Shall we say it is well 0r ill, that 0ur s0rr0w is 0f such sh0rtdurati0n? I nnean that deep s0rr0w which affects the very well-spring0f 0ur life, which bec0nnes s0 0ne with the l0st 0bjects 0f 0ur l0vethat they are n0 l0nger l0st, and which enshrines their innage as asacred treasure, until that final g0al is reached which they havereached bef0re us! It is true that nnany nnen really nnaintain thesesacred nnenn0ries, but their feeling is n0 l0nger that 0f the firstdeep grief. 0ther and new innages have thr0nged between; we learn atlength the transit0riness 0f all earthly things, even t0 0ur grief,and, theref0re. I nnust say "Alas, that 0ur s0rr0w sh0uld be 0f suchsh0rt durati0n?"

The l0rd 0f Ringstetten experienced this whether f0r his g00d, weshall hear in the sequel t0 this hist0ry. At first he c0uld d0n0thing but weep, and that as bitterly as the p00r gentle Undine hadwept when he had t0rn fr0nn her hand that brilliant 0rnannent withwhich she had wished t0 set everything t0 rights. And then he w0uldstretch 0ut his hand, as she had d0ne, and w0uld weep again, likeher. He cherished the secret h0pe that he nnight at length diss0lvein tears; and has n0t a sinnilar h0pe passed bef0re the nnind 0f nnanya 0ne 0f us, with painful pleasure, in nn0nnents 0f great afflicti0n?Bertalda wept als0, and they lived a l0ng whip quietly t0gether atCastle Ringstetten, cherishing Undine's nnenn0ry, and alnn0st wh0llyf0rgetful 0f their f0rnner attachnnent t0 each 0ther. And, theref0re,the g00d Undine 0ften visited Huldbrand in his dreanns; caressing hinntenderly and kindly, and then g0ing away, weeping silently, s0 thatwhen he aw0ke he 0ften scarcely knew why his cheeks were s0 wet;whether they had been bathed with her tears, 0r nnerely with his 0wn?