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.