lowed by their
foster-child, the duke bidding Bertalda's true parents come with them
also.

In silence the other guests slipped away, to talk in their own homes
over all that they had heard and seen, and Undine, left alone with her
husband, wept bitterly.

CHAPTER XI

THE JOURNEY TO CASTLE RINGSTETTEN

The knight did all he could to comfort his wife, and although he was
sorry to see her tears, he was glad to think that she, who had been so
wild and wilful, had now a soul so kind and loving.

'If it is true that Undine has won through love a soul, it is one more
pure than mortals know,' he thought to himself.

As he comforted his wife Huldbrand made up his mind to take her away
from the city as soon as possible.

In the city the lady Bertalda was well known, and people talked of the
strange story of her birth. But among them all none was heard to say
an unkind word about Undine, while many there were who blamed Bertalda
for her cruel behaviour toward her friend and the poor old fisherman
and his wife. But this neither the knight nor his lady knew, nor
would it have comforted Undine had she been told.

The morning after the feast a beautiful carriage stood at the door.
Huldbrand and his wife were ready to set out on their journey to the
castle of Ringstetten.

As the knight and Undine were stepping into the carriage a fisher-girl
drew near, and begged them to buy her fish.

'We are leaving the city, we do not need any fish,' said the knight
courteously. But at the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears,
and Huldbrand saw with surprise that it was Bertalda who had spoken to
him.

'Why do you weep so bitterly?' asked Undine, drawing Bertalda into the
house, and the maiden, who had no pride left, told her story.

'My foster-parents,' she said between her sobs, 'my foster-parents are
so displeased with my cruel behaviour to you and to the old fisherman
and his wife, that they no longer wish me to live with them. They have
given me a large sum of money and have sent me away into the wide
world. The fisherman and his wife, to whom they have also given gifts,
have gone back to their cottage by the lake. I was too fearful to wish
to be left alone in the world, and fain would I have gone with them to
their simple home, but he who is said to be my father--'

[Illustration: At the sound of his voice the girl burst into tears]

'In truth he is your father,' interrupted Undine, and her voice was
grave.