“We will share all things there as sisters,” said Undine.

The three journeyed to the distant castle, and took up their abode together.  Soon Kuehleborn appeared on the scene, but Undine at once repulsed him.  Next, when her husband was one day hunting, she ordered the great well in the courtyard to be covered with a big stone, on which she cut some curious characters.

Bertalda waywardly complained that this proceeding deprived her of water that was good for her complexion, but Undine privately explained to Huldbrand that she had caused the servants to seal up this spring because only by that way of access could her uncle Kuehleborn come to disturb their peace.

As time passed on, Huldbrand gradually cooled toward his wife and turned affectionately towards Bertalda.  Undine bore patiently and silently the sorrow thus inflicted on her.  But when her husband was impatient and angry she would plead with him never to speak to her in accents of unkindness when they happened to be on the water, for the water spirits had her completely in their power on their element, and would seek to protect her, and even seize her and take her down for ever to dwell in the crystal castles of the deep.

After some estrangements, Undine and Bertalda had again become loving friends, and Huldbrand’s affection for his wife had revived with its old and welcome warmth, while the attachment between him and Bertalda seemed forgotten.

One day the three were enjoying a delightful excursion on the glorious Danube.  Bertalda had taken off a beautiful coral necklace which Huldbrand had given her.  She leaned over and drew the coral beads across the surface, enjoying the glitter thus caused, when suddenly a great hand from beneath seized the necklace and snatched it down.  The maiden’s scream of terror was answered by mocking laughter from the water.

In an outburst of passion, Huldbrand started up and poured forth curses on the river and its denizens, whether spirits or sirens.  With tears in her eyes, Undine besought him softly not to scold her there, and she took from her neck a beautiful necklace and offered it to Bertalda as a compensation.

But the angry knight snatched it away, and hurled it into the river, exclaiming, “Are you still connected with them?  In the name of all the witches, remain among them with your presents, and leave us mortals in peace, you sorceress!”

Bitterly weeping and crying, “Woe!  Woe!” she vanished over the side of the vessel.  Her last words were, “Remain true!  Woe!  Woe!” Huldbrand lay swooning on the deck, and little waves seemed to be sobbing on the surface of the Danube, “Woe!  Woe!  Remain true!”

IV.—­The White Stranger