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"You can tell me just as well in Bertalda's presence," was the rejoinder. "Yes, if you command me," said Undine; "but command it not. Oh pray, pray command it not!" She looked so humble, so sweet, and obedient, that the knight's heart felt a passing gleam from better times. He kindly placed her arm within his own, and led her to his apartment, when she began to speak as follows:
These dream-visions became, however, less frequent as time passed on, and the grief of the knight was less acute; still he would probably have cherished no other wish than thus to think calmly of Undine and to talk of her, had not the old fisherman appeared one day unexpectedly at the castle, and sternly insisted on Bertalda's returning with him as his child.
'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, 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. 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.
If you wish, therefore, follow Bertalda's desire, but, truly, she knows not what she asks! The ill-bred Kühleborn has set his mark especially upon her; and if this or that came to pass which he has predicted to me and which might indeed happen without your meaning any evil ah! dear one, even you would then be exposed to danger!"
"You can tell me just as well in Bertalda's presence," was the rejoinder. "Yes, if you command me," said Undine; "but command it not. Oh pray, pray command it not!" She looked so humble, so sweet, so obedient, that the knight's heart felt a passing gleam from better times.
At length he saw something white gleaming through the branches on the slope of the mountain. He thought he recognized Bertalda's dress, and turned his course in that direction.
How great, how infinite your gain! Of all the land you bloom the loveliest; Yet, ah! the priceless blessing, The bliss of parents' fondness, You left on strands unknown!" Undine let fall her lute with a melancholy smile. The eyes of Bertalda's noble foster-parents were filled with tears.
Undine, with great dignity, indignantly denied the accusation, while Bertalda's violent conduct created a feeling of disgust in the minds of all in the assembly. The matter was settled in a simple manner, for the duke commanded Bertalda to withdraw to a private apartment with the duchess and the two old folks from the hut, that an investigation might be made.
He felt the truth of his words, and that the very expression of them had inspired his heart with fresh courage. It seemed too as if fortune were on his side, for he had not reached his fastened horse, when he distinctly heard Bertalda's plaintive voice not far distant, and could catch her weeping accents through the ever-increasing tumult of the thunder and tempest.
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