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, dr