FEAST

It had been Undine's wish to give a great banquet in honour of
Bertalda's birthday. The knight had ordered that all should be done as
she desired.

The feast was now spread, and the guests, of whom there were a great
number, had already taken their seats.

At the upper end of the table sat Bertalda, surrounded with flowers
and jewels, gifts these which her foster-parents and friends had
showered upon her. By her side sat the knight and his fair young wife.

When at length the fruit was placed on the table, the doors of the
banqueting-room were flung open. (In Germany, where the knight lived,
it was usual to do this that the peasant folk might look in and see
how their masters fared.) Wine and cakes were offered to those who on
this evening came to show their pleasure in the joy of the knight and
his young wife.

Huldbrand and Bertalda, meanwhile, were watching Undine with eager
eyes. Had she not a secret to tell them, which, when they knew it,
would make them even happier than before?

But Undine only smiled upon them as she caught their eyes, and shook
her head slightly as though to say, 'No, it is still too soon, too
soon.'

At this moment the guests begged the young mistress of the feast to
sing. She seemed pleased with the request, and taking her lute in her
hands, she began to play softly, while her clear voice filled the
room.

It was a song of sunshine and green grass, of sweet flowers and
sparkling waters, and the guests, listening spellbound, forgot all
else save the singer and her song.

But hark! the song is changing. Who is the child of whom Undine sings?
A child who has been borne by the waves far from the home of her
birth. The little one is lying like a flower among the meadow grass
(the guests can see her as the singer sings) and reaches out her tiny
hands for help.

Ah! now they hear the tramp, tramp of a horse. A noble duke is riding
slowly along. He halts, for he sees the little maid. He stoops and
lifts her in his arms, and carries her off to his own castle, and
surrounds her with splendour and with wealth.

And now tears gather in the eyes of the guests. The song is drawing to
a close, and Undine is singing of an unknown shore, where in a little
cottage sit a father and mother, desolate and sad, for they have lost
their little child, and they know not where to find her.

Among all the guests were none who listened to the song more eagerly
than Bertalda's noble foster-parent