They immediately returned with her to their apartment, and learned from her that the duke and duchess were so displeased at her violent and unfeeling conduct on the preceding way, that they had entirely withdrawn their protection from her, though not without giving her a rich portion.
The fisherman, too, had been handsomely rewarded, and had the evening before set out with his wife to return to their secluded home.
"I would have gone with them," she continued, "but the old fisherman, who is said to be my father"-- "And he is so indeed, Bertalda," interrupted Undine.

"Look here, the stranger, whom you took for the master of the fountain, told me the whole story in detail.

He wished to dissuade me from taking you with me to castle Ringstetten, and this led him to disclose the secret." "Well, then," said Bertalda, "if it must be so, my father said, 'I will not take you with me until you are changed.

Venture to come to us alone through the haunted forest; that shall be the proof whether you have any regard for us.

But do not come to me as a lady; come only as a fisher-girl!' So I will do just as he has told me, for I am forsaken by the whole world, and I will live and die in solitude as a poor fisher-girl, with my poor parents.