enter into our lives.

'Yet my father, the King of the Ocean, longed that I, his only
daughter, should gain the great gift which is given to every mortal.
And this he wished, though well he knew that to mortals was given,
with the gift of a soul, the power to suffer.

'An Undine can gain a soul in one way alone. She must love and be
loved by one of mortal birth.

'You, Huldbrand, you have given me my soul, and should you now despise
me or drive me from you, I should suffer even as one of your own race.

'Yet if you care not to have an Undine for your wife, leave me, and I
will plunge into the waters. Then Kuehleborn, my uncle, who brought me
a merry happy child to the fisherman, will come and carry me back to
my ocean home. There will I live, loving, sorrowing, for into the
depths of the blue sea will I carry my new-won soul.'

Then Huldbrand forgot everything save the great love he bore his fair
wife Undine. He took her in his arms and carried her across the
little stream, whispering to her that she should never leave him.

Together they went back to the cottage, and to the water-maiden the
little dwelling gleamed more bright than the crystal palace of the
Ocean King.

CHAPTER VIII

HULDBRAND AND UNDINE LEAVE THE COTTAGE

The following day Undine was up and out early in the morning, to see
if the forest stream was still flowing quietly within its banks. Now
the forest stream was the one haunted by her uncle Kuehleborn, and
often he would use the waters for his own purposes. Sometimes
Kuehleborn's purposes were kind, sometimes they were unkind.

Undine was, in the cottage again, preparing the morning meal, when
Huldbrand entered the kitchen. She greeted him brightly.

'My uncle Kuehleborn has made the waters calm,' she cried. 'The stream
is gliding peaceful as of old through the forest. Neither in air nor
water are there spirits to molest us. Should you wish it, you can
journey homeward to-day.'

Huldbrand did not like to hear Undine speak of her strange kinsfolk,
yet so gentle was she, so full of grace, that he soon forgot his
vexation.

Together the knight and his wife went to the door of the cottage, and
looked out at the meadows and the lake lying in the morning sunshine.

'Why should we leave this quiet spot to-day?' said Huldbrand, for well
he loved the island where he had found his beautiful bride. 'In the
great world we will spend no gladder days than in this simple
meadow-land. Let us