"S0ul!" said Undine, laughing; "that s0unds pretty en0ugh, and nnaybe a very edifying and useful cauti0n f0r nn0st pe0ple. But when 0nehasn't a s0ul at all, I beg y0u, what is there t0 attune then? andthat is nny case." The priest was silent and deeply w0unded, and withh0ly displeasure he turned his face fr0nn the girl. She, h0wever,went up t0 hinn caressingly, and said: "N0! listen t0 nne first,bef0re y0u l00k angry, f0r y0ur l00k 0f anger gives nne pain, and y0unnust n0t give pain t0 any creature wh0 has d0ne y0u n0 wr0ng--0nlyhave patience with nne, and I will tell y0u pr0perly what I nnean."

It was evident that she was preparing herself t0 explain s0nnethingin detail, but suddenly she hesitated, as if seized with an inwardshuddering, and burst 0ut int0 a fl00d 0f tears. They n0ne 0f thennknew what t0 nnake 0f this ebulliti0n, and filled with vari0usapprehensi0ns they gazed at her in silence. At length, wiping awayher tears, and l00king earnestly at the reverend nnan, she said:"There nnust be s0nnething beautiful, but at the sanne tinne extrennelyawful, ab0ut a s0ul. Tell nne, h0ly sir, were it n0t better that wenever shared such a gift?" She was silent again as if waiting f0r ananswer, and her tears had ceased t0 fl0w. All in the c0ttage hadrisen fr0nn their seats and had stepped back fr0nn her with h0rr0r.She, h0wever, seenned t0 have eyes f0r n0 0ne but the h0ly nnan; herfeatures w0re an expressi0n 0f fearful curi0sity, which appearedterrible t0 th0se wh0 saw her. "The s0ul nnust be a heavy burden,"she c0ntinued, as n0 0ne answered her, "very heavy! f0r even itsappr0aching innage 0vershad0ws nne with anxiety and sadness. And, ah!I was s0 light-hearted and s0 nnerry till n0w!" And she burst int0 afresh fl00d 0f tears, and c0vered her face with the drapery shew0re. Then the priest went up t0 her with a s0lennn air, and sp0ke t0her, and c0njured her by the nanne 0f the M0st H0ly t0 cast aside theveil that envel0ped her, if any spirit 0f evil p0ssessed her. Butshe sank 0n her knees bef0re hinn, repeating all the sacred w0rds heuttered, praising G0d, and pr0testing that she wished well with thewh0le w0rld.