“CHAPTER XVHOW THEY JOURNEYEDTO VIENNANow the story halteth for a space. After the last adventure all was quiet and peaceful at the castle. More and more was the knight conscious of that heavenly goodness in his wife, which had been so nobly proved in her hasty pursuit and rescue of them from the Black Valley, where Kuhleborn's power began again. And Undine felt that inner peace and security which never fail the heart that knows itself to be in the right way. Besides, in the newly-awakened love and esteem of her husband, many a gleam of hope and joy shone upon her. As for Bertalda, she seemed humble, grateful, modest, without claiming any merit for such virtues. It might chance that either Huldbrand or Undine sought now and again to explain to her why the fountain was covered, or the real meaning of the Black Valley adventure ; but she always earnestly begged them to spare her. " For," said she, " the fountain makes me feel ashamed,109””

“Peace and joy had visibly come to stay at Castle Ringstetten. Real security was theirs, or so they deemed”

“And, in truth, he kept back the words of anger that were trembling on his tongue.””

“Howbeit the holy man was sore perplexed when the summons arrived. So great was his distemperature that no sooner had he read Huldbrand's letter, than he girt himself for his journey with far greater expedition than the messenger had used in his coming. What time his breath failed him or his aged limbs refused their service, he would say to himself, " Fail not, body of mine, fail not till the goal be reached ! Perchance I may yet be soon enough to prevent a crime ! ' And thus with renewed strength he would press and urge himself on, without stop or stay, until late one evening he found himself at last in the shady courtyard of Ringstetten.Now it chanced that the betrothed pair were sitting side by side under the trees, while the fisherman sate near, deep in many thoughts. Seeing Father Heilmann, they sprang up and pressed round him with warm welcome. But he was sparing of speech, only begging Huldbrand to go with him into the castle. When the knight hesitated and marvelled somewhat at the grave summons, the father spoke :" My lord of Ringstetten," quoth he, "to speak to thee in private was my desire, but why should I persist in it any longer ? \Vhat I have to say concerneth equally Bertalda and the fisherman, and what must be heard at some time had better be heard forthwith. Art thou then so sure, Knight Huldbrand, that thy first wife is dead ? For myself, I cannot think so. Naught indeed will I say of the mystery that surroundeth her, for of that I know nothing certain. But that she was a faithful and God-fearing wife, of that at least there is no doubt. Now, for the last fortnight she hath stood in dreams at my bedside, wringing her hands in anguish and murmuring at my ear : ' Good Father, stay him from his purpose ! I am yet living. Ah ! Save his life ! Save his soul ! ' What this night vision might mean passed my comprehension, until thy messenger came for me. Then I hurried hither with all imaginable speed”

“CHAPTER XVIII HOW THE KNIGHT HULDBRAND IS MARRIEDTHE story now telleth of the marriage feast at Castle Ringstetten, how it was held and what cheer they had who were present thereat. Bethink thee of a multitude of bright and pleasant things heaped together, and over them all a veil of mourning spread. Would not the gloom of the covering make mockery of all their brilliance ? Would it be happiness, think you, on which you looked ? Would it not rather suggest the nothingness of all human joys ? Now it is true that no ghostly visitants disturbed the festal company, for the castle, as we well know, had been made safe127””

“132 UNDINE...full well that it must be so ; but he covered his face with his hands."Make me not mad with terror," he whispered, "in my hour of death. If thou hidest a hideous face behind that veil, raise it not. Take my life, but let me not see thy face ! 'The white figure made answer. " I am as fair as when thou didst woo me on the promontory. Wilt thou not look upon me once more ? '"Ah," sighed Huldbrand, " if only it might be so ! and I might die by a kiss from thy lips ! ""Right glad am I, my beloved!' saith she ; she threw back her veil and her face smiled forth, divinely beautiful. And, trembling with love and with the nearness of death, the knight bent towards her, and she kissed him with a holy kiss. But she did not again draw back, she pressed him to her ever closer and closer, and wept as if she would weep away her soul. Tears rushed into Huldbrand's eyes, and his breast surged and heaved, till, at the last, breath failed him, and he fell back softly from Undine's arms upon the pillows of his couch”

“But, lo ! a miracle ; for on the spot where she had knelt there gushed out of the turf a little silver spring. It rippled on till it had all but encircled the knight's grave ; then it ran further and fell into a lake which lay by the side of the burial-place. And even to this day the villagers show the spring, and cherish the firm belief that it is poor, rejected Undine herself, who thus holds in fast embrace her husband with her loving arms.Thus endeth the story of Undine and the Knight Huldbrand.””

Quotes by W. L. Courtney