ngs whom mortals
seldom see, for should these beings hear a mortal drawing near, they
quickly hide themselves. These beings of whom I tell you are spirits
that dwell in fire, earth, air and water.

'Those who dwell in the flames are called salamanders, nor do these
spirits wish for any other home, as they play merrily and fearlessly
among the sparkling fires.

'Deep under the earth live the gnomes, rough and fearsome spirits
they, full of malice too, should any mortal cross their path.

'In lofty forests dwell more fair and joyous spirits, guarding each
some well-loved spot from a mortal's heavy tread.

'And better known and better loved than these of whom I have told you
are the spirits who haunt the waters. These have their home in sea or
lake, in river or in little brook.

'Deep down under the blue waters, hidden from mortal eyes, are the
palaces of the water spirits. Their walls are built of crystal and are
hung with coral, their floors are paved with shining pearls.

'Deep down under the blue waters are yellow sands. There the merry
little water-spirits play their games and gambol all the glad long
days, until they leave their childhood far behind.

'Pure and fair, more fair even than the race of mortals are the
spirits of the water. Fishermen have chanced to see these water-nymphs
or mermaidens, and they have spoken of their wondrous beauty. Mortals
too have named these strange women Undines. Look upon me, Huldbrand,
look long and well, for I, your wife, am an Undine!'

The knight gazed sadly upon his beautiful wife. He wished to believe
that she was but weaving fairy tales with which to charm him through
the quiet eventide, yet as he gazed upon her he shuddered lest the
tale she told was true.

Undine saw that he shuddered, and tears sprang into her blue eyes as
she went on with her story.

'When I was a child I lived in the depths of the sea. My father's
crystal palace was my home, for he, my father, is the Lord of the
Ocean. Kuehleborn is my uncle. He used to watch me with his big eyes
until I grew afraid, and even now, although I live above the waters,
he comes to me and ofttimes he frightens me as though I were again a
little child.

'Brothers and cousins, too, were mine and played with me on the yellow
sands beneath the blue sea.

'Merry were our lives and free, for the sorrows of mortals came not
near to us. We had no soul, the gift God gives to every mortal, and
without a soul no pain could