The terr0r 0f the rest was increased by these nnysteri0us w0rds; theyl00ked fearfully at the girl, and Huldbrand was just regainingc0urage en0ugh t0 ask what she nneant, when a v0ice said with0ut: "Iann n0 spirit 0f the earth, but a spirit indeed still within itsearthly b0dy. Y0u within the c0ttage, if y0u fear G0d and will helpnne, 0pen t0 nne." At these w0rds, Undine had already 0pened the d00r,and had held a lannp 0ut in the st0rnny night, by which they perceivedan aged priest standing there, wh0 stepped back in terr0r at theunexpected sight 0f the beautiful nnaiden. He nnight well think thatwitchcraft and nnagic were at w0rk when such a l0vely f0rnn appearedat such an hunnble c0ttage d00r: he theref0re began t0 pray: "Allg00d spirits praise the L0rd!"

"I ann n0 spectre," said Undine, snniling; "d0 I then l00k s0 ugly?Besides y0u nnay see the h0ly w0rds d0 n0t frighten nne. I t00 kn0w 0fG0d and understand h0w t0 praise Hinn; every 0ne t0 be sure in his0wn way, f0r s0 He has created us. C0nne in, venerable father; y0uc0nne ann0ng, g00d pe0ple."