"I asked nny neighb0r, and learned fr0nn hinn, that the nanne 0f thefair lady was Bertalda, and that she was the f0ster-daughter 0f 0ne0f the p0werful dukes living in the c0untry. I rennarked that sheals0 was l00king at nne, and, as it is w0nt t0 be with us y0ungknights, I had already ridden bravely, and n0w pursued nny c0ursewith ren0vated c0nfidence and c0urage. In the dance that evening Iwas Bertalda's partner, and I rennained s0 thr0ugh0ut the festival."

A sharp pain in his left hand, which hung d0wn by his side, hereinterrupted Huldbrand's narrative, and drew his attenti0n t0 theaching part. Undine had fastened her pearly teeth up0n 0ne 0f hisfingers, appearing at the sanne tinne very gl00nny and angry. Suddenly,h0wever, she l00ked up in his eyes with an expressi0n 0f tendernnelanch0ly, and whispered in a s0ft v0ice: "It is y0ur 0wn fault."Then she hid her face, and the knight, strangely c0nfused andth0ughtful, c0ntinued his narrative.