p>Could it all have been but a dream? Had the cottage, the fisherman and
+his wife been as unreal as the figures that had followed him in the
+haunted forest? No, that he would not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> believe, for even yet in the
+distance he could hear the faint echo of the fisherman's voice as he
+called out pitifully, 'Undine! Undine!' Now in his search the knight
+had reached the edge of the stream. The stream, as you know, had
+already overflowed its bank, and as the moon suddenly shone through
+the dark clouds, Huldbrand saw that the water was rushing back toward
+the forest. In this way the little bit of meadow-land on which the
+fisherman's cottage stood was turned into an island.</p>
+
+<p>A terrible thought struck the knight. Had Undine strayed into the
+fearful forest she could not now return to the cottage, save across
+the raging stream, nay, she might even now be surrounded by the
+spirits of the wood. She would be among them alone, helpless.</p>
+
+<p>At once Huldbrand made up his mind to cross the torrent. He plunged
+into the water, and even as he did so he seemed to see on the other
+shore the figure of a tall white man, who nodded his head and mocked
+him as he struggled on. Huldbrand knew the tall white figure only too
+well. It was the one that had followed him as he journeyed through the
+forest.</p>
+
+<p>Now; in his haste to find Undine, the knight was leaping from stone to
+stone, sometimes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> slipping into the water, then with a struggle
+placing his feet once again upon the stones. These, tossed by the
+rushing stream, gave no firm foothold to the knight, and he was forced
+to seize the branch of a fir-tree to help him across the dangerous
+passage.</p>
+
+<p>While he was still in the midst of the current, he heard a sweet voice
+crying, 'Trust not the stream, trust it not, for it is full of craft!'</p>
+
+<p>The knight knew the voice. It was that of the maiden for whom he
+sought. Yet though he peered eagerly through the gloom he could see no
+trace of her.</p>
+
+<p>'See! you can find me now, Sir Knight, for the moon is shining clear,'
+cried the voice he longed to hear, and looking around him Huldbrand
+saw where Undine had found a shelter. It was on a little island,
+beneath the branches of a great tree, that the maiden sat. There was
+no terror of the storm in her eyes. She was even smiling happily as
+she nestled amid the sweet scented grass, safe from the fury of the
+storm.</p>
+
+<p>A few quick strides and the knight had crossed the stream and stood by
+the side of the maiden. She bade him sit down on the grass, and then,
+whispering low, she said, 'You shall tell me your story here, Sir
+Knight, on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>this quiet island here, where no cross old people will
+disturb us, and where we are sheltered from the storm that rages
+beyond.'</p>
+
+<p class="center"><a name="imge_2" id="imge_2"></a><img src="images/image_02.jpg" alt="Amid the sweet-scented grass, safe from the fury of the storm" width="500" height="409" /><br />
+<span class="caption">Amid the sweet-scented grass, safe from the fury of the storm</span></p>
+
+<p>Then Huldbrand forgot all about the old man who was still seeking for
+his child, forgot too all about the old woman who was alone in the
+little cottage by the lake, and he sat down to tell his tale as the
+maiden wished.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the fisherman had reached the brink of the stream, and great
+was his surprise to see the knight seated by the side of his lost
+child.</p>
+
+<p>'You have found her, you have found my little one!' he cried
+reproachfully. 'Why did you not hasten to tell me she was found, Sir
+Knight?'</p>
+
+<p>Then Huldbrand was ashamed, though, as he told the old man, it was but
+a little while since his search had ceased.</p>
+
+<p>'Bring her without more delay to the mainland!' shouted the fisherman,
+when he had listened to the sorry excuse which was all the knight
+could offer.</p>
+
+<p>But Undine had no wish to go home. She would rather stay with the
+knight in the forest than go back to the cottage, for there, so she
+said, no one would do as she wished.</p>
+
+<p>Then, flinging her arms around the knight,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> she clung to him and
+begged him to stay with her in the forest.</p>
+
+<p>The old fisherman wept as he heard her words, yet Undine did not seem
+to notice his tears. But the knight could not help seeing the old
+man's grief, and he was troubled.</p>
+
+<p>'Undine,' he cried, 'the tears of your foster-father have touched my
+heart. We will return to him.'</p>
+
+<p>The blue eyes of the maiden opened wide with surprise, yet she
+answered gently, 'Sir Knight, if this is indeed your will, we shall
+return to the mainland. There you must make the old man promise to
+listen in silence to all that you saw as you journeyed through the
+forest.'</p>
+
+<p>'Only come, and you shall do all that you wish!' cried the fisherman,
+and he stretched out his arms and nodded his head, to show to the
+maiden how glad he was that she should do as she wished. But the
+knight shuddered as his eyes fell upon the fisherman. The nodding
+head, the white hair reminded him once again of the tall white man of
+the forest.</p>
+
+<p>Shaking off his fears he lifted Undine in his arms and bore her across
+the stream. Already the storm was wellnigh over and the waters flowed
+more quietly. It now seemed to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> knight only a few steps from the
+grassy plot where he had found the maiden to the green meadows among
+which the cottage stood.</p>
+
+<p>'Now will I hear the brave knight's story,' cried the maiden, and the
+old people smiled and said they too would hear the tale.</p>
+
+<p>And the sun rose slowly over the lake and the birds sang merrily on
+the wet and leafy trees, as the knight began his tale.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+
+<h3>THE KNIGHT'S STORY</h3>
+<p>'It must be about eight days ago now,' said the knight, 'since I left
+my castle of Ringstetten, and journeyed toward the city which lies
+beyond the haunted forest.</p>
+
+<p>'The city was gay with lords and ladies who had come thither for the
+tournament which was then being held.</p>
+
+<p>'I at once entered the lists, for my steed was strong and I myself was
+eager for the fray. Once, as I rested from the combat, my eyes fell
+upon a lady who was wondrous fair. She was looking down from a gallery
+upon the tournament.</p>
+
+<p>'Bertalda was the name of the beautiful maiden, and she was the
+foster-child of a great duke. I knew that, as I again seized my lance,
+the lady's eyes followed me into the lists, and I fought even more
+bravely than before.</p>
+
+<p>'In the evening a great festival was held, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> here I met Bertalda,
+and danced with her; indeed, evening after evening we were together
+until the tournament drew to a close.'</p>
+
+<p>As Huldbrand spoke these words he felt a sharp pain in his left hand.
+It was hanging by his side, and as he looked down to see what had
+caused the pain, he found that Undine had fastened in it her little
+pearly teeth.</p>
+
+<p>The knight could see that the maiden's face was no longer smiling. She
+looked up at him, and there was sorrow in her large blue eyes as she
+whispered, 'Sir Knight, it is your own fault that I hurt you. I would
+not have you praise the lady Bertalda.' Then quickly, as though
+ashamed of her words, she hid her face in her hands.</p>
+
+<p>As the knight went on with his story, his face was grave.</p>
+
+<p>'It is true,' he said, 'that Bertalda was a lovely maiden, yet as I
+knew her better I found her ways were cold and proud. She pleased me
+less as the days passed by, though, as she looked upon me with favour,
+I begged that as a token of it she would give me a glove.</p>
+
+<p>"You shall have it," answered she, "if you will go alone through the
+forest which men say is haunted, and bring me tidings of all that
+happens to you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'I cared little for her glove, but I would not tarry to be asked a
+second time to go through the forest, lest the maiden should doubt my
+courage.'</p>
+
+<p>'I thought Bertalda had loved you,' cried Undine, 'yet then had she
+not driven you from her into the haunted forest.'</p>
+
+<p>The knight smiled at the maiden's words and went on with his tale.</p>
+
+<p>'It was but yesterday morning that I set forth on my adventure. The
+sun shone bright, so bright that it was not easy to believe that evil
+was lurking in the shadows beneath the rustling leaves. "I shall soon
+return," I said to myself, as I plunged into the green shade.</p>
+
+<p>'But amid the maze of trees it was not long ere I lost sight of the
+path by which I had entered the wood.</p>
+
+<p>'"It may be that I shall lose myself in this mighty forest," I
+thought, "but no other danger threatens me."</p>
+
+<p>'I gazed up toward the sun, which had risen higher now than when first
+I entered the wood, and as I gazed I saw a black thing among the
+branches of a leafy oak.</p>
+
+<p>'Was it a bear, I wondered, and my hand felt for the sword that hung
+by my side.</p>
+
+<p>'But it was no bear, for ere long I heard a voice mocking me with
+rough and cruel words.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> "Aha, Sir Wiseacre," said the voice, "I am
+breaking twigs off these tall trees, so that at midnight I may light a
+fire in which to roast you." Then, before I could answer, the black
+thing grinned at me and rustled the branches, until my steed grew
+restless and at length galloped away.'</p>
+
+<p>Undine looked at the knight, her blue eyes sparkling as she cried,
+'But indeed the wicked creature did not dare to roast you, Sir
+Knight!'</p>
+
+<p>'In its terror,' continued Huldbrand, 'my horse dashed itself against
+the trees, reared and again rushed madly forward. Onward we flew,
+until at length I saw before me a dark abyss. Yet still I found it
+impossible to pull up my frightened steed.</p>
+
+<p>'Then all at once a tall white man stood still directly in front of my
+maddened horse, which swerved aside as soon as it saw the tall man,
+and in that moment I was once more master of my steed. I saw also that
+my deliverer was not a tall white man, as I had imagined, but a brook,
+which shone silver in the sunlight.'</p>
+
+<p>'Dear brook, I will be grateful to you for evermore,' cried Undine,
+clapping her hands as she spoke, in childish glee. But the fisherman
+shook his head and was silent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'And now,' said the knight, 'I was anxious to hasten as quickly as
+possible through the forest, for it seemed to me that not only might I
+find it difficult to regain the pathway I had lost, but that strange
+beings might again startle both me and my noble steed.</p>
+
+<p>'I turned my horse away from the dark chasm which lay before us, but
+even as I did so I found at my side a strange little man. He was
+uglier than any one I had ever seen. His nose was wellnigh as large as
+all the rest of his body, and his mouth was so big that it stretched
+from one ear to the other.</p>
+
+<p>'This ugly creature, as soon as he saw that I had noticed him, grinned
+at me, until his mouth looked even larger than before. He scraped his
+feet along the ground and bowed mockingly to me a thousand times.</p>
+
+<p>'My horse was trembling at the sight of the strange figure, so I
+resolved to ride on in search of further adventure, or if I found
+none, to ride back to the city which I had left in the morning.</p>
+
+<p>'But the ugly little man did not mean to let me escape. Quick as
+lightning he sprang round and stood again in front of my horse.</p>
+
+<p>'"Get out of the way," I now cried in anger, "lest my steed tramples
+you under its feet."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'This did not seem to frighten the strange creature. He laughed in my
+face, and then said in a gruff voice, "You must give me gold, for it
+was I who turned your horse aside from yonder dark abyss."</p>
+
+<p>'"Nay, what you say is not true," I answered him, "for it was the
+silver brook that saved me and my horse from being dashed to pieces.
+Nevertheless, take thy gold and begone."</p>
+
+<p>'As I spoke I flung a coin into the strange-shaped cap which he was
+holding before me, then putting spurs to my horse I rode quickly
+forward.</p>
+
+<p>'I heard the ugly little man give a loud scream, then to my surprise
+there he was, running by my side, grinning and making horrible
+grimaces.</p>
+
+<p>'My horse was galloping, and I thought I would soon get away from the
+little man. But it seemed impossible to go faster than he, for he took
+a spring, a jump, and there he was still by my side. He held up the
+piece of gold I had thrown to him, and in a hollow voice he cried, "It
+is a false coin, a false coin!"</p>
+
+<p>'At length I could bear his horrible shrieks no longer. I pulled up my
+steed, and holding out two coins I called to him, "Take the gold, but
+follow me no farther!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Then the little ugly man began to scrape his feet and bow his head,
+but it was plain that he was not yet satisfied.</p>
+
+<p>'"I do not wish your gold," he grumbled. "I have gold enough and to
+spare, as you shall soon see."</p>
+
+<p>'As he spoke a strange thing happened. The beautiful green ground
+seemed to change into clear green glass. I looked through the glass
+and saw in a great cavern a group of little goblins.</p>
+
+<p>'They were playing at ball, these little goblins, and I noticed that
+all their toys were made of silver or gold. Merry little creatures
+they were, running swiftly hither and thither after the ball, nor was
+it easy to see whether they were standing on their heads or on their
+heels, or whether they were running on their hands or on their feet.
+No sooner was their game ended than they pelted each other with their
+playthings, then in a mad frolic lifted handfuls of gold dust and
+flung it each in the other's eyes.</p>
+
+<p>'All this time the ugly little man was standing half on the ground and
+half within the great cavern where the tiny goblins played their
+games. Now I heard him call to the mischievous imps to give him
+handfuls of gold.</p>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p>
+<p class="center"> <a name="imge_3" id="imge_3"></a><img src="images/image_03.jpg" alt="'I saw in a great cavern a group of little goblins'" width="500" height="411" /><br />
+<span class="caption">'I saw in a great cavern a group of little goblins'</span></p>
+
+
+<p>'This they did, and then he, laughing in my face, showed the gold to
+me ere he flung it back again into the cavern.</p>
+
+<p>'Then the ugly little man called to the tiny goblins to stop their
+pranks and look at the coins I had given to him. When they caught
+sight of them they held their little sides, shaking with laughter;
+then all at once they turned and hissed at me.</p>
+
+<p>'In spite of myself terror crept over me. Again I plunged my spurs
+into my horse's sides, and it dashed madly off into the midst of the
+forest.</p>
+
+<p>'When at length the flight ended, the evening lay cool and quiet
+around me. A white footpath seemed to point out the way which led back
+to the city. But each time I tried to approach it a face peered at me
+from between the trees. I turned to escape from this new phantom, but
+in vain, for whichever way I turned there was the face still staring
+at me.</p>
+
+<p>'I grew angry and urged my horse in the direction of the shadowy face,
+only however to find myself drenched by a stream of white foam.</p>
+
+<p>'Thus I was driven away from the white footpath, and only one way,
+rough and tangled,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> was left open to me. As soon as I began to follow
+it, the face, though it kept close behind, did me no further harm.</p>
+
+<p>'Yet again and again I turned, hoping to find that the face had
+disappeared. Instead I found it closer than before, and now I could
+see that it belonged to a tall white man. It was true that at times
+the long white figure seemed to be but a wandering stream, but of this
+I was never sure.</p>
+
+<p>I was weary now and my horse was exhausted. It seemed useless to try
+any longer to force my way past the white face, so I went on riding
+quietly along the one path left open to me. The head of the tall man
+then began to nod, as though to say that at length I was doing as he
+wished.</p>
+
+<p>'By this path I reached the end of the wood, and as the meadows and
+the lake came into sight the white man vanished, and I found myself
+standing near to your little cottage.'</p>
+
+<p>As the knight had now finished the story of his adventure, the
+fisherman began to talk to his guest of how he might return in safety
+to the city and to the followers who there awaited him.</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand, listening to the old man, yet caught the soft ripple of
+Undine's laughter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Why do you laugh, Undine?' asked the knight. 'Are you so pleased to
+hear your foster-father talk of my return to the city?'</p>
+
+<p>'I laugh for joy that you cannot leave us,' said the maiden. 'You have
+but to look to see that you must stay.'</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand and the fisherman rose and saw that what the maiden had said
+was indeed true. It would not be possible for the knight to leave the
+little island until the stream had once more returned to its usual
+course.</p>
+
+<p>As they entered the cottage, Huldbrand whispered to the maiden,
+'Undine, tell me that you are glad that I cannot yet return to the
+crowded city.'</p>
+
+<p>But the maiden's face was no longer glad, nor would she answer the
+knight's question. She had remembered Bertalda.</p>
+
+<p>When the stream had grown quiet the knight would go back to the lady
+for whose sake he had undergone such strange perils. And of that time
+the wilful maiden did not wish to think.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2>
+
+<h3>THE KNIGHT STAYS AT THE COTTAGE</h3>
+<p>Day after day the forest stream rushed wildly on. The bed along which
+it thus hastened grew wider and wider, separating the island with the
+fisherman's cottage yet farther from the mainland.</p>
+
+<p>The knight was well pleased to linger where he was. Never had he found
+the days pass by so swiftly.</p>
+
+<p>He discovered an old crossbow in a corner of the cottage. When he had
+mended it he would wander forth in search of birds, and if he
+succeeded in bringing some down with his arrows, he would carry them
+back to fill the larder of the little cottage.</p>
+
+<p>And Undine, for she was pitiful, would not fail to upbraid the knight
+for taking the life of the little birds, so glad, so free. Seeing them
+lying there, quiet and still, she would weep.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Yet, did Huldbrand return without his prey, so wilful was the maiden
+that she would blame him, and complain that she could now have nought
+to eat save fish or crabs.</p>
+
+<p>But the knight loved Undine's wayward words. And well he knew that
+after she had shown her anger most, she would in but a little while be
+again kind and gentle as before.</p>
+
+<p>On the quiet island Huldbrand heard no call to knightly deeds. His
+sword hung unused on the cottage wall, his steed fed undisturbed among
+the sweet-scented meadows.</p>
+
+<p>'The maiden is the daughter of a great prince, thought the knight. 'It
+is not possible that she should remain in this humble cottage all her
+life. She shall be my bride, and in days to come she shall dwell in my
+castle of Ringstetten on the banks of the Danube.'</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, naught disturbed the dwellers in the little cottage, save
+now and again when her foster-mother would chide Undine in the
+presence of the knight.</p>
+
+<p>Now, though this displeased Huldbrand, he could not blame the old
+woman, for it was ever true that the maiden deserved reproof more
+often than she received it.</p>
+
+<p>At length wine and food began to grow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> scarce in the little cottage.
+In the evening, when the wind howled around their home, the fisherman
+and the knight had been used to cheer themselves with a flask of wine.
+But now that the fisherman was not able to reach the city, his supply
+of wine had come to an end. Without it the old man and the knight grew
+silent and dull.</p>
+
+<p>Undine teased them, laughed at them, but they did not join in her
+merriment.</p>
+
+<p>Then one evening the maiden left the cottage, to escape, so she said,
+from the gloomy faces in the little kitchen. It was a stormy night,
+and as it grew dark the wind began to blow, the waters to rise.
+Huldbrand and the fisherman thought of the terrible night on which
+they had sought so long in vain for the wilful maiden. They even began
+to fear that they had lost her again, and together they rushed to the
+door. But to their great delight Undine was standing there, laughing
+and clapping her little hands.</p>
+
+<p>'Come with me,' she cried when she saw them, 'come with me and I will
+show you a cask which the stream has thrown ashore. If it is not a
+wine cask you may punish me as you will.'</p>
+
+<p>The men went with her, and there in a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> creek they found the
+cask and began to roll it toward the cottage.</p>
+
+<p>But though they rolled it rapidly the storm crept quickly up. So black
+were the clouds, so threatening, that it seemed each moment that the
+rain would burst forth upon them.</p>
+
+<p>Undine helped the men to roll the cask, and as the sky grew yet more
+threatening she looked up at the dark clouds and said in a warning
+voice, 'Beware, beware that you wet us not.'</p>
+
+<p>'It is wrong of you thus to try to rebuke the storm,' said her
+foster-father, but at his words the maiden only laughed low to herself
+in the darkness.</p>
+
+<p>It would seem, however, that Undine's warning had been of use, for it
+was not until the cask was rolled in at the cottage door that the
+storm broke.</p>
+
+<p>By the bright glow of the fire they opened the cask and found that it
+did indeed hold wine. They tasted it and found it very good, and soon
+they were once more as gay as the maiden could wish.</p>
+
+<p>Then suddenly the fisherman grew grave, grieving for him who had lost
+the cask.</p>
+
+<p>'Nay, grieve not,' said the knight, 'I will seek for the owner and
+repay him for his loss when I come again to my castle at
+Ringstetten.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The fisherman smiled and was content.</p>
+
+<p>Undine, however, was angry with the knight. 'It is foolish,' said she,
+'to talk of seeking for the owner of the cask. Were you lost in the
+search I should weep. Would you not rather stay by my side?'</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, and that do you right well know,' answered the knight.</p>
+
+<p>'Then,' said the maiden, 'why should you speak of helping other
+people. It is but foolish talk.'</p>
+
+<p>The foster-mother sighed as she listened to Undine's careless words,
+while the fisherman forgot his usual quiet and scolded her sharply.</p>
+
+<p>'Your words are wild, and are such as no Christian maiden should
+utter,' he said. 'May God forgive both you and those who have allowed
+you thus to speak.'</p>
+
+<p>'It is indeed true,' said Undine, 'that as I think I speak. Why,
+therefore, should you scold me for my words.'</p>
+
+<p>'Say no more,' said the fisherman, for he was very angry.</p>
+
+<p>Then the maiden, who, for all her wilfulness, was timid as a bird,
+drew close to the knight and whispered, 'Are you also angry with me,
+Sir Knight.'</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand could find no words with which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> to comfort the maiden, whom
+he had learned to love. He could only hold her hand and stroke her
+golden hair, but with this Undine was well content.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+
+<h3>THE WEDDING</h3>
+<p>Now it was on this same night on which the cask was found that, as the
+storm still raged, a knock was heard at the cottage door. It startled
+all within, for who was there could have crossed the stream that now
+separated them from the mainland? It could surely be no mortal who
+stood without.</p>
+
+<p>As the inhabitants of the little cottage sat silent, thinking these
+thoughts, the knock was heard again. It was followed by a low groan.
+Then the knight rose and took his sword from the wall where it had
+hung for many days. But the fisherman, watching him, shook his head as
+he muttered, 'A sword will be of but little use to-night.'</p>
+
+<p>Undine meanwhile had gone toward the door. She did not open it, but
+she called out in a loud voice, 'Remember, whoever you be, spirit of
+earth or fire, that if harm befall us my uncle K&uuml;hleborn will punish
+you.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>These strange words made the knight marvel. But a voice answered the
+maiden, 'I am no wandering spirit, but an old frail man. For the love
+of God open your door and give me shelter from the storm.'</p>
+
+<p>At these words Undine, holding a lamp high in one hand, flung the door
+wide open with the other. Before her stood an old priest, who looked
+upon her with surprise. How came so fair a maiden to be dwelling in so
+lonely a home? he wondered, and in his bewilderment he stood still
+outside the shelter and warmth which awaited him.</p>
+
+<p>'Will you not enter, holy Father?' said Undine.</p>
+
+<p>The priest roused himself to thank the beautiful maiden, and then
+entered the kitchen. Water flowed from his long robe and trickled from
+his long white beard and snowy locks.</p>
+
+<p>'Come with me, Father,' said the fisherman, and he drew the priest
+into a little room and made him take off all his wet garments. Then,
+clad in a suit of dry clothes which belonged to his host, the priest
+returned to the kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>The old woman pulled forward her own armchair and made the priest sit
+in it, while Undine brought a little stool and put it beneath the feet
+of the stranger.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile food was placed before the priest. When he had eaten he was
+refreshed and able to tell his host how he had reached the island.</p>
+
+<p>'It was but yesterday,' he said, 'that I was sailing across the lake,
+when a sudden storm arose. A wave dashed upon my boat, overturning it
+and throwing me on to the shore. I lay there stunned for some time.
+Then, as I slowly recovered my senses, I saw a footpath before me, and
+following it I reached the shelter of your cottage.'</p>
+
+<p>Then the fisherman said to the priest, 'Unless the stream subsides we
+shall, I fear, be in need of food. For days I have found it wellnigh
+impossible to fish in the lake, and even should I be able to do so I
+could not sell my fish. It would be too hard a task to reach the city
+beyond the wood until the stream once more runs quietly between its
+banks.'</p>
+
+<p>To Huldbrand as he listened it mattered not though the stream rushed
+on for ever. The world beyond the wood was becoming to the knight more
+and more as a dream. Also the little island on which he was living
+seemed to him the most beautiful spot on earth, for on it dwelt the
+maiden he loved so well.</p>
+
+<p>As these thoughts passed through the knight's mind he turned, and saw
+at once that Undine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> must have annoyed her foster-mother, for the old
+woman was casting angry looks upon the maiden. Perhaps the angry looks
+would be followed by harsh words, as had happened on other days.</p>
+
+<p>Quickly the knight made up his mind. Were Undine but his wife, no one
+would venture to reprove her. The priest was in the cottage. Why
+should he not marry the beautiful maiden without delay?</p>
+
+<p>He spoke a few words to Undine, then drawing her gently toward the
+priest he said, 'Father, you see before you the maiden whom I love,
+whom, if her foster-parents are willing, I would wed this very day.'</p>
+
+<p>The priest turned to the fisherman and his wife. 'You hear the words
+of the noble knight,' he said. 'Are you willing that he should wed the
+maiden?'</p>
+
+<p>It was easy to see that the old people were in no way startled by the
+priest's words.</p>
+
+<p>'To no braver or more courteous knight could we give our
+foster-child,' said the fisherman, and his wife smiled and nodded as
+he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>Then the foster-mother brought two candles, which long years before
+had been blessed by a holy man, and placed them on the kitchen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> table,
+while the knight, unfastening the chain which hung around his neck,
+began to take off it two golden rings, one for Undine, the other for
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, do not so,' cried the maiden. 'Touch not the golden chain.
+Believe me, my parents, could they know, would wish us to use the
+rings they entrusted to my care when I was but a child.'</p>
+
+<p>She ran quickly from the room, and when she came back she held in her
+hand two radiant rings, one of which she gave to the knight, while the
+other she kept for herself.</p>
+
+<p>Her foster-parents looked at Undine in surprise, for they had neither
+seen the rings nor known that their foster-child had any jewels in her
+possession.</p>
+
+<p>Then the maiden, seeing their astonishment, told how her parents had
+stitched the rings into the little garments she had worn when first
+she came to them, a tiny child. 'They bid me also tell no one that
+they had given me these precious gems until the evening of my
+wedding-day.'</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the priest had clad himself again in his own garments, and
+lighting the candles, he called to Huldbrand and the maiden to come
+and kneel before him.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p>
+<p class="center"><a name="imge_4" id="imge_4"></a><img src="images/image_04.jpg" alt="In the little cottage were heard the solemn words of
+the marriage service" width="500" height="616" /><br />
+<span class="caption">In the little cottage were heard the solemn words of
+the marriage service</span></p>
+<p>Gladly they obeyed, and then in the little cottage were heard the
+solemn words of the marriage service, and Undine became the wife of
+Huldbrand, the knight of Ringstetten.</p>
+
+<p>The maiden had been unusually quiet as she listened to the solemn
+words of the marriage service, but now a spirit of mischief seemed to
+seize her. She laughed and danced, she played childish tricks upon her
+husband, her foster-parents, even upon the priest himself.</p>
+
+<p>Her foster-mother would have rebuked Undine as of old, but the knight
+silenced her, for Undine was now his wife. Yet he himself was little
+pleased with her behaviour. When Undine saw a frown upon his brow, it
+is true that she would grow quieter, and sitting near him, would for a
+little while smooth his brow with her soft white hand. Soon, however,
+a new fancy would take hold of her, she would jump up, and her tricks
+would grow even more vexing than before.</p>
+
+<p>Then the priest spoke, and his voice was grave.</p>
+
+<p>'Lady, you are fair to look on, but I pray you to cease these foolish
+ways, lest your soul become less beautiful than your face.'</p>
+
+<p>Undine's laughter ceased. After a while she looked at the priest and
+asked in a timid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> whisper, 'What is this thing which you call a soul,
+holy Father?'</p>
+
+<p>Over the little kitchen a hush fell as the holy man answered, 'How can
+I tell you what this strange thing which we call our soul really is?
+Yet can I tell you why God gives us this great gift. It is that we may
+learn to know and love Him. Our bodies will grow old, and we will lay
+them aside as a garment which we no longer need, while our souls will
+live and dwell with Him for ever.'</p>
+
+<p>Undine's eyes grew sad, tears streamed down her cheek. 'Ah,' she
+sobbed, 'I have no soul, no soul. I think it would hurt me to have a
+soul, yet fain would I have one.'</p>
+
+<p>Then, with one of those quick changes which had at times startled her
+foster-parents, she dried her tears, and ran quickly to the window.
+She looked out into the night. It seemed to call her forth to a
+careless, thoughtless life. Why should she stay when the wind
+whispered to her and the waters brought her messages from the depths
+of the sea?</p>
+
+<p>'Ah no, I will have no soul!' cried Undine, turning once more toward
+the priest. 'I must be free, free as the breezes and the dancing
+waters.'</p>
+
+<p>'Your love for me will change and grow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> cold,' said the knight sadly,
+'unless you have a human soul. For none can love truly without this
+precious gift.'</p>
+
+<p>Yet even as he spoke Huldbrand was trying to stifle a fear that had
+begun to creep into his heart, a fear that the maiden he had wedded
+was a fairy or a mocking spirit from another world.</p>
+
+<p>But his beautiful wife was smiling softly, for as he had spoken his
+last words she had learned a secret. And as the knight looked into her
+blue love-lit eyes he too learned the secret. Through love Undine had
+won a soul, which is indeed the gift of God to every mortal.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+
+<h3>UNDINE'S STORY</h3>
+<p>Undine lost her wilful ways on her wedding-day.</p>
+
+<p>Her foster-parents watched her, bewildered, so gentle was she, so
+thoughtful. She, who had but seldom flung her arms around them,
+embraced them now, and thanked them with tears in her eyes for all
+their care. Nor would she let them go, until she saw that the old
+woman wished to prepare breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>Then she herself flew to the hearth, and making her foster-mother
+rest, she swept and dusted, and prepared the meal. It was strange that
+she had never thought of doing this before.</p>
+
+<p>And those who dwelt with her, as they watched her grow so gracious, so
+gentle, learned to love her even more than in the days when she had
+been wild and wilful.</p>
+
+<p>One evening Undine, with Huldbrand by her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> side, wandered along the
+bank of the forest stream.</p>
+
+<p>The knight marvelled that the waters had suddenly grown peaceful, and
+that now again they were gliding quietly along their usual course.</p>
+
+<p>'To-morrow,' said his fair wife sorrowfully, 'to-morrow you can ride
+forth where you will.'</p>
+
+<p>'But,' said Huldbrand, 'you know well that if I go I will not leave
+you behind.'</p>
+
+<p>'I do not think you will leave me, Huldbrand. Yet carry me across to
+yonder little island, for there I will tell to you the story of the
+maiden you have made your wife. It may be that when you have heard it,
+you will ride away alone into the wide world.'</p>
+
+<p>Then silently the knight carried her, as she wished, across the stream
+to the tiny island, and laid her down on the green grass. It was on
+this very spot that he had found her on the night of the terrible
+storm.</p>
+
+<p>'Sit there, where I can look into your eyes as I tell my tale,' said
+his wife, 'for as I look I shall be able to see what you are thinking,
+nor will there be any need for you to tell me.'</p>
+
+<p>'In the world,' said Undine, 'there are many beings whom mortals
+seldom see, for should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> these beings hear a mortal drawing near, they
+quickly hide themselves. These beings of whom I tell you are spirits
+that dwell in fire, earth, air and water.</p>
+
+<p>'Those who dwell in the flames are called salamanders, nor do these
+spirits wish for any other home, as they play merrily and fearlessly
+among the sparkling fires.</p>
+
+<p>'Deep under the earth live the gnomes, rough and fearsome spirits
+they, full of malice too, should any mortal cross their path.</p>
+
+<p>'In lofty forests dwell more fair and joyous spirits, guarding each
+some well-loved spot from a mortal's heavy tread.</p>
+
+<p>'And better known and better loved than these of whom I have told you
+are the spirits who haunt the waters. These have their home in sea or
+lake, in river or in little brook.</p>
+
+<p>'Deep down under the blue waters, hidden from mortal eyes, are the
+palaces of the water spirits. Their walls are built of crystal and are
+hung with coral, their floors are paved with shining pearls.</p>
+
+<p>'Deep down under the blue waters are yellow sands. There the merry
+little water-spirits play their games and gambol all the glad long
+days, until they leave their childhood far behind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Pure and fair, more fair even than the race of mortals are the
+spirits of the water. Fishermen have chanced to see these water-nymphs
+or mermaidens, and they have spoken of their wondrous beauty. Mortals
+too have named these strange women Undines. Look upon me, Huldbrand,
+look long and well, for I, your wife, am an Undine!'</p>
+
+<p>The knight gazed sadly upon his beautiful wife. He wished to believe
+that she was but weaving fairy tales with which to charm him through
+the quiet eventide, yet as he gazed upon her he shuddered lest the
+tale she told was true.</p>
+
+<p>Undine saw that he shuddered, and tears sprang into her blue eyes as
+she went on with her story.</p>
+
+<p>'When I was a child I lived in the depths of the sea. My father's
+crystal palace was my home, for he, my father, is the Lord of the
+Ocean. K&uuml;hleborn is my uncle. He used to watch me with his big eyes
+until I grew afraid, and even now, although I live above the waters,
+he comes to me and ofttimes he frightens me as though I were again a
+little child.</p>
+
+<p>'Brothers and cousins, too, were mine and played with me on the yellow
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>sands beneath the blue sea.</p>
+
+<p>'Merry were our lives and free, for the sorrows of mortals came not
+near to us. We had no soul, the gift God gives to every mortal, and
+without a soul no pain could enter into our lives.</p>
+
+<p>'Yet my father, the King of the Ocean, longed that I, his only
+daughter, should gain the great gift which is given to every mortal.
+And this he wished, though well he knew that to mortals was given,
+with the gift of a soul, the power to suffer.</p>
+
+<p>'An Undine can gain a soul in one way alone. She must love and be
+loved by one of mortal birth.</p>
+
+<p>'You, Huldbrand, you have given me my soul, and should you now despise
+me or drive me from you, I should suffer even as one of your own race.</p>
+
+<p>'Yet if you care not to have an Undine for your wife, leave me, and I
+will plunge into the waters. Then K&uuml;hleborn, my uncle, who brought me
+a merry happy child to the fisherman, will come and carry me back to
+my ocean home. There will I live, loving, sorrowing, for into the
+depths of the blue sea will I carry my new-won soul.'</p>
+
+<p>Then Huldbrand forgot everything save the great love he bore his fair
+wife Undine. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> took her in his arms and carried her across the
+little stream, whispering to her that she should never leave him.</p>
+
+<p>Together they went back to the cottage, and to the water-maiden the
+little dwelling gleamed more bright than the crystal palace of the
+Ocean King.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+
+<h3>HULDBRAND AND UNDINE LEAVE THE COTTAGE</h3>
+<p>The following day Undine was up and out early in the morning, to see
+if the forest stream was still flowing quietly within its banks. Now
+the forest stream was the one haunted by her uncle K&uuml;hleborn, and
+often he would use the waters for his own purposes. Sometimes
+K&uuml;hleborn's purposes were kind, sometimes they were unkind.</p>
+
+<p>Undine was, in the cottage again, preparing the morning meal, when
+Huldbrand entered the kitchen. She greeted him brightly.</p>
+
+<p>'My uncle K&uuml;hleborn has made the waters calm,' she cried. 'The stream
+is gliding peaceful as of old through the forest. Neither in air nor
+water are there spirits to molest us. Should you wish it, you can
+journey homeward to-day.'</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand did not like to hear Undine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> speak of her strange kinsfolk,
+yet so gentle was she, so full of grace, that he soon forgot his
+vexation.</p>
+
+<p>Together the knight and his wife went to the door of the cottage, and
+looked out at the meadows and the lake lying in the morning sunshine.</p>
+
+<p>'Why should we leave this quiet spot to-day?' said Huldbrand, for well
+he loved the island where he had found his beautiful bride. 'In the
+great world we will spend no gladder days than in this simple
+meadow-land. Let us, then, yet linger here for a few days.'</p>
+
+<p>'It shall be as you wish,' answered Undine. 'Yet will my
+foster-parents grieve the more when I leave them, should they learn
+that I have now a soul. To-day they only marvel that I am kind and
+thoughtful, thinking that to-morrow I will once again be wild and
+careless as of old. But should I dwell here much longer they will know
+that never in the days to come will I be thoughtless as in former
+days. For I cannot hide my new gift. They will hear it in my voice,
+they will feel it in my touch, they will see it in my eyes. And having
+known that now, at length, I could love them well, they would grieve
+to lose me.'</p>
+
+<p>'We will leave to-day, this very hour,' said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> the knight, so pleased
+was he with Undine's new care for her kind old foster-parents.</p>
+
+<p>The priest who had found shelter in the cottage was also ready to
+return to his monastery. He would journey with the knight and his lady
+until they were safe from the perils of the haunted wood.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly they sought the fisherman and his wife, and told them that
+now they must leave the shelter of their cottage and journey toward
+the city that lay beyond the forest.</p>
+
+<p>The farewells were said and Huldbrand lifted his beautiful wife and
+seated her on his horse. He himself would walk by her side.</p>
+
+<p>The three travellers soon reached the leafy shades of the forest.</p>
+
+<p>On one side of the lady walked the priest, clad in a long white robe,
+while, guarding her on the other side, was, as I told you, the knight.
+His armour was burnished and his sword was once more girt by his side.</p>
+
+<p>As Huldbrand and Undine talked joyfully together, a stranger joined
+the priest, yet they in their joy did not notice this.</p>
+
+<p>The stranger wore a garment such as a monk might wear. The hood was
+drawn forward and wellnigh hid his face, while the whole robe hung
+loosely around him, in great <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>folds, so that at each step he must
+gather it up and throw it over his arm.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><a name="imge_5" id="imge_5"></a><img src="images/image_05.jpg" alt="The three travellers soon reached the leafy shades of
+the forest" width="600" height="495" /><br />
+<span class="caption">The three travellers soon reached the leafy shades of
+the forest</span></p>
+
+<p>'I have lived in the forest for many years,' said the stranger to the
+priest, 'and I love it for its great beauty. As I flit in and out
+among the dark shadows of the trees, I play with the stray sunbeams as
+they cast their glances here and there on my white robe.'</p>
+
+<p>'Tell me your name, for I would fain know who you are,' said the
+priest to his companion.</p>
+
+<p>'Nay, tell me first who are you who ask?' said the stranger.</p>
+
+<p>'Father Heilman is my name,' answered the priest, 'and I am journeying
+back to my monastery, after an absence of many days.'</p>
+
+<p>'Now I,' said the stranger, 'am named Lord K&uuml;hleborn, though sometimes
+I am called K&uuml;hleborn the Free, for indeed I am free as the wild birds
+of the air to go hither and thither as I will. Meanwhile, Sir Priest,
+I bid you farewell, for I would speak to yonder lady.'</p>
+
+<p>Even as he spoke, K&uuml;hleborn left the priest and came close up to
+Undine. He bent forward as though he would whisper in her ear. But
+Undine drew herself quickly away, crying as she saw who was by her
+side, 'I no longer wish to have aught to do with you!'</p>
+
+<p>But her uncle only laughed at her words.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'You are my niece,' he said, 'and I am here to guide you through the
+forest. The goblins in the cavern beneath the earth might come forth
+to do you harm were I not here to keep them quiet. The priest, who is
+named Father Heilman, speaks to me more kindly than do you. Know you
+not that it was I who brought him in safety to the little island to be
+ready for your wedding-day?'</p>
+
+<p>Undine and the knight turned to the priest, but he was walking as one
+in deep thought, and had, it was easy to see, heard nothing that the
+stranger had said.</p>
+
+<p>Then Undine turned again to her uncle. 'See yonder,' she cried, 'I can
+see already the end of the wood. We need your help no longer. I pray
+you vanish and do not disturb us further.'</p>
+
+<p>When K&uuml;hleborn saw that Undine really wished him to leave her, he was
+angry. He made faces and shook his fist at his niece, until at length
+she screamed, 'Huldbrand, Huldbrand, save me, I entreat you!'</p>
+
+<p>The knight at once drew his sword and would have struck at the rude
+stranger. But as he thrust in the direction of K&uuml;hleborn he felt a
+waterfall come rushing down from a rock above him. He drew his wife
+back, that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> might not be drenched, but as he did so a white spray
+was flung after them which wet them both to the skin. At that moment
+they heard, as they thought, a low mocking laugh.</p>
+
+<p>'It is strange,' said the priest, 'that the ripple of the stream
+should sound almost as the voice of a man.'</p>
+
+<p>To Huldbrand the stream still seemed to be speaking, and these were
+the words he thought he heard. 'You were foolish, Sir Knight, to draw
+your sword, yet will I not be angry with you, nor will I quarrel with
+you so long as you guard well your beautiful wife. Yet be not again
+thus hasty, Sir Knight.'</p>
+
+<p>As the voice faded away into silence the travellers reached the end of
+the wood. Before them was the city, glowing red in the rays of the
+setting sun.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+
+<h3>THE KNIGHT RETURNS TO THE CITY</h3>
+<p>Now all this time the lady Bertalda had been very unhappy because of
+the knight's long absence. Indeed, she had no sooner sent Huldbrand
+forth into the haunted forest than she began to wish that she had kept
+him by her side. As day after day passed and he did not return, she
+grew fearful lest he had lost his way and perished in the mazes of the
+wood. When a little later she heard of the floods that had made the
+country around impassable, she wellnigh lost all hope of his return.</p>
+
+<p>In spite of this, however, she begged the knights who had taken part
+in the tournament to go in search of Huldbrand, but this they were
+unwilling to do.</p>
+
+<p>As for the knight's own servants, they would not leave the city
+without their master, yet neither would they follow him into the
+dreaded forest. They lingered on at an inn of the city,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> lamenting his
+absence, but doing nought to bring him back.</p>
+
+<p>It was now, when there seemed but little hope of his return, that
+Huldbrand, to the surprise of every one, appeared in the city,
+bringing with him a wife of wondrous beauty, as well as Father
+Heilman, the priest who had married them.</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand's servants rejoiced to see their young master alive and
+well. And the town folk, who had heard of his disappearance, were glad
+that the light-hearted knight, who had always treated them with
+courtesy, had suffered no harm in his adventure.</p>
+
+<p>But the lady Bertalda, though she was glad that the knight had
+returned, was sad when she saw that he had not come back alone. She
+herself had loved him, and had hoped that, if ever he should return,
+he would claim her as his bride.</p>
+
+<p>Yet though Bertalda was sad, she was a wise maiden, and she received
+Undine kindly, thinking that she was a princess whom Huldbrand had
+rescued from a wicked wizard. For the true story of the beautiful
+Undine was known to none, save to the knight alone.</p>
+
+<p>As for Undine, she no sooner saw Bertalda than she loved her, and
+begged her to stay in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> the city until she and her husband left it.
+Nay, more, she even asked the maiden to promise to go with them when
+they set out for the castle of Ringstetten, which stood on the banks
+of the river Danube, and Bertalda was well pleased with this request.</p>
+
+<p>One evening they three together walked up and down in the public
+square. In the midst of the square stood a beautiful fountain, and
+here they lingered to watch the water as it tumbled and tossed. So
+violently did it do this that it seemed as though the fountain must
+break, and the water, bursting its bonds, must flow away far and free.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment a tall man came towards them from the market-place,
+and, bowing to the knight and Bertalda, he drew the young wife aside
+that he might speak to her alone.</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand looked at the stranger, and as he looked he felt sure that
+he had seen him before. He grew a little angry, this hasty knight, as
+he watched his wife and the stranger whispering together. He caught a
+few words too, and they seemed to him to be in a foreign language, and
+this displeased him yet more.</p>
+
+<p>At this moment, however, Undine left the stranger. As she came toward
+her husband<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> she was laughing merrily and clapping her hands.</p>
+
+<p>But the stranger, as she left him, shook his head and frowned. Then he
+walked with great strides toward the fountain, and stepping into it he
+vanished and was seen no more.</p>
+
+<p>'It is K&uuml;hleborn, the spirit of the forest stream&mdash;I know him now,'
+thought Huldbrand to himself.</p>
+
+<p>But Bertalda seemed to see nothing unusual about the stranger. She
+thought he was the Master of the fountain, and turning to Undine she
+asked her what the man had said to make her laugh so gaily.</p>
+
+<p>'The day after to-morrow is your birthday, dear Bertalda,' said
+Undine. 'Wait only until then, and I will tell you the reason of my
+joy.'</p>
+
+<p>Then, saying farewell to Bertalda, Undine and the knight walked toward
+their home.</p>
+
+<p>'Was it K&uuml;hleborn who spoke to you by the fountain?' asked Huldbrand,
+and his voice sounded cold, for he did not wish to be reminded of his
+wife's strange relations.</p>
+
+<p>'It was he,' answered Undine. 'He told me tidings that made me
+rejoice. I will tell you without delay, should you desire it, what the
+tidings were. Yet if you will but wait until<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> Bertalda's birthday, you
+will give me great pleasure, and you yourself will enjoy a great
+surprise.'</p>
+
+<p>Listening to her gentle words, the knight forgot the ill-humour he had
+but lately felt, and willingly he agreed to wait until she herself
+wished to tell him the good news.</p>
+
+<p>And Undine, as she fell asleep that night, was smiling happily.
+'Bertalda, dear Bertalda,' she murmured, 'how she will rejoice when I
+tell her the tidings brought to me by him whom she calls the Master of
+the fountain.'</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2>
+
+<h3>THE BIRTHDAY FEAST</h3>
+<p>It had been Undine's wish to give a great banquet in honour of
+Bertalda's birthday. The knight had ordered that all should be done as
+she desired.</p>
+
+<p>The feast was now spread, and the guests, of whom there were a great
+number, had already taken their seats.</p>
+
+<p>At the upper end of the table sat Bertalda, surrounded with flowers
+and jewels, gifts these which her foster-parents and friends had
+showered upon her. By her side sat the knight and his fair young wife.</p>
+
+<p>When at length the fruit was placed on the table, the doors of the
+banqueting-room were flung open. (In Germany, where the knight lived,
+it was usual to do this that the peasant folk might look in and see
+how their masters fared.) Wine and cakes were offered to those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> who on
+this evening came to show their pleasure in the joy of the knight and
+his young wife.</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand and Bertalda, meanwhile, were watching Undine with eager
+eyes. Had she not a secret to tell them, which, when they knew it,
+would make them even happier than before?</p>
+
+<p>But Undine only smiled upon them as she caught their eyes, and shook
+her head slightly as though to say, 'No, it is still too soon, too
+soon.'</p>
+
+<p>At this moment the guests begged the young mistress of the feast to
+sing. She seemed pleased with the request, and taking her lute in her
+hands, she began to play softly, while her clear voice filled the
+room.</p>
+
+<p>It was a song of sunshine and green grass, of sweet flowers and
+sparkling waters, and the guests, listening spellbound, forgot all
+else save the singer and her song.</p>
+
+<p>But hark! the song is changing. Who is the child of whom Undine sings?
+A child who has been borne by the waves far from the home of her
+birth. The little one is lying like a flower among the meadow grass
+(the guests can see her as the singer sings) and reaches out her tiny
+hands for help.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Ah! now they hear the tramp, tramp of a horse. A noble duke is riding
+slowly along. He halts, for he sees the little maid. He stoops and
+lifts her in his arms, and carries her off to his own castle, and
+surrounds her with splendour and with wealth.</p>
+
+<p>And now tears gather in the eyes of the guests. The song is drawing to
+a close, and Undine is singing of an unknown shore, where in a little
+cottage sit a father and mother, desolate and sad, for they have lost
+their little child, and they know not where to find her.</p>
+
+<p>Among all the guests were none who listened to the song more eagerly
+than Bertalda's noble foster-parents.</p>
+
+<p>'She has sung the story of Bertalda, the little child we found so long
+ago,' they said each to the other. 'It was even thus we found her in
+the meadow, among the flowers.'</p>
+
+<p>And Bertalda herself cried out in haste, 'Undine, Undine, you know my
+parents, bring them to me, bring them to me, I entreat you!'</p>
+
+<p>Then Undine, with tears that were tears of joy in her eyes, looked at
+Bertalda, and said softly, 'They are here, your parents are here, dear
+maiden, and when you see them you will rejoice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> Well do I know the
+tender care they will give to you, for it was even they who were my
+own foster-parents.'</p>
+
+<p>At a sign from Undine the old fisherman and his wife now stepped
+forward from the corner in which their foster-child had bidden them
+wait. It was she, Undine, who had sent for them that they might claim
+Bertalda, who was, as K&uuml;hleborn told her, their child.</p>
+
+<p>The eyes of all the guests were fixed in astonishment on the humble
+fisherman and his wife. Could these poor working folk be indeed the
+parents of the maiden who stood before them, so cold, so full of
+pride?</p>
+
+<p>'Yes, here is your long-lost daughter,' said Undine softly, as the old
+people stood bewildered before Bertalda. Then they, taking courage
+from her words, threw their arms around their daughter. And as they
+embraced her, tears streamed down their old worn faces, while they
+thanked God for His goodness in giving them back their child.</p>
+
+<p>But Bertalda tore herself from their arms. She, the child of a poor
+old fisherman and his wife! She could not believe it. She did not wish
+to believe it. In her pride she had hoped to be known as the daughter
+of a beautiful princess, or even of a queen. Now in her anger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> she
+believed that Undine had brought the fisherman and his wife to the
+banquet only to crush her pride and to humble her before Huldbrand and
+his guests.</p>
+
+<p>The angry maiden took no pains to hide her rage. She reproached
+Undine, Undine who had only wished to give her joy, nor had she any
+words too bitter to fling at the fisherman and his wife.</p>
+
+<p>And Undine, who had hoped to make her friend and her foster-parents
+happy, listened sadly, now to Bertalda, now to the old fisherman and
+his wife.</p>
+
+<p>'Bertalda,' she cried, 'Bertalda, do not be angry. Have you not a
+soul? Let it teach you not to grieve your parents more.'</p>
+
+<p>But Bertalda only grew more angry, and the poor parents, as they heard
+her scorn, more sad.</p>
+
+<p>As for the guests, they were talking loudly, some being sorry for the
+maiden, others for the fisherman and his wife.</p>
+
+<p>Then Undine begged the knight to let her speak to their guests. And he
+yielding to her wish, she walked to the upper end of the table, and
+while all eyes were fixed upon her, she spoke.</p>
+
+<p>'My secret, which I thought would cause<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> Bertalda joy, has caused her
+sorrow. Yet must I tell you that I have spoken the truth. For he who
+told me was he who, when Bertalda was but a little babe, drew her into
+the water, and thereafter laid her in the green meadow through which
+the duke rode toward his castle.'</p>
+
+<p>'Do not listen to her words!' shouted Bertalda in her rage. 'She is a
+witch, a witch!'</p>
+
+<p>'Nay, I am no witch. Look upon me that you may know,' answered Undine.
+And as they gazed upon her pure face and into her clear blue eyes, the
+guests knew that she spoke the truth. Undine was not a witch.</p>
+
+<p>'If she is not a witch, she at least has not told the truth,' cried
+Bertalda, scorn in her cold voice. 'She has no proof that I am the
+child of these wretched old people.' Then, turning to her noble
+foster-parents, she entreated them to take her away at once from the
+city, where such shame had been brought upon her.</p>
+
+<p>But the duke did not move, while the duchess said in a firm voice, 'We
+shall not leave this room, nor shall you, proud maiden, until we know
+the truth.'</p>
+
+<p>Then the fisherman's wife drew near to the noble lady, and curtsying
+low she said,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> 'Should this bad maiden be indeed my daughter, as I do
+think she is, she will have between her shoulders a mark like a
+violet, and this mark also you will find on the instep of her left
+foot. Let the maiden come with me that&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>But Bertalda rudely interrupted the old woman's words.</p>
+
+<p>'I will not go with the peasant!' she said.</p>
+
+<p>'But you will come with me into another room,' said the duchess, and
+Bertalda knew that she would have to go. 'And the old woman shall come
+with us,' added the noble lady in a kind voice.</p>
+
+<p>As the three went out of the banqueting-room, silence fell upon the
+guests. Now they would soon know the truth.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly the moments passed. At length the door opened and the duchess
+returned with Bertalda and the old woman. Bertalda looked pale and
+frightened.</p>
+
+<p>'It is but just,' said the noble lady, looking round the room, 'it is
+but just that you should know the truth. It is as our hostess has
+said. Bertalda is indeed the daughter of the fisherman and his wife.'</p>
+
+<p>The duke and duchess then left the room, followed by their
+foster-child, the duke bid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>ding Bertalda's true parents come with them
+also.</p>
+
+<p>In silence the other guests slipped away, to talk in their own homes
+over all that they had heard and seen, and Undine, left alone with her
+husband, wept bitterly.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+
+<h3>THE JOURNEY TO CASTLE RINGSTETTEN</h3>
+<p>The knight did all he could to comfort his wife, and although he was
+sorry to see her tears, he was glad to think that she, who had been so
+wild and wilful, had now a soul so kind and loving.</p>
+
+<p>'If it is true that Undine has won through love a soul, it is one more
+pure than mortals know,' he thought to himself.</p>
+
+<p>As he comforted his wife Huldbrand made up his mind to take her away
+from the city as soon as possible.</p>
+
+<p>In the city the lady Bertalda was well known, and people talked of the
+strange story of her birth. But among them all none was heard to say
+an unkind word about Undine, while many there were who blamed Bertalda
+for her cruel behaviour toward her friend and the poor old fisherman
+and his wife. But this neither the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> knight nor his lady knew, nor
+would it have comforted Undine had she been told.</p>
+
+<p>The morning after the feast a beautiful carriage stood at the door.
+Huldbrand and his wife were ready to set out on their journey to the
+castle of Ringstetten.</p>
+
+<p>As the knight and Undine were stepping into the carriage a fisher-girl
+drew near, and begged them to buy her fish.</p>
+
+<p>'We are leaving the city, we do not need any fish,' said the knight
+courteously. But at the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears,
+and Huldbrand saw with surprise that it was Bertalda who had spoken to
+him.</p>
+
+<p>'Why do you weep so bitterly?' asked Undine, drawing Bertalda into the
+house, and the maiden, who had no pride left, told her story.</p>
+
+<p>'My foster-parents,' she said between her sobs, 'my foster-parents are
+so displeased with my cruel behaviour to you and to the old fisherman
+and his wife, that they no longer wish me to live with them. They have
+given me a large sum of money and have sent me away into the wide
+world. The fisherman and his wife, to whom they have also given gifts,
+have gone back to their cottage by the lake. I was too fearful to wish
+to be left alone in the world, and fain would I have gone with them to
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>their simple home, but he who is said to be my father&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p class="center"><a name="imge_6" id="imge_6"></a><img src="images/image_06.jpg" alt="At the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears" width="500" height="627" /><br />
+<span class="caption">At the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears</span></p>
+
+<p>'In truth he is your father,' interrupted Undine, and her voice was
+grave.</p>
+
+<p>'Even if he be my father,' answered Bertalda, 'yet would he not take
+me with him to his cottage. Did I care for him or for his wife, he
+said, I would not fear to journey alone through the haunted forest,
+until I found my home. Nor would he welcome me should I go to him
+dressed in aught save the dress of a fisher-girl. Although the thought
+of the forest makes me tremble, yet will I do as he has said. But
+first I have come to you, gentle lady,' and as she spoke Bertalda
+looked entreatingly at Undine, 'I have come to ask your forgiveness
+for my behaviour yesterday. I believe that you did indeed wish to give
+me joy by bringing my poor parents to the feast. O forgive me, forgive
+all the bold and unkind words I spoke, for indeed I am very unhappy.'</p>
+
+<p>But the gentle Undine would let the miserable maiden say no more. She
+threw her arms around Bertalda's neck, and said, 'Bertalda, dear
+Bertalda, you shall live with me and be my sister. You shall come with
+me to Ringstetten this very day.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The maiden dried her tears and looked timidly at the knight. He also
+felt sorry for Bertalda, nor did it please him to think of her
+venturing alone into the forest. Too well he knew the terrors which
+might surround her there. He took her hand, as he saw her timid look,
+and said in a gentle voice, 'You shall live with us at Ringstetten,
+and I and my wife will take care of you. But lest the good old
+fisherman is troubled as the days pass and you do not reach the
+cottage, I will send to tell him that you have come with us and are
+safe at Castle Ringstetten.' Then, giving Bertalda his arm, he placed
+her in the carriage with Undine. The knight himself mounted his horse
+and rode along gaily by their side, and soon they left the city and
+all sad thoughts behind.</p>
+
+<p>At length, one fair summer evening, the travellers reached
+Ringstetten. There was much to make the knight busy after his long
+absence, and thus it was that Undine and Bertalda spent many days
+alone together. Often they would walk in the beautiful country which
+lay without the castle grounds.</p>
+
+<p>One day, as they wandered along the banks of the river Danube, a tall
+man came toward them, and would have spoken to Undine. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> Undine,
+gentle as were her ways, had no welcome for the stranger. When she saw
+him, a frown crossed her sweet face and she bid him at once begone.
+Shaking his head the tall man yet obeyed, and walking with hasty steps
+toward a little wood, he soon disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>'Is not the stranger he who spoke to you in the city, the Master of
+the fountain?' cried Bertalda fearfully. She would always be afraid of
+the man who had told Undine the secret of her birth.</p>
+
+<p>'Fear nothing, dear Bertalda,' said Undine hastily, 'the Master of the
+fountain shall not do you harm. I will tell you who he is, and then
+you will no longer be afraid. His name is K&uuml;hleborn and he is my
+uncle. It was he who carried you away from your mother's arms and put
+me there in your place.'</p>
+
+<p>Then, as Bertalda listened with wide open eyes, Undine told her of her
+childhood's home in the crystal palace under the blue sea, and of the
+free and careless life she had lived in the cottage by the lake. She
+told her, too, of the coming of the knight, and of their wedding-day,
+when she had won for herself a soul, a gift given to no Undine save
+through the power of love.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Bertalda listened to the strange story in silence, but as she listened
+she felt a faint feeling of dread creep into her heart. And the
+feeling grew and grew until at last it seemed to stand as a wall
+between her and the gentle Undine.</p>
+
+<p>At supper that evening she began to be sorry for the knight, who had
+married a lady beautiful indeed and good, yet one who seemed to belong
+to another world than theirs.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+
+<h3>CASTLE RINGSTETTEN</h3>
+<p>Now as the days passed, a change crept over those who dwelt in the
+castle.</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand saw that Bertalda seemed to shrink away from his beautiful
+wife. And when at length he asked her the reason that she no longer
+loved Undine so well as she had been used to do, she told him that she
+now knew from whence his wife had come. 'And for the spirit world,'
+said Bertalda, 'I do not care, for I know it not. It and those who
+have dwelt there fill me with fear and dread.'</p>
+
+<p>Little by little the knight himself began to look at his wife with
+less loving eyes, little by little he began to shun her presence.</p>
+
+<p>Then Undine, seeing that her husband's love grew less, wept, and the
+knight, seeing her tears, would speak kindly to her, yet even as he
+spoke he would leave her side to walk with Bertalda.</p>
+
+<p>She, Bertalda, meanwhile grew once more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> rude and proud, nor could
+Undine's patience win her to behave more wisely.</p>
+
+<p>Then in the long dark passages of the old castle, spectres began to
+appear to Huldbrand and Bertalda, and worse than any was the tall form
+of K&uuml;hleborn, or the Master of the fountain, as the maiden still
+called him.</p>
+
+<p>Now one day, when Huldbrand had ridden to the hunt, Undine gathered
+all her servants together in the court of the castle and bade them
+bring a big stone to cover up the fountain which stood in the middle
+of the square.</p>
+
+<p>The servants, who loved their mistress, hastened to obey her commands.
+A huge stone was carried into the court, and was just about to be
+placed on the fountain when Bertalda came hurriedly to the spot.</p>
+
+<p>'The fountain must not be closed,' she cried haughtily, 'for it is
+from it that water is drawn for my daily bath.'</p>
+
+<p>But Undine, who on other days had often given way to the wishes of
+Bertalda, was to-day determined that her will should be done.</p>
+
+<p>'It is I who am mistress of the castle in the absence of my lord,' she
+said, and her voice was firm though it was kind, 'and the fountain
+shall be closed as I have commanded.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'But look,' cried Bertalda angrily, 'the water itself bubbles and
+heaves as though disturbed at the thought of being shut out from the
+glad sunshine.'</p>
+
+<p>The water was indeed, as the maiden said, fretting against the stones
+and throwing out sudden jets as though in a violent passion.</p>
+
+<p>The more excited grew the water, however, the more determined grew
+Undine to have her order fulfilled, and that without delay.</p>
+
+<p>As for the servants, they had no wish to please the haughty Bertalda,
+they were even glad to disobey her when that might be.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly they no longer delayed to do the will of their gentle
+mistress, and the stone was soon placed securely over the opening of
+the fountain. Undine then bent over it and silently wrote on the top
+of the stone some strange letters.</p>
+
+<p>That evening, when Huldbrand came home, Bertalda met him with tears in
+her eyes, and complained to him of his wife's strange conduct.</p>
+
+<p>'Tell me why you have ordered that the fountain should be sealed,'
+said the knight, turning sullenly to his wife. 'It was a strange
+deed.'</p>
+
+<p>'I will tell you the reason when we are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> alone,' said Undine. 'It was
+a grave one indeed.'</p>
+
+<p>'It matters not if Bertalda should hear,' said the knight, and he did
+not hide the impatience that he felt.</p>
+
+<p>'I will tell you in her presence if you so desire,' said Undine, 'but
+I beseech you, desire it not.'</p>
+
+<p>As the knight looked into her pleading face and let her sweet voice
+steal into his heart, he grew ashamed of himself. How could he ever be
+unkind to so fair, so good a wife!</p>
+
+<p>Thinking thus Huldbrand did not speak, but he drew Undine gently from
+the room, that she might speak to him alone as she wished to do.</p>
+
+<p>'Ah, now I can tell you,' said Undine, and she smiled in her content.
+'You know that K&uuml;hleborn, my uncle, has begun to haunt the castle. I
+send him away in my displeasure, yet again and again he returns. Now I
+have shut the door by which he comes, and here he will disturb our
+peace no more. It is true that the stone can easily be raised by
+strong men, in spite of the letters which I wrote upon it. If you wish
+to do as Bertalda demands, remove the stone, yet do I warn you that
+K&uuml;hleborn may well harm the maiden, for against her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> he bears more
+ill-will than he does against others.'</p>
+
+<p>Once more, as Huldbrand listened to his wife, he was ashamed. So
+gentle was she, so kind to the haughty maiden who but mocked at her
+for all her love. Peerless indeed was the soul of his beautiful wife,
+and once again love for her sprang up within his heart.</p>
+
+<p>'The stone shall not be removed, nor shall anything that you order be
+undone, my sweet Undine,' said the knight.</p>
+
+<p>At these words, and yet more at the kindness of his voice, Undine
+rejoiced. Then, seizing Huldbrand's hand, she begged him to grant her
+one request.</p>
+
+<p>'If at any time, in the days that are to come,' she said, 'you upbraid
+me, promise that this you will never do while we are sailing or while
+we are near to sea or lake or tiny rivulet. For should one of my race
+hear you use harsh words toward me, then would they regain their
+power, and snatch me away from you for ever. Then would I be forced to
+dwell all the rest of my life in the crystal palace below the blue
+sea. Nor could I ever come up to you unless, indeed, I was sent by my
+kindred, when alas! only great sadness would befall us both. Promise
+me, therefore, that when we are near water,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> you will remember what I
+have now told you.'</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand promised, and hand in hand they went in search of Bertalda.</p>
+
+<p>She meanwhile had called together some workmen, and as she saw the
+knight and Undine drawing near, she gave her orders to the men in a
+loud, discontented voice. 'The stone may now be removed. Hasten, see
+that it be done immediately!'</p>
+
+<p>But the knight was angry with the maiden for daring thus to give what
+orders she pleased, and he shouted at once, so that the workmen might
+hear, 'The stone shall stay where it is! It shall not be removed!'</p>
+
+<p>And the men went away, well pleased that they need not undo what their
+gentle mistress had ordered to be done.</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand then reproved Bertalda for her rude behaviour to his wife,
+but she scarcely heard his words, as she turned away in anger and
+hastened to her room.</p>
+
+<p>Soon supper was placed on the table, but Huldbrand and Undine waited
+in vain for Bertalda. At length they sent a servant to call her, but
+the maid came back only to tell them that she was nowhere to be found.
+In her room, however, a letter had been left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> addressed to the knight.
+Huldbrand opened it hastily and read:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>'Forgive me, Sir Knight, that I have forgotten that I am only a poor
+fisher-girl. I will go to my father's miserable cottage, where I
+cannot well commit the same fault again. Fare you well, you and your
+beautiful wife.'</p>
+
+<p>'You must go without delay to seek her and bring her back,' said
+Undine.</p>
+
+<p>And Huldbrand did not need to be urged. Already he had ordered his
+horse to be saddled that he might ride after the maiden.</p>
+
+<p>In vain he asked the servants in what direction Bertalda had gone. No
+one had seen her. It was only as the knight impatiently mounted his
+steed, that a page ran up to him crying, 'The lady Bertalda rode
+toward the Black Valley.'</p>
+
+<p>Without a pause the knight darted off in the direction of the valley.
+He did not hear his wife's voice crying after him, 'Huldbrand,
+Huldbrand, go not there, not to the valley, Huldbrand, or, if go you
+must, take me, I entreat of you.'</p>
+
+<p>Then when Undine saw that her cry was unheard, she ordered her palfrey
+to be saddled instantly, and mounting it, she rode forth alone to
+follow the knight into the Black Valley.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+
+<h3>THE BLACK VALLEY</h3>
+<p>The Black Valley was a gloomy place. Fir-trees grew tall and dark on
+the banks of the stream, casting strange shadows on the sunny waters.</p>
+
+<p>As the knight entered the valley, evening had fallen and the stream
+rushed, dark and sullen, between the rocks.</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand glanced anxiously from side to side, but no trace could be
+found of the maiden whom he sought. He began to fear lest already she
+were in peril, and thinking thus he urged his horse yet further into
+the valley.</p>
+
+<p>Peering through the bushes as he rode, he at length caught sight of
+something white lying on the ground. Had he found Bertalda at last?</p>
+
+<p>He spurred his horse onward toward the white gleam which had caught
+his eye, but the animal no sooner saw the object which had gladdened
+his master's eye than it started<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> violently and refused to move. Then
+the knight dismounted, and tying his now rearing steed to an elm, he
+pushed his way on foot through the brushwood.</p>
+
+<p>Thunder began to rumble around the mountains, and the evening dew fell
+cold and damp on the anxious knight.</p>
+
+<p>He could still see the white figure lying on the ground, but as he
+drew nearer to it a strange dread struck at Huldbrand's heart.</p>
+
+<p>'Was Bertalda asleep,' he wondered, 'or did she lie there unconscious,
+perchance even dead?'</p>
+
+<p>He was close to her now, bending over her. She never stirred. He
+rustled the branches, rattled his sword. Still she lay there quiet,
+motionless. He called her by her name, 'Bertalda!' but no voice
+answered him. He called again, more loud, 'Bertalda!' but only a
+sorrowful echo answered his cry.</p>
+
+<p>Then the knight bent nearer yet to the maiden, but darkness hid the
+face on which he longed to gaze.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly the whole valley was bright as at mid-day. A vivid flash of
+lightning showed to Huldbrand the face over which he bent.</p>
+
+<p>It was a terrible face. And a voice, awful as the face, rang out harsh
+and hollow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>With a cry of terror the knight sprang away from the horrid vision.
+But was it a vision? Huldbrand knew that it was creeping after him,
+and he could catch some muttered words. 'Get you gone, get you gone,'
+he heard, 'there are evil spirits abroad. Get you gone, or I shall
+seize you and hold you fast,' and the white figure stretched out his
+bony arms to catch him. Ah! now the knight knew who it was that had
+given him so cruel a fright. It was none other than K&uuml;hleborn, the
+malicious water spirit.</p>
+
+<p>Seizing his sword, Huldbrand struck fiercely at the white figure, only
+however to see it vanish, while a heavy shower of water drenched him
+from head to foot.</p>
+
+<p>'He may wish to drive me away, but he shall not succeed in doing so,'
+murmured the knight. 'Bertalda shall not be left to the vengeance of
+this evil spirit.'</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand now turned back to go to his horse, but ere he reached the
+animal, he heard in the distance a sound of weeping. It reached his
+ears even though the thunder still rolled and the wind still blew. He
+hastened towards the spot from which the sound seemed to come. There,
+on the hillside, trying to climb up out of the darkness of the valley,
+he found Bertalda.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The maiden was too glad to see Huldbrand to remember how but lately he
+had angered her. She clung to him, calling him her deliverer, her
+knight, for to her too the valley had been full of horrible forms and
+strange visions.</p>
+
+<p>Soothing her with kind words, Huldbrand led the maiden toward his
+horse.</p>
+
+<p>But no sooner did the animal see his master approach with Bertalda on
+his arm than it began to rear, beating the air madly with its
+forefeet.</p>
+
+<p>It was not possible to mount Bertalda, and the knight soon gave up the
+attempt. He drew the horse gently forward by the bridle, while with
+his other arm he supported the fearful maiden.</p>
+
+<p>But Bertalda, though she was anxious to escape from the dark valley,
+could walk but slowly, and at each step her strength grew less. For
+K&uuml;hleborn had played her many pranks ere she had been found. The storm
+also had bruised her slender form.</p>
+
+<p>At length she slipped from the knight's arm, and falling on the grass,
+she sighed, 'Leave me, noble knight, leave me to suffer the punishment
+I deserve.'</p>
+
+<p>'I will never leave you, dear Bertalda,' cried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> the knight. As he
+spoke, the steed began to plunge even more furiously than before. It
+was impossible for Huldbrand to control the animal. All he could do
+was to force it away a few paces from where the maiden lay, for he
+feared lest the horse should trample her to death.</p>
+
+<p>He had gone but a few steps when he heard her calling to him,
+'Huldbrand, Huldbrand, leave me not alone,' for already all her
+courage had faded away.</p>
+
+<p>As he hesitated, the knight heard the wheels of a wagon rumble slowly
+over the rough road that led through the valley. He at once called to
+the driver to come to his help. A man's voice called back quickly,
+'Have but patience, and I will come.'</p>
+
+<p>Soon afterwards Huldbrand saw two white horses appear through the
+trees. Then a wagon covered with a great white hood was to be seen,
+and last of all the driver, who was dressed in a white carter's frock.</p>
+
+<p>The driver drew near to the knight and tried to help him to quiet his
+frightened steed.</p>
+
+<p>'Do you know, Sir Knight, why your good horse shivers thus?' asked the
+carter, 'for if not I can tell you. A bad water spirit dwells in this
+valley, and often he would bewitch my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> horses when first I ventured
+through it. But now I have learned a little spell. If you wish it, I
+will whisper it in the ear of your steed, and he will stand steady as
+my greys.'</p>
+
+<p>'You may try your spell,' said the knight, 'though I fear that it will
+be of but little use.'</p>
+
+<p>Then the driver of the wagon went quietly up to the panting steed, and
+said a few words to it. At once the horse stood still, without a trace
+of the fear which had made it so restless and unmanageable.</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand had no time to wonder what the wagoner had said to his
+horse. He was too eager to get Bertalda out of the valley to think of
+anything else.</p>
+
+<p>'My wagon will take the fair lady safely back to Ringstetten,' said
+the wagoner. 'She may sit in it in comfort, for it is filled with bags
+of the softest cotton.'</p>
+
+<p>The knight was glad to accept this offer, and as his horse, though
+quiet, was tired and weary, Huldbrand himself was easily persuaded
+that he also should ride in the wagon with Bertalda, while his steed
+was fastened behind.</p>
+
+<p>'It is well,' said the wagoner, 'that the road is downhill. My trusty
+greys will step out bravely.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Thus they started, the driver walking by the side of his wagon.</p>
+
+<p>And Bertalda and the knight did not heed the jolting of the wagon, as
+they sat side by side on the soft bags of cotton.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly they were startled by a loud shout from the driver.</p>
+
+<p>'Steady, now, my trusty greys, steady, lest you fall.'</p>
+
+<p>Already the wagon was in the midst of a stream of rushing water, and
+it seemed as though the horses must be carried off their feet. The
+wagoner had sprung into the wagon untouched by the swirling waters.</p>
+
+<p>'This is a strange way by which to drive us,' said Huldbrand to the
+wagoner. 'It seems to go right into the middle of the stream.'</p>
+
+<p>'Nay, now, Sir Knight,' laughed the driver, 'if you look again, you
+will see that it is the stream which is rushing across our path. See,
+it has overflowed its banks.'</p>
+
+<p>The knight looked and saw that the whole valley was being rapidly
+flooded. Then, all at once, he knew that this was K&uuml;hleborn's doing.</p>
+
+<p>'It is K&uuml;hleborn,' he cried aloud, 'K&uuml;hleborn the water spirit, who is
+doing his utmost to drown us. Do you not know a spell against his
+power?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'Yea, by my troth I know a spell,' answered the wagoner, 'but ere I
+use it, I must tell you who I am.'</p>
+
+<p>'I care not who you may be,' shouted the angry knight. 'See you not
+that there is no time to lose. The water is rising rapidly.'</p>
+
+<p>'Nevertheless,' answered the man,' you shall hear my name, for I am
+K&uuml;hleborn!'</p>
+
+<p>He laughed a mocking laugh, and at that moment the wagon seemed to
+disappear, and Bertalda and the knight were struggling in the flood.
+Above them rose the wagoner, who was indeed, as he had said,
+K&uuml;hleborn. Taller and taller he towered above them, until he seemed at
+last to change into a great white wave.</p>
+
+<p>With horror-stricken eyes the maiden and the knight saw the wave swoop
+down upon the noble steed, which had been vainly struggling in the
+water. Then slowly once more the wave reared itself higher and higher
+yet above the heads of the two who watched and waited until they too
+should be for ever buried beneath the waters.</p>
+
+<p>But ere the great white wave rolled down upon them, they were saved.
+Through the tumult of the waters a sweet voice floated to Bertalda and
+the knight. Then, as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> moon broke through the clouds, they saw
+Undine on a hill looking down into the valley.</p>
+
+<p>She rebuked the waters, she even threatened the vast wave that towered
+above Bertalda and the knight, until muttering gloomily it vanished
+from their sight.</p>
+
+<p>As the waters ran more quietly through the valley, Undine flew to them
+swiftly as a bird and drew them up out of reach of the water. Bidding
+them rest a while, for they were weary, she went a little way off to
+fetch her white palfrey. Then, telling the knight to place Bertalda on
+the saddle, she led them safely back to the castle.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
+
+<h3>HULDBRAND FORGETS HIS PROMISE</h3>
+<p>Undine was full of joy when she had saved Bertalda and Huldbrand from
+the dangers of the Black Valley, and brought them back safely to
+Castle Ringstetten. Her joy grew daily greater as her husband became
+kind and gentle to her as he had used to be when they dwelt together
+in the cottage by the lake. Indeed the knight had grown ashamed of his
+careless words and ways. He would never again speak harshly to Undine
+or leave her side to spend long hours with Bertalda; so he thought to
+himself. For when she had hastened to save him and the maiden from the
+doom which had all but overtaken them, he had seen once more, in a
+flash, the soul of his beautiful young wife. It shone before him now,
+fair and spotless in its beauty.</p>
+
+<p>Bertalda, too, had been touched by the goodness of her friend. She no
+longer wished to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> mock her gentle words, and though her heart was
+cold, she grew more humble.</p>
+
+<p>Thus trouble and care passed away from Ringstetten, and spectres no
+longer haunted the dark corners of the castle.</p>
+
+<p>Winter came, cold and chill, but it had no power to freeze the hearts
+of Undine and the knight.</p>
+
+<p>Spring came, and the trees grew green, and the sky shone more blue,
+and the little birds began to use their wings. Soon the swallows and
+the storks came home from their long winter journeys. And those in the
+castle, as they thought of the fair countries these had seen, began
+themselves to wish to travel.</p>
+
+<p>One beautiful evening Huldbrand with his wife and Bertalda walked
+along the banks of the river Danube. The knight, who had ofttimes
+sailed down the river, told them tales of the wonderful countries
+through which it flowed, and of the beautiful town of Vienna, which
+rose so proudly on its banks.</p>
+
+<p>'Ah!' said Bertalda, 'how I wish we might sail to this city of which
+you tell.'</p>
+
+<p>And Undine, ever anxious to give pleasure to her friend, said, 'Yes,
+let us visit Vienna while the spring is still fair.' Huldbrand also
+was pleased at the thought of the journey,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> only once he bent toward
+Undine and whispered, 'K&uuml;hleborn, will we not be in his power if we
+sail down the river?'</p>
+
+<p>His beautiful wife only laughed. She was too happy now to fear her
+uncle's power.</p>
+
+<p>They therefore got ready for the journey with much merriment and many
+hopes.</p>
+
+<p>When at length the three travellers, with their attendants, set out on
+their voyage, it seemed as though all would be as joyful as they had
+wished. As they sailed on, the river grew more broad, more green the
+grasses too in the rich meadow-lands.</p>
+
+<p>But erelong a shadow crept across their joy. The river, indeed, flowed
+smooth as before, the country smiled only more graciously upon the
+travellers, but K&uuml;hleborn had already begun to show that on this part
+of the river he could use his power.</p>
+
+<p>Undine, it is true, reproved her uncle before he had done more than
+play a few tricks upon them. Yet though he would cease his pranks when
+she spoke, it was but a few moments before he was as troublesome as
+ever.</p>
+
+<p>Soon the crew began to crowd together, whispering fearfully and
+glancing timidly at the knight and his fair ladies. K&uuml;hleborn was
+making them afraid.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand saw their strange glances and he began to grow angry. He
+even muttered crossly, 'This is Undine's mad uncle come to disturb us.
+I would her strange kindred would leave us alone.'</p>
+
+<p>Thinking thus, the knight looked with displeasure at his poor wife.
+She knew but too well what his glance meant, and worn out with sorrow
+and with her constant watch over K&uuml;hleborn, she at length fell fast
+asleep.</p>
+
+<p>But no sooner were her eyes closed than her uncle again began his
+tiresome tricks.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed to the sailors, and indeed to all on board, that they were
+bewitched, for look which way each one would, there before him,
+peering out of the water, was the head of a very ugly man.</p>
+
+<p>Each man turned, in his terror, to point out to his fellow the hideous
+head. But on every face the same horror was already painted. Then when
+each tried to tell the other what each one had seen, they ended by
+crying out together, 'See, here is the face! nay, look, it is here!'</p>
+
+<p>Undine awoke as the terrified crew broke into loud screams, and as she
+opened her eyes the ugly faces vanished.</p>
+
+<p>But Huldbrand had not been frightened.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> He had been growing more and
+more angry, and now he would have spoken roughly to his wife, had she
+not pleaded with loving eyes and soft voice, 'For God's sake, rebuke
+me not while we are on the water. Bethink you of your promise.'</p>
+
+<p>The knight was silent, for well he remembered how Undine had entreated
+him never to reprove her while she was near water.</p>
+
+<p>Then she, seeing he was silent, whispered, 'Let us give up this
+voyage, for now has our joy turned into sadness. Let us go back to the
+castle where nothing can disturb us.'</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand, however, was not to be so easily restored to good humour.
+He answered her crossly, 'Why should I have to stay shut up at home?
+Even there can I have quiet only so long as the fountain remains
+sealed. I wish that your foolish kinsfolk&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>He could say no more, for Undine's hand was over his lips, and her
+voice was beseeching him to be silent.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Bertalda sat quietly in the ship, thinking of all the
+strange things that had happened. As she sat thus thinking, she
+unfastened a golden necklace which the knight had given to her, and
+holding it in her hand over the side of the bark she drew it
+carelessly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> through the water. Then dreamily she watched it as it
+gleamed and glistened in the light of the setting sun.</p>
+
+<p>All at once a huge white hand came up out of the river, seized the
+necklace, and disappeared with it below the water.</p>
+
+<p>Bertalda shrieked in terror, and a mocking laugh answered her cry.</p>
+
+<p>Then could the anger of the knight no longer be concealed. He sprang
+up, shouting to the water spirits to claim no kinship with him, but to
+come and learn from his sword-thrusts how much he hated them.</p>
+
+<p>The maiden meanwhile wept for her lost necklace. But Undine had thrust
+her hand into the water, and was murmuring strange words to herself,
+stopping from time to time to say to her husband, 'Chide me not here,
+Huldbrand, chide me not here, lest you lose me for ever.'</p>
+
+<p>And, indeed, though the knight shook with rage, yet he spoke no word
+of reproach to his wife.</p>
+
+<p>At length Undine drew out the hand which she had been holding under
+the water, and in it she held a coral necklace of wondrous beauty.</p>
+
+<p>'Take it and weep no longer,' she said in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> her gentle voice, and she
+held the necklace out toward Bertalda. 'I have had it brought to me
+from the palaces below the sea. Grieve no longer for the one which you
+have lost.'</p>
+
+<p>But the knight saw in the necklace only another sign of Undine's
+strange dealings with the water spirits. He sprang between Bertalda
+and his wife and snatched from Undine's hand the beautiful necklace,
+flinging it far away into the river. Then in his passion he turned to
+his wife, and cried, 'Go and abide with your kindred! You are a witch,
+go, dwell with those who are as you are, and take with you your gifts!
+Go, trouble us no more!'</p>
+
+<p>Undine looked at Huldbrand. Tears were in her blue eyes, and she wept
+as a little blameless child might weep.</p>
+
+<p>'Alas, beloved,' she sighed, 'farewell! No harm shall touch you while
+I have power to shield you from evil. Alas, alas! why have you sent me
+hence?'</p>
+
+<p>She seemed to glide as she spoke over the edge of the bark, and be
+drawn down into the river. And the little waves lapped against the
+boat and seemed to sob as they whispered, 'Alas, alas!'</p>
+
+<p>No sooner had the knight spoken than he knew what he had done. He had
+lost his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> wife, his beautiful fair-souled Undine. He lay on the deck
+stretching out empty arms, shedding bitter tears, until at length his
+misery made the strong man swoon.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><a name="imge_7" id="imge_7"></a><img src="images/image_07.jpg" alt="The little waves seemed to sob as they whispered, 'Alas! alas!'" width="800" height="516" /><br />
+<span class="caption">The little waves seemed to sob as they whispered,
+'Alas! alas!'</span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2>
+
+<h3>HULDBRAND AND BERTALDA</h3>
+<p>When he recovered, the knight of Ringstetten went back to his castle
+with Bertalda. So bitterly did he mourn the loss of his gentle wife,
+that at length he began to believe that he would never cease to weep
+for her. Bertalda wept by his side, and for a long time they lived
+quietly together, thinking and talking of none save the beautiful
+Undine.</p>
+
+<p>But as the months passed by, Huldbrand began to think a little less
+and yet a little less of his beautiful lost wife.</p>
+
+<p>Now about this time the old fisherman appeared at the castle. He had
+come to tell the knight that it was time that his daughter Bertalda
+should come to live with him in his lonely cottage by the lake.</p>
+
+<p>Then the knight began to think how strange and silent it would be in
+the castle if Bertalda left him. The more he thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> about it the
+more he disliked the thought of being left alone.</p>
+
+<p>At length he spoke to the fisherman and begged him not to take
+Bertalda away. 'Let her stay with me and be my wife,' said the knight.</p>
+
+<p>And in time the fisherman yielded to the wishes of the knight, and the
+wedding-day was fixed.</p>
+
+<p>Then a letter was sent to Father Heilman, begging him to come without
+delay to the castle that he might perform the wedding-rite between the
+knight and the lady Bertalda. Now Father Heilman was the very priest
+who had wedded Huldbrand to Undine in the cottage by the lake.</p>
+
+<p>When the priest had read Huldbrand's letter he hastened at once to the
+castle.</p>
+
+<p>Huldbrand and Bertalda were sitting side by side under the trees, the
+fisherman near them, when they saw the priest enter the court.</p>
+
+<p>They all rose eagerly to welcome him, but Father Heilman began to
+speak without delay.</p>
+
+<p>'Sir Knight, I have come with as great haste as my old limbs would
+carry me to tell you that I do not believe the beautiful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> Undine is
+dead. Last night and for many nights before, she was with me in my
+dreams, wringing her white hands, and crying, "Ah, holy Father, I
+live, I live. Let not Huldbrand forget me, for should he wed again
+great danger may, alas, come to him, nor will I have power to shield
+him. Help me, therefore, holy Father." What the dream meant I knew not
+until your letter reached me. Now have I come, not to marry you to
+Bertalda, but to tell you that Undine, your wife, is yet alive.'</p>
+
+<p>The knight himself, as well as Bertalda and the fisherman, believed in
+their hearts that what the priest said was true, yet would they not
+own that they believed his words. Even the old fisherman, who so
+dearly loved his foster-child, thought that as the marriage with
+Bertalda had been arranged, it were well it should take place without
+more delay.</p>
+
+<p>They all, therefore, refused to listen to the priest, when he
+reproached them for their conduct. They even told him, what was not
+really true, that they did not believe his foolish dreams.</p>
+
+<p>Sadly shaking his head, the priest left the castle. He saw that should
+he speak again no one would listen to his words. Nor would he linger
+to taste any of the refreshments that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> were placed before him. He had
+failed to make any one believe his dream, and he was too sad to eat.</p>
+
+<p>The following morning the knight sent to the nearest monastery for a
+priest, who promised to wed him to Bertalda in a few days.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
+
+<h3>BERTALDA'S WEDDING</h3>
+<p>The wedding-day dawned bright and clear, the guests assembled in the
+castle and wore their gayest garments, yet over everything there
+brooded a dark cloud. It seemed to the knight, as well as to his
+guests, that some one was missing from the feast, and the thoughts of
+all turned to the beautiful Undine.</p>
+
+<p>The bride seemed happier than any one else, yet even she knew a cloud
+was in her sky.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly the hours of the wedding-day dragged on, but at length the
+ceremony was over, the feast ended, and the guests ready to depart.</p>
+
+<p>When they had gone, Bertalda, thinking to dispel the gloom which had
+now fallen upon her spirit, told her maids to spread out before her
+all her rich jewels and gorgeous robes. She would choose to-night the
+garments in which she would array herself on the morrow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Her waiting-maids did as they were told, and when the dresses and
+jewels were spread out before their new mistress, they began to
+flatter her and tell her that none was fairer than she.</p>
+
+<p>Bertalda listened with pleasure to their praises. Then looking at
+herself in the mirror she sighed. 'Alas, but see these little brown
+spots that have appeared on my neck.'</p>
+
+<p>The maids saw indeed, as their mistress said, that there were freckles
+on her neck, but still they flattered her, saying that the little
+spots only made her skin look the whiter.</p>
+
+<p>But Bertalda did not believe their words. She wanted to get rid of the
+freckles that had only lately appeared on her slender throat.</p>
+
+<p>'Had I but water from the fountain, the spots would vanish in a day,'
+she cried pettishly.</p>
+
+<p>Then one of Bertalda's maids thought to herself, 'My mistress shall
+have the water she so much desires,' and laughing gaily to herself,
+she slipped from the room.</p>
+
+<p>In but a few moments heavy footsteps were heard in the court below.
+The footsteps tramped backward and forward.</p>
+
+<p>Bertalda, looking from her window, smiled, for she saw that the noisy
+steps were those of workmen, who were busy removing the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> stone which
+had been placed over the fountain. She guessed that this was the doing
+of one of her maids, but she still smiled contentedly. The freckles
+would not spoil her beauty for another day. The water from the
+fountain would make them disappear, and that was all she cared about
+just then.</p>
+
+<p>At first the workmen tried in vain to remove the stone. Perhaps some
+of them, remembering that their sweet young mistress Undine had
+ordered it to be placed there, did not try very hard to lift it from
+its place. All at once, however, the stone began to move. It almost
+seemed as though it were being pushed up from beneath. It moved
+slowly, then seemed to rise up into the air, after which it rolled on
+to the pavement with a tremendous crash.</p>
+
+<p>Then slowly, slowly there rose out of the mouth of the well a white
+figure, veiled and weeping. And those who gazed spellbound at the
+sight saw that the figure which stepped from the fountain was that of
+a woman. Weeping and wringing her hands, she walked slowly,
+sorrowfully toward the castle.</p>
+
+<p>The workmen now fled in terror from the court, while Bertalda with her
+maids still gazed from her window at the pale shadowy figure. As it
+passed beneath her window it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> looked upward, sobbing pitifully, and
+the bride saw under the veil the sweet sad face of the mistress of the
+castle, Undine.</p>
+
+<p>Bertalda called aloud to her maids to go fetch the knight, her
+husband, but not one was found with courage to go in search of him.</p>
+
+<p>On and on went the wanderer slowly, as though she would fain turn
+backward, on and up the stairs she knew so well, through the long
+quiet passages, and as she walked her tears fell yet more fast.</p>
+
+<p>In a room at the end of the long passages stood the knight. A torch
+burnt dully by his side. As he stood there thinking of the days that
+had passed away for ever, he heard steps coming slowly along the
+passage. He listened, and, as he listened, the slow footsteps halted
+outside his door.</p>
+
+<p>Soft fingers tapped, and then very gently the door was opened, and
+Huldbrand, standing before a long mirror, saw, without turning, a
+white-veiled figure enter and close the door.</p>
+
+<p>'The stone has been taken away from the fountain, and I have come to
+you and you must die,' said a soft voice.</p>
+
+<p>Ah, it was Undine, his beautiful lost Undine, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>who had come back to
+him. How he longed to see her face, yet how he feared to have the veil
+removed lest she should have changed since last he gazed upon her.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><a name="imge_8" id="imge_8"></a><img src="images/image_08.jpg" alt="Slowly, slowly there rose out of the mouth of the well a white figure" width="400" height="702" /><br />
+<span class="caption">Slowly, slowly there rose out of the mouth of the well a white figure</span></p>
+
+<p>'If you are beauteous as in days gone by, if in your eyes I may see
+your soul tender as of old, draw aside your veil, that as I die I may
+gaze upon you,' faltered the knight.</p>
+
+<p>Silently Undine threw back her veil, and Huldbrand saw her, fair as on
+the day he had won her for his bride. As he looked upon her, he knew
+that he had never loved any one in all the wide world as he loved
+Undine.</p>
+
+<p>He bent toward the sweet face. Then Undine, kissing the knight, drew
+him into her arms and wept. And as she wept the tears flowed into his
+very heart and he also wept. Softly she laid him on his couch, and
+with her arms around him, Huldbrand died.</p>
+
+<p>Then sorrowfully Undine raised herself from the couch, and sorrowfully
+she passed from the chamber.</p>
+
+<p>'My tears fell on his heart until, for very sorrow, it broke,' she
+said, as she glided, a pale veiled figure, through the terrified
+servants.</p>
+
+<p>And some who dared to follow her saw that she went slowly down toward
+the fountain.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2>
+
+<h3>THE BURIAL</h3>
+<p>Now when Father Heilman heard that the knight was dead, he hastened to
+the castle to comfort Bertalda. The priest, who but the day before had
+married the maiden to the knight, had already fled from the haunted
+house.</p>
+
+<p>But Father Heilman found that the haughty spirit of the bride needed
+no comfort. She was more angry with Undine than sorrowful that she had
+lost the knight. Indeed, as she thought of the strange way in which
+Huldbrand had been snatched away from her, she cried aloud, 'Why did
+Huldbrand bring a water spirit to his home? She is worse than a
+mermaiden, she is a witch, a sorceress!'</p>
+
+<p>Then the old fisherman, who heard her cruel words, hushed her, saying,
+'It was God's will that Huldbrand should die, and Undine alone,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>
+forsaken, weeps for his death in great sorrow of soul.'</p>
+
+<p>But if Father Heilman was not needed to comfort Bertalda, his presence
+was wanted at the burial of the knight.</p>
+
+<p>Not far off there was a little village church to which the lord of
+Ringstetten and others of his race had given gifts. It was arranged
+that in the churchyard the knight should be laid to rest.</p>
+
+<p>His shield and helmet were laid on his coffin and would be buried with
+him, for the knight of Ringstetten had left no son to bear them in the
+years that were to come.</p>
+
+<p>On the day that had been fixed the mourners walked slowly toward the
+churchyard, Father Heilman in front carrying a crucifix.</p>
+
+<p>Then slowly a figure clad in snow-white garments, and wringing her
+hands in great sorrow, came to join the mourners, who all wore black
+clothes as a sign of their grief. Those who noticed the white-veiled
+figure drew closer together, terror-stricken. Others, seeing them thus
+fearful, turned to see the reason of their fear, and soon these too
+drew aside, for the white-robed figure was in their very midst.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing the confusion among the mourners,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> some soldiers, trying to be
+brave, as was their duty, spoke to the white-robed figure and even
+tried to drive her away. But she glided quickly past them and followed
+onward, still toward the little church.</p>
+
+<p>The maids who were walking close to Bertalda saw that the white-veiled
+figure would soon be by their side, and they, lest she should harm
+them, drew back, so that it was easy for the shadowy form to keep
+close to the new-made bride.</p>
+
+<p>Softly, noiselessly she moved, so noiselessly that Bertalda neither
+heard nor saw the phantom figure.</p>
+
+<p>At length the mourners reached the churchyard and gathered around the
+grave. Then Bertalda, looking up, saw the white-veiled figure standing
+by her side, and knew that it was Undine.</p>
+
+<p>Fear whispered to Bertalda to leave the veiled figure undisturbed,
+anger bade Bertalda order that it should at once depart. And anger was
+going to have its way, for Bertalda opened her lips to speak, but
+Undine shook her head and held out her hands as though she begged for
+mercy.</p>
+
+<p>Then Bertalda remembered all the kindness Undine had shown toward her,
+and especially<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> how lovingly she had held out to her the coral
+necklace as they were sailing on the Danube, and as she remembered her
+hard heart melted, and she wept.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment Father Heilman began to pray, and all the mourners
+knelt around the grave, in which the coffin bearing the shield and
+helmet of the knight had now been placed.</p>
+
+<p>When the prayer was ended the company arose, but the white-veiled
+figure was no longer to be seen.</p>
+
+<p>Only on the spot where she had knelt a stream of crystal water gushed
+out of the earth. Quietly it flowed around the grave of the knight and
+then onward until it joined the river which ran past the little
+village church.</p>
+
+<p>And in days to come the villagers would ofttimes point to the crystal
+stream as they told their children in solemn whispers that it, the
+little crystal stream, was none other than Undine, poor forsaken
+Undine, who thus surrounded and protected Huldbrand, her beloved.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouquée
+
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+</pre>
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+</body>
+</html>
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@@ -0,0 +1,3203 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouquee
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Undine
+
+Author: Friedrich de la Motte Fouquee
+
+Editor: Mary Macgregor
+
+Illustrator: Katharine Cameron
+
+Release Date: July 4, 2006 [EBook #18752]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDINE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jason Isbell, Sankar Viswanathan, and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                     TOLD TO THE CHILDREN SERIES
+
+                       EDITED BY LOUEY CHISHOLM
+
+
+       [Illustration: On the threshold stood a little maiden.]
+
+
+
+
+                    Friedrich de la Motte Fouquee
+
+
+                                UNDINE
+
+
+                       TOLD TO THE CHILDREN BY
+
+                            MARY MACGREGOR
+
+
+                           WITH PICTURES BY
+
+                          KATHARINE CAMERON
+
+
+
+
+                     LONDON: T. C. & E. C. JACK
+
+                     NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO.
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+TO MARGARET
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+ABOUT THIS BOOK
+
+Undine is the name of the water maiden whose story you will read as
+you turn the leaves of this little book.
+
+Undine is beautiful as the dawn stealing across the waters, beautiful
+as the spray of the crystal waves.
+
+Yet when she comes to earth she comes to seek for that without which
+her beauty will be for ever cold, cold and chill as the surge of the
+salt, salt sea.
+
+Look deep into her blue eyes and you will see why her beauty is so
+cold, so chill.
+
+In the eyes of every mortal you may see a soul. In the gay blue eyes
+of Undine, look you long and never so deep, no soul will look forth to
+meet your gaze.
+
+Love, joy, sorrow, these are the pearls that shine in the eyes of
+every mortal. But in the eyes of the water maiden there is no gleam
+of love, no sparkle of joy, no tear of sorrow.
+
+Undine has come to earth to seek for a soul. Without one she may never
+know the golden gifts God has given to each mortal, gifts these of
+love, joy, sorrow.
+
+You will read in this little book how Undine, the water maiden, won
+for herself a human soul.
+
+MARY MACGREGOR.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+Chap.
+
+I.     The Fisherman and the Knight
+
+II.    Undine is Lost
+
+III.   Undine is Found
+
+IV.    The Knight's Story
+
+V.     The Knight stays at the Cottage
+
+VI.    The Wedding
+
+VII.   Undine's Story
+
+VIII.  Huldbrand and Undine leave the Cottage
+
+IX.    The Knight returns to the City
+
+X.     The Birthday Feast
+
+XI.    The Journey to Castle Ringstetten
+
+XII.   Castle Ringstetten
+
+XIII.  The Black Valley
+
+XIV.   Huldbrand forgets his Promise
+
+XV.    Huldbrand and Bertalda
+
+XVI.   Bertalda's Wedding
+
+XVII.  The Burial
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF PICTURES
+
+
+On the threshold stood a little maiden  _Frontispiece_
+
+Amid the sweet-scented grass, safe from the fury of the storm
+
+'I saw in a great cavern a group of little goblins'
+
+In the little cottage were heard the solemn words of the marriage service
+
+The three travellers soon reached the leafy shades of the forest
+
+At the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears
+
+The little waves seemed to sob as they whispered, 'Alas! alas!'
+
+Slowly, slowly there rose out of the mouth of the well a white figure
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE FISHERMAN AND THE KNIGHT
+
+
+A fisherman brought a stool to the doorway of his home and, sitting
+down, he began to mend his nets.
+
+His cottage stood in the midst of green meadows, and his eyes grew
+glad as he looked at the green grass. After the heat of the fair
+summer's day it was so cool, so refreshing.
+
+At the foot of the meadows lay a large lake of clear blue water. The
+fisherman knew it well. It was there his work was done, through
+sunshine or through storm.
+
+To-day, as his gaze wandered from the green meadows to the blue lake,
+he thought he saw the waters stretch out soft arms, until slowly they
+drew the fair meadows, the little cottage into a loving embrace.
+
+The fisherman, his wife and their foster-child lived very quietly on
+this pleasant spot. It was but seldom that any one passed their door,
+for between the beautiful meadows and the nearest town lay a wood. So
+wild and gloomy was the wood, so tangled its pathway, that no one
+cared to enter it.
+
+Moreover, it was said that there were strange beings lurking amid the
+gloom--ugly goblins, misshapen gnomes; and there were shadowy spirits
+too, which flitted through the branches of the strongest trees, and
+these even the bravest would not wish to see.
+
+Through this dark and haunted wood the old fisherman had often to
+journey.
+
+It was true that he entered the dreaded shades with fear, yet no
+spectre ever crossed his path. But perhaps that was because the
+thoughts of the old man were pure, or perhaps because he never entered
+the forest without singing a hymn in a clear brave voice.
+
+As the fisherman sat mending his nets on this fair summer eve he began
+to move restlessly, to glance around uneasily.
+
+Then a sudden terror fell upon him as he heard a noise in the forest
+behind.
+
+Ah, how the trees rustled and how the grass was being trampled
+underfoot! Could it be a horseman who made haste to escape from some
+terrible foe?
+
+And now, although he was wide awake, the fisherman seemed to see a
+figure, which he had seen before only in his dreams.
+
+He saw the figure of a tall, strong, snow-white man, who came with
+slow steps toward him, and at each step he took, the figure nodded his
+great white head.
+
+The fisherman rubbed his eyes as he glanced toward the wood. At the
+same moment the wind seemed to blow the leaves aside to make room for
+the snow-white man, whose head never ceased to nod.
+
+'Well,' said the fisherman to himself, 'I have ever passed through the
+forest unharmed, why should I fear that evil will befall me here?' and
+he began to repeat aloud a verse of the Bible.
+
+At the sound of his own voice courage crept back into the heart of the
+fisherman, moreover the words of the Holy Book rebuked his fears. Nor
+was it long before he was able even to laugh and to see how foolish he
+had been.
+
+For listen! The white nodding man was after all only a stream which
+the fisherman knew very well, a stream which ran and bubbled out of
+the forest and fell into the lake. As for the rustling noise, the
+fisherman saw what had caused that, as a gaily clad knight rode forth
+from the forest shadows toward the little cottage.
+
+This was no spectre or spirit of the wood, this stranger who wore the
+garments of a knight of high degree. He rode a white horse, which
+stepped softly, so that the flowers in the meadows lifted their
+delicate heads uninjured by his tread.
+
+The fisherman raised his cap as the stranger drew near, and then
+quietly went on mending his nets.
+
+Now when the knight saw the old man's face it was welcome to him, as
+indeed any human face would have been after the terrors of the forest.
+There he had seen strange mocking faces peering at him whichever way
+he turned, there he had been followed by strange shadowy forms from
+which escape had been wellnigh impossible; here at length was a kind
+and friendly mortal. He would ask him for the food and shelter of
+which both he and his steed stood in need.
+
+'Dear sir,' answered the fisherman when he had listened to the
+knight's request, 'dear sir, if you will deign to enter our lonely
+cottage, you will find a welcome with the food and shelter we offer.
+As for your horse, can it have a better stable than this tree-shaded
+meadow, or more delicious fodder than this green grass?'
+
+Well pleased with this answer, the knight dismounted, and together he
+and the fisherman freed the white horse from its saddle and bridle,
+and turned it loose into the waving meadow.
+
+Then the old man led the stranger into the cottage.
+
+Here, by the light of the kitchen fire, sat the fisherman's wife. She
+rose, with a kind greeting for the unexpected guest. Then seating
+herself again in her armchair, she pointed to an old stool with a
+broken leg. 'Sit there, good knight,' she said; 'only you must sit
+still, lest the broken leg prove too weak to bear you.'
+
+Carrying the stool over beside the old woman, the knight placed it
+carefully on the floor and seated himself as he was bidden. As he sat
+there talking with the good old fisherman and his wife, it seemed to
+him almost as though he were their son, who had come home again after
+journeying in a distant land.
+
+It was only when the knight began to speak of the wood that the
+fisherman grew restless and refused to listen.
+
+'It were wiser, Sir Knight,' he said, 'not to talk of the wood at
+nightfall, or indeed to say much of it at any time.'
+
+And then the old couple told their guest how simply they lived in the
+little cottage by the lake, and they in their turn listened eagerly
+while the knight told them of himself. He was named Sir Huldbrand, and
+he dwelt in his castle of Ringstetten, which stood near the source of
+the river Danube.
+
+Now, as he talked or listened to the quiet tales of the old fisherman,
+the knight heard a strange sound that seemed to come from the
+direction of the window. Again and again it came, a strange sound as
+of water being dashed against the window-panes.
+
+It was plain that the fisherman heard it too, for at each splash a
+frown crossed his good-natured face.
+
+A louder splash, and a shower of water streamed through the loosely
+built window-frame into the kitchen.
+
+Then the old man could sit still no longer. He hastened to the window,
+and opening it called out in an angry voice, 'Undine, cease these
+childish tricks. A stranger, and he a knight, is in our cottage.'
+
+A low laugh answered him. Hearing it, the old man shut the window and
+sat down again, saying to his guest, 'Sir Knight, forgive this rude
+behaviour. Undine my foster-daughter is still only a child, although
+she is now nearly eighteen years of age. Yet her tricks are harmless,
+and she herself is full of kindness.'
+
+'Ah,' said the old woman to her husband, 'to you, who are not with her
+save when the day's work is over, her pranks may seem harmless. But
+you would not talk so lightly of her ways were she by your side all
+day. Ever I must watch her, lest she spoil my baking, or undo my
+spinning or burn the soup. Nay--'
+
+'It is true,' said the old man, interrupting his wife with a smile,
+'it is true that you have the maiden by your side throughout the
+livelong day, while I have but the sea. Yet when the sea is rough and
+breaks down my dykes I do not love it the less. Even so do you love
+the little one no less for all her tricks and tiresome ways.'
+
+The old woman turned to her guest. 'Indeed, Sir Knight, he speaks
+truly. It is not possible to be angry with the maiden long.'
+
+At that moment the door flew open, and she, the maiden of whom they
+spoke, entered the little kitchen. She was fairer far than any one the
+knight had ever seen.
+
+'Father,' she cried, 'where is he, the stranger guest?'
+
+Even as she spoke her eyes fell on the knight, who had sprung to his
+feet as she entered the cottage. He stood gazing in wonder at the
+marvellous beauty of the maiden.
+
+But before he could greet her, she was at his side, trustingly looking
+up into his face. Then kneeling before him, she seized his hand and
+made him seat himself again on the broken old stool.
+
+'You are beautiful, Sir Knight,' she said, 'but how did you come to
+this little cottage? Have you looked for us long before you could find
+us? Have you had to pass through the terrible forest ere you could
+reach us, Sir Knight?'
+
+The knight would have told the maiden the story of his adventures in
+the wood, but Undine's foster-mother was already speaking, and her
+tones were loud and angry.
+
+'Go, maiden, go get you to work, and trouble not the stranger with
+your questions.'
+
+Then Undine, unashamed, drew a little footstool near to Huldbrand, and
+sitting down to her spinning, cried, 'I shall work here, close to the
+beautiful knight.'
+
+The old fisherman took no notice of the wilful maiden, and began to
+speak of other things, hoping that the guest would forget his
+foster-daughter's questions.
+
+But even had the knight been able to forget, Undine did not mean to
+sit there quietly, her questions unanswered.
+
+Her sweet voice broke upon the silence. 'Our beautiful guest has not
+yet told me how he reached our cottage,' she said.
+
+'It is even as you thought,' answered the knight. 'I journeyed through
+the haunted wood ere I found this safe and hospitable shelter.'
+
+'Then tell me of your wonderful adventures,' demanded the maiden, 'for
+without these no one may pass through the forest.'
+
+Huldbrand shuddered as he remembered the strange beings who had
+startled him as he rode through the wood. He glanced distrustfully
+toward the window. Were the grim figures there, peering at him through
+the window-pane? No, he could see nothing save the dim night light,
+which now closed them in.
+
+The knight drew himself up, ashamed of his foolish fears, and turning
+toward the maiden, he was beginning to tell her of the wonders which
+had befallen him, when the fisherman hurriedly interrupted.
+
+'Nay, now, Sir Knight,' he cried, 'tell not your tale until the hours
+of dark have passed.'
+
+At her foster-father's words Undine sprang angrily from the footstool
+and stood before him. Her eyes flashed and grew larger, colder.
+
+'You say to the stranger not to tell his tale, father,' she cried,
+'you say to him not to answer me. But he shall speak, he shall, he
+shall!' And in her anger she stamped her little feet.
+
+The knight wellnigh smiled as he watched the maiden's wrath, but the
+old man was grieved that the stranger should see the wayward behaviour
+of his foster-child, and he reproved her for her anger. The old woman
+also muttered her displeasure.
+
+Then Undine slipped quickly toward the door of the little cottage. She
+did not choose to listen to these rebukes.
+
+'I will not stay with you, for you do nothing but scold me, and you
+will not do anything that I wish,' she cried, and before they could
+reach her she had opened the door, and was away and out, out into the
+dark night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+UNDINE IS LOST
+
+
+Huldbrand and the fisherman sprang after the maiden, but when they
+reached the door of the cottage and looked out into the night she was
+nowhere to be seen, nor could they catch the sound of her tiny feet to
+guide them whither she had fled.
+
+The knight looked in astonishment at his host. Was the beautiful
+maiden only another of the wonderful beings who had bewildered him in
+the forest? Was she some lovely elf or sprite who had come but to vex
+them with her pranks?
+
+But as he looked at the old man standing by his side, and saw the
+tears streaming from his eyes, he knew it was for no spirit of the
+wood that he thus grieved.
+
+'Alas,' sighed the fisherman, 'this is not the first time that the
+maiden has treated us thus. It may be she will not return the
+livelong night, and until she returns it is not possible that we
+should close our eyes. For what terror may not seize upon her as she
+wanders hither and thither in the darkness.'
+
+'We must follow her, father, follow her without delay!' cried the
+young knight.
+
+'Nay,' answered the fisherman, 'my limbs are stiff. Though I knew
+whither she had fled, I could never follow with speed enough to reach
+her. Ever she would vanish as I drew near, for she is fleet, fleet as
+an arrow from the bow.'
+
+'If we may not follow her, at least let us call and entreat her to
+return,' said the young knight, and without waiting for an answer he
+called, 'Undine! Undine!'
+
+But the old man shook his head. 'It is useless to call,' he said, 'the
+little one will not heed your voice.' Yet still the knight's cry rang
+out into the night, 'Undine, dear Undine, I pray you return!'
+
+No answer came back from the darkness, and at length Huldbrand
+returned with the fisherman to the cottage.
+
+The old woman, who seemed little troubled by Undine's flight, had gone
+to bed and the fire was wellnigh out. But the fisherman, drawing the
+ashes together, placed wood on the top of them, and soon the fire
+blazed brightly.
+
+Then in the light of the flames they sat and talked, yet they thought
+only of Undine. The window rattled. They raised their heads to listen.
+The rain fell in heavy drops, pitter, patter. They thought it was the
+tread of tiny feet.
+
+'It is she, it is Undine!' they would cry, yet still the maiden did
+not come. Then they shook their heads sadly, but as they went on
+talking they listened still.
+
+'It was fifteen years ago, on such a night of wind and rain, that she
+came,' murmured the old man. 'Our home was sad and desolate, for we
+had lost our own little child.'
+
+'Ah,' said the knight, 'tell me how the beautiful maiden came to your
+little cottage.'
+
+Now this is the story the fisherman told to the knight.
+
+'It is fifteen years ago,' began the old man, 'since I went through
+the forest, hoping to sell my fish in the city beyond. I was alone,
+for my wife was at home watching our little babe. Our little babe was
+dear to us and very fair.
+
+'In the evening, having sold all my fish, I went home through the
+haunted forest, nor did I fear its gloom, for the Lord was at my
+right hand.
+
+'But no sooner had I left the wood than I saw my wife running toward
+me, while tears streamed from her eyes. She had dressed herself, I
+noticed, in black garments, and this she was not used to do. I felt
+sure that trouble had befallen us.
+
+'"Where is our child, our little one?" I cried, though even as I spoke
+my voice was choked with sobs.
+
+'"Our child is with God, the great Father," answered my wife.
+
+'Then in the midst of her tears the poor mother told her sad tale.
+
+'"I took our child down to the edge of the lake, and there we played
+together, so happy, so merry. Suddenly the little one bent forward as
+though she saw something beautiful in the water. Then she smiled, and
+stretched out her tiny hands, and even as she did so, she slipped from
+my arms into the lake, and I saw her no more."
+
+'That evening,' said the fisherman, 'my wife and I sat by our hearth
+in silence, we were too sad for words. Suddenly the door of our
+cottage flew open, and there before us,[1] on the threshold, stood a
+little maiden, three or four years of age. Her eyes were blue and her
+hair was gold and she was clothed in beautiful garments.
+
+[Footnote 1: See frontispiece.]
+
+'We gazed in wonder at the tiny vision. Who was she? From whence had
+she come? Was she only a magic child come to mock us in our
+loneliness, or was she a real, a living child?
+
+'Then as we looked we saw that water trickled from her golden hair and
+that little streams were gathering at her tiny feet, as the water
+dripped and dripped from her beautiful clothing.
+
+'"She must have fallen into the lake," I said to my wife, "and in some
+strange way have wandered into our cottage. We have lost our own dear
+child, let us now do all we can to help this little one." Thus it came
+to pass that the little stranger slept in the cot in which until now
+our own babe had lain.
+
+'When morning dawned my wife fed our tiny guest with bread and milk,
+and the little one looked upon us, and her blue eyes danced merrily,
+but never a word did she say.
+
+'We asked her where her father and mother dwelt and how she had come
+to our cottage. But her only answer was some childish talk of crystal
+palaces and shining pearls. Even now indeed she speaks of things so
+marvellous that we know not what to think.
+
+'After some days we asked her once again from whence she came. She
+told us that she had been on the sea with her mother, and had fallen
+from her arms into the water, nor had she known more until she awoke
+under the trees, close to our cottage, so well pleased with the fair
+shore that she felt no fear.
+
+'Then we said, "Let us keep the little stranger, and care for her as
+we would have cared for our own lost child." We sent for a priest, who
+baptized her, giving her the name by which she called herself, though
+indeed it seemed no name for a Christian child.
+
+'"Undine," said the priest as he performed the holy rite, while she,
+the little one, stood before him gentle and sweet. No sooner, however,
+was the service ended than she grew wild, wilful as was her way. For
+it is true that my wife has had much trouble with the maiden--'
+
+At that moment the knight interrupted the fisherman.
+
+'Listen,' he cried, 'how the stream roars as it dashes past the
+window!'
+
+Together they sprang to the door. The moon had risen, and the knight
+and the fisherman saw that the stream which ran from the wood had
+burst its banks. It was now rushing wildly along, carrying with it
+stones and roots of trees. As they looked, the clouds grew dark and
+crept across the face of the moon, the wind rose and lashed the water
+of the lake into great waves.
+
+'Undine! Undine!' cried the two men together, but no answer reached
+them save the shrieking of the wind among the trees of the forest.
+
+Then, careless of the storm, the fisherman and the knight rushed from
+the cottage in search of the maiden.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+UNDINE IS FOUND
+
+
+As Huldbrand rushed out into the night, followed by the fisherman, the
+storm seemed to rage yet more fiercely. The old man was soon left far
+behind in the search for the lost maiden.
+
+The knight, battling bravely with the storm, hastened hither and
+thither, but all his efforts were vain. Undine was nowhere to be
+found.
+
+And now, as the rain dashed down upon him and the wind hustled him,
+Huldbrand grew bewildered. The storm seemed to have changed the
+peaceful meadows into a weary wilderness, and even the maiden herself
+seemed to flit before him as a phantom spirit of the wind.
+
+Could it all have been but a dream? Had the cottage, the fisherman and
+his wife been as unreal as the figures that had followed him in the
+haunted forest? No, that he would not believe, for even yet in the
+distance he could hear the faint echo of the fisherman's voice as he
+called out pitifully, 'Undine! Undine!' Now in his search the knight
+had reached the edge of the stream. The stream, as you know, had
+already overflowed its bank, and as the moon suddenly shone through
+the dark clouds, Huldbrand saw that the water was rushing back toward
+the forest. In this way the little bit of meadow-land on which the
+fisherman's cottage stood was turned into an island.
+
+A terrible thought struck the knight. Had Undine strayed into the
+fearful forest she could not now return to the cottage, save across
+the raging stream, nay, she might even now be surrounded by the
+spirits of the wood. She would be among them alone, helpless.
+
+At once Huldbrand made up his mind to cross the torrent. He plunged
+into the water, and even as he did so he seemed to see on the other
+shore the figure of a tall white man, who nodded his head and mocked
+him as he struggled on. Huldbrand knew the tall white figure only too
+well. It was the one that had followed him as he journeyed through the
+forest.
+
+Now; in his haste to find Undine, the knight was leaping from stone to
+stone, sometimes slipping into the water, then with a struggle
+placing his feet once again upon the stones. These, tossed by the
+rushing stream, gave no firm foothold to the knight, and he was forced
+to seize the branch of a fir-tree to help him across the dangerous
+passage.
+
+While he was still in the midst of the current, he heard a sweet voice
+crying, 'Trust not the stream, trust it not, for it is full of craft!'
+
+The knight knew the voice. It was that of the maiden for whom he
+sought. Yet though he peered eagerly through the gloom he could see no
+trace of her.
+
+'See! you can find me now, Sir Knight, for the moon is shining clear,'
+cried the voice he longed to hear, and looking around him Huldbrand
+saw where Undine had found a shelter. It was on a little island,
+beneath the branches of a great tree, that the maiden sat. There was
+no terror of the storm in her eyes. She was even smiling happily as
+she nestled amid the sweet scented grass, safe from the fury of the
+storm.
+
+A few quick strides and the knight had crossed the stream and stood by
+the side of the maiden. She bade him sit down on the grass, and then,
+whispering low, she said, 'You shall tell me your story here, Sir
+Knight, on this quiet island here, where no cross old people will
+disturb us, and where we are sheltered from the storm that rages
+beyond.'
+
+[Illustration: Amid the sweet-scented grass, safe from the fury of the
+storm]
+
+Then Huldbrand forgot all about the old man who was still seeking for
+his child, forgot too all about the old woman who was alone in the
+little cottage by the lake, and he sat down to tell his tale as the
+maiden wished.
+
+Meanwhile the fisherman had reached the brink of the stream, and great
+was his surprise to see the knight seated by the side of his lost
+child.
+
+'You have found her, you have found my little one!' he cried
+reproachfully. 'Why did you not hasten to tell me she was found, Sir
+Knight?'
+
+Then Huldbrand was ashamed, though, as he told the old man, it was but
+a little while since his search had ceased.
+
+'Bring her without more delay to the mainland!' shouted the fisherman,
+when he had listened to the sorry excuse which was all the knight
+could offer.
+
+But Undine had no wish to go home. She would rather stay with the
+knight in the forest than go back to the cottage, for there, so she
+said, no one would do as she wished.
+
+Then, flinging her arms around the knight, she clung to him and
+begged him to stay with her in the forest.
+
+The old fisherman wept as he heard her words, yet Undine did not seem
+to notice his tears. But the knight could not help seeing the old
+man's grief, and he was troubled.
+
+'Undine,' he cried, 'the tears of your foster-father have touched my
+heart. We will return to him.'
+
+The blue eyes of the maiden opened wide with surprise, yet she
+answered gently, 'Sir Knight, if this is indeed your will, we shall
+return to the mainland. There you must make the old man promise to
+listen in silence to all that you saw as you journeyed through the
+forest.'
+
+'Only come, and you shall do all that you wish!' cried the fisherman,
+and he stretched out his arms and nodded his head, to show to the
+maiden how glad he was that she should do as she wished. But the
+knight shuddered as his eyes fell upon the fisherman. The nodding
+head, the white hair reminded him once again of the tall white man of
+the forest.
+
+Shaking off his fears he lifted Undine in his arms and bore her across
+the stream. Already the storm was wellnigh over and the waters flowed
+more quietly. It now seemed to the knight only a few steps from the
+grassy plot where he had found the maiden to the green meadows among
+which the cottage stood.
+
+'Now will I hear the brave knight's story,' cried the maiden, and the
+old people smiled and said they too would hear the tale.
+
+And the sun rose slowly over the lake and the birds sang merrily on
+the wet and leafy trees, as the knight began his tale.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE KNIGHT'S STORY
+
+
+'It must be about eight days ago now,' said the knight, 'since I left
+my castle of Ringstetten, and journeyed toward the city which lies
+beyond the haunted forest.
+
+'The city was gay with lords and ladies who had come thither for the
+tournament which was then being held.
+
+'I at once entered the lists, for my steed was strong and I myself was
+eager for the fray. Once, as I rested from the combat, my eyes fell
+upon a lady who was wondrous fair. She was looking down from a gallery
+upon the tournament.
+
+'Bertalda was the name of the beautiful maiden, and she was the
+foster-child of a great duke. I knew that, as I again seized my lance,
+the lady's eyes followed me into the lists, and I fought even more
+bravely than before.
+
+'In the evening a great festival was held, and here I met Bertalda,
+and danced with her; indeed, evening after evening we were together
+until the tournament drew to a close.'
+
+As Huldbrand spoke these words he felt a sharp pain in his left hand.
+It was hanging by his side, and as he looked down to see what had
+caused the pain, he found that Undine had fastened in it her little
+pearly teeth.
+
+The knight could see that the maiden's face was no longer smiling. She
+looked up at him, and there was sorrow in her large blue eyes as she
+whispered, 'Sir Knight, it is your own fault that I hurt you. I would
+not have you praise the lady Bertalda.' Then quickly, as though
+ashamed of her words, she hid her face in her hands.
+
+As the knight went on with his story, his face was grave.
+
+'It is true,' he said, 'that Bertalda was a lovely maiden, yet as I
+knew her better I found her ways were cold and proud. She pleased me
+less as the days passed by, though, as she looked upon me with favour,
+I begged that as a token of it she would give me a glove.
+
+"You shall have it," answered she, "if you will go alone through the
+forest which men say is haunted, and bring me tidings of all that
+happens to you."
+
+'I cared little for her glove, but I would not tarry to be asked a
+second time to go through the forest, lest the maiden should doubt my
+courage.'
+
+'I thought Bertalda had loved you,' cried Undine, 'yet then had she
+not driven you from her into the haunted forest.'
+
+The knight smiled at the maiden's words and went on with his tale.
+
+'It was but yesterday morning that I set forth on my adventure. The
+sun shone bright, so bright that it was not easy to believe that evil
+was lurking in the shadows beneath the rustling leaves. "I shall soon
+return," I said to myself, as I plunged into the green shade.
+
+'But amid the maze of trees it was not long ere I lost sight of the
+path by which I had entered the wood.
+
+'"It may be that I shall lose myself in this mighty forest," I
+thought, "but no other danger threatens me."
+
+'I gazed up toward the sun, which had risen higher now than when first
+I entered the wood, and as I gazed I saw a black thing among the
+branches of a leafy oak.
+
+'Was it a bear, I wondered, and my hand felt for the sword that hung
+by my side.
+
+'But it was no bear, for ere long I heard a voice mocking me with
+rough and cruel words. "Aha, Sir Wiseacre," said the voice, "I am
+breaking twigs off these tall trees, so that at midnight I may light a
+fire in which to roast you." Then, before I could answer, the black
+thing grinned at me and rustled the branches, until my steed grew
+restless and at length galloped away.'
+
+Undine looked at the knight, her blue eyes sparkling as she cried,
+'But indeed the wicked creature did not dare to roast you, Sir
+Knight!'
+
+'In its terror,' continued Huldbrand, 'my horse dashed itself against
+the trees, reared and again rushed madly forward. Onward we flew,
+until at length I saw before me a dark abyss. Yet still I found it
+impossible to pull up my frightened steed.
+
+'Then all at once a tall white man stood still directly in front of my
+maddened horse, which swerved aside as soon as it saw the tall man,
+and in that moment I was once more master of my steed. I saw also that
+my deliverer was not a tall white man, as I had imagined, but a brook,
+which shone silver in the sunlight.'
+
+'Dear brook, I will be grateful to you for evermore,' cried Undine,
+clapping her hands as she spoke, in childish glee. But the fisherman
+shook his head and was silent.
+
+'And now,' said the knight, 'I was anxious to hasten as quickly as
+possible through the forest, for it seemed to me that not only might I
+find it difficult to regain the pathway I had lost, but that strange
+beings might again startle both me and my noble steed.
+
+'I turned my horse away from the dark chasm which lay before us, but
+even as I did so I found at my side a strange little man. He was
+uglier than any one I had ever seen. His nose was wellnigh as large as
+all the rest of his body, and his mouth was so big that it stretched
+from one ear to the other.
+
+'This ugly creature, as soon as he saw that I had noticed him, grinned
+at me, until his mouth looked even larger than before. He scraped his
+feet along the ground and bowed mockingly to me a thousand times.
+
+'My horse was trembling at the sight of the strange figure, so I
+resolved to ride on in search of further adventure, or if I found
+none, to ride back to the city which I had left in the morning.
+
+'But the ugly little man did not mean to let me escape. Quick as
+lightning he sprang round and stood again in front of my horse.
+
+'"Get out of the way," I now cried in anger, "lest my steed tramples
+you under its feet."
+
+'This did not seem to frighten the strange creature. He laughed in my
+face, and then said in a gruff voice, "You must give me gold, for it
+was I who turned your horse aside from yonder dark abyss."
+
+'"Nay, what you say is not true," I answered him, "for it was the
+silver brook that saved me and my horse from being dashed to pieces.
+Nevertheless, take thy gold and begone."
+
+'As I spoke I flung a coin into the strange-shaped cap which he was
+holding before me, then putting spurs to my horse I rode quickly
+forward.
+
+'I heard the ugly little man give a loud scream, then to my surprise
+there he was, running by my side, grinning and making horrible
+grimaces.
+
+'My horse was galloping, and I thought I would soon get away from the
+little man. But it seemed impossible to go faster than he, for he took
+a spring, a jump, and there he was still by my side. He held up the
+piece of gold I had thrown to him, and in a hollow voice he cried, "It
+is a false coin, a false coin!"
+
+'At length I could bear his horrible shrieks no longer. I pulled up my
+steed, and holding out two coins I called to him, "Take the gold, but
+follow me no farther!"
+
+'Then the little ugly man began to scrape his feet and bow his head,
+but it was plain that he was not yet satisfied.
+
+'"I do not wish your gold," he grumbled. "I have gold enough and to
+spare, as you shall soon see."
+
+'As he spoke a strange thing happened. The beautiful green ground
+seemed to change into clear green glass. I looked through the glass
+and saw in a great cavern a group of little goblins.
+
+'They were playing at ball, these little goblins, and I noticed that
+all their toys were made of silver or gold. Merry little creatures
+they were, running swiftly hither and thither after the ball, nor was
+it easy to see whether they were standing on their heads or on their
+heels, or whether they were running on their hands or on their feet.
+No sooner was their game ended than they pelted each other with their
+playthings, then in a mad frolic lifted handfuls of gold dust and
+flung it each in the other's eyes.
+
+'All this time the ugly little man was standing half on the ground and
+half within the great cavern where the tiny goblins played their
+games. Now I heard him call to the mischievous imps to give him
+handfuls of gold.
+
+[Illustration: 'I saw in a great cavern a group of little goblins']
+
+'This they did, and then he, laughing in my face, showed the gold to
+me ere he flung it back again into the cavern.
+
+'Then the ugly little man called to the tiny goblins to stop their
+pranks and look at the coins I had given to him. When they caught
+sight of them they held their little sides, shaking with laughter;
+then all at once they turned and hissed at me.
+
+'In spite of myself terror crept over me. Again I plunged my spurs
+into my horse's sides, and it dashed madly off into the midst of the
+forest.
+
+'When at length the flight ended, the evening lay cool and quiet
+around me. A white footpath seemed to point out the way which led back
+to the city. But each time I tried to approach it a face peered at me
+from between the trees. I turned to escape from this new phantom, but
+in vain, for whichever way I turned there was the face still staring
+at me.
+
+'I grew angry and urged my horse in the direction of the shadowy face,
+only however to find myself drenched by a stream of white foam.
+
+'Thus I was driven away from the white footpath, and only one way,
+rough and tangled, was left open to me. As soon as I began to follow
+it, the face, though it kept close behind, did me no further harm.
+
+'Yet again and again I turned, hoping to find that the face had
+disappeared. Instead I found it closer than before, and now I could
+see that it belonged to a tall white man. It was true that at times
+the long white figure seemed to be but a wandering stream, but of this
+I was never sure.
+
+I was weary now and my horse was exhausted. It seemed useless to try
+any longer to force my way past the white face, so I went on riding
+quietly along the one path left open to me. The head of the tall man
+then began to nod, as though to say that at length I was doing as he
+wished.
+
+'By this path I reached the end of the wood, and as the meadows and
+the lake came into sight the white man vanished, and I found myself
+standing near to your little cottage.'
+
+As the knight had now finished the story of his adventure, the
+fisherman began to talk to his guest of how he might return in safety
+to the city and to the followers who there awaited him.
+
+Huldbrand, listening to the old man, yet caught the soft ripple of
+Undine's laughter.
+
+'Why do you laugh, Undine?' asked the knight. 'Are you so pleased to
+hear your foster-father talk of my return to the city?'
+
+'I laugh for joy that you cannot leave us,' said the maiden. 'You have
+but to look to see that you must stay.'
+
+Huldbrand and the fisherman rose and saw that what the maiden had said
+was indeed true. It would not be possible for the knight to leave the
+little island until the stream had once more returned to its usual
+course.
+
+As they entered the cottage, Huldbrand whispered to the maiden,
+'Undine, tell me that you are glad that I cannot yet return to the
+crowded city.'
+
+But the maiden's face was no longer glad, nor would she answer the
+knight's question. She had remembered Bertalda.
+
+When the stream had grown quiet the knight would go back to the lady
+for whose sake he had undergone such strange perils. And of that time
+the wilful maiden did not wish to think.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE KNIGHT STAYS AT THE COTTAGE
+
+
+Day after day the forest stream rushed wildly on. The bed along which
+it thus hastened grew wider and wider, separating the island with the
+fisherman's cottage yet farther from the mainland.
+
+The knight was well pleased to linger where he was. Never had he found
+the days pass by so swiftly.
+
+He discovered an old crossbow in a corner of the cottage. When he had
+mended it he would wander forth in search of birds, and if he
+succeeded in bringing some down with his arrows, he would carry them
+back to fill the larder of the little cottage.
+
+And Undine, for she was pitiful, would not fail to upbraid the knight
+for taking the life of the little birds, so glad, so free. Seeing them
+lying there, quiet and still, she would weep.
+
+Yet, did Huldbrand return without his prey, so wilful was the maiden
+that she would blame him, and complain that she could now have nought
+to eat save fish or crabs.
+
+But the knight loved Undine's wayward words. And well he knew that
+after she had shown her anger most, she would in but a little while be
+again kind and gentle as before.
+
+On the quiet island Huldbrand heard no call to knightly deeds. His
+sword hung unused on the cottage wall, his steed fed undisturbed among
+the sweet-scented meadows.
+
+'The maiden is the daughter of a great prince, thought the knight. 'It
+is not possible that she should remain in this humble cottage all her
+life. She shall be my bride, and in days to come she shall dwell in my
+castle of Ringstetten on the banks of the Danube.'
+
+Meanwhile, naught disturbed the dwellers in the little cottage, save
+now and again when her foster-mother would chide Undine in the
+presence of the knight.
+
+Now, though this displeased Huldbrand, he could not blame the old
+woman, for it was ever true that the maiden deserved reproof more
+often than she received it.
+
+At length wine and food began to grow scarce in the little cottage.
+In the evening, when the wind howled around their home, the fisherman
+and the knight had been used to cheer themselves with a flask of wine.
+But now that the fisherman was not able to reach the city, his supply
+of wine had come to an end. Without it the old man and the knight grew
+silent and dull.
+
+Undine teased them, laughed at them, but they did not join in her
+merriment.
+
+Then one evening the maiden left the cottage, to escape, so she said,
+from the gloomy faces in the little kitchen. It was a stormy night,
+and as it grew dark the wind began to blow, the waters to rise.
+Huldbrand and the fisherman thought of the terrible night on which
+they had sought so long in vain for the wilful maiden. They even began
+to fear that they had lost her again, and together they rushed to the
+door. But to their great delight Undine was standing there, laughing
+and clapping her little hands.
+
+'Come with me,' she cried when she saw them, 'come with me and I will
+show you a cask which the stream has thrown ashore. If it is not a
+wine cask you may punish me as you will.'
+
+The men went with her, and there in a little creek they found the
+cask and began to roll it toward the cottage.
+
+But though they rolled it rapidly the storm crept quickly up. So black
+were the clouds, so threatening, that it seemed each moment that the
+rain would burst forth upon them.
+
+Undine helped the men to roll the cask, and as the sky grew yet more
+threatening she looked up at the dark clouds and said in a warning
+voice, 'Beware, beware that you wet us not.'
+
+'It is wrong of you thus to try to rebuke the storm,' said her
+foster-father, but at his words the maiden only laughed low to herself
+in the darkness.
+
+It would seem, however, that Undine's warning had been of use, for it
+was not until the cask was rolled in at the cottage door that the
+storm broke.
+
+By the bright glow of the fire they opened the cask and found that it
+did indeed hold wine. They tasted it and found it very good, and soon
+they were once more as gay as the maiden could wish.
+
+Then suddenly the fisherman grew grave, grieving for him who had lost
+the cask.
+
+'Nay, grieve not,' said the knight, 'I will seek for the owner and
+repay him for his loss when I come again to my castle at
+Ringstetten.'
+
+The fisherman smiled and was content.
+
+Undine, however, was angry with the knight. 'It is foolish,' said she,
+'to talk of seeking for the owner of the cask. Were you lost in the
+search I should weep. Would you not rather stay by my side?'
+
+'Yes, and that do you right well know,' answered the knight.
+
+'Then,' said the maiden, 'why should you speak of helping other
+people. It is but foolish talk.'
+
+The foster-mother sighed as she listened to Undine's careless words,
+while the fisherman forgot his usual quiet and scolded her sharply.
+
+'Your words are wild, and are such as no Christian maiden should
+utter,' he said. 'May God forgive both you and those who have allowed
+you thus to speak.'
+
+'It is indeed true,' said Undine, 'that as I think I speak. Why,
+therefore, should you scold me for my words.'
+
+'Say no more,' said the fisherman, for he was very angry.
+
+Then the maiden, who, for all her wilfulness, was timid as a bird,
+drew close to the knight and whispered, 'Are you also angry with me,
+Sir Knight.'
+
+Huldbrand could find no words with which to comfort the maiden, whom
+he had learned to love. He could only hold her hand and stroke her
+golden hair, but with this Undine was well content.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE WEDDING
+
+
+Now it was on this same night on which the cask was found that, as the
+storm still raged, a knock was heard at the cottage door. It startled
+all within, for who was there could have crossed the stream that now
+separated them from the mainland? It could surely be no mortal who
+stood without.
+
+As the inhabitants of the little cottage sat silent, thinking these
+thoughts, the knock was heard again. It was followed by a low groan.
+Then the knight rose and took his sword from the wall where it had
+hung for many days. But the fisherman, watching him, shook his head as
+he muttered, 'A sword will be of but little use to-night.'
+
+Undine meanwhile had gone toward the door. She did not open it, but
+she called out in a loud voice, 'Remember, whoever you be, spirit of
+earth or fire, that if harm befall us my uncle Kuehleborn will punish
+you.'
+
+These strange words made the knight marvel. But a voice answered the
+maiden, 'I am no wandering spirit, but an old frail man. For the love
+of God open your door and give me shelter from the storm.'
+
+At these words Undine, holding a lamp high in one hand, flung the door
+wide open with the other. Before her stood an old priest, who looked
+upon her with surprise. How came so fair a maiden to be dwelling in so
+lonely a home? he wondered, and in his bewilderment he stood still
+outside the shelter and warmth which awaited him.
+
+'Will you not enter, holy Father?' said Undine.
+
+The priest roused himself to thank the beautiful maiden, and then
+entered the kitchen. Water flowed from his long robe and trickled from
+his long white beard and snowy locks.
+
+'Come with me, Father,' said the fisherman, and he drew the priest
+into a little room and made him take off all his wet garments. Then,
+clad in a suit of dry clothes which belonged to his host, the priest
+returned to the kitchen.
+
+The old woman pulled forward her own armchair and made the priest sit
+in it, while Undine brought a little stool and put it beneath the feet
+of the stranger.
+
+Meanwhile food was placed before the priest. When he had eaten he was
+refreshed and able to tell his host how he had reached the island.
+
+'It was but yesterday,' he said, 'that I was sailing across the lake,
+when a sudden storm arose. A wave dashed upon my boat, overturning it
+and throwing me on to the shore. I lay there stunned for some time.
+Then, as I slowly recovered my senses, I saw a footpath before me, and
+following it I reached the shelter of your cottage.'
+
+Then the fisherman said to the priest, 'Unless the stream subsides we
+shall, I fear, be in need of food. For days I have found it wellnigh
+impossible to fish in the lake, and even should I be able to do so I
+could not sell my fish. It would be too hard a task to reach the city
+beyond the wood until the stream once more runs quietly between its
+banks.'
+
+To Huldbrand as he listened it mattered not though the stream rushed
+on for ever. The world beyond the wood was becoming to the knight more
+and more as a dream. Also the little island on which he was living
+seemed to him the most beautiful spot on earth, for on it dwelt the
+maiden he loved so well.
+
+As these thoughts passed through the knight's mind he turned, and saw
+at once that Undine must have annoyed her foster-mother, for the old
+woman was casting angry looks upon the maiden. Perhaps the angry looks
+would be followed by harsh words, as had happened on other days.
+
+Quickly the knight made up his mind. Were Undine but his wife, no one
+would venture to reprove her. The priest was in the cottage. Why
+should he not marry the beautiful maiden without delay?
+
+He spoke a few words to Undine, then drawing her gently toward the
+priest he said, 'Father, you see before you the maiden whom I love,
+whom, if her foster-parents are willing, I would wed this very day.'
+
+The priest turned to the fisherman and his wife. 'You hear the words
+of the noble knight,' he said. 'Are you willing that he should wed the
+maiden?'
+
+It was easy to see that the old people were in no way startled by the
+priest's words.
+
+'To no braver or more courteous knight could we give our
+foster-child,' said the fisherman, and his wife smiled and nodded as
+he spoke.
+
+Then the foster-mother brought two candles, which long years before
+had been blessed by a holy man, and placed them on the kitchen table,
+while the knight, unfastening the chain which hung around his neck,
+began to take off it two golden rings, one for Undine, the other for
+himself.
+
+'Ah, do not so,' cried the maiden. 'Touch not the golden chain.
+Believe me, my parents, could they know, would wish us to use the
+rings they entrusted to my care when I was but a child.'
+
+She ran quickly from the room, and when she came back she held in her
+hand two radiant rings, one of which she gave to the knight, while the
+other she kept for herself.
+
+Her foster-parents looked at Undine in surprise, for they had neither
+seen the rings nor known that their foster-child had any jewels in her
+possession.
+
+Then the maiden, seeing their astonishment, told how her parents had
+stitched the rings into the little garments she had worn when first
+she came to them, a tiny child. 'They bid me also tell no one that
+they had given me these precious gems until the evening of my
+wedding-day.'
+
+Meanwhile the priest had clad himself again in his own garments, and
+lighting the candles, he called to Huldbrand and the maiden to come
+and kneel before him.
+
+[Illustration: In the little cottage were heard the solemn words of
+the marriage service]
+
+Gladly they obeyed, and then in the little cottage were heard the
+solemn words of the marriage service, and Undine became the wife of
+Huldbrand, the knight of Ringstetten.
+
+The maiden had been unusually quiet as she listened to the solemn
+words of the marriage service, but now a spirit of mischief seemed to
+seize her. She laughed and danced, she played childish tricks upon her
+husband, her foster-parents, even upon the priest himself.
+
+Her foster-mother would have rebuked Undine as of old, but the knight
+silenced her, for Undine was now his wife. Yet he himself was little
+pleased with her behaviour. When Undine saw a frown upon his brow, it
+is true that she would grow quieter, and sitting near him, would for a
+little while smooth his brow with her soft white hand. Soon, however,
+a new fancy would take hold of her, she would jump up, and her tricks
+would grow even more vexing than before.
+
+Then the priest spoke, and his voice was grave.
+
+'Lady, you are fair to look on, but I pray you to cease these foolish
+ways, lest your soul become less beautiful than your face.'
+
+Undine's laughter ceased. After a while she looked at the priest and
+asked in a timid whisper, 'What is this thing which you call a soul,
+holy Father?'
+
+Over the little kitchen a hush fell as the holy man answered, 'How can
+I tell you what this strange thing which we call our soul really is?
+Yet can I tell you why God gives us this great gift. It is that we may
+learn to know and love Him. Our bodies will grow old, and we will lay
+them aside as a garment which we no longer need, while our souls will
+live and dwell with Him for ever.'
+
+Undine's eyes grew sad, tears streamed down her cheek. 'Ah,' she
+sobbed, 'I have no soul, no soul. I think it would hurt me to have a
+soul, yet fain would I have one.'
+
+Then, with one of those quick changes which had at times startled her
+foster-parents, she dried her tears, and ran quickly to the window.
+She looked out into the night. It seemed to call her forth to a
+careless, thoughtless life. Why should she stay when the wind
+whispered to her and the waters brought her messages from the depths
+of the sea?
+
+'Ah no, I will have no soul!' cried Undine, turning once more toward
+the priest. 'I must be free, free as the breezes and the dancing
+waters.'
+
+'Your love for me will change and grow cold,' said the knight sadly,
+'unless you have a human soul. For none can love truly without this
+precious gift.'
+
+Yet even as he spoke Huldbrand was trying to stifle a fear that had
+begun to creep into his heart, a fear that the maiden he had wedded
+was a fairy or a mocking spirit from another world.
+
+But his beautiful wife was smiling softly, for as he had spoken his
+last words she had learned a secret. And as the knight looked into her
+blue love-lit eyes he too learned the secret. Through love Undine had
+won a soul, which is indeed the gift of God to every mortal.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+UNDINE'S STORY
+
+
+Undine lost her wilful ways on her wedding-day.
+
+Her foster-parents watched her, bewildered, so gentle was she, so
+thoughtful. She, who had but seldom flung her arms around them,
+embraced them now, and thanked them with tears in her eyes for all
+their care. Nor would she let them go, until she saw that the old
+woman wished to prepare breakfast.
+
+Then she herself flew to the hearth, and making her foster-mother
+rest, she swept and dusted, and prepared the meal. It was strange that
+she had never thought of doing this before.
+
+And those who dwelt with her, as they watched her grow so gracious, so
+gentle, learned to love her even more than in the days when she had
+been wild and wilful.
+
+One evening Undine, with Huldbrand by her side, wandered along the
+bank of the forest stream.
+
+The knight marvelled that the waters had suddenly grown peaceful, and
+that now again they were gliding quietly along their usual course.
+
+'To-morrow,' said his fair wife sorrowfully, 'to-morrow you can ride
+forth where you will.'
+
+'But,' said Huldbrand, 'you know well that if I go I will not leave
+you behind.'
+
+'I do not think you will leave me, Huldbrand. Yet carry me across to
+yonder little island, for there I will tell to you the story of the
+maiden you have made your wife. It may be that when you have heard it,
+you will ride away alone into the wide world.'
+
+Then silently the knight carried her, as she wished, across the stream
+to the tiny island, and laid her down on the green grass. It was on
+this very spot that he had found her on the night of the terrible
+storm.
+
+'Sit there, where I can look into your eyes as I tell my tale,' said
+his wife, 'for as I look I shall be able to see what you are thinking,
+nor will there be any need for you to tell me.'
+
+'In the world,' said Undine, 'there are many beings whom mortals
+seldom see, for should these beings hear a mortal drawing near, they
+quickly hide themselves. These beings of whom I tell you are spirits
+that dwell in fire, earth, air and water.
+
+'Those who dwell in the flames are called salamanders, nor do these
+spirits wish for any other home, as they play merrily and fearlessly
+among the sparkling fires.
+
+'Deep under the earth live the gnomes, rough and fearsome spirits
+they, full of malice too, should any mortal cross their path.
+
+'In lofty forests dwell more fair and joyous spirits, guarding each
+some well-loved spot from a mortal's heavy tread.
+
+'And better known and better loved than these of whom I have told you
+are the spirits who haunt the waters. These have their home in sea or
+lake, in river or in little brook.
+
+'Deep down under the blue waters, hidden from mortal eyes, are the
+palaces of the water spirits. Their walls are built of crystal and are
+hung with coral, their floors are paved with shining pearls.
+
+'Deep down under the blue waters are yellow sands. There the merry
+little water-spirits play their games and gambol all the glad long
+days, until they leave their childhood far behind.
+
+'Pure and fair, more fair even than the race of mortals are the
+spirits of the water. Fishermen have chanced to see these water-nymphs
+or mermaidens, and they have spoken of their wondrous beauty. Mortals
+too have named these strange women Undines. Look upon me, Huldbrand,
+look long and well, for I, your wife, am an Undine!'
+
+The knight gazed sadly upon his beautiful wife. He wished to believe
+that she was but weaving fairy tales with which to charm him through
+the quiet eventide, yet as he gazed upon her he shuddered lest the
+tale she told was true.
+
+Undine saw that he shuddered, and tears sprang into her blue eyes as
+she went on with her story.
+
+'When I was a child I lived in the depths of the sea. My father's
+crystal palace was my home, for he, my father, is the Lord of the
+Ocean. Kuehleborn is my uncle. He used to watch me with his big eyes
+until I grew afraid, and even now, although I live above the waters,
+he comes to me and ofttimes he frightens me as though I were again a
+little child.
+
+'Brothers and cousins, too, were mine and played with me on the yellow
+sands beneath the blue sea.
+
+'Merry were our lives and free, for the sorrows of mortals came not
+near to us. We had no soul, the gift God gives to every mortal, and
+without a soul no pain could enter into our lives.
+
+'Yet my father, the King of the Ocean, longed that I, his only
+daughter, should gain the great gift which is given to every mortal.
+And this he wished, though well he knew that to mortals was given,
+with the gift of a soul, the power to suffer.
+
+'An Undine can gain a soul in one way alone. She must love and be
+loved by one of mortal birth.
+
+'You, Huldbrand, you have given me my soul, and should you now despise
+me or drive me from you, I should suffer even as one of your own race.
+
+'Yet if you care not to have an Undine for your wife, leave me, and I
+will plunge into the waters. Then Kuehleborn, my uncle, who brought me
+a merry happy child to the fisherman, will come and carry me back to
+my ocean home. There will I live, loving, sorrowing, for into the
+depths of the blue sea will I carry my new-won soul.'
+
+Then Huldbrand forgot everything save the great love he bore his fair
+wife Undine. He took her in his arms and carried her across the
+little stream, whispering to her that she should never leave him.
+
+Together they went back to the cottage, and to the water-maiden the
+little dwelling gleamed more bright than the crystal palace of the
+Ocean King.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+HULDBRAND AND UNDINE LEAVE THE COTTAGE
+
+
+The following day Undine was up and out early in the morning, to see
+if the forest stream was still flowing quietly within its banks. Now
+the forest stream was the one haunted by her uncle Kuehleborn, and
+often he would use the waters for his own purposes. Sometimes
+Kuehleborn's purposes were kind, sometimes they were unkind.
+
+Undine was, in the cottage again, preparing the morning meal, when
+Huldbrand entered the kitchen. She greeted him brightly.
+
+'My uncle Kuehleborn has made the waters calm,' she cried. 'The stream
+is gliding peaceful as of old through the forest. Neither in air nor
+water are there spirits to molest us. Should you wish it, you can
+journey homeward to-day.'
+
+Huldbrand did not like to hear Undine speak of her strange kinsfolk,
+yet so gentle was she, so full of grace, that he soon forgot his
+vexation.
+
+Together the knight and his wife went to the door of the cottage, and
+looked out at the meadows and the lake lying in the morning sunshine.
+
+'Why should we leave this quiet spot to-day?' said Huldbrand, for well
+he loved the island where he had found his beautiful bride. 'In the
+great world we will spend no gladder days than in this simple
+meadow-land. Let us, then, yet linger here for a few days.'
+
+'It shall be as you wish,' answered Undine. 'Yet will my
+foster-parents grieve the more when I leave them, should they learn
+that I have now a soul. To-day they only marvel that I am kind and
+thoughtful, thinking that to-morrow I will once again be wild and
+careless as of old. But should I dwell here much longer they will know
+that never in the days to come will I be thoughtless as in former
+days. For I cannot hide my new gift. They will hear it in my voice,
+they will feel it in my touch, they will see it in my eyes. And having
+known that now, at length, I could love them well, they would grieve
+to lose me.'
+
+'We will leave to-day, this very hour,' said the knight, so pleased
+was he with Undine's new care for her kind old foster-parents.
+
+The priest who had found shelter in the cottage was also ready to
+return to his monastery. He would journey with the knight and his lady
+until they were safe from the perils of the haunted wood.
+
+Accordingly they sought the fisherman and his wife, and told them that
+now they must leave the shelter of their cottage and journey toward
+the city that lay beyond the forest.
+
+The farewells were said and Huldbrand lifted his beautiful wife and
+seated her on his horse. He himself would walk by her side.
+
+The three travellers soon reached the leafy shades of the forest.
+
+On one side of the lady walked the priest, clad in a long white robe,
+while, guarding her on the other side, was, as I told you, the knight.
+His armour was burnished and his sword was once more girt by his side.
+
+As Huldbrand and Undine talked joyfully together, a stranger joined
+the priest, yet they in their joy did not notice this.
+
+The stranger wore a garment such as a monk might wear. The hood was
+drawn forward and wellnigh hid his face, while the whole robe hung
+loosely around him, in great folds, so that at each step he must
+gather it up and throw it over his arm.
+
+[Illustration: The three travellers soon reached the leafy shades of
+the forest]
+
+'I have lived in the forest for many years,' said the stranger to the
+priest, 'and I love it for its great beauty. As I flit in and out
+among the dark shadows of the trees, I play with the stray sunbeams as
+they cast their glances here and there on my white robe.'
+
+'Tell me your name, for I would fain know who you are,' said the
+priest to his companion.
+
+'Nay, tell me first who are you who ask?' said the stranger.
+
+'Father Heilman is my name,' answered the priest, 'and I am journeying
+back to my monastery, after an absence of many days.'
+
+'Now I,' said the stranger, 'am named Lord Kuehleborn, though sometimes
+I am called Kuehleborn the Free, for indeed I am free as the wild birds
+of the air to go hither and thither as I will. Meanwhile, Sir Priest,
+I bid you farewell, for I would speak to yonder lady.'
+
+Even as he spoke, Kuehleborn left the priest and came close up to
+Undine. He bent forward as though he would whisper in her ear. But
+Undine drew herself quickly away, crying as she saw who was by her
+side, 'I no longer wish to have aught to do with you!'
+
+But her uncle only laughed at her words.
+
+'You are my niece,' he said, 'and I am here to guide you through the
+forest. The goblins in the cavern beneath the earth might come forth
+to do you harm were I not here to keep them quiet. The priest, who is
+named Father Heilman, speaks to me more kindly than do you. Know you
+not that it was I who brought him in safety to the little island to be
+ready for your wedding-day?'
+
+Undine and the knight turned to the priest, but he was walking as one
+in deep thought, and had, it was easy to see, heard nothing that the
+stranger had said.
+
+Then Undine turned again to her uncle. 'See yonder,' she cried, 'I can
+see already the end of the wood. We need your help no longer. I pray
+you vanish and do not disturb us further.'
+
+When Kuehleborn saw that Undine really wished him to leave her, he was
+angry. He made faces and shook his fist at his niece, until at length
+she screamed, 'Huldbrand, Huldbrand, save me, I entreat you!'
+
+The knight at once drew his sword and would have struck at the rude
+stranger. But as he thrust in the direction of Kuehleborn he felt a
+waterfall come rushing down from a rock above him. He drew his wife
+back, that she might not be drenched, but as he did so a white spray
+was flung after them which wet them both to the skin. At that moment
+they heard, as they thought, a low mocking laugh.
+
+'It is strange,' said the priest, 'that the ripple of the stream
+should sound almost as the voice of a man.'
+
+To Huldbrand the stream still seemed to be speaking, and these were
+the words he thought he heard. 'You were foolish, Sir Knight, to draw
+your sword, yet will I not be angry with you, nor will I quarrel with
+you so long as you guard well your beautiful wife. Yet be not again
+thus hasty, Sir Knight.'
+
+As the voice faded away into silence the travellers reached the end of
+the wood. Before them was the city, glowing red in the rays of the
+setting sun.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE KNIGHT RETURNS TO THE CITY
+
+
+Now all this time the lady Bertalda had been very unhappy because of
+the knight's long absence. Indeed, she had no sooner sent Huldbrand
+forth into the haunted forest than she began to wish that she had kept
+him by her side. As day after day passed and he did not return, she
+grew fearful lest he had lost his way and perished in the mazes of the
+wood. When a little later she heard of the floods that had made the
+country around impassable, she wellnigh lost all hope of his return.
+
+In spite of this, however, she begged the knights who had taken part
+in the tournament to go in search of Huldbrand, but this they were
+unwilling to do.
+
+As for the knight's own servants, they would not leave the city
+without their master, yet neither would they follow him into the
+dreaded forest. They lingered on at an inn of the city, lamenting his
+absence, but doing nought to bring him back.
+
+It was now, when there seemed but little hope of his return, that
+Huldbrand, to the surprise of every one, appeared in the city,
+bringing with him a wife of wondrous beauty, as well as Father
+Heilman, the priest who had married them.
+
+Huldbrand's servants rejoiced to see their young master alive and
+well. And the town folk, who had heard of his disappearance, were glad
+that the light-hearted knight, who had always treated them with
+courtesy, had suffered no harm in his adventure.
+
+But the lady Bertalda, though she was glad that the knight had
+returned, was sad when she saw that he had not come back alone. She
+herself had loved him, and had hoped that, if ever he should return,
+he would claim her as his bride.
+
+Yet though Bertalda was sad, she was a wise maiden, and she received
+Undine kindly, thinking that she was a princess whom Huldbrand had
+rescued from a wicked wizard. For the true story of the beautiful
+Undine was known to none, save to the knight alone.
+
+As for Undine, she no sooner saw Bertalda than she loved her, and
+begged her to stay in the city until she and her husband left it.
+Nay, more, she even asked the maiden to promise to go with them when
+they set out for the castle of Ringstetten, which stood on the banks
+of the river Danube, and Bertalda was well pleased with this request.
+
+One evening they three together walked up and down in the public
+square. In the midst of the square stood a beautiful fountain, and
+here they lingered to watch the water as it tumbled and tossed. So
+violently did it do this that it seemed as though the fountain must
+break, and the water, bursting its bonds, must flow away far and free.
+
+At that moment a tall man came towards them from the market-place,
+and, bowing to the knight and Bertalda, he drew the young wife aside
+that he might speak to her alone.
+
+Huldbrand looked at the stranger, and as he looked he felt sure that
+he had seen him before. He grew a little angry, this hasty knight, as
+he watched his wife and the stranger whispering together. He caught a
+few words too, and they seemed to him to be in a foreign language, and
+this displeased him yet more.
+
+At this moment, however, Undine left the stranger. As she came toward
+her husband she was laughing merrily and clapping her hands.
+
+But the stranger, as she left him, shook his head and frowned. Then he
+walked with great strides toward the fountain, and stepping into it he
+vanished and was seen no more.
+
+'It is Kuehleborn, the spirit of the forest stream--I know him now,'
+thought Huldbrand to himself.
+
+But Bertalda seemed to see nothing unusual about the stranger. She
+thought he was the Master of the fountain, and turning to Undine she
+asked her what the man had said to make her laugh so gaily.
+
+'The day after to-morrow is your birthday, dear Bertalda,' said
+Undine. 'Wait only until then, and I will tell you the reason of my
+joy.'
+
+Then, saying farewell to Bertalda, Undine and the knight walked toward
+their home.
+
+'Was it Kuehleborn who spoke to you by the fountain?' asked Huldbrand,
+and his voice sounded cold, for he did not wish to be reminded of his
+wife's strange relations.
+
+'It was he,' answered Undine. 'He told me tidings that made me
+rejoice. I will tell you without delay, should you desire it, what the
+tidings were. Yet if you will but wait until Bertalda's birthday, you
+will give me great pleasure, and you yourself will enjoy a great
+surprise.'
+
+Listening to her gentle words, the knight forgot the ill-humour he had
+but lately felt, and willingly he agreed to wait until she herself
+wished to tell him the good news.
+
+And Undine, as she fell asleep that night, was smiling happily.
+'Bertalda, dear Bertalda,' she murmured, 'how she will rejoice when I
+tell her the tidings brought to me by him whom she calls the Master of
+the fountain.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE BIRTHDAY FEAST
+
+
+It had been Undine's wish to give a great banquet in honour of
+Bertalda's birthday. The knight had ordered that all should be done as
+she desired.
+
+The feast was now spread, and the guests, of whom there were a great
+number, had already taken their seats.
+
+At the upper end of the table sat Bertalda, surrounded with flowers
+and jewels, gifts these which her foster-parents and friends had
+showered upon her. By her side sat the knight and his fair young wife.
+
+When at length the fruit was placed on the table, the doors of the
+banqueting-room were flung open. (In Germany, where the knight lived,
+it was usual to do this that the peasant folk might look in and see
+how their masters fared.) Wine and cakes were offered to those who on
+this evening came to show their pleasure in the joy of the knight and
+his young wife.
+
+Huldbrand and Bertalda, meanwhile, were watching Undine with eager
+eyes. Had she not a secret to tell them, which, when they knew it,
+would make them even happier than before?
+
+But Undine only smiled upon them as she caught their eyes, and shook
+her head slightly as though to say, 'No, it is still too soon, too
+soon.'
+
+At this moment the guests begged the young mistress of the feast to
+sing. She seemed pleased with the request, and taking her lute in her
+hands, she began to play softly, while her clear voice filled the
+room.
+
+It was a song of sunshine and green grass, of sweet flowers and
+sparkling waters, and the guests, listening spellbound, forgot all
+else save the singer and her song.
+
+But hark! the song is changing. Who is the child of whom Undine sings?
+A child who has been borne by the waves far from the home of her
+birth. The little one is lying like a flower among the meadow grass
+(the guests can see her as the singer sings) and reaches out her tiny
+hands for help.
+
+Ah! now they hear the tramp, tramp of a horse. A noble duke is riding
+slowly along. He halts, for he sees the little maid. He stoops and
+lifts her in his arms, and carries her off to his own castle, and
+surrounds her with splendour and with wealth.
+
+And now tears gather in the eyes of the guests. The song is drawing to
+a close, and Undine is singing of an unknown shore, where in a little
+cottage sit a father and mother, desolate and sad, for they have lost
+their little child, and they know not where to find her.
+
+Among all the guests were none who listened to the song more eagerly
+than Bertalda's noble foster-parents.
+
+'She has sung the story of Bertalda, the little child we found so long
+ago,' they said each to the other. 'It was even thus we found her in
+the meadow, among the flowers.'
+
+And Bertalda herself cried out in haste, 'Undine, Undine, you know my
+parents, bring them to me, bring them to me, I entreat you!'
+
+Then Undine, with tears that were tears of joy in her eyes, looked at
+Bertalda, and said softly, 'They are here, your parents are here, dear
+maiden, and when you see them you will rejoice. Well do I know the
+tender care they will give to you, for it was even they who were my
+own foster-parents.'
+
+At a sign from Undine the old fisherman and his wife now stepped
+forward from the corner in which their foster-child had bidden them
+wait. It was she, Undine, who had sent for them that they might claim
+Bertalda, who was, as Kuehleborn told her, their child.
+
+The eyes of all the guests were fixed in astonishment on the humble
+fisherman and his wife. Could these poor working folk be indeed the
+parents of the maiden who stood before them, so cold, so full of
+pride?
+
+'Yes, here is your long-lost daughter,' said Undine softly, as the old
+people stood bewildered before Bertalda. Then they, taking courage
+from her words, threw their arms around their daughter. And as they
+embraced her, tears streamed down their old worn faces, while they
+thanked God for His goodness in giving them back their child.
+
+But Bertalda tore herself from their arms. She, the child of a poor
+old fisherman and his wife! She could not believe it. She did not wish
+to believe it. In her pride she had hoped to be known as the daughter
+of a beautiful princess, or even of a queen. Now in her anger she
+believed that Undine had brought the fisherman and his wife to the
+banquet only to crush her pride and to humble her before Huldbrand and
+his guests.
+
+The angry maiden took no pains to hide her rage. She reproached
+Undine, Undine who had only wished to give her joy, nor had she any
+words too bitter to fling at the fisherman and his wife.
+
+And Undine, who had hoped to make her friend and her foster-parents
+happy, listened sadly, now to Bertalda, now to the old fisherman and
+his wife.
+
+'Bertalda,' she cried, 'Bertalda, do not be angry. Have you not a
+soul? Let it teach you not to grieve your parents more.'
+
+But Bertalda only grew more angry, and the poor parents, as they heard
+her scorn, more sad.
+
+As for the guests, they were talking loudly, some being sorry for the
+maiden, others for the fisherman and his wife.
+
+Then Undine begged the knight to let her speak to their guests. And he
+yielding to her wish, she walked to the upper end of the table, and
+while all eyes were fixed upon her, she spoke.
+
+'My secret, which I thought would cause Bertalda joy, has caused her
+sorrow. Yet must I tell you that I have spoken the truth. For he who
+told me was he who, when Bertalda was but a little babe, drew her into
+the water, and thereafter laid her in the green meadow through which
+the duke rode toward his castle.'
+
+'Do not listen to her words!' shouted Bertalda in her rage. 'She is a
+witch, a witch!'
+
+'Nay, I am no witch. Look upon me that you may know,' answered Undine.
+And as they gazed upon her pure face and into her clear blue eyes, the
+guests knew that she spoke the truth. Undine was not a witch.
+
+'If she is not a witch, she at least has not told the truth,' cried
+Bertalda, scorn in her cold voice. 'She has no proof that I am the
+child of these wretched old people.' Then, turning to her noble
+foster-parents, she entreated them to take her away at once from the
+city, where such shame had been brought upon her.
+
+But the duke did not move, while the duchess said in a firm voice, 'We
+shall not leave this room, nor shall you, proud maiden, until we know
+the truth.'
+
+Then the fisherman's wife drew near to the noble lady, and curtsying
+low she said, 'Should this bad maiden be indeed my daughter, as I do
+think she is, she will have between her shoulders a mark like a
+violet, and this mark also you will find on the instep of her left
+foot. Let the maiden come with me that--'
+
+But Bertalda rudely interrupted the old woman's words.
+
+'I will not go with the peasant!' she said.
+
+'But you will come with me into another room,' said the duchess, and
+Bertalda knew that she would have to go. 'And the old woman shall come
+with us,' added the noble lady in a kind voice.
+
+As the three went out of the banqueting-room, silence fell upon the
+guests. Now they would soon know the truth.
+
+Slowly the moments passed. At length the door opened and the duchess
+returned with Bertalda and the old woman. Bertalda looked pale and
+frightened.
+
+'It is but just,' said the noble lady, looking round the room, 'it is
+but just that you should know the truth. It is as our hostess has
+said. Bertalda is indeed the daughter of the fisherman and his wife.'
+
+The duke and duchess then left the room, followed by their
+foster-child, the duke bidding Bertalda's true parents come with them
+also.
+
+In silence the other guests slipped away, to talk in their own homes
+over all that they had heard and seen, and Undine, left alone with her
+husband, wept bitterly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE JOURNEY TO CASTLE RINGSTETTEN
+
+
+The knight did all he could to comfort his wife, and although he was
+sorry to see her tears, he was glad to think that she, who had been so
+wild and wilful, had now a soul so kind and loving.
+
+'If it is true that Undine has won through love a soul, it is one more
+pure than mortals know,' he thought to himself.
+
+As he comforted his wife Huldbrand made up his mind to take her away
+from the city as soon as possible.
+
+In the city the lady Bertalda was well known, and people talked of the
+strange story of her birth. But among them all none was heard to say
+an unkind word about Undine, while many there were who blamed Bertalda
+for her cruel behaviour toward her friend and the poor old fisherman
+and his wife. But this neither the knight nor his lady knew, nor
+would it have comforted Undine had she been told.
+
+The morning after the feast a beautiful carriage stood at the door.
+Huldbrand and his wife were ready to set out on their journey to the
+castle of Ringstetten.
+
+As the knight and Undine were stepping into the carriage a fisher-girl
+drew near, and begged them to buy her fish.
+
+'We are leaving the city, we do not need any fish,' said the knight
+courteously. But at the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears,
+and Huldbrand saw with surprise that it was Bertalda who had spoken to
+him.
+
+'Why do you weep so bitterly?' asked Undine, drawing Bertalda into the
+house, and the maiden, who had no pride left, told her story.
+
+'My foster-parents,' she said between her sobs, 'my foster-parents are
+so displeased with my cruel behaviour to you and to the old fisherman
+and his wife, that they no longer wish me to live with them. They have
+given me a large sum of money and have sent me away into the wide
+world. The fisherman and his wife, to whom they have also given gifts,
+have gone back to their cottage by the lake. I was too fearful to wish
+to be left alone in the world, and fain would I have gone with them to
+their simple home, but he who is said to be my father--'
+
+[Illustration: At the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears]
+
+'In truth he is your father,' interrupted Undine, and her voice was
+grave.
+
+'Even if he be my father,' answered Bertalda, 'yet would he not take
+me with him to his cottage. Did I care for him or for his wife, he
+said, I would not fear to journey alone through the haunted forest,
+until I found my home. Nor would he welcome me should I go to him
+dressed in aught save the dress of a fisher-girl. Although the thought
+of the forest makes me tremble, yet will I do as he has said. But
+first I have come to you, gentle lady,' and as she spoke Bertalda
+looked entreatingly at Undine, 'I have come to ask your forgiveness
+for my behaviour yesterday. I believe that you did indeed wish to give
+me joy by bringing my poor parents to the feast. O forgive me, forgive
+all the bold and unkind words I spoke, for indeed I am very unhappy.'
+
+But the gentle Undine would let the miserable maiden say no more. She
+threw her arms around Bertalda's neck, and said, 'Bertalda, dear
+Bertalda, you shall live with me and be my sister. You shall come with
+me to Ringstetten this very day.'
+
+The maiden dried her tears and looked timidly at the knight. He also
+felt sorry for Bertalda, nor did it please him to think of her
+venturing alone into the forest. Too well he knew the terrors which
+might surround her there. He took her hand, as he saw her timid look,
+and said in a gentle voice, 'You shall live with us at Ringstetten,
+and I and my wife will take care of you. But lest the good old
+fisherman is troubled as the days pass and you do not reach the
+cottage, I will send to tell him that you have come with us and are
+safe at Castle Ringstetten.' Then, giving Bertalda his arm, he placed
+her in the carriage with Undine. The knight himself mounted his horse
+and rode along gaily by their side, and soon they left the city and
+all sad thoughts behind.
+
+At length, one fair summer evening, the travellers reached
+Ringstetten. There was much to make the knight busy after his long
+absence, and thus it was that Undine and Bertalda spent many days
+alone together. Often they would walk in the beautiful country which
+lay without the castle grounds.
+
+One day, as they wandered along the banks of the river Danube, a tall
+man came toward them, and would have spoken to Undine. But Undine,
+gentle as were her ways, had no welcome for the stranger. When she saw
+him, a frown crossed her sweet face and she bid him at once begone.
+Shaking his head the tall man yet obeyed, and walking with hasty steps
+toward a little wood, he soon disappeared.
+
+'Is not the stranger he who spoke to you in the city, the Master of
+the fountain?' cried Bertalda fearfully. She would always be afraid of
+the man who had told Undine the secret of her birth.
+
+'Fear nothing, dear Bertalda,' said Undine hastily, 'the Master of the
+fountain shall not do you harm. I will tell you who he is, and then
+you will no longer be afraid. His name is Kuehleborn and he is my
+uncle. It was he who carried you away from your mother's arms and put
+me there in your place.'
+
+Then, as Bertalda listened with wide open eyes, Undine told her of her
+childhood's home in the crystal palace under the blue sea, and of the
+free and careless life she had lived in the cottage by the lake. She
+told her, too, of the coming of the knight, and of their wedding-day,
+when she had won for herself a soul, a gift given to no Undine save
+through the power of love.
+
+Bertalda listened to the strange story in silence, but as she listened
+she felt a faint feeling of dread creep into her heart. And the
+feeling grew and grew until at last it seemed to stand as a wall
+between her and the gentle Undine.
+
+At supper that evening she began to be sorry for the knight, who had
+married a lady beautiful indeed and good, yet one who seemed to belong
+to another world than theirs.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+CASTLE RINGSTETTEN
+
+
+Now as the days passed, a change crept over those who dwelt in the
+castle.
+
+Huldbrand saw that Bertalda seemed to shrink away from his beautiful
+wife. And when at length he asked her the reason that she no longer
+loved Undine so well as she had been used to do, she told him that she
+now knew from whence his wife had come. 'And for the spirit world,'
+said Bertalda, 'I do not care, for I know it not. It and those who
+have dwelt there fill me with fear and dread.'
+
+Little by little the knight himself began to look at his wife with
+less loving eyes, little by little he began to shun her presence.
+
+Then Undine, seeing that her husband's love grew less, wept, and the
+knight, seeing her tears, would speak kindly to her, yet even as he
+spoke he would leave her side to walk with Bertalda.
+
+She, Bertalda, meanwhile grew once more rude and proud, nor could
+Undine's patience win her to behave more wisely.
+
+Then in the long dark passages of the old castle, spectres began to
+appear to Huldbrand and Bertalda, and worse than any was the tall form
+of Kuehleborn, or the Master of the fountain, as the maiden still
+called him.
+
+Now one day, when Huldbrand had ridden to the hunt, Undine gathered
+all her servants together in the court of the castle and bade them
+bring a big stone to cover up the fountain which stood in the middle
+of the square.
+
+The servants, who loved their mistress, hastened to obey her commands.
+A huge stone was carried into the court, and was just about to be
+placed on the fountain when Bertalda came hurriedly to the spot.
+
+'The fountain must not be closed,' she cried haughtily, 'for it is
+from it that water is drawn for my daily bath.'
+
+But Undine, who on other days had often given way to the wishes of
+Bertalda, was to-day determined that her will should be done.
+
+'It is I who am mistress of the castle in the absence of my lord,' she
+said, and her voice was firm though it was kind, 'and the fountain
+shall be closed as I have commanded.'
+
+'But look,' cried Bertalda angrily, 'the water itself bubbles and
+heaves as though disturbed at the thought of being shut out from the
+glad sunshine.'
+
+The water was indeed, as the maiden said, fretting against the stones
+and throwing out sudden jets as though in a violent passion.
+
+The more excited grew the water, however, the more determined grew
+Undine to have her order fulfilled, and that without delay.
+
+As for the servants, they had no wish to please the haughty Bertalda,
+they were even glad to disobey her when that might be.
+
+Accordingly they no longer delayed to do the will of their gentle
+mistress, and the stone was soon placed securely over the opening of
+the fountain. Undine then bent over it and silently wrote on the top
+of the stone some strange letters.
+
+That evening, when Huldbrand came home, Bertalda met him with tears in
+her eyes, and complained to him of his wife's strange conduct.
+
+'Tell me why you have ordered that the fountain should be sealed,'
+said the knight, turning sullenly to his wife. 'It was a strange
+deed.'
+
+'I will tell you the reason when we are alone,' said Undine. 'It was
+a grave one indeed.'
+
+'It matters not if Bertalda should hear,' said the knight, and he did
+not hide the impatience that he felt.
+
+'I will tell you in her presence if you so desire,' said Undine, 'but
+I beseech you, desire it not.'
+
+As the knight looked into her pleading face and let her sweet voice
+steal into his heart, he grew ashamed of himself. How could he ever be
+unkind to so fair, so good a wife!
+
+Thinking thus Huldbrand did not speak, but he drew Undine gently from
+the room, that she might speak to him alone as she wished to do.
+
+'Ah, now I can tell you,' said Undine, and she smiled in her content.
+'You know that Kuehleborn, my uncle, has begun to haunt the castle. I
+send him away in my displeasure, yet again and again he returns. Now I
+have shut the door by which he comes, and here he will disturb our
+peace no more. It is true that the stone can easily be raised by
+strong men, in spite of the letters which I wrote upon it. If you wish
+to do as Bertalda demands, remove the stone, yet do I warn you that
+Kuehleborn may well harm the maiden, for against her he bears more
+ill-will than he does against others.'
+
+Once more, as Huldbrand listened to his wife, he was ashamed. So
+gentle was she, so kind to the haughty maiden who but mocked at her
+for all her love. Peerless indeed was the soul of his beautiful wife,
+and once again love for her sprang up within his heart.
+
+'The stone shall not be removed, nor shall anything that you order be
+undone, my sweet Undine,' said the knight.
+
+At these words, and yet more at the kindness of his voice, Undine
+rejoiced. Then, seizing Huldbrand's hand, she begged him to grant her
+one request.
+
+'If at any time, in the days that are to come,' she said, 'you upbraid
+me, promise that this you will never do while we are sailing or while
+we are near to sea or lake or tiny rivulet. For should one of my race
+hear you use harsh words toward me, then would they regain their
+power, and snatch me away from you for ever. Then would I be forced to
+dwell all the rest of my life in the crystal palace below the blue
+sea. Nor could I ever come up to you unless, indeed, I was sent by my
+kindred, when alas! only great sadness would befall us both. Promise
+me, therefore, that when we are near water, you will remember what I
+have now told you.'
+
+Huldbrand promised, and hand in hand they went in search of Bertalda.
+
+She meanwhile had called together some workmen, and as she saw the
+knight and Undine drawing near, she gave her orders to the men in a
+loud, discontented voice. 'The stone may now be removed. Hasten, see
+that it be done immediately!'
+
+But the knight was angry with the maiden for daring thus to give what
+orders she pleased, and he shouted at once, so that the workmen might
+hear, 'The stone shall stay where it is! It shall not be removed!'
+
+And the men went away, well pleased that they need not undo what their
+gentle mistress had ordered to be done.
+
+Huldbrand then reproved Bertalda for her rude behaviour to his wife,
+but she scarcely heard his words, as she turned away in anger and
+hastened to her room.
+
+Soon supper was placed on the table, but Huldbrand and Undine waited
+in vain for Bertalda. At length they sent a servant to call her, but
+the maid came back only to tell them that she was nowhere to be found.
+In her room, however, a letter had been left addressed to the knight.
+Huldbrand opened it hastily and read:--
+
+'Forgive me, Sir Knight, that I have forgotten that I am only a poor
+fisher-girl. I will go to my father's miserable cottage, where I
+cannot well commit the same fault again. Fare you well, you and your
+beautiful wife.'
+
+'You must go without delay to seek her and bring her back,' said
+Undine.
+
+And Huldbrand did not need to be urged. Already he had ordered his
+horse to be saddled that he might ride after the maiden.
+
+In vain he asked the servants in what direction Bertalda had gone. No
+one had seen her. It was only as the knight impatiently mounted his
+steed, that a page ran up to him crying, 'The lady Bertalda rode
+toward the Black Valley.'
+
+Without a pause the knight darted off in the direction of the valley.
+He did not hear his wife's voice crying after him, 'Huldbrand,
+Huldbrand, go not there, not to the valley, Huldbrand, or, if go you
+must, take me, I entreat of you.'
+
+Then when Undine saw that her cry was unheard, she ordered her palfrey
+to be saddled instantly, and mounting it, she rode forth alone to
+follow the knight into the Black Valley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE BLACK VALLEY
+
+
+The Black Valley was a gloomy place. Fir-trees grew tall and dark on
+the banks of the stream, casting strange shadows on the sunny waters.
+
+As the knight entered the valley, evening had fallen and the stream
+rushed, dark and sullen, between the rocks.
+
+Huldbrand glanced anxiously from side to side, but no trace could be
+found of the maiden whom he sought. He began to fear lest already she
+were in peril, and thinking thus he urged his horse yet further into
+the valley.
+
+Peering through the bushes as he rode, he at length caught sight of
+something white lying on the ground. Had he found Bertalda at last?
+
+He spurred his horse onward toward the white gleam which had caught
+his eye, but the animal no sooner saw the object which had gladdened
+his master's eye than it started violently and refused to move. Then
+the knight dismounted, and tying his now rearing steed to an elm, he
+pushed his way on foot through the brushwood.
+
+Thunder began to rumble around the mountains, and the evening dew fell
+cold and damp on the anxious knight.
+
+He could still see the white figure lying on the ground, but as he
+drew nearer to it a strange dread struck at Huldbrand's heart.
+
+'Was Bertalda asleep,' he wondered, 'or did she lie there unconscious,
+perchance even dead?'
+
+He was close to her now, bending over her. She never stirred. He
+rustled the branches, rattled his sword. Still she lay there quiet,
+motionless. He called her by her name, 'Bertalda!' but no voice
+answered him. He called again, more loud, 'Bertalda!' but only a
+sorrowful echo answered his cry.
+
+Then the knight bent nearer yet to the maiden, but darkness hid the
+face on which he longed to gaze.
+
+Suddenly the whole valley was bright as at mid-day. A vivid flash of
+lightning showed to Huldbrand the face over which he bent.
+
+It was a terrible face. And a voice, awful as the face, rang out harsh
+and hollow.
+
+With a cry of terror the knight sprang away from the horrid vision.
+But was it a vision? Huldbrand knew that it was creeping after him,
+and he could catch some muttered words. 'Get you gone, get you gone,'
+he heard, 'there are evil spirits abroad. Get you gone, or I shall
+seize you and hold you fast,' and the white figure stretched out his
+bony arms to catch him. Ah! now the knight knew who it was that had
+given him so cruel a fright. It was none other than Kuehleborn, the
+malicious water spirit.
+
+Seizing his sword, Huldbrand struck fiercely at the white figure, only
+however to see it vanish, while a heavy shower of water drenched him
+from head to foot.
+
+'He may wish to drive me away, but he shall not succeed in doing so,'
+murmured the knight. 'Bertalda shall not be left to the vengeance of
+this evil spirit.'
+
+Huldbrand now turned back to go to his horse, but ere he reached the
+animal, he heard in the distance a sound of weeping. It reached his
+ears even though the thunder still rolled and the wind still blew. He
+hastened towards the spot from which the sound seemed to come. There,
+on the hillside, trying to climb up out of the darkness of the valley,
+he found Bertalda.
+
+The maiden was too glad to see Huldbrand to remember how but lately he
+had angered her. She clung to him, calling him her deliverer, her
+knight, for to her too the valley had been full of horrible forms and
+strange visions.
+
+Soothing her with kind words, Huldbrand led the maiden toward his
+horse.
+
+But no sooner did the animal see his master approach with Bertalda on
+his arm than it began to rear, beating the air madly with its
+forefeet.
+
+It was not possible to mount Bertalda, and the knight soon gave up the
+attempt. He drew the horse gently forward by the bridle, while with
+his other arm he supported the fearful maiden.
+
+But Bertalda, though she was anxious to escape from the dark valley,
+could walk but slowly, and at each step her strength grew less. For
+Kuehleborn had played her many pranks ere she had been found. The storm
+also had bruised her slender form.
+
+At length she slipped from the knight's arm, and falling on the grass,
+she sighed, 'Leave me, noble knight, leave me to suffer the punishment
+I deserve.'
+
+'I will never leave you, dear Bertalda,' cried the knight. As he
+spoke, the steed began to plunge even more furiously than before. It
+was impossible for Huldbrand to control the animal. All he could do
+was to force it away a few paces from where the maiden lay, for he
+feared lest the horse should trample her to death.
+
+He had gone but a few steps when he heard her calling to him,
+'Huldbrand, Huldbrand, leave me not alone,' for already all her
+courage had faded away.
+
+As he hesitated, the knight heard the wheels of a wagon rumble slowly
+over the rough road that led through the valley. He at once called to
+the driver to come to his help. A man's voice called back quickly,
+'Have but patience, and I will come.'
+
+Soon afterwards Huldbrand saw two white horses appear through the
+trees. Then a wagon covered with a great white hood was to be seen,
+and last of all the driver, who was dressed in a white carter's frock.
+
+The driver drew near to the knight and tried to help him to quiet his
+frightened steed.
+
+'Do you know, Sir Knight, why your good horse shivers thus?' asked the
+carter, 'for if not I can tell you. A bad water spirit dwells in this
+valley, and often he would bewitch my horses when first I ventured
+through it. But now I have learned a little spell. If you wish it, I
+will whisper it in the ear of your steed, and he will stand steady as
+my greys.'
+
+'You may try your spell,' said the knight, 'though I fear that it will
+be of but little use.'
+
+Then the driver of the wagon went quietly up to the panting steed, and
+said a few words to it. At once the horse stood still, without a trace
+of the fear which had made it so restless and unmanageable.
+
+Huldbrand had no time to wonder what the wagoner had said to his
+horse. He was too eager to get Bertalda out of the valley to think of
+anything else.
+
+'My wagon will take the fair lady safely back to Ringstetten,' said
+the wagoner. 'She may sit in it in comfort, for it is filled with bags
+of the softest cotton.'
+
+The knight was glad to accept this offer, and as his horse, though
+quiet, was tired and weary, Huldbrand himself was easily persuaded
+that he also should ride in the wagon with Bertalda, while his steed
+was fastened behind.
+
+'It is well,' said the wagoner, 'that the road is downhill. My trusty
+greys will step out bravely.'
+
+Thus they started, the driver walking by the side of his wagon.
+
+And Bertalda and the knight did not heed the jolting of the wagon, as
+they sat side by side on the soft bags of cotton.
+
+Suddenly they were startled by a loud shout from the driver.
+
+'Steady, now, my trusty greys, steady, lest you fall.'
+
+Already the wagon was in the midst of a stream of rushing water, and
+it seemed as though the horses must be carried off their feet. The
+wagoner had sprung into the wagon untouched by the swirling waters.
+
+'This is a strange way by which to drive us,' said Huldbrand to the
+wagoner. 'It seems to go right into the middle of the stream.'
+
+'Nay, now, Sir Knight,' laughed the driver, 'if you look again, you
+will see that it is the stream which is rushing across our path. See,
+it has overflowed its banks.'
+
+The knight looked and saw that the whole valley was being rapidly
+flooded. Then, all at once, he knew that this was Kuehleborn's doing.
+
+'It is Kuehleborn,' he cried aloud, 'Kuehleborn the water spirit, who is
+doing his utmost to drown us. Do you not know a spell against his
+power?'
+
+'Yea, by my troth I know a spell,' answered the wagoner, 'but ere I
+use it, I must tell you who I am.'
+
+'I care not who you may be,' shouted the angry knight. 'See you not
+that there is no time to lose. The water is rising rapidly.'
+
+'Nevertheless,' answered the man,' you shall hear my name, for I am
+Kuehleborn!'
+
+He laughed a mocking laugh, and at that moment the wagon seemed to
+disappear, and Bertalda and the knight were struggling in the flood.
+Above them rose the wagoner, who was indeed, as he had said,
+Kuehleborn. Taller and taller he towered above them, until he seemed at
+last to change into a great white wave.
+
+With horror-stricken eyes the maiden and the knight saw the wave swoop
+down upon the noble steed, which had been vainly struggling in the
+water. Then slowly once more the wave reared itself higher and higher
+yet above the heads of the two who watched and waited until they too
+should be for ever buried beneath the waters.
+
+But ere the great white wave rolled down upon them, they were saved.
+Through the tumult of the waters a sweet voice floated to Bertalda and
+the knight. Then, as the moon broke through the clouds, they saw
+Undine on a hill looking down into the valley.
+
+She rebuked the waters, she even threatened the vast wave that towered
+above Bertalda and the knight, until muttering gloomily it vanished
+from their sight.
+
+As the waters ran more quietly through the valley, Undine flew to them
+swiftly as a bird and drew them up out of reach of the water. Bidding
+them rest a while, for they were weary, she went a little way off to
+fetch her white palfrey. Then, telling the knight to place Bertalda on
+the saddle, she led them safely back to the castle.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+HULDBRAND FORGETS HIS PROMISE
+
+
+Undine was full of joy when she had saved Bertalda and Huldbrand from
+the dangers of the Black Valley, and brought them back safely to
+Castle Ringstetten. Her joy grew daily greater as her husband became
+kind and gentle to her as he had used to be when they dwelt together
+in the cottage by the lake. Indeed the knight had grown ashamed of his
+careless words and ways. He would never again speak harshly to Undine
+or leave her side to spend long hours with Bertalda; so he thought to
+himself. For when she had hastened to save him and the maiden from the
+doom which had all but overtaken them, he had seen once more, in a
+flash, the soul of his beautiful young wife. It shone before him now,
+fair and spotless in its beauty.
+
+Bertalda, too, had been touched by the goodness of her friend. She no
+longer wished to mock her gentle words, and though her heart was
+cold, she grew more humble.
+
+Thus trouble and care passed away from Ringstetten, and spectres no
+longer haunted the dark corners of the castle.
+
+Winter came, cold and chill, but it had no power to freeze the hearts
+of Undine and the knight.
+
+Spring came, and the trees grew green, and the sky shone more blue,
+and the little birds began to use their wings. Soon the swallows and
+the storks came home from their long winter journeys. And those in the
+castle, as they thought of the fair countries these had seen, began
+themselves to wish to travel.
+
+One beautiful evening Huldbrand with his wife and Bertalda walked
+along the banks of the river Danube. The knight, who had ofttimes
+sailed down the river, told them tales of the wonderful countries
+through which it flowed, and of the beautiful town of Vienna, which
+rose so proudly on its banks.
+
+'Ah!' said Bertalda, 'how I wish we might sail to this city of which
+you tell.'
+
+And Undine, ever anxious to give pleasure to her friend, said, 'Yes,
+let us visit Vienna while the spring is still fair.' Huldbrand also
+was pleased at the thought of the journey, only once he bent toward
+Undine and whispered, 'Kuehleborn, will we not be in his power if we
+sail down the river?'
+
+His beautiful wife only laughed. She was too happy now to fear her
+uncle's power.
+
+They therefore got ready for the journey with much merriment and many
+hopes.
+
+When at length the three travellers, with their attendants, set out on
+their voyage, it seemed as though all would be as joyful as they had
+wished. As they sailed on, the river grew more broad, more green the
+grasses too in the rich meadow-lands.
+
+But erelong a shadow crept across their joy. The river, indeed, flowed
+smooth as before, the country smiled only more graciously upon the
+travellers, but Kuehleborn had already begun to show that on this part
+of the river he could use his power.
+
+Undine, it is true, reproved her uncle before he had done more than
+play a few tricks upon them. Yet though he would cease his pranks when
+she spoke, it was but a few moments before he was as troublesome as
+ever.
+
+Soon the crew began to crowd together, whispering fearfully and
+glancing timidly at the knight and his fair ladies. Kuehleborn was
+making them afraid.
+
+Huldbrand saw their strange glances and he began to grow angry. He
+even muttered crossly, 'This is Undine's mad uncle come to disturb us.
+I would her strange kindred would leave us alone.'
+
+Thinking thus, the knight looked with displeasure at his poor wife.
+She knew but too well what his glance meant, and worn out with sorrow
+and with her constant watch over Kuehleborn, she at length fell fast
+asleep.
+
+But no sooner were her eyes closed than her uncle again began his
+tiresome tricks.
+
+It seemed to the sailors, and indeed to all on board, that they were
+bewitched, for look which way each one would, there before him,
+peering out of the water, was the head of a very ugly man.
+
+Each man turned, in his terror, to point out to his fellow the hideous
+head. But on every face the same horror was already painted. Then when
+each tried to tell the other what each one had seen, they ended by
+crying out together, 'See, here is the face! nay, look, it is here!'
+
+Undine awoke as the terrified crew broke into loud screams, and as she
+opened her eyes the ugly faces vanished.
+
+But Huldbrand had not been frightened. He had been growing more and
+more angry, and now he would have spoken roughly to his wife, had she
+not pleaded with loving eyes and soft voice, 'For God's sake, rebuke
+me not while we are on the water. Bethink you of your promise.'
+
+The knight was silent, for well he remembered how Undine had entreated
+him never to reprove her while she was near water.
+
+Then she, seeing he was silent, whispered, 'Let us give up this
+voyage, for now has our joy turned into sadness. Let us go back to the
+castle where nothing can disturb us.'
+
+Huldbrand, however, was not to be so easily restored to good humour.
+He answered her crossly, 'Why should I have to stay shut up at home?
+Even there can I have quiet only so long as the fountain remains
+sealed. I wish that your foolish kinsfolk--'
+
+He could say no more, for Undine's hand was over his lips, and her
+voice was beseeching him to be silent.
+
+Meanwhile Bertalda sat quietly in the ship, thinking of all the
+strange things that had happened. As she sat thus thinking, she
+unfastened a golden necklace which the knight had given to her, and
+holding it in her hand over the side of the bark she drew it
+carelessly through the water. Then dreamily she watched it as it
+gleamed and glistened in the light of the setting sun.
+
+All at once a huge white hand came up out of the river, seized the
+necklace, and disappeared with it below the water.
+
+Bertalda shrieked in terror, and a mocking laugh answered her cry.
+
+Then could the anger of the knight no longer be concealed. He sprang
+up, shouting to the water spirits to claim no kinship with him, but to
+come and learn from his sword-thrusts how much he hated them.
+
+The maiden meanwhile wept for her lost necklace. But Undine had thrust
+her hand into the water, and was murmuring strange words to herself,
+stopping from time to time to say to her husband, 'Chide me not here,
+Huldbrand, chide me not here, lest you lose me for ever.'
+
+And, indeed, though the knight shook with rage, yet he spoke no word
+of reproach to his wife.
+
+At length Undine drew out the hand which she had been holding under
+the water, and in it she held a coral necklace of wondrous beauty.
+
+'Take it and weep no longer,' she said in her gentle voice, and she
+held the necklace out toward Bertalda. 'I have had it brought to me
+from the palaces below the sea. Grieve no longer for the one which you
+have lost.'
+
+But the knight saw in the necklace only another sign of Undine's
+strange dealings with the water spirits. He sprang between Bertalda
+and his wife and snatched from Undine's hand the beautiful necklace,
+flinging it far away into the river. Then in his passion he turned to
+his wife, and cried, 'Go and abide with your kindred! You are a witch,
+go, dwell with those who are as you are, and take with you your gifts!
+Go, trouble us no more!'
+
+Undine looked at Huldbrand. Tears were in her blue eyes, and she wept
+as a little blameless child might weep.
+
+'Alas, beloved,' she sighed, 'farewell! No harm shall touch you while
+I have power to shield you from evil. Alas, alas! why have you sent me
+hence?'
+
+She seemed to glide as she spoke over the edge of the bark, and be
+drawn down into the river. And the little waves lapped against the
+boat and seemed to sob as they whispered, 'Alas, alas!'
+
+No sooner had the knight spoken than he knew what he had done. He had
+lost his wife, his beautiful fair-souled Undine. He lay on the deck
+stretching out empty arms, shedding bitter tears, until at length his
+misery made the strong man swoon.
+
+[Illustration: The little waves seemed to sob as they whispered,
+'Alas! alas!']
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+HULDBRAND AND BERTALDA
+
+
+When he recovered, the knight of Ringstetten went back to his castle
+with Bertalda. So bitterly did he mourn the loss of his gentle wife,
+that at length he began to believe that he would never cease to weep
+for her. Bertalda wept by his side, and for a long time they lived
+quietly together, thinking and talking of none save the beautiful
+Undine.
+
+But as the months passed by, Huldbrand began to think a little less
+and yet a little less of his beautiful lost wife.
+
+Now about this time the old fisherman appeared at the castle. He had
+come to tell the knight that it was time that his daughter Bertalda
+should come to live with him in his lonely cottage by the lake.
+
+Then the knight began to think how strange and silent it would be in
+the castle if Bertalda left him. The more he thought about it the
+more he disliked the thought of being left alone.
+
+At length he spoke to the fisherman and begged him not to take
+Bertalda away. 'Let her stay with me and be my wife,' said the knight.
+
+And in time the fisherman yielded to the wishes of the knight, and the
+wedding-day was fixed.
+
+Then a letter was sent to Father Heilman, begging him to come without
+delay to the castle that he might perform the wedding-rite between the
+knight and the lady Bertalda. Now Father Heilman was the very priest
+who had wedded Huldbrand to Undine in the cottage by the lake.
+
+When the priest had read Huldbrand's letter he hastened at once to the
+castle.
+
+Huldbrand and Bertalda were sitting side by side under the trees, the
+fisherman near them, when they saw the priest enter the court.
+
+They all rose eagerly to welcome him, but Father Heilman began to
+speak without delay.
+
+'Sir Knight, I have come with as great haste as my old limbs would
+carry me to tell you that I do not believe the beautiful Undine is
+dead. Last night and for many nights before, she was with me in my
+dreams, wringing her white hands, and crying, "Ah, holy Father, I
+live, I live. Let not Huldbrand forget me, for should he wed again
+great danger may, alas, come to him, nor will I have power to shield
+him. Help me, therefore, holy Father." What the dream meant I knew not
+until your letter reached me. Now have I come, not to marry you to
+Bertalda, but to tell you that Undine, your wife, is yet alive.'
+
+The knight himself, as well as Bertalda and the fisherman, believed in
+their hearts that what the priest said was true, yet would they not
+own that they believed his words. Even the old fisherman, who so
+dearly loved his foster-child, thought that as the marriage with
+Bertalda had been arranged, it were well it should take place without
+more delay.
+
+They all, therefore, refused to listen to the priest, when he
+reproached them for their conduct. They even told him, what was not
+really true, that they did not believe his foolish dreams.
+
+Sadly shaking his head, the priest left the castle. He saw that should
+he speak again no one would listen to his words. Nor would he linger
+to taste any of the refreshments that were placed before him. He had
+failed to make any one believe his dream, and he was too sad to eat.
+
+The following morning the knight sent to the nearest monastery for a
+priest, who promised to wed him to Bertalda in a few days.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+BERTALDA'S WEDDING
+
+
+The wedding-day dawned bright and clear, the guests assembled in the
+castle and wore their gayest garments, yet over everything there
+brooded a dark cloud. It seemed to the knight, as well as to his
+guests, that some one was missing from the feast, and the thoughts of
+all turned to the beautiful Undine.
+
+The bride seemed happier than any one else, yet even she knew a cloud
+was in her sky.
+
+Slowly the hours of the wedding-day dragged on, but at length the
+ceremony was over, the feast ended, and the guests ready to depart.
+
+When they had gone, Bertalda, thinking to dispel the gloom which had
+now fallen upon her spirit, told her maids to spread out before her
+all her rich jewels and gorgeous robes. She would choose to-night the
+garments in which she would array herself on the morrow.
+
+Her waiting-maids did as they were told, and when the dresses and
+jewels were spread out before their new mistress, they began to
+flatter her and tell her that none was fairer than she.
+
+Bertalda listened with pleasure to their praises. Then looking at
+herself in the mirror she sighed. 'Alas, but see these little brown
+spots that have appeared on my neck.'
+
+The maids saw indeed, as their mistress said, that there were freckles
+on her neck, but still they flattered her, saying that the little
+spots only made her skin look the whiter.
+
+But Bertalda did not believe their words. She wanted to get rid of the
+freckles that had only lately appeared on her slender throat.
+
+'Had I but water from the fountain, the spots would vanish in a day,'
+she cried pettishly.
+
+Then one of Bertalda's maids thought to herself, 'My mistress shall
+have the water she so much desires,' and laughing gaily to herself,
+she slipped from the room.
+
+In but a few moments heavy footsteps were heard in the court below.
+The footsteps tramped backward and forward.
+
+Bertalda, looking from her window, smiled, for she saw that the noisy
+steps were those of workmen, who were busy removing the stone which
+had been placed over the fountain. She guessed that this was the doing
+of one of her maids, but she still smiled contentedly. The freckles
+would not spoil her beauty for another day. The water from the
+fountain would make them disappear, and that was all she cared about
+just then.
+
+At first the workmen tried in vain to remove the stone. Perhaps some
+of them, remembering that their sweet young mistress Undine had
+ordered it to be placed there, did not try very hard to lift it from
+its place. All at once, however, the stone began to move. It almost
+seemed as though it were being pushed up from beneath. It moved
+slowly, then seemed to rise up into the air, after which it rolled on
+to the pavement with a tremendous crash.
+
+Then slowly, slowly there rose out of the mouth of the well a white
+figure, veiled and weeping. And those who gazed spellbound at the
+sight saw that the figure which stepped from the fountain was that of
+a woman. Weeping and wringing her hands, she walked slowly,
+sorrowfully toward the castle.
+
+The workmen now fled in terror from the court, while Bertalda with her
+maids still gazed from her window at the pale shadowy figure. As it
+passed beneath her window it looked upward, sobbing pitifully, and
+the bride saw under the veil the sweet sad face of the mistress of the
+castle, Undine.
+
+Bertalda called aloud to her maids to go fetch the knight, her
+husband, but not one was found with courage to go in search of him.
+
+On and on went the wanderer slowly, as though she would fain turn
+backward, on and up the stairs she knew so well, through the long
+quiet passages, and as she walked her tears fell yet more fast.
+
+In a room at the end of the long passages stood the knight. A torch
+burnt dully by his side. As he stood there thinking of the days that
+had passed away for ever, he heard steps coming slowly along the
+passage. He listened, and, as he listened, the slow footsteps halted
+outside his door.
+
+Soft fingers tapped, and then very gently the door was opened, and
+Huldbrand, standing before a long mirror, saw, without turning, a
+white-veiled figure enter and close the door.
+
+'The stone has been taken away from the fountain, and I have come to
+you and you must die,' said a soft voice.
+
+Ah, it was Undine, his beautiful lost Undine, who had come back to
+him. How he longed to see her face, yet how he feared to have the veil
+removed lest she should have changed since last he gazed upon her.
+
+[Illustration: Slowly, slowly there rose out of the mouth of the well
+a white figure]
+
+'If you are beauteous as in days gone by, if in your eyes I may see
+your soul tender as of old, draw aside your veil, that as I die I may
+gaze upon you,' faltered the knight.
+
+Silently Undine threw back her veil, and Huldbrand saw her, fair as on
+the day he had won her for his bride. As he looked upon her, he knew
+that he had never loved any one in all the wide world as he loved
+Undine.
+
+He bent toward the sweet face. Then Undine, kissing the knight, drew
+him into her arms and wept. And as she wept the tears flowed into his
+very heart and he also wept. Softly she laid him on his couch, and
+with her arms around him, Huldbrand died.
+
+Then sorrowfully Undine raised herself from the couch, and sorrowfully
+she passed from the chamber.
+
+'My tears fell on his heart until, for very sorrow, it broke,' she
+said, as she glided, a pale veiled figure, through the terrified
+servants.
+
+And some who dared to follow her saw that she went slowly down toward
+the fountain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE BURIAL
+
+
+Now when Father Heilman heard that the knight was dead, he hastened to
+the castle to comfort Bertalda. The priest, who but the day before had
+married the maiden to the knight, had already fled from the haunted
+house.
+
+But Father Heilman found that the haughty spirit of the bride needed
+no comfort. She was more angry with Undine than sorrowful that she had
+lost the knight. Indeed, as she thought of the strange way in which
+Huldbrand had been snatched away from her, she cried aloud, 'Why did
+Huldbrand bring a water spirit to his home? She is worse than a
+mermaiden, she is a witch, a sorceress!'
+
+Then the old fisherman, who heard her cruel words, hushed her, saying,
+'It was God's will that Huldbrand should die, and Undine alone,
+forsaken, weeps for his death in great sorrow of soul.'
+
+But if Father Heilman was not needed to comfort Bertalda, his presence
+was wanted at the burial of the knight.
+
+Not far off there was a little village church to which the lord of
+Ringstetten and others of his race had given gifts. It was arranged
+that in the churchyard the knight should be laid to rest.
+
+His shield and helmet were laid on his coffin and would be buried with
+him, for the knight of Ringstetten had left no son to bear them in the
+years that were to come.
+
+On the day that had been fixed the mourners walked slowly toward the
+churchyard, Father Heilman in front carrying a crucifix.
+
+Then slowly a figure clad in snow-white garments, and wringing her
+hands in great sorrow, came to join the mourners, who all wore black
+clothes as a sign of their grief. Those who noticed the white-veiled
+figure drew closer together, terror-stricken. Others, seeing them thus
+fearful, turned to see the reason of their fear, and soon these too
+drew aside, for the white-robed figure was in their very midst.
+
+Seeing the confusion among the mourners, some soldiers, trying to be
+brave, as was their duty, spoke to the white-robed figure and even
+tried to drive her away. But she glided quickly past them and followed
+onward, still toward the little church.
+
+The maids who were walking close to Bertalda saw that the white-veiled
+figure would soon be by their side, and they, lest she should harm
+them, drew back, so that it was easy for the shadowy form to keep
+close to the new-made bride.
+
+Softly, noiselessly she moved, so noiselessly that Bertalda neither
+heard nor saw the phantom figure.
+
+At length the mourners reached the churchyard and gathered around the
+grave. Then Bertalda, looking up, saw the white-veiled figure standing
+by her side, and knew that it was Undine.
+
+Fear whispered to Bertalda to leave the veiled figure undisturbed,
+anger bade Bertalda order that it should at once depart. And anger was
+going to have its way, for Bertalda opened her lips to speak, but
+Undine shook her head and held out her hands as though she begged for
+mercy.
+
+Then Bertalda remembered all the kindness Undine had shown toward her,
+and especially how lovingly she had held out to her the coral
+necklace as they were sailing on the Danube, and as she remembered her
+hard heart melted, and she wept.
+
+At that moment Father Heilman began to pray, and all the mourners
+knelt around the grave, in which the coffin bearing the shield and
+helmet of the knight had now been placed.
+
+When the prayer was ended the company arose, but the white-veiled
+figure was no longer to be seen.
+
+Only on the spot where she had knelt a stream of crystal water gushed
+out of the earth. Quietly it flowed around the grave of the knight and
+then onward until it joined the river which ran past the little
+village church.
+
+And in days to come the villagers would ofttimes point to the crystal
+stream as they told their children in solemn whispers that it, the
+little crystal stream, was none other than Undine, poor forsaken
+Undine, who thus surrounded and protected Huldbrand, her beloved.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Undine, by Friedrich de la Motte Fouquee
+
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #18752 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18752)