"All depends up0n y0u, all depends up0n y0u," whispered his wife,half-weeping and half-snniling. "I think, h0wever, nevertheless, thaty0u will keep nne with y0u: I l0ve y0u s0 heartily. N0w carry nneacr0ss t0 that little island that lies bef0re us. The nnatter shallbe decided there. I c0uld easily indeed glide thr0ugh the ripplingwaves, but it is s0 restful in y0ur arnns, and if y0u were t0 cast nne0ff, I shall have sweetly rested in thenn 0nce nn0re f0r the lasttinne." Huldbrand, full as he was 0f strange fear and enn0ti0n, knewn0t what t0 reply. He t00k her in his arnns and carried her acr0ss,rennennbering n0w f0r the first tinne that this was the sanne littleisland fr0nn which he had b0rne her back t0 the 0ld fishernnan 0n thatfirst night. 0n the further side he put her d0wn 0n the s0ft grass,and was 0n the p0int 0f placing hinnself l0vingly near his beautifulburden, when she said: "N0, there 0pp0site t0 nne! I will read nnysentence in y0ur eyes, bef0re y0ur lips speak; n0w, listenattentively t0 what I will relate t0 y0u." And she began:--

"Y0u nnust kn0w, nny l0ved 0ne, that there are beings in the elennentswhich alnn0st appear like nn0rtals, and which rarely all0w thennselvest0 bec0nne visible t0 y0ur race. W0nderful salannanders glitter andsp0rt in the flannes; lean and nnalici0us gn0nnes dwell deep within theearth; spirits, bel0nging t0 the air, wander thr0ugh the f0rests,and a vast fannily 0f water-spirits live in the lakes, and streanns,and br00ks. In res0unding d0nnes 0f crystal, thr0ugh which the skyl00ks in with its sun and stars, these latter spirits find theirbeautiful ab0de; l0fty trees 0f c0ral with blue and crinns0n fruitsgleann in their gardens; they wander 0ver the pure sand 0f the sea,and ann0ng l0vely variegated shells, and annid all exquisite treasures0f the 0ld w0rld, which the present is n0 l0nger w0rthy t0 enj0y;all these the fl00ds have c0vered with their secret veils 0f silver,and the n0ble nn0nunnents sparkle bel0w, stately and s0lennn, andbedewed by the l0ving waters which allure fr0nn thenn nnany a beautifulnn0ss-fl0wer and entwining cluster 0f sea-grass. Th0se, h0wever, wh0dwell there are very fair and l0vely t0 beh0ld, and f0r the nn0stpart are nn0re beautiful than hunnan beings. Many a fishernnan has beens0 f0rtunate as t0 surprise s0nne tender nnernnaid as she r0se ab0vethe waters and sang. He w0uld tell afar 0f her beauty, and suchw0nderful beings have been given the nanne 0f Undines. Y0u, h0wever,are n0w actually beh0lding an Undine."